Preparation For An Interview

Posted by admin on July 1st, 2009 and filed under Interviews |

Attitude

The right attitude is everything! Be: friendly, motivated, ambitious, professional and alert. Remember to smile. If you get very nervous, tell the client that you are very nervous and this will immediately make you feel more relaxed.

Presentation

First impressions count! Ask the consultant what the company would expect for each interview (informal, corporate, conservative, etc) and make sure that you are able to make the initial good impression through your appearance.

Preparation

Make sure you can answer questions such as:

What are your strengths?

What are your weaknesses?

Mention one or two weaknesses that you are aware of and indicate how you are attempting to remedy them.

What skills do you have to offer this company?

Are you a team player or do you prefer to work on you own?

What motivates you?

What are your short/ long-term goals?

How do you deal with pressure?

Why should our company employ you?

Why would you like to work for this company?

Make sure you can give examples when answering the questions to ensure that your answers are not merely what you think they want to hear.

Self knowledge

If, by the end of the interview, you are feeling that you would really like the job, make it known! Your enthusiasm and commitment must be shown.

Answering questions

If you don’t understand a question, don’t be afraid to ask the client to repeat it.
Do not only answer ‘yes’ and ‘no’! For example if you are asked whether you can handle pressure, ‘yes’ is not an appropriate answer - give examples of situations where you have handled a pressurised situation in the past.

Before you go to the interview

Find out about the company
Ask the consultant who has set up the interview.
Look the company up on the internet.

Asking questions

Remember you are there to interview them as much as they are there to interview you! This is YOUR career.
Types of questions to ask:

About the company

How long has the company been in operation?

What are the main products the company trades in?

Who are the major customers of the company?

Are there branches or subsidiaries in other centres?

How many employees are there in the company?

Has the company recently won any major contracts or awards?

About the position

How long has this position been in existence?
What are the promotional opportunities in the company?
What are the most important expectations of the person filing this position?
What would the client consider to be the most important skills required for the job?
What is the company culture like?
Do colleagues interact socially, at sports or in teams, etc.?

Do NOT

Be late for your appointment!
Leave your cell phone on!
Leave your pager on!
“Run down” your current employer/manager!

Types of questions

You can expect to be asked a variety of questions e.g.
1. The hypothetical question (”what if” questions)
Example: You fail to meet an important deadline. What would you do?
2. The yes-or-no question
Example: Have you prepared financial statements before?
Don’t simply answer “yes” or “no”. Give the interviewer more information.
3. The what-do-you-think-the-other-guy-thinks question
Example: What do you think your current employer will think of your leaving?
Avoid being a mind reader. Rather state that you will explain your reasons for leaving when the time comes and believe that your manager will accept that.
4. The non-question question
Example: I’ve enjoyed reading your CV, but I’m not sure you have the experience we are looking for.
Turn this into a question and ask “perhaps you could give me an example and I’ll be able to quantify my experience in that area”.
5. The A-or-B-orientated question
Example: What is more important to you: salary package or what you will learn?
Your answer should be that you’re sure they would pay a market related package and therefore the learning opportunities would be of enormous benefit to you and them.
6. The why question
Example: Why should we hire you?
Think about your qualities in the workplace and relate them. Give examples to back your answer.
7. The open-ended question
Example: So, tell me about yourself/your previous job.
Prepare for such questions in advance as far as possible by putting together a summary statement of your work experience so far, outlining positive experiences, qualities and accomplishments which are relevant to the job you are being interviewed for.

Questions you might be asked

Here are some questions that are invariably asked in some form or other at most interviews:
1. Why should we employ you?
This is a chance to show that you have done your homework and have researched the company and that you have thought about the job and what you can bring to it.
2. What do you expect us to pay you?
You could respond by saying: “I expect to be paid a market related package for my experience”. If the interviewer pushes you, quote a range, never give a single figure.
3. Why did you leave your last job/why are you prepared to leave your present job?
Mention reasons such as needing to seek new challenges and lack of growth.
4. What are your career goals?
Limit yourself to the foreseeable future. Speak about what sort of experience you would like to gain.
5. How well do you work in a group or do you prefer to work independently?

Illustrate your ability to be flexible.

Relate some of your successful experiences in working in teams, using examples from work situations.
You also need to indicate an ability to work on your own, using your own initiative.

Questions you might want to ask

Prepare them!
Examples:
If I get the job, what would be my areas of responsibility?
To whom would I report?
What scope would I have for advancement and promotion?
Why did my predecessor leave?
What are the future plans of the company?
Who are the company’s competitors?
What percentage growth has the company shown over the past five years?
What training courses does the company offer to develop its staff?
Does the company grant study leave?
In what way are achievements recognised?
Are employees allowed to work flexi-time or do they have to adhere to 9 to 5?