Interview Tips

Being selected to attend an interview is the first step on your way to a new career; ensure that you make the most of this opportunity by preparing for this significant meeting.

It is important to remember that the interview is not just for the interviewer to find out about you and if you are a suitable candidate; it is also your opportunity to see if the position will offer you the challenge and job satisfaction that you are seeking.

Preparation
 
Revisit your CV, ensure that you can talk confidently about it, and explain how the skills you have gained in past employment will be relevant and valuable in the position you are applying for.

Research the company as much as possible prior to the interview. Probably the best source of information is their website; read all about their products and services, check out if they have any other offices in this country or overseas, see if they have any ‘news items’ that you may be able to use during the meeting to show that you have taken an interest in their company.

Speak to your recruitment consultant and ask them about the company and what their client’s dress code is.

Remember the interviewer will have started to form an impression of you with in the first two minutes; make certain that it is a positive one.

• Ensure that you have planned your journey and that you arrive a few minutes early.
• In case of travel delays ensure you have the interviewer’s telephone number and call them to let them know you may be delayed.
• Dress smartly, be well groomed – clean shoes – tidy hair - not too much perfume or      aftershave.
• Body language accounts for 50% of communication – don’t send out negative signals:

Walk confidently and ‘tall’ when you enter the room
Smile – show that you are open and friendly
Maintain good eye contact

The Interview

The interviewer has three main considerations:

1. Ability and Suitability – Plenty of people will have the right qualifications, look at the job specification to see what key skill and personal traits are vital to the position and pick out specific examples from your past that highlight these qualities.

2. Willingness – you may have all the skill required for the role, have examples from previous jobs where you went ‘that extra mile’ to ensure that your team succeeded.

3. Problem Solving – the company is recruiting because they have a specific requirement; read the job specification and decide what problems will need to be solved by the successful applicant. Once again look at your past experience and prepare examples of how you overcame similar problems.

The interview should be a two way communication, whilst it is important to sell yourself don’t monopolise the meeting, give the interviewer a chance to speak.

Some Common Questions

“What did you dislike about your old job?” - You are being invited to shoot yourself in the foot! – Keep your answer short and positive – “I enjoyed my last/current job but I felt that I needed a bigger challenge / there was no opportunity for me to progress.

“Can you work under pressure?” - rather than simply saying “yes” think of specific examples from your past employment to demonstrate how you dealt with pressure in a previous situation.

“Do you work better on your own or as part of a team?”  By knowing about the role you will have an idea of the balance of work in terms of how much time will be spent working on your own and how much contributing to team efforts.  Answer according to the necessary balance. 

“What have you done that shows initiative?”  It is best to think of some example that is work related, but use examples from outside professional life if absolutely necessary.

“What qualities do you think it needs to be successful in this field?” If you have listened to the interviewer’s preamble at the beginning of the interview, you will know what they want to hear. 

Closing the Interview

As the interview reaches the closing stages it is normal for the interviewer to invite you to ask some questions; having researched the company you should have prepared some questions about the company and the role – write them down as you won’t remember them off the top of your head.

Remember people like to talk about themselves, so as you are potentially going to be working with the interviewer ask some questions about them – such as:

• Why did you join the company?
• What keeps you here?
• What are the qualities that you have shown in order to get where you are?
• What would my first assignment be?

If you are interested in the position ensure that the interviewer knows this; agree what the next steps will be and by when.

We hope that you have found these hints helpful and wish you every success with your interview.