12 things you should never do at an interview

Job interview nightmares revealed

How did I do?

When it comes to the end of an interview, this one could be a deal-breaker.

It may seem like an innocuous (or worse, ‘humorous’) question at the time, but no matter how much rapport you feel you’ve built, asking how you did is likely to put the interviewer in an uncomfortable position. And more practically, it’s unlikely they’ll be able to provide you with the answer you’re looking for.

So avoid temptation and shy away from compliment-fishing.

Instead, ask them when you can expect to hear from them and send a follow-up emailthanking them for their time. Trust us, it’s a much better reflection.

What you should be asking: Could you give a description of your ideal candidate? When can I expect to hear from you?

Four ways to follow up after an application

Why haven’t they called? The importance of asking for feedback

Honourable mentions: How long will this take? How important is it that I turn up on time? What’s your social media policy? How long is lunch? Does the company monitor emails? Do you perform background checks? Do you fancy going for a drink after this?

Final thoughts

Some of these questions may seem like common sense, but you’d be surprised how many times they come up in interviews.

Aside from the examples above, the biggest tip we can give is simply to listen. Remember to remain attentive at all times. That way, you can avoid asking anything that you should already know the answer to.

Finally, never underestimate the power of preparation.

Making a list of good questions to ask before you arrive on the big day will keep all embarrassing situations and awkward silences to a minimum.

And, if you’re struggling for inspiration, here’s a handy list of questions you should be asking.

How to: Prepare for an interview – you can never be too prepared

When it comes to an interview, you can never be too prepared… Whether you’re new to job hunting, or you’re a well-practiced interviewee – thorough research and effective preparation is absolutely essential to guarantee interview success. Attempting to ‘wing it’ will only ever end badly (and/or in awkward silences). We’ve already covered telephone interview dos and don’ts and video interview tips, but if you’re invited to a face-to-face interview – here are our top tips on how to prepare:

Getting started

First things first, you need to know what to prepare for.

Aside from giving you an insight into the role and organisation, good interview preparation will also give you some all-important confidence. Let’s face it, no-one likes surprises.

But what specific preparation should you carry out? Here are a few key things to cover:

• Research the company
• Look up your role
• Find the address
• Pick an outfit
• Think of some potential questions your interviewer may ask
• Prepare some potential questions you could ask at the end of the interview
• 101 interview questions you’ll never fear again

The week before the interview Research the company

Interviewers expect candidates to have a good grasp of what their organisation does – meaning your ability to research effectively is essential.

Consider aspects like: how big the company is, how it’s divided up, who their customers are, and who their main competitors are – as well as any recent developments or plans within the company.With this knowledge, you’ll be able to add value to the conversation, whilst showing a genuine interest in what they do.

Read the job description

When it comes to interview preparation, the job description is your best friend. Not only will a thorough examination of the duties and required personal qualities help you to understand more about what the role entails – it’ll also help you to recognise exactly what the employer is looking for.Then, you can tailor your answers accordingly – coming up with tangible examples that prove you’re the best candidate for the role.What job adverts really mean

Figure out the format

Interviews can take a number of forms – from one-on-one and group interviews, to position-specific tests, role plays, and psychometric questionnaires. And each one will require a different type of preparation. Often, this will be explained when you’re invited to the interview, but there’s no harm in asking for more information if needed. Researching online to find out how the process has worked for other people in your situation will also help you to figure out what to expect.

Finding out who your interviewer(s) will be and researching their roles within the organisation will additionally help to reduce surprises on the big day. You can look these up on the company website, or try finding them on LinkedIn.

• Competency-based interviews: What you need to know
• Group interview tasks and activities

Write things down

Unfortunately, you can’t predict every interview question that’ll come up. So instead of relying solely on memorised answers, prepare an additional list of your most relevant skills, attributes, and work experience. Each question you address will be an opportunity to provide some of this information to the interviewer. That way, you can get be sure you’ll get your most suitable qualities across – even if the specific questions you were hoping for don’t come up.What are transferable skills?

The day before the interview

Although you should have the bulk of your preparation done by now – that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to organise the day before. Here are a few things to do:

• Pick your outfit and try it on
• Find a map of the location
• Do a trial run to check the journey time
• Put important information into a folder (e.g. your CV, portfolio, certificates, or any other examples of your work and/or qualifications)
• Read and review the research you’ve done

Sorting out all of the above in advance will mean less stress on the day of the interview.

You’ll be sure your outfit fits, you’ll know exactly where you’re going, and with all of your important documents to hand – the interviewer will be able to see you’re prepared.

Even if you don’t end up needing examples of your work – they could turn out to be a great way to demonstrate a point or answer a question.

• Pre-interview checklist
• The day of the interview
• By now, you should feel prepared.

All that’s left to do is get there on time, and put your preparation to good use.

Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before your scheduled interview time – and if you’re going to be late for any reason, make sure you inform the interviewer as early as possible.

If you’re still feeling nervous – don’t panic. Here’s our guide to help you deal with stress in an interview.