Interview Tips

How to Succeed in Interviews

The importance of researching your potential employer cannot be over emphasised. Nowadays, with so much information at our fingertips, there is no excuse not to do your homework. Probably the easiest and quickest way to access up-to-date information is via the Internet. Spend some time exploring the company's web site. If you haven't got easy access to the Internet, use more traditional methods - visit a business library and read through annual reports, or call the company and ask for information to be sent out to you.

Prepare answers to the most frequently asked interview questions. In particular, those questions that you may find difficult to answer and work out how you will cope with them.

Here are some examples of common questions:

Why did you apply for this job? What do you know about our company? Why should we give you this job and not someone else? What are your outstanding qualities? What are your weaknesses? What would you like to be doing five years from now? Why do you want to leave your current job? Why did you leave your last job? What motivates you? What is your ambition? What is your biggest achievement? How do you handle rejection? How do you handle tension? How do you take direction? What would your last boss say about you? What were the minuses of your last job? What have you done that shows initiative and willingness to work? What do you see as the main responsibilities of a _______________?

To succeed in a Face to Face Interview you MUST:

Be on time. Aim to arrive 10 to 15 minutes early giving you time to relax and get a feel for the company.

Give a firm handshake and smile during the introduction. You must not underestimate the importance of this. It is your first impression and there is no worse start than a sloppy handshake.

Be pleasant, poised and maintain eye contact as much as possible. Be aware of your body language. Don't sit with your arms folded. Try to be open and relaxed.

Listen carefully to questions; don't be afraid to ask for clarification and take time to think about your answers. Silences will seem a lot longer to you than they actually are.

Be honest. You wouldn't want your employer to lie about your career and salary prospects so stick to the truth about your jobs and qualifications. These things are easily checked out.

Always try to support your answers with examples of past achievements. Be clear and concise.

Avoid saying negative things about your last or current employer.

Prepare questions for the interviewer.

Thank the interviewer at the end of the interview and reiterate your interest in the position.

Don't let the interview drag on by overselling yourself if you see signs that the interview is coming to a close.

Telephone Interview Techniques - Putting you more in control.

The telephone is often used as a screening technique prior to short-listing Candidates for a formal interview. If you are invited, preparation is just as important as for a face-to-face meeting.It is a particularly suitable method of screening Candidates applying for roles where the telephone will be the main method of communicating with others.

Find out as much as you can about the Company and the person interviewing you before the interview is to take place.

Will they be calling you or are you calling them? Once you know the time, you are in control of where you will be for the interview.

Be sure to research: How do they make their money? What product or service do they sell? Who are their competitors? Why are they better than the competition?

Write a profile (personal statement) that sells your background, ability and future in as few words as possible and have a copy of your CV in front of you all the time.

Before the interview

If you are going to be at home or in an office, shut the door. Let others know that you mustn’t be disturbed. Turn off any other phones, the radio or TV. Put the dog and baby somewhere else. If you’ll be talking from your car, park up somewhere quiet & not in a no- parking area where a parking-meter attendant will disturb you. An interview from a landline will be much clearer but if you have to be out and about, try not to be in a noisy Supermarket, on a station platform or a bus. You’ll think and sound much better if you’re on a park bench but beware of wind across the microphone of your mobile. Don’t chew sweets, eat lunch or smoke, the interviewer can tell. Have water handy for if your throat dries up but don’t slurp and don’t drink coffee (mopping up a spilt hot drink is impossible to do un-noticed) Have available, paper and pencil (plus spare) and something on which to lean. Know what you want to achieve, the minimum should be a second interview, face-to-face with the Employer.

During the interview

Smile, the interviewer will be able to tell. Be positive, they possibly need you more than you need them. Don’t use the Interviewer’s first name unless you’re invited. Don’t interrupt. Don’t rush to answer; a few seconds pause is acceptable to give time for thought. Keep your answers short and to the point. Find out what happens next. Be positive and ask if you can set up a second meeting. Do all you can to make sure the Interviewer wants you to join them, even if the role isn’t right for you, an offer will make you feel good. If invited back, find out where, with whom, write down the time, date and re-confirm all details.After the Interview

Think about what went well - learn from it for the future. Think about what went wrong - learn from it. Write to the Interviewer thanking them for their time and if you are interested in working for them, tell them so and why they should employ you.

Assessment Centre Interviews

You've managed to convince the client at interview that you are just what they are looking for in a potential employee. What happens now? Some companies have adopted the assessment centre approach to interviewing potential employees. This gives you the opportunity to show your skills and abilities over a period of several hours using a very structured set of criteria. These criteria or competencies are all felt to be relevant to the success of the position they are recruiting for.

The sort of things they will look at are your ability to communicate effectively in a group, your confidence in being part of a role play with limited preparation time and whether you can talk about your chosen topic of conversation and stick to your views even when the interviewer may challenge you.

You will have the opportunity to find out more about the firm and ask questions not just of the recruitment team but also existing staff on occasions. You are sometimes invited to have a tour of the departments and talk to the staff. This can be a good way for you to show your ability. Everyone feels a little nervous about assessment days but they are not designed to catch youout so try to relax and be yourself. It's a chance for the firm to get to know you and for you to get a better picture of the firm and it's people. To get this far you've already proven yourself academically, so now's the time to let your personality and enthusiasm shine.

Interview Tips

As part of the assessment centre, there is normally a formal interview. This is usually a panel of two or three people, typically a partner and a member of the Human Resources department. Although you may be asked to perform a role play, the bulk of the interview will be based on your CV and other information you have supplied to them about yourself. The interview is an opportunity for them to decide whether you match what the firm is looking for in an employee and more importantly, for you to decide whether their business is going to fit your needs. They are simply trying to establish whether you actually want to work for them and have the ability to handle the work which will come your way on joining the firm and whether your personality fits.

Before the big day

As mentioned it is always a good idea to do some research prior to your interview, even if it is merely a look at the firm's website. It is impressive if a candidate has read the business press and spotted news about the company or has seen a press release on a company deal etc.

Get some practice at interviewing if you can. Some candidates get their friends to pretend to be an interviewer.

Read your job brief and CV before your interview, it may be several months since it was written. Be prepared to talk about the topics you have put on your CV. If you have written that you are for example, a keen reader, it is a good idea to have in mind the books you have read in the last six months - you will probably be asked to talk about them. One thing to bear in mind is that your interviewer may have the same interests as yourself!

Be prepared