Cloudy with a chance of Swedish meatballs - The interview

A cloudy interview with uncertainty written all over it isn't the way I had imagined my first Public Relations placement interview would be. Especially when that interview would determine whether or not I would be working with the distributors of the "oh-so-famous" Swedish meatballs, IKEA.

"Although it is unlikely," I had thought to myself, "It would be an honour to work in the company that brought these enchanting Swedish meatballs to Australia. Not to mention that it will be a great experience and it will add value to my resume."

It was a thought, but a thought/idea requires action for it to take place. There were extreme difficulties in obtaining this interview. Being a PR student, I understand that the best mode of communication in many situations is over the phone to avoid misunderstandings between the sender and receiver of the message. It worked to a certain extent, but it required many phone calls as the office staff were extremely busy during that period. It took me a MONTH and a half of constant calling, emailing, and texting to finally land that interview, and I must say that it was down to sheer determination to finally get a chance.

Speaking of interviews, I found that the basis of good interviews can all be summarised in this sentence:

Prepare yourself mentally and physically.

Tip 1: Plot against rot and Plan beforehand

Tip 2: Prepare questions to create impressions(good ones)

Never having been in a formal interview before, I was worried about almost EVERYTHING. A week beforehand, I had still not prepared anything in regards to this interview. I knew nothing about IKEA besides the fact that it was the largest furniture retailer in the world and that it sold Swedish meatballs.

But as uncertainty is a feeling I absolutely despise, I took to understanding and reading all I could about the company. I prepared questions for myself and for the company, "studied", and memorized key answers that would interest the interviewers as well as portray myself in a professional and presentable manner. You will be amazed at how confident you sound when you are well prepared. Don't underestimate the power of preparation! Your interviewers will know when you are beating around the bush too.

Tip 3: Sleep well to avoid hell

Having just the right amount of sleep makes a lot of difference. It affects yourself physically and mentally. 7-8 hours is just about right for me. Anything above or below that and I lack sharpness throughout the day. Find your optimum sleeping schedule and stick with it. There's nothing worse than feeling horrible at the start of the day.

Tip 4: When in doubt, dress professionally

Waking up the on the day of your interview and not knowing what to wear can be chaotic. As I ran around the house finding the right clothes, I soon decided that the safest option was to be professional. Being safe is better than being sorry anyway!

Tip 5: Be there ahead of time! or your fate will be all but great (in short, be early!)

Leaving and arriving early for the interview is something I would never come to regret. Although it took me ages to find the office(20 minutes approximately), I still had 20 minutes left before the appointment. It gave me a chance to steady myself and take a breather before the interview.

Tip 6: Smile with your body - Body language speaks volumes

Body language can send the wrong signals and can create bad first impressions. Smile, keep your hands firmly on your lap and lean forward when listening, and don't twiddle your fingers or shake your legs(a constant habit of mine).

Just from the interview itself, much has been learnt. Mistakes were made, but having been accepted, I'm looking forward to the rest of this placement!

Sincerely,

Andrew Lyn

Curtin Bentley