Interview Tips

What employers will look for…

Every interview is different and should be approached as such; based on the type of role and the nature of the job. However the following attributes should help in most interview situations.

• A genuine interest in the company and position
• Communication skills
• High performance standards
• Stable work history

Preparing for the interview

Failure to prepare means that you are preparing to fail. The more information you are armed with the better the chances of your interview being a success.

• Research the company.
• Know where you are going.
• Know who you are seeing.
• Prepare questions.
• Dress appropriately. First impressions count. Are you well groomed with tidy hair,
  shoes and clothing?
• Stay positive throughout

The Interview

Interviews can vary, from being very formal to being very informal. There is no single way in which an interview is conducted, but there are some standards that apply to almost every situation.

Before the actual interview

• First contact. A firm handshake, with an enthusiastic greeting and a good amount of eye contact and a selfintroduction should make a good impression.
• Be polite to support staff you meet - they count too - and may influence a decision in your favour.
• Break the Ice. In most interviews small talk will fill the small gap before the point of getting down to business. Respond enthusiastically and pleasantly to the interviewers’ questions and remarks.

During the interview

• Keep an attitude of ‘what I can do for the company’, not ‘what can the company do for me’.
• Sit up straight. Maintain a good posture. Keep good eye contact.
• Build a rapport. People like to hire those they are comfortable with.
• Always keep a positive emphasis. Do not say ‘I can`t’ or ‘ I haven`t’. Instead, say, for example, ‘That sounds good. It is something I am sure I would be able to do.’
• Relate answers to the position.
• Show you have done some research – but do not be contrived.
• Stay positive even when things appear to be going bad. A genuinely interested interviewer may be testing your reactions by making the interview appear to be going badly for you.
• Do not discuss salary at the first interview. If the interviewer insists, consider a neutral response such as ‘ I will consider any reasonable offer’ or state your current or previous salary, but state that you`re more interested in a position than a salary. Furthermore, do not discuss holidays, bonuses etc. until you are sure of being offered the job.
• Let them know why you are interested. Talk about what appeals to you about the company, and what you can offer.
• Keep your replies simple. Offer positive information - don’t give bad news unasked. Don’t harp on problems or criticise previous employers.
• Do not make unnecessary derogatory remarks about current or former employers. If the interviewer starts to make derogatory remarks about your current/previous employer, stay neutral – they may be trying to test you.

Closing the interview

• Enthusiasm is infectious. Let them know you are enthusiastic about the position, and why. Clarify what the next step is. When would the next interview be, who will you be hearing from etc?
• Ask them what else they need to know about you.
• State you can do the job. Show confidence in your ability to fill the position

Interviewers' favourite questions

Here are a selection of questions that employers might ask you: -

• Tell me about yourself. Ask them to clarify this question – what they want to know, and where they want you to start.
• What are/were your primary responsibilities in your current/previous vacancy?
• What were your earning when you started?
• What is/was your earnings currently/when you left?
• Why did you leave/are you considering leaving?
• How successful were you at hitting your sales targets?
• What was the most difficult part of your job, and how did you deal with it?
• What qualities are necessary to be successful in this role?
• Describe a typical workday.
• What are your weaknesses?
• What are your career goals?
• How would you describe your personality?
• Why should I hire you above another candidate?