How to Impress in an Interview

Your well laid out CV and engaging cover letter have landed you an invitation to interview for your ideal job. What’s standing between you and success is knowing how to impress in an interview to make a lasting impression and stand out from other candidates.

We all know you should never judge a book by its cover, but we’re all guilty of it. There may be a classic novel lurking behind that sleeve, but we rarely take it off the shelf and open it to find out. Unfortunately, it can be the same with interviews: first impressions count. If you turn up looking a mess or with a scowl on your face, you may as well have saved the bus fare.

Top Tips to Impress at a Job Interview

What an interviewer or panel will remember about you begins the moment you arrive, so start as you mean to go on with our top tips:

1. Arrive on Time

Firstly, and most importantly, make sure you arrive around ten minutes before your interview is scheduled. If you are worried that your timekeeping may let you down, give the journey a trial run beforehand if possible. This will hopefully highlight any potential travel issues or unexpected diversions, such as heavier traffic at that time of day or alternate routes you could take. On the day, leave yourself plenty of time and be sure to check any travel information about trains, buses, or road closures that could result in a last-minute delay.

2. Dress Appropriately

Your interviewer will probably see you before they hear you, so knowing what to wear in an interview can put you ten points ahead of the opposition before you've even opened your mouth. Different industries have varying expectations when it comes to dress code. For example, industries like financial and legal services usually require corporate attire, while more creative workplaces often opt for a dressed-down look. If you’re interviewing for a role in customer service, although you won’t have the uniform you may wear on the actual job, it’s good to show that you know how to look clean and tidy. It’s a good rule of thumb to be too formal rather than too casual, but if you want to be sure you can even ask the person scheduling your interview what their dress code is.

3. Treat Everyone with Politeness and Professionalism

Start your courtesy at the door. Even before you get to the interview room or meet your interviewers, be well-mannered and positive with the reception staff and anyone else you encounter on the way to your interview. You could be working with them in a few weeks' time. This is also a great opportunity to warm up your voice, relax a bit, and build up some confidence before your interview starts. You will have no idea of the structure of the company or who has influence in the decision-making process so treat everyone with equal courtesy.

4. Benefit from Body Language

Your body language and handshake are vital in creating the right impression. Make sure you're not avoiding eye contact, glancing nervously from side-to-side, playing with your clothing or fiddling with the zip on your bag. If your prone to managing your nerves this way, take time to practice in front of a mirror before the big day. Try clasping your hands together on your lap to avoid fiddling, secure your hair back off your face to remove the temptation to touch it too much, or make sure your tie is comfortable before you arrive, so you don’t fidget with it.

5. Be Positive

Showing a positive attitude is the single most valuable first impression you can make. To impress at a job interview, always be as positive about everything as you can - especially in the first few minutes. Even if you've had a horrible journey to the office, try not to let your frustration show. Don't forget to smile and show interest in what you are being asked. Positivity is particularly important when you’re being quizzed about your current or most-recent role. Never bad-mouth your employer, however much you might be looking forward to leaving. Show the interviewer that you're here because you see it as a positive career move or new challenge - not because you're running from a job you're not happy in or were desperate to get away from.

Avoiding Nerves and Building up the Right Impression

Many have asked: How to impress at an interview? Especially when these experiences are often scary, sometimes intimidating and frequently stressful. This is a theatrical performance - they are the audience, you are the performer, and you're on your own. But don't be freaked out by it all.

Above all it’s important to try and stay calm and to:

• remember why you're there
• be clear about what you want to say and ask
• keep your cool and don’t rush your answers

Preparing properly for your interview should put you at ease as you'll have confidence that you know enough about yourself, the role, and the company to answer the common interview questions.

How to impress at an interview? Prepare with Monster

Whatever job you’re looking for and wherever you are in your career, you’ll find your ideal match on Monster. Save jobs you like and receive personalised notifications when new ones are listed. When you’re ready, optimise and upload your CV, then prepare to make a lasting impression at your interview.