You got the invitation! This means you managed to write a compelling CV and cover letter that reflected your career flawlessly, but ultimately your success depends on how well you perform at the interview. Preparation and rehearsal before the interview is crucial if you want to land a job in Belgium.

Overall, your prepping process should include a thorough research on the company and the job you applied for. It’s one way to show your interest and enthusiasm instead of the typical self-endorsement approach. In addition, think of a set of questions to fire at the employer because he/she will expect you to.

Moreover, in the Belgian work environment the resume weighs more than the cover letter, so go over your CV before the interview and be sure memorise all the key points to be confident about your chances - Belgians believe in perfection.

Formalities

First of all, show up on time - the academic quarter rule doesn’t apply in this case! Nothing can ruin your prospects of a job like being late for an interview.

Belgium is a quite traditional and conservative society and so is the work environment. Even if you applied for a creative job, casual clothes are not necessarily part of the wardrobe, thus you will have to adopt a business style of dressing. Compared to other countries that have lately adopted an informal style of interviewing, formal rituals such as rising when a woman enters a room are often still practiced in Belgium. Consequently, when you arrive make sure to greet your employer with a strong handshake and sit down only when you are invited to do so. The conversation can start on an informal basis to reduce the tension a little bit, however, the overall interview will be rather formal so under no circumstances should you address the employer by his/her first name, and always use the title.

The interview

Belgian employers are interested in knowing everything about you, so besides the information related to your career, they will probably ask you to elaborate on your interpersonal skills, too. Don’t worry if they become too personal, it’s nothing intentional.

A good way to demonstrate your skills is to give concise examples from previous experiences. Avoid the temptation to go overboard with your enthusiasm and aspire to honesty. In case you are asked about failures go ahead and admit them, yet do not forget to clarify, through examples, what actions have you taken to overcome them.

On a general note, keep a positive attitude during the interview. Do not criticize your previous employers, and more importantly, do not disclose a negative attitude.