"How To Keep Cool In The Interview Hotseat"

In this economic environment just turning up for an interview is not enough and without preparation and a sincere interest in the role then I would recommend that you don't waste your time or that of the person who will be interviewing you.

When seeking new job opportunities it's important that you know how much commitment you're willing to give. Are you genuinely interested in the role you are interviewing for or is it just a job?

There is no doubt that competition is fierce and it always amazes me how many applicants do not take the time to prepare for an interview.

For many, preparing for a wedding, to move house or to go on holiday can take months and yet job seekers take hardly anytime at all to prepare for an interview.

We practise our driving technique before we take a test, actors practise their lines before the actual take and even expectant mothers practise childbirth before labour and yet job seekers spend no time at all to practise for an interview.

I often hear from people that they didn't have the time to prepare or practise for an interview which could potentially enable them to work in a better role, one which could lead to a higher income and therefore allowing them a life with more choices and job satisfaction.

Think back to when they were at school or university, how much time did you take to prepare for your exams? Did you receive the results you had hoped for or can you now own up after all these years and acknowledge that perhaps you didn't prepare enough?

If you consider that only 20% of applicants take the time to prepare for an interview then you can assume that if you are one of 20 interviewees and you do take the time to prepare then the odds will greatly work to your favour - realistically you will only be competing with three other contestants!

PREPARATION is essential for all job seekers and I would encourage individuals to:

1) Research the Company and check out the interviewer (s) on Google / LinkedIn to find out if you have anything in common with them. Imagine you found yourself stuck in the lift with this person for five minutes, what would you say?

2) Read the Job Description - If you haven't already received a copy then it's important that you ask for one. How will you know if you're right for the role? Become familiar with both the job title and description, what skills and abilities are required for the role. Compare your experience and knowledge to the job description.

3) Know Yourself  - What are your strengths and weaknesses? What are your qualities and skills? If unsure then speak to a colleague or friend who can help you to identify your strengths and weaknesses, qualities and skills.

4) Check Location - Many large corporates have more than one building so it's always a good idea to check where you are going before heading off for an interview. Call up reception and make sure you've got the details absolutely clear. No feeling can be worse than realizing you're at the wrong address just five minutes before the interview is scheduled to begin. If at any point there's the slightest chance you might be running late then call and inform the person who will be interviewing you.

5) Prepare GOOD Questions - Asking good questions will leave a good impression and put you ahead of your competition even if your skills are not 100%. It's always advisable to have 10 strong questions that you can ask either throughout the interview or towards the end as you will generally find that a number of your questions will be answered by the interviewer before getting the opportunity to ask. If you have run out of questions to ask by the end of the interview then show the interviewer that you have listened with interest and ask for him / her to provide more information on a point that was mentioned during the interview.

Preparing for an interview is different from practising for an interview and again is essential for success.

PRACTISE for your interviews by:

1) Practise your stories by using the STAR technique, Situation or Task, Action and Result.

2) Practise your interview answers by recording yourself until you feel confident with the answer you hear.

3) Observe your body language and expressions by saying your answers out loud in front of a mirror

4) Role play an interview situation as it allows you to practise being your worst over and over again

5) Arrange to call a friend / colleague the day before your interview, give them a list of 5-8 questions and ask them to give you a quick practice session Practising your answers to questions the day before an interview will help you to refresh your mind and can make a huge difference on the interview day.

It's important to REMEMBER that the interviewer will be preparing questions for you, do yourself justice and practice the answers!

Nikki Hutchison, founder of Chilli Pepper Global www.chillipepperglobal.com advising you on every aspect of the job seeking process guiding you step by step whether you are looking to move internally or externally.