---

The Interview: The Four Ps - Plan, Prepare, Participate and Be Positive.

As individuals who are looking to find employment the interview proves to be the most daunting task. But this doesn’t have to be the case using the four Ps system: Plan, Prepare, Participate and Be Positive. This is a system that was devised by CV Satisfaction which covers all areas of the interview from the beginning to the end. Let’s look at each one individually.

Plan

Planning for the interview is more significant than attending the interview itself. Without successful and careful planning you have given yourself no chance to progress further as you would have made a bad first impression. Remember you only have one chance at making a good first impression.

Plan how you are getting to the interview. Car, bus, bike or walking are all good options depending on the distance and location. Do a trail run to give you an estimate of the time it takes to get to the location so you don’t arrive late on the day of the interview. Always make time to arrive early; you can wait in the reception area to get a feel of the company. Remember, once in the reception make sure you are sat up straight and are concentrating as you don’t know when you will be called into the interview room.

It is essential that you research the company you are going to have the interview with. The worst thing you can do is go into the company unsighted. You need to see what the company does, what services or products it provides and the history of the business. The best way to do this is by checking their website.

Prepare

Preparation for an interview can be as hard as you want to make it. But the simple solution is don’t make it to hard for yourself. By being fully prepared you are reducing your stress levels and giving yourself the best opportunity to shine in the interview. A couple of points that you need to consider when preparing for the interview:

• Make sure you have the correct attire. If not go and purchase what you require. By dressing correctly you come across presentable and show your desire for the job.
• Do a mock interview with a family member or friend. By doing a mock interview it will allow you to get used to the sort of questions that might be asked. Make sure that the person interviewing you takes it serious and puts you on the spot as many times as possible to make you think about your answers.
• Have a fully complete CV with you. Even though you have sent your CV it’s always good to have a few spare copies with you to give out to the other interviewers. This shows you are organised and prepared. Make sure you can explain everything on your CV from your grades to your achievements. Also at the end of the interview you can give them your CV to help them remember you if they haven’t already got one.

By taking these 3 easy steps you are giving yourself more of a chance to make a lasting impression.

Participate

When in the interview don’t be afraid to talk. I strongly recommend opening the conversation with these effortless phrases such as “how are you?” or “how is your day going”. By asking these questions you are getting a feel of the way the interviewer is feeling and have broken the ice. Also be the person that offers their hand for the handshake. By doing these two simple actions you are coming across as approachable and confident which will impress the interviewer from the start and settle any nerves you may have. Once in the room you should wait to sit down until the interviewer has taken their seat. This shows respect and responsibility. As the interview is taking place make sure you are always sat up straight to show you are concentrating and absorbing all the information from the question. When it comes to the questions make sure you answer in detail and not just a yes or no reply. The response should be detailed and quick. You should talk about your past and focusing on the relevant skills to answer the question. Don’t be afraid to talk about yourself in great detail after all that’s the whole point of the interview – to sell yourself to the business.

Be Positive

Before, during and after the interview remember to stay positive. If you go in with the attitude I’m not going to get the job, you won’t. Interviewers assess your body language along with your answers. So if you have the correct attitude you will be on with a winning combination if you are fully prepared. This will show throughout the interview and will be noted by the interviewer. The interview is also a time for you to find out about the company and what it can offer you. Ask about what training courses are available and what the bonus scheme is like. Remember, ask when you will be informed if you have the job or not and if you haven’t been informed by that date, ring up and ask. Employers welcome this as it’s sometimes done as a test and by responding you are showing being proactive and that you’re interested. Always keep your options open, if you see a job your interested in when you are awaiting your response apply for it as you don’t know what the answer will be.

This technique is a tool that we strongly recommend to everyone. It has been used by first time interviewees and people that have experienced interviews before. Both would agree that this technique is well worth using and by following these steps you are giving yourself the best opportunity possible to get the job.

Example interview questions guide (PDF Format, 79KB)

FAQs during interviews (PDF Format, 99KB)