You’ve taken the time to present yourself in the best light during the application process, and you’ve secured yourself an interview – congratulations! If you are someone who finds interviews to be an anxiety-inducing situation, you’re not alone. The good news is there are a number of things you can do to present yourself in the best light in person, and help you feel more prepared by eliminating the nerves brought on by the unknown! Let’s take a look at some of these tips in more detail…

Do your research beforehand.

This applies to both the business, and the person you’re meeting with. Your recruiter should be able to download with you and provide a whole range of insights into to the company and the person you are meeting, but it is important to do your own homework as well.  Establish the format of the interview, is it informal or will there be competency based questions with a panel?

Visit is the company website to find out more about their history, their values and purpose, as well as potentially getting an idea of the company structure and the individuals you are meeting with. We know some websites can be limited so use LinkedIn or other social media channels to help you build a picture.  This research will show that you are organised and committed so it is important not to overlook this.

Do a dry run of your journey to your agreed meeting place.

We would always recommend you map out your journey, and possibly even take the time to test the journey in advance, to understand the challenges you may face including traffic volumes any roadworks on your route or where to get parked.

Punctuality / Dress code.

If you’ve had the opportunity to map out your route this will help mitigate any unexpected issues with travelling to your interview on the day.  Arrive prompt but the sweet spot would be around 10 – 15 minutes ahead of your agreed time to give you some time or arrival to calm any last-minute nerves. Ensure your dress code is smart, enough to set a good impression, there’s not usually a need to get out your 3-piece suit or Sunday best!

Engage in good eye contact.

This is one that is often forgotten about, eye contact is one of the greatest ways to show engagement in a conversation and build rapport so don’t underestimate it’s power.  Find the balance though, to avoid awkward lengths of contact, stick to the rule of 5 seconds.  This is a particularly important interview skill as it links in with so many other skills you are looking to demonstrate i.e. engagement and confidence.

Come prepared with questions.

Questions will not only drive home your dedication to the company and cement your interest in the role, but it will help shape your view of what working there would look like. Interviews are a two-way process (it is important not to forget this) and questions help you gather the information that is important to you that an interviewer might not naturally cover.  Sourcing this may well play a pivotal role in informing your decision to move to the next stage of the process so make sure you take time in the build-up to put some thought to the kind of things that you might like to know more about.

Bonus – Handshake.

This can feel strange in a Post-Covid world. But, if the person is comfortable with it, a handshake can really set the right tone at the beginning of the meeting and / or at the end. A handshake says a lot without words – it can speak of your ability to hold presence in the room and demonstrate your confidence around new people.