6 Things

you definitely should do during a job interview

We get them a lot and often; applicants. Some better than others, so I’ll give you some tips so that you don’t stumble and stutter through your first appointment, but instead shine gloriously and confidently land that job. Let’s go.

Check the route

Obvious, but you’ll see that you often arrive just a bit late or just in the nick of time. You don’t know the route to that company or the train connection is just a bit off. My tip: drive the route a day in advance so you know where you need to be. That gives you a clear mind as you drive to the appointment itself.

Have your CV with you in multiples

If you make sure to have your CV (read here how to write a nice CV by the way) printed out and also have two extra for your conversation partners, you’ll definitely have an advantage. It immediately shows that you think ahead and that it’s in your nature to make things pleasant for others.

Ask questions

Not immediately of course, and it shouldn’t be that you are the one determining the rhythm of the conversation, but if they ask you if you want to know anything, it’s strong if you have some smart questions prepared. What do you want to focus on this year? What are the growth opportunities within the company? Those kinds of things. Questions that show you’re not a passive sheep, but someone who thinks ahead and wants to move forward.

Radiate that this is what you want

I recently heard someone on a TV program (okay, it was Een Dubbeltje Op Zijn Kant and the woman in question was quite desperate) where someone said during an interview that she would do ‘anything’ and that ‘it didn’t matter to her’ as long as she had ‘something’. That’s obviously not quite the right attitude. It’s nice if you can explain to that employer that this job and no other is the one for you. Without losing your cool of course. Because they should also be happy with you.

Prepare yourself

When I was editor-in-chief at RTL Boulevard, I once had a conversation with an applicant together with my colleague. Our question was what she thought of the broadcast from the day before. She hadn’t seen it. That can happen, so we took the broadcast from the day before that. Also not seen. Then my colleague said he was ending the conversation because if she didn’t take the effort to prepare, he didn’t want to waste his precious time. At the moment, I thought it was a bit harsh, but he was of course right. If you don’t do that, you’re at least not suitable for a daily live TV program where you are expected to watch everything that moves and read everything that has letters on it.

Don’t talk about money

And especially not during a first conversation. First, let’s see if you like each other and if they think you’re good enough for the job. Moreover, you assume that they will surely pay what a top performer like you deserves. Tips for asking for a higher salary, by the way, you can find here. Just for interns; I really turn green when an intern asks about the amount of the compensation even before I’ve hired them. You’re an intern, you’re learning, you should be humble and grateful that you’re allowed to observe the big boys and girls.