The interview process is an integral and important part of the professional world today.  Depending on the job position, the process can be long drawn and complex or it can be simple and quick. However, all job interview processes are carried out over a template which is more or less general to all interviews.

This article provides job interview tips for your first interview and reviews the questions asked during your first interview with suggested answers.

Today, most interviews are divided into four parts, wherein the first interview is more of an activity to get to know the prospective employer.

First Job Interview Tips

Here are some tips for your first interview:

The 1st interview can be a telephone interview or a face to face interview
The first thing to remember about a first interview is that it is set up according to the mutual availability of the prospective employee and the employee. If a physical meet is not possible, a phone interview can be carried out. Therefore, the employee should make sure that the first interview, if carried out over the phone, is carried out at a time when he or she is free and will be certainly undisturbed. Note that, the telephone job interview is the first selection method carried out by many companies.
 
An initial introduction
Secondly, remember that though the first interview is just an initial introduction, it is the first interview that will be a stepping stone to all the other interviews. There have been countless cases where a very formidable potential employee was not a part of the company because he or she did not take the first interview seriously. Therefore, be prepared for the first interview as you would be prepared for the final interview. Make sure that you have all the information that is needed and relevant for the interview.

Think about your next interviews and the information you give out
Another important aspect of the first interview is that one should not divulge all the information that one has about themselves at the first interview. The first interview is mostly undertaken by a person who is quite low in the hierarchy and therefore would not want all the information that a prospective employee has about themselves. Also, if you give out all the information about yourself in the first interview, you will not have anything for the second, third and fourth interview and you may even sound repetitive.  

However, this does not mean that you should withhold any information about yourself.  Simply put, you should give all the information about yourself in brief, and then describe it in detail when you meet the person who would require the detailed information.

How to dress for an interview what to wear for an interview?
You may also want to read –  dressing for a job interview article.  


These are some of the major aspects that you should remember while appearing for the first interview.

Your First Interview – First Job Interview Questions and Answers

There are some typical questions that are asked during the first interview. These interview questions are aimed at finding out more about you and whether you are eligible for the job, and whether you fit into the requirements for the job. Here are the frequently asked questions:

Why did you choose this career? Or Tell about yourself, your skills and interests?
Do not ramble at this tell about yourself interview question. This question is meant to know in brief about your personal and professional attitude, your values, your interests and your skills. However, make sure that you keep the information brief and to the point. The question might also be aimed at your personal or family life. All in all, make sure that you keep your answer crisp and to the point.

Tell us about your education and professional background
The interviewer would also be interested in knowing your education and professional background, in the sense, where you started working and how you basically rose in your career. They would also like to know the last company that you worked for, as well as the reasons that you left these companies.

Whom do you live with?
This question is more often than not asked to people who are below the age of thirty. This question tries to establish whether the person is single or married. There are several reasons why a company would prefer a single individual or even a married individual. Therefore, this question is more or less for the better perspective of the company.

How long have you been in this city/state/country?
This question is asked to establish whether the individual is a serious individual, or whether he is a drifter. If you have relocated yourself several times in a small time frame, make sure to inform the company about it and also the reason, whatever it may be.


Remember – Whether you are the best person for the job or not is another matter. This will be decided in the further interviews.
Refer to the 2nd interview tips and 2nd job interview questions for more info.