Interviews can be some of the most intense and stressful experiences that you will face within the workplace. They place you and your professional achievements under scrutiny, and very often you will be directly competing with others for a coveted career position. If you are confident in yourself and your suitability for a role however, an interview represents a real opportunity to shine and communicate your abilities in an attractive, professional and employable manner.

There are many different approaches to a successful interview, and the right approach for you will ultimately depend on the type of personality that you have and the type of role that you are being considered for. Having said this, below are a few steps you can take to ensure that you represent yourself well, and create the perfect platform to express your enthusiasm and suitability for any role.

Do your research
As obvious as it sounds, undertaking thorough research on the company that you are being interviewed for is an absolute must. Not only will it emphasise your commitment to gaining the role, but it will also give you valuable knowledge that can turn a one sided interview situation into a proper discussion about the practical aspects of the job itself. Try and develop at least one good question to open up a conversation and highlight the fruits of your research.

Once you can establish a professional-to-professional dialogue, the interview will be less intimidating and more rewarding for you both. Any company will be impressed if you can demonstrate a working knowledge of their performance and practices, particularly if you can positively relate your understanding of the company to the skillset that you possess.

Speak to your Consultant
Before the interview, your recruitment Consultant can give you much useful information on many aspects that may help your chances at interview stage. They will be familiar with the company and the role itself, can offer you some relevant interview tips, and will probably have met the interviewers, so can advise you on tactics particular to them.

If nothing else, your recruitment consultant can generally be a good sounding board prior to interview - so do make the most of them, their knowledge and experience.  They are there to support you through the process, so don’t be afraid to call them, even if it’s just to combat a fit of nerves.

Practice Makes…
If you have time, it is often advised that you practice the interview scenario, especially if you have had limited experience of the process, or if the interview situation is in some way unfamiliar. If you are required or wish to show samples of your work for example, a practice run may help you decide how and in what order you might present them for maximum effect.

Ask a friend or family member to play the part of the interviewer or record it for later analysis. Try and come up with confident answers to some of the more obvious questions an interviewer might ask, such as why you want to work at the company, or which previous professional achievements might be relevant to your future role. From practice comes confidence, perhaps the most important aspect of any successful interviewee technique, so don’t be afraid or embarrassed to have a few dry runs.

Be Prepared
On the night before the interview, make sure that you have all the materials that you may need organized and close to hand. The last thing you need is a frantic dash to collect important materials for your meeting, or to forget them altogether, as this will seriously damage your composure.

Get a good nights sleep, eat a decent breakfast and make sure that you know where the interview is, leaving plenty of time to get there. Being late for an interview is never ideal, and is almost certain to make you feel pressured and on the back foot. A little preparation goes a long way to ensuring a positive and relaxed frame of mind.

The Interview Itself
Try and remain as calm as possible on the day of the interview and during the interview itself – there is no benefit whatsoever to being tense or stressed in this situation, so try and take yourself out for a walk in a local park, or sit somewhere quiet immediately prior to the interview itself.

From the moment that you step into the offices, it is essential that you do so with absolute confidence about who you are and why you want this role. Hopefully you will have prepared well, and this should add to your sense of control over the situation. The purpose of the interview is to display your talents and engage with your prospective employers as well as possible, so look at the interview as an exciting opportunity rather than an onerous task.

Your interviewers are people too, and it is their job to select a professional who they feel has the right blend of enthusiasm, skills and experience for the role. With this in mind, try to convey your skills and experience with positive energy – it will be easier for the interviewers to get excited by your application if they can feel your enthusiasm for the role and your suitability for it. Maintain eye contact and be professional and friendly, as these people may well be your future colleagues and they will want to feel that they have made the right cultural fit too.

At all times, take things slowly. Ask for clarification if you are not sure what’s been asked, and remember that it is absolutely fine to take a moment to consider your answers. Try and be a good listener, as this will shape your answers and give you clues as to the interview’s direction, and when you speak, do so slowly. A common mistake at interviews is that nerves can force a candidate to rush and trip over their words – take a few deep breaths and get your responses out in a calm and compelling manner.

Interviews tend to go extremely quickly once you are in there, so it is always a good idea to take some notes during the meeting. Not only will this keep the detail discussed and your thoughts fresh, but it will signify an engaged and conscientious approach on your behalf to your interviewer. Jot down in shorthand any relevant questions or thoughts that may arise in the interview, and don’t be afraid to ask them. All too often, both interviewer and interviewee can lapse into a strict and one-sided question and answer session – what you really want to achieve is an informed and interesting discussion, with questions arising from both sides.

At the end of the interview, take a moment to consider your notes and whether there is anything further you wish to add or ask. A good thing to ask at the end of an interview is whether there any areas of concern with regards to your suitability for the role. This can enable you to tackle any last reservations, and pick up on any areas where perhaps you might not have fully got across the relevance of your skills and experience. Once all areas have been covered, then thank the interviewers for their time taken in seeing you and ask them what the next steps are, if this area has not already been dealt with.

Following Up
Once you have left the interview, be sure to call your consultant immediately with your feedback. They will be keen to know how it’s gone, and keen to feedback to the client. This step can really add to the impetus of your progress if this is done quickly, and swift feedback to the client marks you out as extra enthusiastic, proactive and dedicated to the role.

If you are unsuccessful in the interview, always ask your Consultant to give you feedback on your performance, and request any pointers on things that you could have done or communicated better. Very few people are 100% successful at interviews so don’t be too despondent, but instead look at it as an opportunity to improve ahead of the next one. Be confident and good luck.