If you have reached an interview, you can take it that you’ve done a good job on your CV and your cover letter. Feel confident that you’re on the right track. Here we have some extra tips to help you complete a successful interview.
Research the company and the role. Have a look at their website, social media, use connections that work in the company and go to events they run. Use the job description – look at the background, skills and experience and job role. You will be able to prepare for the questions and are less likely to be caught on the hop.
Do a quick Q&A role play with someone or practice out loud so that you can comfortably verbalise your examples and your skills. It won’t be the first time you are answering these questions. You will come across more confident and in control in the real interview.
Do your research before you go in. You can ask peers or connections in the company. Pitch yourself at what you feel is the right level. One way of dealing with it is asking if there is a salary band for the role. Put a value on yourself and be comfortable saying it.
General rule would be if it’s a corporate role, go traditional and wear a suit or wear smart attire. Better to be overly formal than under. Talk to contacts and do research online to see what employees wear. Think about the role, if it’s hands on it may not be suitable to wear formal attire.
Arrive 20 minutes before you are due to go in. Go early for the practical reasons of finding parking, finding your way, touching up makeup, a bathroom break or getting a cup of coffee to calm the nerves.
Show that you are interested. Ask questions such as:
What would your expectations be of me in the first three months?What goals would you expect me to reach in the first few months?What support can I expect from the company when I’m settling in? Can you tell me a little about the culture in the company – longer term career opportunities and development? Shake the person’s hand, look them in the eye and smile. It helps with communications but it also shows a level of confidence. Don’t be afraid to show your personality, don’t feel that the experience is so formal that you have to be rigid.
There can be a feeling of having to fill in the gaps, resist that. Take a deep breath and think about what you’re going to say next, is it relevant to the question? Leave some pauses so that the interviewer has the opportunity to move on to the next question.
Wait a week to two weeks after your interview. If you have not heard back there is no harm in dropping a quick email to ask if there is an update. See if you can get some feedback too if you haven’t been successful.
Put ‘reference contact details available on request’ on CV. This relates to data privacy. Let your referees know you are going for the interview and ask if you can share their details.
Read more
Agri jobs: over 11,000 jobs created in the agriculture industry in five years
One graduate hired in agri food industry every day
If you have reached an interview, you can take it that you’ve done a good job on your CV and your cover letter. Feel confident that you’re on the right track. Here we have some extra tips to help you complete a successful interview.
Research the company and the role. Have a look at their website, social media, use connections that work in the company and go to events they run. Use the job description – look at the background, skills and experience and job role. You will be able to prepare for the questions and are less likely to be caught on the hop.
Do a quick Q&A role play with someone or practice out loud so that you can comfortably verbalise your examples and your skills. It won’t be the first time you are answering these questions. You will come across more confident and in control in the real interview.
Do your research before you go in. You can ask peers or connections in the company. Pitch yourself at what you feel is the right level. One way of dealing with it is asking if there is a salary band for the role. Put a value on yourself and be comfortable saying it.
General rule would be if it’s a corporate role, go traditional and wear a suit or wear smart attire. Better to be overly formal than under. Talk to contacts and do research online to see what employees wear. Think about the role, if it’s hands on it may not be suitable to wear formal attire.
Arrive 20 minutes before you are due to go in. Go early for the practical reasons of finding parking, finding your way, touching up makeup, a bathroom break or getting a cup of coffee to calm the nerves.
Show that you are interested. Ask questions such as:
What would your expectations be of me in the first three months?What goals would you expect me to reach in the first few months?What support can I expect from the company when I’m settling in? Can you tell me a little about the culture in the company – longer term career opportunities and development? Shake the person’s hand, look them in the eye and smile. It helps with communications but it also shows a level of confidence. Don’t be afraid to show your personality, don’t feel that the experience is so formal that you have to be rigid.
There can be a feeling of having to fill in the gaps, resist that. Take a deep breath and think about what you’re going to say next, is it relevant to the question? Leave some pauses so that the interviewer has the opportunity to move on to the next question.
Wait a week to two weeks after your interview. If you have not heard back there is no harm in dropping a quick email to ask if there is an update. See if you can get some feedback too if you haven’t been successful.
Put ‘reference contact details available on request’ on CV. This relates to data privacy. Let your referees know you are going for the interview and ask if you can share their details.
Read more
Agri jobs: over 11,000 jobs created in the agriculture industry in five years
One graduate hired in agri food industry every day
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