Interview Tips
An interview is really an opportunity for you to sell yourself to your prospective employer. Success at the interview stage is dependent upon two areas: Your preparation before the interview and your performance during the interview.
Preparation
- Research - it is critical that you research the organisation you are applying to. You should be familiar with their Mission, Vision and Values, what they do, where their offices are located and who their competitors are, to name a few. Look up their website, ask family and friends, contact industry associations and professional bodies. The more you know the better you will be able to tailor your answers and any questions you may have in the interview.
- Prepare for the interview questions - there are some questions that seem to come up in every interview. By planning for these questions you can give a concise, accurate and well thought out answer that will really impress your interviewer. Some commonly asked questions are:
- What job would you like if you had a completely free choice?
- Why are you seeking a position with our company?
- What interests you most/least about this job?
- What are you looking for in your next job?
- Why do you want to be a ...
- What salary are you looking for? (Make sure you have researched this)
- How do you cope with pressure? Can you give an example?
- What are your greatest achievements to date?
- Where do you want to be in 5 or 10 years?
- What are your strengths/weaknesses?
- What did you like/dislike most about your previous job
- Have you come across a situation like this? How did you handle it? What was the outcome?
- Describe a situation where you have had to.
- How would you describe yourself?
- Prepare some questions to ask the interviewer - this is your time to find out additional information about the company and the job and gives you more information to base your decision on to take the role.
- Prepare for going to the interview - Make sure you know exactly where you are going for the interview, how to get there and how long it's going to take. Plan to be at the interview 10 minutes early. Choose your clothing for the interview wisely. You will only get one chance to make a first impression. You should dress according to company's culture. If the company is a professional firm you would not turn up for interview in a pair of jeans, nor would you go to an interview for a Trades position wearing a suit. Remember first impressions count, so dress accordingly.
During the interview
- Greet your interviewer with a firm hand shake and eye contact
- Take a seat when invited to do so
- Sit up right but relaxed and natural
- Act with confidence and respect
- Maintain eye contact
- Keep to the point
- Ask for clarification if you are unsure of a question
- Listen, never interrupt and only answer the questions put to you
- Show enthusiasm and interest in the role and company
- Remember the interview is as much about them assessing you as it is about you assessing them, so ask plenty of questions.
- And lastly SMILE!