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Interview Tips

Once an organisation displays an interest in your resume, you will be asked to interview with the potential employer. This is a chance for the company to learn more about you and your experiences, and is a chance for you to review the company, the position and the offer.

Creating a good impression in the interview is vital to the success of your job search. This critical step is the link between you and your next job.

PREPARATION

First, do some research on the organisation to help you formulate questions, which ensure that you have sufficient details regarding the organisation, and the position offered.

It is essential that you prepare possible answers to questions that you may be asked that demonstrate your competence, experience, knowledge and abilities. Make a list of all of your past significant achievements - expand on the ones you have highlighted in your resume.

During the interview, you can present your achievements using the Problem, Action, Result (PAR) format. Identify the PAR “story” for each of the skills required for the position. Remember to use this format to give a complete and concise illustration.

Describe the problem in one to two sentences.
Explain your actions in response to the problem in one to three sentences.
Provide a short, punchy sentence that clearly expresses the result or the benefit to the company.

PRACTICE

Following are frequently asked questions during interviews. The first 10 are the most common. Read through them and mentally prepare a brief answer for each.

- Tell me about yourself.
- Why did you leave your last position?
- What are your goals?
- What are your strengths and weaknesses?
- What do you know about this company?
- Why do you feel qualified for this job?
- What is your most significant achievement?
- How would your boss describe your job performance?
- Why should we hire you?
- What are your salary expectations?
- Describe your ideal job.
- How long will you stay with us?
- Why haven’t you found a new position before now?
- How would you evaluate your present/last company?
- What do you think of your previous/current boss?
- Describe a few situations in which your work was criticised.
- If you had your choice of jobs and companies, where would you go?
- Describe what you feel to be an ideal working environment and an ideal boss?
- What was the toughest decision you had to make last year and what made it so difficult?

PERFORMANCE

First impressions are powerful. An initial impression has more of an impact than people realise. Employers often use the interview as a way to confirm their first impression of you. You can turn this to your advantage by making a positive first impression, which in turn, sets a favourable tone for what happens during your interview. Your goal is to create the aura of an individual who is confident, self-assured and gracious. The way you dress frames the picture - the way you behave colours the portrait of who you are.

Performance Tips
- Arrive at least 10 - 15 minutes before the established time. Allow for unexpected traffic and/or parking difficulties.
- Introduce yourself to the secretary or receptionist.
- Show courtesy and respect to everyone you meet. More than one applicant has lost out because of a rude remark or a patronising manner at the front desk.
- Maintain a warm and friendly demeanor. A natural smile will punctuate your conversation and add to your presentation.
- Try to select a seat that places you directly opposite the interviewer. Wait to sit down until the interviewer offers you a chair or is seated.
- Treat the interviewer as a potential colleague and establish a rapport as you would with a peer. Show respect, but do not place the interviewer on a pedestal.
- Maintain an “open” body position. Lean towards the interviewer a bit to show interest.
- Look at the interviewer. Direct eye contact is important.
- Avoid irritating habits such as pen clicking, pencil tapping, hair twisting, foot swinging and knuckle cracking.
- Do not smoke, chew gum or drink coffee during the meeting.
- Limit the amount of personal information you provide. It is not pertinent to the job and it may be a red flag to the interviewer.
- Review a business etiquette book to refresh your memory on the manners, introduction protocols and other details of appropriate, professional behaviour.
- Remember that you have a valuable contribution to make to an organisation.
- Relax, keep in mind that you are just two human beings meeting with one another in order to get to know each other better. The fate of the universe does not hang in the balance.
- Immediately contact your consultant after your interview to discuss the meeting and to give and receive feedback. He or she can then answer any additional questions the employer might have and may be able to ease the process.

Your behaviour during the Interview
The following are some key negative behavioural traits to avoid at the interview.

- Overbearing - aggressive - conceited ‘superiority complex’ - ‘know-it-all’ attitude.
- Lack of planning for career - no purpose or goals.
- Lack of interest and enthusiasm - passive and indifferent.
- Lack of confidence - nervousness. If you are nervous, say so.
- Over-emphasis on money - interested only in remuneration.
- Evasive - makes excuses for unfavourable aspects in past record.
- Lack of tact/maturity/courtesy.
- Condemnation of past employers. Never belittle a past employer.
- Persistent attitude of “What can you do for me?’
- Lack of preparation for interview - failure to get information about the company, resulting in inability to ask intelligent questions.
- Lying. Answer questions truthfully, frankly and as to the point as possible.
- ‘Over answering’ questions. Try not to say more than is necessary.