- Do NOT use salutations, e.g. Mr. and Madam. In Australia, we call people by their first names. Make sure you get the name(s) of your interviewer(s) and to call them by their first name(s). The only exception is for Doctors, who are usually called (Dr. Last-Name.) If you refer to other people in your conversation, e.g. your previous manager or a colleague, you should also use their first name (and NOT Mr./Ms. abc).
- If somebody is in the room, e.g. one of the interviewers, do NOT use he/she. Refer to them by name. It is impolite to refer to someone, who is present in the room, by he/she. This also applies to business meetings, after you start working in a company.
- When referring to people (and not a specific person), use he/she (and NOT he). In some languages and cultures, people use only masculine words, e.g. he, to refer to men and women. This is completely unacceptable in Australia. You should always say (he/she or his/her), rather than (he or his).
- Do not be late or too early. If you arrive too early, wait in in a cafe or somewhere until 5-15 minutes before your appointment. If you expect to be late, call or send an email message (if you do not know the phone number of the interviewer). Explain how late you will be for your appointment and offer to reschedule if necessary.
- Dress professionally, and do not overdress. Do not use a lot of perfume or other products, which have strong scents.
- "Show" confidence and comfort. Imagine that the interview is just another usual business meeting with your manager and colleagues, rather than a stressful interview.
- Ask questions throughout the interview. Pick some topics, which you are comfortable discussing, and see if the interviewer(s) are willing to engage in a 2-way conversation. For example, imagine that you are in a business conference and discussing the usage and effectiveness of some products in various situations, rather than simply answering interview questions. Another example, if the interviewer asks you about your knowledge about a certain technique, you can answer his/her question. Then, you can ask if they use this technique a lot in their processes and if they considered another technique, which you are familiar with.
- Be receptive. Watch what the interviewers' actions and reactions and respond to them. Do not focus on your own behaviour.
- Listen very carefully. You are expected to talk. However, if the interviewer is talking, listen very carefully to what he/she is saying. Never ever cut anybody short (Do not interrupt).
- Read the job description very carefully, a few times before you go for the interview, and imagine what sort of questions you might get. Rehearse with a friend if possible.
- Do some research on the organisation (company), which you are applying for a job in. Try to understand their objectives and values, and what they actually deliver. Use this information to give your answers some context, which is relevant to them.
- If you know the name(s) of the person(s), who you are going to meet, check their profile on LinkedIn. Be familiar with them.
- Ask the HR person or the recruiting agent, who arranged for the interview, to give you some background about the position, the organisation/company and the interviewer.
- Remember that although every part of the recruiting process is supposed to be "objective", we are all "human beings." Show that you are nice and "easy to work with."
- If they called you for an interview, most probably they are looking for confirmation that what they saw in your Resume is true. They want to hire you. Make it easy for them to take that decision. Be confident and help them see that you got what it takes to do the job.
- The first impression is a lasting impression. When the interviewer comes out to pick you from the reception area, shake hands in a professional manner with a smile. Usually, the interviewer will introduce themselves. Make sure you pick their name correctly. If you didn't, ask them politely to say it again (I am sorry, I didn't pick your name).
Good luck...
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