The big day
So, The big day has finally arrived and it’s soon going to be time for your interview.
Apparently, more than two-thirds of interview candidates check their horoscope for the day. If you find that reassuring then by all means do so. But try not to read too much into it, it could just end up unnerving you.
I’d suggest you concentrate your efforts on a number of other areas which I’ll run through with you below.
Breakfast and lunch
Whether or not you usually have something to eat for breakfast, make an effort to have breakfast on your interview day. You might not feel much like eating (that’s your nerves getting the better of you), but you definitely want to avoid going into an interview with an empty stomach. If your interview is not until the afternoon, then you should also make sure you have something to eat for lunch.
Having breakfast (or lunch) will:
- Boost your energy levels and help you think straight and focus.
- Settle any butterflies in your stomach/acid indigestion.
- Stops your stomach from gurgling embarrassingly!
Whilst having something to eat is definitely a good idea, it wouldn’t be advisable to have too heavy a meal. That might just send you to sleep!
Setting off
Make sure that you allow yourself enough time to get ready (gather your thoughts, go to the lavatory, check your appearance in the mirror etc.).
Remember to take your letter of invitation and any documentation they have asked for, for example, photo ID or certificates.
You can’t prepare for all eventualities like traffic or road accidents, so make sure you have a contact number to call in case you are going to be late.
Check the weather report. Make sure you are prepared for all possibilities. Remember: Even in summer it rains and you don’t want to be soaking wet when you arrive.
Dutch courage
Avoid alcohol. If you’ve planned and prepared properly you won’t need any ‘Dutch courage’. There are numerous stories of shy or nervous candidates turning up at interview after one drink too many, including a bus driver!
Not only does alcohol impair your judgement, the interviewer will probably smell it on you.
It’s probably best to avoid drinking too much the night before as well. You don’t want to turn up for an interview hungover and dehydrated, and suffer from the dreaded ‘dry mouth’. It could make it rather difficult to answer the questions!
Conversely, you should also avoid drinking too much water because you certainly don’t want to have to interrupt the interview to go to the lavatory. Going to the lavatory on arrival for your interview or just prior to your departure never makes for a very good impression either.
It’s now been fairly conclusively proved that drinking coffee doesn’t actually cause dehydration. However, limiting your caffeine intake is advisable nonetheless. You definitely don’t want to appear overly manic to your interviewer. If you’ve ever seen the film Trainspotting, then you may recall Spud’s famous interview! If not then try searching for ‘Spud trainspotting interview video’ on the Internet and you’ll be sure to find a clip.
You should also avoid any non-prescription drugs.
BLOOPER!
Asked if he would mind undergoing a drugs test, one candidate replied, ‘Not at all – I’m happy to test any drugs you like!’
TOP TIP
You should always make sure you take a copy of your CV – or application form – with you so that you can refer to it immediately prior to – and even during – the interview if necessary. Ideally you shouldn’t need to refer to it too much; reading through it shortly before the interview should be sufficient to refresh your memory of its contents.
Interview with a vampire
I would recommend steering clear of garlic, curry and other pungent foods before your interview, or even the night before. They’re likely to remain on your breath and, if you sweat when you’re nervous (and most of us do), the organic chemicals that cause these odours are likely to ooze out of your skin and evaporate into the air around you. Best avoided, really!
Also, whilst you might feel a greater need for a cigarette than usual, try a nicotine patch for the day instead. Smoke before an interview and the smell will follow you into the interview room on your breath, your clothes and in your hair. As an ex-smoker myself, I know that nicotine patches don’t relieve the craving as effectively as a cigarette does but today is definitely one day when it will be worth the suffering!
Gum chum
Whilst chewing gum might be a good idea to freshen your breath before your interview, make sure you discard it before you arrive for the interview. I have interviewed candidates who chewed their way through an interview, and it definitely doesn’t make for a good impression. Neither does it make for a good impression to arrive in reception and drop your gum in the bin. Bin it before you even get to the premises.
HELLO?! YES! NO! I’M AT AN INTERVIEW! WHAT?!
Surveys show that having a mobile phone ring during an interview, or worse, actually answering a mobile phone during an interview, is a top ten reason for a recruiter to reject a candidate. Unless you’re applying to work as a Dom Joly lookalike, don’t even think about leaving your phone switched on.
- Make sure your mobile phone is switched off before you get to the interview.
- Make sure it stays switched off during the interview.
- Make sure it stays switched off until you have most definitely left the building.
- Make sure you don’t forget any of the above!
BLOOPER!
One candidate answered her phone and then asked if the interviewer would mind leaving his own office because it was a ‘private’ conversation!
If you do forget to turn your phone off and it rings during the interview, ignore it, or turn it off as discreetly as possible so as to ensure it doesn’t ring again, and apologise sincerely to the interviewer. You might just about be able to salvage the situation.