Learn all you can about the company (locations, culture, recent changes) and their requirements from your SSR Consultant. Where possible obtain a copy of the company's product information, brochures, annual reports and job description held by SSR. Additional information can be gathered through the press, your local library, and the internet. Confirm your interview and make sure you know the following: i) who you will be meeting, ii) details of the job role on offer, iii) what attracted our client to you (special skills, location, experience etc).

If the interview is in an area you are unfamiliar with, take a test run so you can plan your journey time on the day. Do not arrive too early, and certainly do not arrive late (be sure you have a copy of your CV and a pen and note pad with you).

LOOK THE PART

Attempt to establish the accepted dress code. If you are applying through an agency, ask your consultant. If necessary, you could observe this by visiting the office.

MATCH YOUR INTERVIEWER'S STYLE

It is important that you quickly establish rapport with your interviewer. Once you are through the door, look for signs of the type of person interviewing you. Family photographs or sporting trophies indicate a warm, chatty interviewer. This person may appear to dwell on peripheral issues and you will need to carefully guide the discussion back to the purpose of the meeting. An interviewer with statistical data on wall charts means they will probably want detailed answers - how you are going to research and target the product or service? An office that is 'buzzing' means your interviewer will be results orientated - so give them the bottom line of what you can contribute, how much you can save, or how much you can make for them.

It has been estimated that 70% of all hiring decisions are based on personal chemistry, therefore learning to speak the interviewer's language, is vital. Watch out for, and mirror, their pace, volume and style.

INSTANT RAPPORT

Be courteous to everyone from the moment you walk through the front door, treat everyone you meet as if they have the power to hire you.
As you walk from reception to the interviewer's office, begin with some light chat to help yourself relax. Talk about their offices, pass a favourable comment on the facilities, decor or a local place of interest. Whatever you discuss be upbeat and confident from the outset.

When you sit be comfortable, but assume a forward leaning posture. This conveys that you are interested - do not lean too far forward, you may appear to be pushing the interviewer into a corner. Certainly, do not lean back and adopt a casual stance - interviewers perceive this as informality or arrogance. Ask if you can take brief notes, and jot down any items you may want to refer to later. If your interviewer smokes, it is generally considered best not to smoke. Many companies now have no smoking policies, so be prepared to have any smoking habits curtailed or restricted during working hours.

Be aware of any fidgeting tendencies you have and find something else to do with your hands - folded in your lap is fairly safe or clasping pen and paper is acceptable.

BE ORGANISED

Remember that this is your opportunity to find out if this is the sort of environment in which you would be happy to work. Have your own agenda of what you want to cover. Your questions should be relevant, and reflect you have done some research. You might ask questions relating to their products, markets or technical specifications. Don't try to be clever, a manager confronted with a "know all" candidate may not feel comfortable with a challenger - you!

You may want to know what some of the primary objectives of the job are, what responsibilities are critical, what will your performance be judged on, how will it be measured.

Having questions like these ready avoids a deathly silence when asked if you have any further questions.

SELL YOURSELF

Practice talking about yourself and your accomplishments to friends, family and anyone who will listen. Rehearse a two to three minute introduction to use when you are asked to 'Tell me about yourself'. "I am an Electrical Engineer with fifteen years experience in heavy machinery. My background includes a position as plant maintenance supervisor, responsible for service and repairs at three sites. I have managed a team of twenty technicians and mechanics, and, under my supervision, turn-around time on repairs has reduced by 10%. Over the past three years I have been involved in a team which makes recommendations to the purchasing department for replacement equipment within our division."

Do not be modest about your accomplishments, but be factual, be proud of and proclaim your achievements.

SHOW YOUR RESEARCH

Use every opportunity to show that you have done your homework. However, do not speak for more than two minutes, and do not be a "know all". Rather than ask what gross sales were last year - refer to a figure from a report showing an increase / decrease, then ask if that reflects local or international sales.

DO NOT STUMBLE

Practice the tough questions so that your responses comes across positively and naturally. Be prepared to answer any of three types of question: standard, open-ended, and structured.

Standard questions require a straight forward 'yes' or 'no' response. Are you prepared to relocate? Try a brief, but not abrupt, answer, like "I have not specifically discussed relocation with my family, but they have always been supportive of my career".

Open ended questions invite you to talk. Tell me about yourself? What are your future goals? These answers should be rehearsed so that you provide a clear response, conveying the important information required, within two minutes.

Structured interview questions discourage candidates from embellishing their responses. A professional interviewer may say "tell me how you would introduce and support our new database software" or "how would you plan and implement the relocation of our warehouse function to the North East."

Whatever the style, do not feel rushed into giving an answer. Pausing before responding indicates thoughtfulness. Think carefully about what the company is looking for before your answer, and then do so slowly and confidently.

A poor interviewer may ask you a closed question, i.e. "Do you have experience in a product launch?" You may be prompted to say "yes" or "no" and then a silence crashes around your ears. This is because the interviewer really wants the meat or specifically: what, when, how, achievements, accomplishments, impact, costs, savings, etc.

Bear the following in mind:-

i) Do not say anything derogatory about your former employer or colleagues.

ii) Do not discuss personal issues - family or health matters would not normally be relevant.

iii) Do not reveal confidential or proprietary information.

iv) Do not be impatient or lose concentration if the interview is interrupted several times.

v) The job interview should be a two-way conversation. If confronted with someone who does all the talking remember the meter is running and they are using up your time.

vi) The same applies to you - do not be remembered for being the bore on Tuesday morning. Be the candidate that appeared prepared, competent, confident and compatible. Good luck! Good luck!

ESTABLISH NEXT STEPS

Do not be a pawn, ask about the interview process. Before you leave, find out what the next step is, when you might hear, who makes the ultimate decision and when they hope to fill the position.

EXPRESS GRATITUDE

Companies usually favour candidates with good interpersonal skills - they want you to be likeable. Thank the interviewer at the start and end of the meeting for their time and remember to follow up with a thank you note.
When you do write, restate why you are interested in the position, what you have to offer the employer, and that you desire to meet for another interview if accepting an offer.