![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn-01.cms-ap-v2i.applyflow.com\/first-people-recruitment-solutions\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PRF_3feat.png\")
<\/p>\n\n\t<\/p>\n
\n\tFinding your first professional job can be challenging and interviews are often the most unfamiliar and nerve-racking part of the whole experience.<\/p>\n
\n\tAfter all, this is your big chance to sell your skills, experience and personality to your future employers<\/p>\n
\n\tAlthough they might seem daunting, we\u2019re here to help with this article offering some practical interview tips for graduates that will help you secure the job.<\/p>\n
\n\tOne of the best steps you can take is to research both the role you are applying for and the company you are interviewing with. In an interview, employers are looking for candidates who show interest and knowledge of the role. You can start by Googling the job title and learning about the day-to-day responsibilities of the job and what will be required.<\/p>\n
\n\tIf you wanted to go further, you could reach out to people with the same job title through LinkedIn and ask them about their experience. Working knowledge of the role will make you feel more confident and prepare you better for any specific or technical questions in the interview.<\/p>\n
\n\tIt is also important to show an interviewer that you are knowledgeable about your potential employer and what they do. Spend some time on their website and become familiar with different industry terms and the type of projects and clients they work with.<\/p>\n
\n\tDemonstrating your understanding of the company and its place in the industry will show an interviewer that you are committed to the role. Combining this knowledge with what you have learned about the role itself will help you stand out from other applicants.<\/p>\n
\n\tEven experienced professionals get nervous before an interview and it is perfectly natural to feel this way. However, when you\u2019re nervous you tend to make mistakes which can hurt your chances of landing the role. As time passes, you will feel less nervous as you go on more interviews and become more familiar with the process.<\/p>\n
\n\tBut you can also grow your confidence by conducting practice interviews with the help of a friend or family member. Most interviewers ask a fairly standard set of questions. Your interviewer might provide these to you ahead of time but you can also find the most common ones online.<\/p>\n
\n\tThe best way to prepare is to act like it\u2019s the real thing \u2013 ask whoever is helping you to really act out the role of the Hiring Manager so that it feels like a proper interview and not just a meeting with your mum. Make sure you wear the clothes you will for your actual interview and enter the room and greet the person interviewing you like it is your first time meeting them. Treating the practice interview like the real one will help you to get in the zone and get used to the feelings and environment ahead of time.<\/p>\n
\n\tThere will always be situations and graduate interview questions that you cannot prepare for though. During your practice, ask whoever is interviewing you to add in some questions of their own or push for more detailed answers at random points. Doing this will keep you on your toes and help you remain composed when responding to unplanned questions and situations. The more comfortable you can become with the unexpected in interviews, the more successful you will be.<\/p>\n
\n\tA lack of relevant experience may seem daunting when you interview for a graduate position but don\u2019t let it deter you. Firstly, any employer hiring for a graduate position expect limited on-the-job experience \u2013 they aren\u2019t going to hold it against you.<\/p>\n
\n\tThe best way of overcoming this is to draw from experience in previous jobs or other areas of your life and highlight your transferable skills. If you\u2019ve worked in hospitality, talk about the customer service and interpersonal skills you have developed. If you\u2019ve worked in retail then you have sales experience and understand targets and KPIs as part of a team. Instead of worrying about your lack of professional experience, focus on what other skills you possess that an employer may want in a professional setting.<\/p>\n
\n\tDon\u2019t limit your focus to just your previous jobs. Hobbies and extracurricular activities such as sports and volunteer work often impart valuable skills, knowledge and qualities that you might not appreciate at first. Discuss these aspects of your life with reference to what you have gained from them.<\/p>\n
\n\tFor instance, playing a team sport might have given you experience working in a team towards a common goal or leadership skills. Similarly, involvement in volunteer roles or social clubs may have given you project management experience and familiarity liaising with stakeholders \u2013 two skills that are highly valued in any professional role.<\/p>\n
\n\tEmployers mostly use interviews as a chance to discuss your skills and experience in more detail and it is crucial that you are able to do so with anything mentioned in your CV. When you\u2019re asked about a previous job, employers really want to know three things:<\/p>\n
\n\tThese last two points are the ones that will tell them whether you\u2019re a good fit for the position they want to fill. A useful strategy is to go through your CV and ask yourself these two questions \u2013 what did you do and what did you learn? Doing so will allow you to speak confidently about your past experience when it comes to your interview.<\/p>\n
\n\tTo really stand out, make sure to link your CV back to the role you\u2019re interviewing for. When discussing your responsibilities in previous jobs, try to mention how they were similar to your future responsibilities. Likewise, talk about how the lessons you have learned in previous jobs can be applied to this new role.<\/p>\n
