HOW TO APPROACH JOB INTERVIEWS

Prepare for the unexpected and dazzle and delight your future boss with our battle-tested job interview preparation kit…

Preparation

• Look at their website – make sure you know the basic background about the company and its culture: size, areas of expertise, clients, competitors, any significant events in its recent history. If possible look at profiles of employees doing the same job as the one for which you’re applying. If your going for a job at IBM, know what IBM stands for!
• Phone the marketing dept and ask for a copy of the annual report so you can find some useful nuggets of information to drop into the conversation at interview – this will demonstrate interest and look impressive!
• Familiarise yourself with the job description – make sure you are in a position to answer questions about your suitability for the role. Think about the skills you have which are directly relevant.
• Think about your qualifications, work experience and where you want your career to go as you might be asked about your plans for the future – for example, where you see yourself in 5 years time.
• Proof read your CV before you send it – first impressions are extremely important. Employers will be ploughing through loads of CVs so make sure yours is not relegated to the ‘slush’ pile due to poor spelling and lousy grammar.
• Read your CV again before the interview – it might have been a while since you applied for the job so make sure you know exactly what you’ve written! An employer will not be impressed if he knows your CV better than you do!
• Take copies of your CV with you in case the interviewer doesn’t have one to hand – this will make you look well prepared and organised.
• Plan ahead – work out where the office is and make sure you know how to get there – it might even worth be doing a dummy run.

Strengths and weaknesses

• Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses. You want to make a prospective employer know how valuable you will be! At the same time do not be discouraged by weaknesses. We all have them. View them as areas of improvement and look for positive ways of presenting them.
• Examples of strengths – leadership qualities, organisational skills, ability to handle conflict, strike a balance between the big picture and detail, adaptability, commercial awareness, competitiveness, creativity, quick thinking. Think about examples to illustrate these. Perhaps you lead a group activity at school or held a position of responsibility. What about working to deadlines for coursework? Think about teamwork in projects at school, in sports or in other clubs. What worked well and what didn’t? Why do you think this was the case?
• Weaknesses – these are all about putting a positive twist on a negative characteristic. For example if you’re a bit of a perfectionist this could be seen as attention to detail or striving for excellence. If you’re a bit stubborn then put a positive spin on it by saying you could be viewed as tenacious! If you consider yourself to be bossy this could mean you’ll be a good leader! If you say you don’t think you have any
  weaknesses the interviewer won’t believe you! It is good to demonstrate that you recognise your limitations and weaknesses and are also prepared to try and improve them.

The interview itself

• Be smart – it is better to be over dressed than under dressed. Don’t wear excessive jewellery or non-matching socks. It is probably best to avoid comedy ties as well!
• Leave plenty of time to get there – allow for problems with transport and getting lost, especially if this is the first time you have gone to that particular office.
• Firm handshake!
• LISTEN to what is being asked! It is amazing how many people don’t answer the question properly just because they didn’t listen. Don’t be afraid to ask the interviewer to repeat something – this is much better than getting it wrong and shows you have the confidence to check!
• Speak clearly – basic skills of communication are very important and shouldn’t be underestimated.
• Think before you speak – it is better to pause than blurt out an answer straight away. You can’t press stop, rewind and have another go. An interviewer would prefer you paused and thought about something. Nobody has all the answers on the tip of their tongue!
• Don’t fidget – this will look like you cannot concentrate or are disinterested and will be noted!
• Make eye contact – this shows confidence and maturity.
• All of the above will demonstrate to the interviewer you are competent to represent the company in people-facing situations, at meetings etc.
• One of many – yours might be one of several interviews being conducted that day. You might have the last slot and the interviewer might be tired and fed up with asking the same questions. Don’t worry! It might mean a chance for you to stand out if you are positive and upbeat and answer the questions well.

Key facts

• Research the company.
• Think of examples to illustrate your strengths.
• Dress smartly and don’t be late!
• Listen carefully and speak clearly.
• Think of a few questions to ask at the end.

Questions you might be asked:

• Tell me about yourself?
• Why do you want the job?
• What drives you to achieve your objectives?
• Tell me about a problem you have solved?
• What are you weaknesses? (see above)
• Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
• What challenges do you believe this organisation faces?
• What do you think you will bring to the role?
• What makes you stand out from other equally qualified candidates?

Questions you may wish to ask:

• You might be invited to ask questions at the end so think of a few before the interview. Even if you are not, still ask. It shows initiative, that you have thought about the job you are applying for and reiterates your interest in the Company.

For example:

• What are my promotion prospects?
• Will I be given a mentor to oversee my development?
• How is my career path determined?
• Why should I join your organisation over another?
• How do you measure success?
• What have previous people who have held this role gone on to do?
• What will be the main challenges I will face in the first six months?
• Do not ask about salary!!

Positive thinking

• This is important as it will affect the way you come across. Be confident. There is nothing worse than someone sitting in an interview who talks quietly, looks at the floor and seems to have no faith in his or her own ability!
• Remember you have been shortlisted for interview on the basis of your CV and covering letter. There is good reason why you’re there – do not think you are under-qualified or not right for the job.