Have you been invited to a gardener job interview? Congratulations! Your CV and covering letter clearly impressed the employer. But now the real hard work starts. The job interview could potentially be your one chance to impress the employer and can be the make or break of you getting the job. So do you know how to nail your gardener job interview and how to impress? Find out here!
Prepare For Your Interview
Before you even step through the doors for your gardener job interview, there are lots of things you can already do. Preparation is everything. And it can really help you out in unexpected situations.
Gather Information
The first thing you want to think about before the interview is to gather all the information you can find. Do you know the job spec inside out? Can you find out more about the company or the household? The area perhaps? Do you know people who worked there before?
See if you can find out as much as you can before the interview. So you can really understand the job and also understand whether the job is indeed the right one for you.
Plan Your Travel
One thing you definitely do not want to do is be late for the interview. It is a terrible first impression to make and one that is unlikely to be forgotten. So make sure you really plan your route to the interview. And always count in extra time just in case. There might be terrible traffic on the day. or a train strike, for example. Whatever might be the case – you really should try and not be late for the first interview!
It is much better to show up early and waiting, rather than running in a couple of minutes late. Showing up early shows that you care.
Dress Suitably For Interviews – Not For Gardening!
Although the job you are applying for will not require you to wear a formal outfit, that does not mean that your interview outfit should be casual too. To the contrary! You are presenting yourself in a formal setup. So do dress the part. Make sure you are wearing clean, ironed clothes with neat hair (and makeup). Do not overdo it on the jewellery – for an interview, less is more! Make sure you smell clean and do not smoke just before you go in! A breath mint is always a good idea too. And make sure you are not chewing gum, that can look very unprofessional.
During The Interview
So now that you know exactly how to prepare for your gardener job interview, let’s have a look at things you can do during the conversation to really nail it.
Always Be Polite
Even though you might not be comfortable with questions asked or with the interviewer – always remain polite. Smile, answer any questions they may have and show genuine interest in the job.
Sometimes during the job interview, you might find out the role is not for you. You might not like the person who is interviewing you. Or not agree with what they are saying. Even if this is the case, during the interview is not the time to provide this feedback. Just stay calm, friendly and polite throughout. You can always politely decline the role after the job interview has taken place. But remain professional during!
Work Your Body Language
Be aware of your body language. How do you sit, when being interviewed? It can give off a terrible impression without you even realising it. So make sure you always sit in a nice open upright posture. You don’t want to cross your arms as this will look very closed off and uninviting. Also, try not to lean back in your seat. Make eye contact when you are speaking to your interviewer(s) and smile!
Show Genuine Interest In The Job
Even if you are not fully sure the job is for you, during the interview you want to come across as enthusiastic and interested. Your focus should fully be on the interviewers at all times – make sure your phone is put away and switched off! Be enthusiastic in your answers, don’t shrug your shoulders or roll your eyes. You want to impress them so show you are positive and full of energy to take on this new gardener role!
Prepare Questions Yourself
At the end of the interview, it is likely that the interviewer(s) will give you the opportunity to ask some questions too. This is a great opportunity to showcase how prepared you were for the interview, and the genuine interest you have in the job.The following options could be good subjects for questions you can ask:
- Are there any specific details about the tasks they have not mentioned, you can ask further about?
- What the start of the job and the initiation period will be like (would there be any training, or a trial period, for example, and a handover?).
- Can they explain the reason for them looking for a new person? Are you replacing an old gardener?
- Could they give an idea of the timeline of the recruitment process? When would the new gardener need to start?
- Would there be a follow-up interview after this, or perhaps a trial?
Work Tip 3: After The Job Interview
To nail your job interview does not stop at the end of the actual conversation. After the interview is finished, you can still leave a positive impression.
You don’t want to come across too keen, but make sure you follow up after several days. Do not call straight away the next day. They might have lots of candidates who they interviewed so do give them a couple of days to get through the admin of that. But after several days, a polite phone call will definitely be in place.
The fact that you enquire about the job afterwards, firstly shows that you are genuinely interested. Secondly, it can really help to make you stand out from the other candidates as they are now reminded about you again!
How Can Polo & Tweed Help
Hopefully, the above tips will give you the confidence to nail your next gardener job interview. And we are here to help! At Polo & Tweed, we have many years of experience in recruitment, interviewing, and how to find the best gardener job for you. We are always here to help you and answer any questions you may have. From CV writing to interview skills and how to get your dream job. You can apply to register with us now by completing this form, and one of our consultants will be in touch. You can also contact us directly here.