\n\tIf you\u2019re discussing specific skills you possess, make sure to mention how they relate to the job description or other aspects of the role discussed in the interview. Connecting your skills and experience back to the role you\u2019ve applied for will make a lasting impression on your interviewer and show that you have thought seriously about what you can bring to the job.<\/p>\n
\n\tAs much as they are trying to learn about your suitability for the role, your interviewer is also trying to learn about you and first impressions matter.<\/p>\n
\n\tBe On-Time<\/strong><\/p>\n \n\tTurning up late without a reasonable excuse almost guarantees you won\u2019t get the job, so make sure you plan out how you\u2019re going to get to the interview and what you need.<\/p>\n \n\tPlan to arrive early in case of traffic or a lack of parking if you\u2019re driving, or unexpected delays if you\u2019re using public transport. Arriving early will also give you some time to compose yourself before the interview, go over any questions and answers and calm those last-minute nerves.<\/p>\n \n\tIf you\u2019re held up for reasons out of your control, don\u2019t worry. Simply call ahead and explain the situation to your recruiter or Hiring Manager so they can make alternative arrangements.<\/p>\n \n\tChances are that your first graduate role will expect a higher level of professionalism than previous jobs you\u2019ve had, and this is especially true in interviews. Be polite and respectful towards everyone you meet on the day because you can guarantee your interviewer will ask them about you once you leave.<\/p>\n \n\tBe Polite<\/strong><\/p>\n \n\tBe confident in your abilities but not arrogant and never assume that you have got the job until an offer is on the table. Remember that every person you meet before, during or after the interview is giving up their time to speak to you, so be sure to thank them for it and show your appreciation.<\/p>\n \n\tBe Presentable<\/strong><\/p>\n \n\tJust as there are certain expectations for professionalism, there are also expectations for appearance. Many workplaces, even in large corporations, have become more relaxed about their dress codes but it is always better to be a little overdressed than underdressed when you interview.<\/p>\n \n\tIf you\u2019re feeling unsure, just think about what you would wear to a graduation ceremony or an important family dinner and go with that. Make sure your hair is neat, your teeth are brushed and your clothes are clean and ironed. You\u2019d be surprised at the difference a freshly pressed shirt can make in an interview.<\/p>\n \n\tGoing for your first graduate interview is a major milestone in life and one that comes with a lot of expectations and nerves. It is easy to overthink things and become stressed about what to do but with these top interview tips in mind you will have the best chance at success.<\/p>\n \n\tDo some practice interviews to get comfortable with the process and be prepared for any unexpected questions. Research both the job and the company thoroughly before your interview so that you can speak with knowledge and confidence when the time comes. Study your CV and ask yourself what each item on it has taught you and what skills it will allow you to bring to the role. Finally, present yourself well and be polite at all stages of the interview as it could be the difference between getting the job or not.<\/p>\n \n\tIf you\u2019re looking for ways to kickstart your career or for other top tips<\/a> for graduates, First People Recruitment Solutions can help. As one of the leading Indigenous recruitment specialists in Australia, we work to connect our diverse talent pool with leading employers across the corporate, government and industrial sectors. Get in touch<\/a> today and learn how we can help you find your dream graduate job.<\/p>\n \n\t <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Finding your first professional job can be challenging and interviews are often the most unfamiliar and nerve-racking part of the whole experience. After all, this is your big chance to sell your skills, experience and personality to your future employers Although they might seem daunting, we\u2019re here to help with this article offering some practical… Read More »5 Top Tips for Interview Success<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5429,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","neve_meta_sidebar":"","neve_meta_container":"","neve_meta_enable_content_width":"","neve_meta_content_width":0,"neve_meta_title_alignment":"","neve_meta_author_avatar":"","neve_post_elements_order":"","neve_meta_disable_header":"","neve_meta_disable_footer":"","neve_meta_disable_title":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5428","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fprs.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5428","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fprs.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fprs.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fprs.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fprs.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5428"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.fprs.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5428\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5430,"href":"https:\/\/www.fprs.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5428\/revisions\/5430"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fprs.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/media\/5429"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fprs.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5428"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fprs.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5428"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fprs.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5428"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n\tSummary<\/h2>\n