Interview Tips

So, your CV was a success! Now you have been asked to attend an interview. It is important to remember that the interview is a two-way process. Although the company is trying to find the best candidate for the position, at the same time you need to use the interview process to assess if you want to work for that company.

In order to survive the competition and stand out from the crowd:

Do some research before your visit about the company and its activities.
Plan your journey prior to the interview. Try and arrive about 10-15 minutes early. Use this time to freshen up if you need to or compose yourself.
Introduce yourself courteously at the reception - state who you are, who you have come to see and why.
Dress professionally.
Find out what format the interview will take - one-to-one, group session, will there be tests?
Read the job specification. If you haven't been provided with one, ensure that your Consultant gives you an insight.
Familiarise yourself with the contents of your CV in order to answer all questions about your experience, education and achievements accurately and confidently.
Have a number of questions prepared to ask the interviewer in order to appear interested.
Be positive and show enthusiasm.
Try to relax. Remember to smile and show you have a sense of humour.
Think about your body language - don't cross your arms and attempt eye contact as often as possible.
Do not lie on your CV or during the interview. It is vital that the employer feels that they can trust you from the start.
Do not discuss salary in the first interview unless they do; getting the job at this stage is the main priority - salary negotiations will follow.
Be yourself and if you do not know the answer, admit it and suggest a solution to it.
During psychometric testing, be honest and react naturally.
Do not be derogatory about the companies that you have worked for.
Give real examples that demonstrate your skills.
Turn your mobile phone off.
Avoid smoking before you go in.
Don't answer questions with just a 'yes' or 'no'.
Avoid looking arrogant when talking about your strengths.
Listen Well.

Be Prepared

An invitation to an interview means that an employer believes you have the potential to do the job and this is their way of giving you the chance to prove so.

This is your chance to build upon the facts you have given in your CV. Interviews can be an extremely daunting and nerve-racking experience due to the pressure they put upon us to be the perfect candidate.

As with the CV, the initial moments of an interview can determine the impression that the employer gets of us.

Give your answers some consideration, but do not pause for too long a period of time - avoid rushing your responses. Avoid simple 'yes' and 'no' answers.

Typical Interview Questions

It is recommended that prior to the interview you think about some of the questions you may be asked and plan your answers to them. Researching the company will help your flow and confidence when answering. Practise your response to the following questions as positively as possible:

1. "Why do you want this job?"

Think carefully about this question. Give your strengths and relate them to the job description. Say what you think are the positive aspects of the job. Refrain from mentioning the negative aspects of your current job or the job in question.

2. "What can you contribute?"

Tell them about your past achievements, particulary those relevant to the new position you are applying for. This is your chance to shine.

3. "Tell me about yourself"

Your CV opening profile is a good start here. Focus on your positive points and keep this to a brief couple of minutes. You should give a brief outline of where you are from and where you see yourself going.

4. "Why do you want to work for this company?"

Avoid saying that money or shorter hours are your motivation. Emphasise what you consider to be the pluses of the job and explain how these attract you.

5. "Why should we employ you?"

Base your answer on the experience you have acquired and your achievements to date. You should add that you feel yourself well suited to the job and feel free to ask the interviewer their opinion.

6. "Why did you choose a career in...?"

If you have changed your career, give positive reasons why you did this.

7. "Why are you changing careers?"

This question will only be asked if you are making radical changes. Again, stress the positive aspects rather than speak about any negatives. Make it clear that you will be good in the new career and say why you feel this way. Refer to your transferable skills to support your reasons.

8. "Why did you join your previous company? Why are you leaving now?"

Stay positive about your reasons for joining and leaving a company. It would not look professional to say something critical about your current or previous employer. You might want to stress that you are looking for a new challenge and that you feel that their company would be perfect for you.

9. "What are you looking for in a new job?"

Make sure your answer fits in with the company who is interviewing you. A suitable reply would be that you are looking for a new job where you can apply your existing skills and learn new ones.

10. "What did you do on a day to day basis?"

Stress the positive things you did, including your achievements, acknowledgements and any awards. Focus on any particularly responsible aspects of your job and how successfully you dealt with those.

After The Interview

After the interview, take some time to reflect on the discussion and give thought to any mistakes you may have made and how you could improve in the future. Treat each interview you have as a learning experience. Most companies tend to provide performance feedback which is helpful in identifying your strengths and weaknesses.

Challenging Interview Questions

Challenging questions enable the interviewer to work out if you have the ability to think quickly and cope with difficult situations. If you are on the receiving end of some tough questions, remember the following tips:

Always be positive.
Before diving straight into answering a question and proceeding to answer it incorrectly, take a brief pause and think about what you are going to say before you answer.
If you do not understand the question or you are unsure what they are looking for, ask them to repeat the question.
Answer the question and only talk about information that is relevant to the question, without deviating from the point and waffling.
Manipulate the question to sell yourself and focus on your positive skills and abilities.