What鈥檚 the first thing to remember?
IAN MCKINLEY: Be yourself, don鈥檛 try to act differently during an interview. The important thing is to build some sort of working relationship with the person who is interviewing you. Unless they鈥檙e from human resources, they may end up being your boss. If you don鈥檛 hit it off during the interview then it is unlikely that you鈥檒l hit it off when you actually start the job. You shouldn鈥檛 necessarily act any different from the way that you would normally behave.
So how do I make the best impression?
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GEOFF FLAVELL-MATTS: Employers in the scientific industry often allow you to dress casually day-to-day, but a smart appearance at an interview is essential. If you walk into their reception in a suit, looking well-groomed with shining shoes it makes an excellent first impression. The fact that you may be shovelling soil for the first six months of your job or testing all sorts of bodily fluids in the laboratory has got no bearing on it at all.
KRIS RICHARDS: Another thing: if you are applying for a scientific job that requires you to work in clean environments, such as pharmaceutical manufacturing, you need to be aware of the health and safety issues. For example, if you have a nose stud, take it out; if you鈥檝e got long hair, tie it back.
What can I do to prepare?
GFM: The first thing is to know your CV inside out, because if they ask you about it and you give them a blank look and a giggle, then the interview is over.
IM: One question that often comes up is: 鈥淲hat do you know about our company?鈥� It is used to assess your real interest in the job, so have 50 to 100 words prepared on this in advance.
KR: I know of some employers who, as you sit down in the interview, will say: 鈥淩ight, what are your questions for me?鈥� So make sure you have a list prepared.
GFM: You could ask about their turnover, their product, or a recent press release. It looks good if you can show an interest in the company as well as the job you鈥檙e applying for. Plus if you don鈥檛 know anything about the company by the time you leave and all they鈥檝e done is ask you questions, you could be making the wrong decision and it could be the wrong company for you.
KR: If all the questions you have are covered in the interview, there is one you can always get away with asking: 鈥淪o what would I be doing on a daily basis?鈥� It鈥檚 good to get down to the nitty-gritty like this, because it conveys to the interviewer that you鈥檝e digested everything else but you still want to have that little bit of extra information.
GFM: But never, ever ask about your salary unless they bring it up.
What questions can I expect from them?
KR: This seems to be one of the favourites: 鈥淭ell me about a time when you had a conflict with a colleague and how you coped with that conflict.鈥� You might be tempted to say that this has never happened to you, but that would be a bad answer. Everyone has had at least one minor conflict at some point in their lives, so give an example. Employers want evidence that you would remain calm, listen to the other point of view and try to work towards a compromise. They also want to know that if the conflict couldn鈥檛 be resolved, you would then seek advice from a senior team member.
IM: You should work out what your strengths and weaknesses are; it鈥檚 a common question in interviews. This can be very difficult to do yourself, so spend an hour or two talking to your referees and people who know you well. It doesn鈥檛 have to be a long list, just three or four things. Even if it doesn鈥檛 come up in the interview, it鈥檚 important for you to have a realistic answer to this question. It will give you a much clearer idea of what sort of job and career suits you best. For example, would you prefer working in a lab environment, do you like working with people, or is the commercial side for you?
What are the classic mistakes?
KR: You have to watch your body language, and show a positive, interested attitude. If you鈥檙e slouched back in your chair the interviewer is going to think they are wasting their time.
IM: Poor eye contact gives the impression that either you鈥檙e shifty and might not be telling the truth, or that you are not interested in the company or the job. We reckon that you should be looking at the person you are talking to for about 90 per cent of the time.
GFM: Another one is turning up late. Always plan ahead. Make sure you know exactly which office the interview is being held at. If you are early, sit in the car park for a bit or go for a coffee. You could even make a trial journey the day before 鈥� but if you鈥檙e going to do this, do so during rush hour.
What else can I do to impress?
GFM: A tour of the workplace or laboratories is always a good thing to ask about because it shows interest in the job. But don鈥檛 necessarily insist that you have to see it at the first interview, because that may disrupt their timetable.
GFM: It鈥檚 useful to see where you would be working if you got the job. You could be interviewed in a fantastic building, but you could end up working in a shed in the backyard.
KR: I think that a lot of graduates come out of university with the impression that all labs are white, clean and shiny. It can come as a shock to realise they will have to get their hands dirty. This is particularly true in industries like chemicals or environmental science.
And I should try to make a good impression on everyone I meet, right?
IM: Yes. When you鈥檙e meeting people on the tour you are still being interviewed. If you鈥檙e going to be part of a team they may all want to talk to you so they can decide collectively who they should employ.
KR: Even the receptionist and the security guard may be asked their opinion if an employer is not sure.
GFM: I鈥檝e heard of a candidate who actually told a receptionist off and tried to tell her how to make tea. He didn鈥檛 get very far. I think that was one of the most bizarre interviews I have ever heard about.
Any final tips?
IM: Interviews are two-way streets. You should be finding out about what you鈥檙e actually being offered by way of a job. Like any business meeting, you鈥檒l get far more out of it if you prepare in advance. Also your confidence will increase knowing you have prepared; it can reduce any nervousness you might feel, which can make you behave unnaturally. I would say as much as half of the success of an interview is actually achieved before you walk into the office.
Interview by Richard Fisher