How to Conduct Oneself in an Interview

An interview for a job you are really longing for can be daunting. It is often the more important audiences that people tend to screw up in front of. There are simple ways to avoid bringing out the nervous wreck inside each of us and it is important to distinguish what makes you cower in fear before you jump in head first.

Firstly, research your future employers to the nth degree. Make like a super sleuth and find out what you should and shouldn’t be talking about. Obviously don’t make any anti-Semitic remarks if you’re applying for a job at Dior, etc, etc, but that really goes without saying.

A little arse licking will go a long way, but be sure not to overdo it. There is a big difference between being well researched and gushing about how much you know, love and desire a job at a company.

After you have researched not only the company, but also the position you are applying for, more preparation is needed. As I wrote before, it is very important - in order to prevent sweaty palms, heart palpitations and in some cases a full blown panic attack – to determine what causes them. For most, it is simply exposing ones insecurities, but it is important to not forget that these people can see inside your very soul, and there is no stopping them. Develop a hard external shell. Watch a lot of videos of cats on Youtube and don’t let them affect you. Once you have done this, you are ready, my child.

Confidence is key in a professional environment, and I cannot stress how important preparation is in achieving strong self assurance. Knowing that you have planned well will put your mind at ease when the day comes. Write key points that you wish to address in an order that you see fit and memorise them. However, there is always a chance that the interviewer will ask you something that you haven’t researched and it is important to remember to stay calm and answer rationally. Take a second to think, but don’t fill that pause with ums, uhs or any other nonsense. If you don’t know the answer to a question, be honest, sometimes employers make up falsities to throw candidates off.

Finally, on the morning of your appointment, give yourself enough time to look impeccable, and make sure you get a good nights rest the night before. It might be rife in the fashion industry, but coke bloat doesn’t even look good on Kate Moss, so heed my advice. Don’t dress like a walking advert for Selfridges either; nothing is worse than being a brand donkey. Head to toe designer may look good on the street but not when you’re applying to a rival company. Nothing shows lack of knowledge like wearing Moschino to an interview at Versace. Keep everything clean, don’t wear bright prints. At the same time, let your personality shine through by use of well selected separates and accessories.

To conclude, I hope my advice will be of use in the upcoming internship and job hunt. Whether you take it or not is fine, whether I heed it myself is yet to be seen.