How to survive an interview

This is more a general blog I suppose than anything else, but it has tied into what I have been doing here.

Yesterday, I had my interview at the Maison Ecocitoyenne in Bordeaux, and it went really well. It wasn't a formal interview as such, more a chance for my supervisor to get to know me and things, and it went really well. It looks like a really nice and friendly place to work. So in celebration of that, I want to offer you guys some advice on how to survive any interview.

Before the interview:

1. Do your research - Not everybody is one of those people who can blag their way through anything. Whether you are or not, it's always a good idea to research the organisation that you're doing your interview with. It shows you know the company and that you're interested
2. Grab some new vocab - Doing an interview in another language is daunting, and the language barrier is definitely what scared me the most, so getting new vocab does make things less daunting. And if you don't use it then, you might on a later date
3. Practice - This one sounds silly, but it's always good to practice with a friend or family member. We had mock interviews in our classes last week and they really prepared us for things that could have popped up, such as stuff about our personal lives (no joke!)
4. Dress to impress - If you were going out on a date, wouldn't you put in the effort into your dress? Interviews are all about first appearances, so dress smartly, brush your hair, put on some make-up on if you're a girl (but not too much). You do not want to look like you have just got out of bed.

During the interview:

1. Make eye contact and listen - This one sounds obvious, but it is surprising the amount of times people forget. It doesn't only show you're interested, but it's also just polite.
2. Appear confident but not over-confident - I should mention at this point that being nervous is completely OK. It's normal and also shows you're human. However, you should show some confidence in yourself and not let your nerves get the better of you - unfortunately, being too shy in an interview is not good news. At the same time, if you appear over-confident and cocky, that's not a good sign either. You don't want to seem uppity and full-of-yourself.
3. Smile - Another obvious one, this plainly shows you're happy to be there and a friendly person to be around. No-one wants to be with Oscar the Grouch. 
4. Ask questions - This is another reason to practice, so you can have plenty of questions in your mind. It's always a good idea to ask one question during the interview AND at the end of the interview when they ask you (and they WILL) if you have any questions; it can be any, from hours, the organisation, uniform, just anything. Again, it shows interest and enthusiasm.

After the interview:

1. Thank them!!! - Again, it sounds obvious, but shake your interview's hand and thank them for the interview. In this job market, it can be hard even getting an interview, so be thankful of the opportunity.

So whenever it may happen. good luck in your interview! See you for the next one

Charlotte