YOU HAVE 1 MINUTE TO WIN THAT JOB

When it comes to mastering a job inter view, time is of the essence. New research has revealed that one in five UK employers make a decision about a candidate within one minute of meeting them.

Forget “taking 10” to feel comfortable and get into your stride — the results of the Totaljobs survey indicate that employers waste no time in casting judgment over job seekers, meaning that first impressions are crucial in landing that dream job.

So how can you nail your interview in 60 seconds?

A bit of preparation goes a long way: make the most of your golden minute by doing some work in advance. Read the company website inside out to learn about the structure and leadership, check out their social media channels and find out about their latest news and projects. You will automatically sound informed, and will be able to quickly prove that this isn’t just any old interview to you.

Yes, there will be curve balls, but you can guarantee that certain questions will definitely come up in every interview and “Why did you apply?” is likely to be among the first.

Don’ t rely on instinct here, you don’ t want to waste precious seconds scrabbling for an eloquent answer in the moment. Think ahead, go over your skill set in detail and write down some answers. If you can’t give a polished response to the most basic question, your CV is likely to be headed to the bin the moment you leave the room.

You may have the most impressive CV on the pile, but show up to your interview late? You can almost guarantee you won’t be making it to the next stage.

Plan your route in advance and check out travel disruption to give yourself at least 15 minutes before the start of the interview. Not only will you appear conscientious, responsible and keen, it will give you valuable time to go over your notes, or practice some relaxation to calm pre-interview jitters. impress your employer, it will only take them a couple of seconds to look you up and down and assess your personal presentation. Of course, no one wants to be judged on their appearance over their suitability for the job. But you should make an effort to say something about how important the position is to you. It will also help you feel more confident.

Your inter viewer is looking for a mature, responsible adult who is committed to the job and can add value to their company. According to the experts, you can demonstrate all of these qualities in a matter of seconds via your opening handshake. No one trusts a limp-wristed candidate so be firm, but don’ t pulverize their hand, either.

It’s the biggest cliché in the book, but it won’t take an interviewer long to work out whether you’re faking it. There’s no point in pretending to be the candidate you think they want: after all, you may not be suited to the environment.

You don’t want to appear desperate, but arrogance is unattractive — so don’t act as though you’ve already been given the role. Be open and honest from the moment you say hello, so you can best demonstrate your qualities.

The survey revealed that employers place more emphasis on a candidate’s ability to answer questions than their qualifications and experience. A classic blunder is to answer the question you’ve prepared, rather than what they’ve actually asked, so make sure you listen carefully, and take time to consider your response before speaking.