"Interviewers make a decision as to whether or not they want to employ candidates within 30 - 60 seconds of meeting them"
 
That means your first impression could be your last. This is true of any industry, but particularly the Motor Trade.

The main thing to remember for any job interview, is that in order to turn a job down, you first need to be offered it.
 
Enthusiasm is essential. Employers in the don't offer jobs to unenthusiastic people.
 
So, checklist:- (dull but essential)
 
Research the employer.
Not too much; nobody likes a know it all!
 
Re-read your CV.
Why did you make your career moves? You will be asked to talk through it, so you must know all the details.
 
The following questions nearly always get asked, so have an answer:-
What's your biggest strength?
What's your biggest weakness?
Why do you want the job?
What can you bring to the position?
Tell me about your career in the motor trade
What were your favourite jobs?
What were your least favourite jobs?

Prepare a list of questions
Write down on a piece of paper everything your wife/husband/girlfriend/ boyfriend/friends will ask you afterwards, take it out in the interview and make sure you get an answer.

Interviewers always ask you at the end of an interview “is there anything you’d like to ask us?” Don't race to leave - check your list.

Not only will this help you, but it will also show the interviewer how interested you are.

Body Language can be very important in an interview so you need to be aware of it. If you don't know anything about body language read on...

Body Language Top Ten Tips:

1. When you first meet somebody eye contact is one of the most important aspects of dealing with them, so in an interview it’s essential that you get it right.
There are cultural differences in eye contact but here in the UK any less than 60% of the time makes you look shifty or bored, and any more than about 70% makes you look a bit psychotic and intense.

2. Posture is something you must get right if you are to feel confident and comfortable and to project those feelings to the interviewer.  It’s a bit like the army – back straight, head up and shoulders back. Try it and you’ll feel the difference immediately.

3. If someone is interested in what you are saying then their head will be tilted slightly to one side and slightly towards you. This works the other way. If the interviewer is talking to you, then adopt this posture.

4. Arms are a big give away as to how we are feeling. Keep your arms out to the side of your body or behind your back. Folding your arms is a very defensive posture and is a complete no no in an interview. Don’t wave your arms around too much as this can appear aggressive and uncontrolled, but too little shows a lack of passion or interest.

5. There are so many hand gestures that it's hard to give a concise guide, but broadly speaking your palms should be slightly up and outward which is seen as open and friendly. Holding your hands with the palm down, points to a dominant, emphasising and maybe even aggressive attitude. When you shake hands you should always offer your hand in an upright vertical position; if you hold your hand out with the palm down this is seen as overtly trying to be dominant.

6. The distance that you stand from others is crucial if you want to give off the right signals. Stand too close to another person and you'll be marked as "Pushy" or "In your face". Conversely if you stand or sit too far away then you're "Keeping your distance" or "Stand offish". Generally speaking the closest you want to get someone in a business situation is an arms length. This is your (and their) personal space. If the other person steps away from you then you are too close for comfort! Back off!

7. Body angles are an important issue. We will naturally angle ourselves toward people we find attractive, friendly and/or interesting and angle ourselves away from those we don't. It's as simple as that! This includes not just turning your body but also leaning. If you lean toward someone it gives positive signals of interest and attraction. Leaning away – the opposite applies (see point 3).

8. Legs are a tricky one! When people are nervous, bored or lying then leg movement increases markedly. Think of jigging your leg when you’re in a boring meeting! The best thing you can do is to keep your legs as still as possible in interviews.
If you cross your legs make sure it’s not with one ankle up on the other knee as this is both defensive and sends out a signal of disbelief.

9. The hand over the mouth. This identifies a lie. It’s very simple; if your hand even slightly obscures your mouth when you’re talking then it implies a lie. This is most common in children who will actually put their hands right over their mouth when they’re lying, but adults do this too – if a little more subtly.

10. Mirroring. If someone you are talking to (or even if you’re just in their company) starts to copy your gestures or movements then this signifies their interest in you. Likewise if you start to do this then you are sending out a signal of interest to them. Be careful of overdoing it though!