Career Advice

Interview Hints and Tips 

PREPARATION IS THE KEY TO A SUCCESSFUL JOB INTERVIEW

Registering with an employment agency will widen your employment options and give access to valuable information on employment trends. Preparation is the first essential step towards a successful interview.

• Be positive about your past and process of job searching
• Don’t allow any frustration associated with the job process to show

Interview Details

• Know the exact details of your interview:
  • Location of the company
  • Name of the Interviewer
  • Time of the interview

Company information

Find out specific facts about the company: what its products and services are; its growth and what its growth potential is.

• If you know the company name, be aware of:
  • The nature of its business
  • Its growth and success to date
  • Growth potential and future challenges

           Ascertain information about the company from:

• Public Library
• Stock Exchange
• Chamber of Commerce
• Internet

Refresh your memory

Memorise any relevant facts and figures of your present company that you think may be useful, as well as the details of your curriculum vitae.

Question Preparation

Prepare the questions you will ask and remember that an interview is a two-way street. The interviewer will try to determine through questioning if you have the qualifications and experience necessary to do the job. You must determine through questioning whether the company will provide the opportunity for the growth and development you seek.

• Prepare to describe your:
  • Key skills / competencies / behaviours
  • Strengths and weaknesses
  • Examples of your work experience, directly related to the selection criteria

Attire

Dress in an appropriate manner. Casual clothes are not suitable for an interview.

Market yourself effectively at interviews

• Smile and be friendly, particularly to the receptionist
• Greet the interviewer by name
• Have a firm open hand shake
• Be at least 5-10 minutes early for the interview
• Build and maintain positive rapport by:
  • Maintaining regular eye contact
  • Using light conversation on the way to the interview room
  • Allowing the interviewer to lead the interview process

• Demonstrate your are “fit” for the role by giving examples of your work experience

• This should demonstrate that you have done the same or similar kind of work or used the same kind of transferable skills.

• Respond to each question by talking about a skill/ experience / behaviour / personal attribute, rather than using “yes” or “no”
• Focus on how you can help, or add value to, the organisation
• Talk about the role, rather than the conditions or remuneration, until the interviewer raises these issues.

The interview

You are being interviewed because the interviewer wants to asses your strengths and weaknesses in order to fill a vacancy

Useful tips for the Interview

Fill out an application form neatly and completely if asked to do so.

Wait until you are offered a seat before sitting. Sit upright in your chair, look alert and interested at all times. Be a good listener as well as a good talker. Smile.

Answer the questions truthfully, and frankly as possible. Do not smoke even if the interviewer offers you a cigarette.

Don’t make derogatory remarks about your present employers, and avoid controversial topics.

Enquire about salary, holidays and bonuses and so on ONLY if the interviewer brings these up first. However, you should know your market value and be prepared to specify your required salary or range – this should have been  communicated to the recruitment consultant beforehand.

Standard questions interviewers ask

Be prepared to answer typical questions like:

• What are your strengths?- Describe 3-5 skills and supporting examples of where you’ve used these skills well in your career to date
• What are your weaknesses? - Use an example of an “inverted strength’” which really reinforces another strength
• What kind of role are you looking for? - Describer a role, which uses your skills or is similar to the job you are being interviewed for
• What motivates you? - Describe a role which uses some of your skills
• How can you add value to the company? - By using your skills and giving examples of where this has been of benefit to your previous employers
• Why should you be employed? – Because of the effective use of your skills which parallel the selection criteria

Some other questions include

• What do you know about the company?
• Why are you leaving your present employer?
• What is your style of management?
• What style of management gets the best out of you?
• Where do you see your career in 5 years time?
• What makes you the best candidate for the role?

•  
  • What kind of remuneration are you worth?

Questions you can ask at the interview

As a professional, you are seeking as much information about the company and role you are being interviewed for, as the interviewer is seeking about your fit. Therefore you may wish to inquire about such things as:

• Why is the position vacant?
• What kind of career development opportunities exist within the organisation?
• What are the qualities of the most successful people within the organisation?
• What are future challenges in the group?
• What kind of culture exists within the organisation?
• How is individual performance measured?
• How will you be perceived as being successful, within the organisation?

Closing the interview

If you are interested in the position, enquire about the next interview stage if applicable. If the interviewer offers the position to you and you want it, accept it immediately!

If you want some time to think it over, be courteous and tactful in asking for that time. If you get the impression that you have already been rejected, don’t let your discouragement show. Thank the interviewer for his time.