Interviews for part-time jobs

Research the employer and the job. Read its company literature and its website; find out who its competitors are and read any relevant industry magazines or national newspapers for background information.
Re-read your application form or CV and covering letter. Try to come up with different examples and answers to questions that were covered, and think about what the interviewer may ask you to expand upon. And remember to take a copy of your CV or application form with you.
Check travel arrangements and plan to arrive about 15 minutes early so you can settle down and relax – there’s nothing worse than arriving late in a sweaty rush!
Practise your answers with a friend and anticipate certain questions you’ll be asked.
Prepare any questions you may have for them but avoid anything already covered on their website.
Think of specific examples to demonstrate skills you know the employer is looking for. Look at the job description and relate your examples to the specifications.

Think about your body language. Avoid negative body language such as folding your arms or legs, and try to keep nervous habits (touching your hair or face) to a minimum. Keep your head up and your shoulders back.
Maintain a decent level of eye contact throughout the interview, but especially at the start. If there’s more than one interviewer, address the person who asked the question but remember to look at the others as well.
Smile! Enthusiasm is a big selling point, and if you look happy to be there it’s a very good start.
Keep your handshake firm and dryish. It may sound old-fashioned, but a limp handshake lingers long in the memory.
Remember, the only partial cures for nerves are, and this is very dull and predictable, good preparation and practice.
Oh, and remember to breathe. A few deep breaths in through the nose and out through the mouth before you go in can really help.

There are three areas that you will be asked about: your life, the job that you are applying for and the organisation that you hope will employ you. They are already impressed by your application, so you just need to show them you are just as good as they think and will fit in with their company culture.
Be enthusiastic and don’t be afraid to use your hands to animate your answers (don’t go over the top though or they may think you’re having a panic attack!)
Give lots of examples of how your experience and skills match their requirements. You can repeat examples from your application form or CV but be prepared to expand on them further.
If asked about your ‘weaknesses’ or ‘negative points’, try to turn a weakness into a strength by showing how you confronted the problem and have learnt from it.
Give optimistic responses and never be negative or apologetic about yourself. If the interviewer wants to discuss something that didn’t go to plan, concentrate on what you learnt from the experience.
Saying too little is as big a mistake as talking too much. Short answers put pressure on the interviewer.

Make a few notes on what you thought went well and what didn’t and how you could have tackled certain questions differently.
If you get rejected, don’t be afraid to ring up and ask for feedback.

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