Hi Ghislane.

My interview advice is that to get as far as the interview you have already impressed them with your CV and any other correspondence that you have sent them.

At interview they are looking for someone who is as impressive as the view that they have already developed of you.

Be smart.

Be on time.

always maintain eye contact. actually, just to reemphasise the importance of that one "ALWAYS MAINTAIN EYE CONTACT".

smile and nod at the right times.

Have all of your relevant documents with you in a folder and photocopies of those documents for their records. (they would take copies but it always seems better prepared when you come already with them prepared).

Be prepared for an impromptu test on Excel as this seems to be a favorite. The test will cover all of the basics plus pivot tables and maybe Vlookups. Don't worry if your not fully conversant with pivot tables yet as from Excel 2007 they became much simpler and you should be able to pick them up in an hour or so of playing with Excel.

If the position uses Sage be prepared for questions about which nominal code would you use for X.

Never speak badly about former employers.

Be prepared to answer questions about why you left any former employer.

If you have any short positions on your CV these will be singled out for you to justify why the position was so short.

Gaps in the CV are not as frowned upon as they once were so if you have those don't worry too much about them. Short positions without good reason are generally considered much worse than short gaps.

Don't be caught off gaurd. If there's a question that you can't answer don't guess at it but say that you can't remember the answer off the top of your head but know exactly where to find the information.... Don't use that too many times in the interview though. Think of it as a joker card that you can play once.

I've been on both sides of the desk for interviews and from the employer perspective the main thing that you are thinking when another candidate walks through the door is "Can I sit opposit this person for at least the next six months of my life".

In a situation that comes down to two candidates, one that gave perfect answers but came accross in an unfreindly manner and one who gave excellent but less than perfect answers but was very freindly and outgoing, to my mind I would accept one that I felt more comfortable with over the one with the perfect answers. (So I would consider Neil to be very employable).

All employers are different. Whats right at one interview is totally wrong at another so taking everyone's advice into consideration just be yourself, give the best answers that you can... Oh, and always maintain eye contact!!!

Sure that there are more things that I've forgotten to write. If I remember them I'll post a follow up,

All the best for the big day,

Shaun.

p.s. edited to emphasise that this one was the reply to Ghislane rather than Neil.

Spamkebab wrote:

So i'm in the interview.

All suited up.

Old comfty Adidas on...................................

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 O no how awful!!  How can you be so over prepared than caught short at the last moment..

Especiallly woman always look at shoes.  I take it you did'nt hear back from them.

Admittedly a funny story