The interview clinic is the newest feature of the Agri Careers Expo, but how do you prepare properly for a job interview? We ask careers coach Brendan Heneghan.

You can pre-register for the interview clinic on agricareers.ie

The interview clinic will be conducting mock interviews over the course of the day at the Agri Careers Expo.

The focus is to give people feedback and guidance on how to improve their basic interview skills.

This may focus on body language and the candidate’s ability to answer a question logically and clearly.

We want to give people the best possible chance when it comes to the real thing.

But how can you prepare for an interview, with your dream job on the line?

We speak with careers coach Brendan Heneghan on how to best prepare for a job interview.

Preparation

Start your prep early, at least one month before the interview.

Focus on the process, not the outcome

This is the key message with any job application. You can only control your own performance, so give yourself the best possible chance of doing well in the interview.

Research the organisation

Read their mission statement. What is the organisation particularly successful at? What are its challenges? What kind of people work there?

Research the job you are applying for

What are the main duties and responsibilities? What desirable or unique qualities are they looking for? Visualise yourself doing the job. They might ask you why you want the job or what do you think will be most challenging about the role?

Create a quality job application/CV

This will enable you to be shortlisted and provide the platform for a successful interview. Look for key skills and competencies in the job description and edit your CV so that it meets them. Make sure you know your CV inside out, as they may ask you about it.

Interview planning

What are the key competencies for the job? Think of some examples from your past when you demonstrated that competency and plan to use these examples when answering interview questions. It is also useful to know who is on the interview board and have an idea of what type of person they are looking for.

The interview

First impressions: be on time, dress appropriately, have good posture, smile and make eye contact.

Mindset: be well prepared and confident. Stay relaxed and be yourself throughout the interview. This will ensure you come across natural. Try not to engage in jargon and, if you need to, pause effectively before answering a question. Be comfortable with uncertainty, for example do not panic if you can’t answer a particular question.

A powerful beginning is important: have your opening pitch well prepared. Energy, enthusiasm and passion come across very well.

A good story teller will always do well at interviews: The interview board are looking for evidence that you can do the job well and that you will fit in. Use examples and stories that showcase your knowledge, skills and attributes. Make sure these examples match the particular competencies of the job and values of the organisation.

Finish strongly: as the interview comes to an end, the 'have you any questions to ask us' line should be your signal to finish strongly, summarising your passion for the job and your unique qualities.

Practice makes perfect

Being effective at selling yourself at interviews is about good preparation and performing as well as you can on the day. This will improve as you gain experience. If you are unsuccessful in a job interview, don’t hesitate in asking for feedback. This will allow you to learn from your experience and refine your plan for the next application/interview.

Tell your story

An interview is essentially a conversation between you and the people on the interview board. Success at interviews is about having a good story to tell and telling it well. The more relaxed you are in the interview, the better you will come across. Be confident - if you make it to the interview stage then the organisation is expressing their interest in hiring in you.

Coaching

A good coach offers many advantages, including helping you prepare well, maximising your strengths and working on your weaknesses. They also enable you to acquire the skills and confidence required to sell yourself.

Contact Brendan Heneghan Coaching on 087-251 8029. See www.brendanheneghancoaching.com for more details.

The Agri Careers Expo, brought to you by the Irish Farmers Journal and Devenish, takes place in the RDS, Dublin 4, on Thursday 14 February. To get tickets or for further information on who will be speaking, the companies taking part and the number of jobs available, log on to www.agricareers.ie.