From the interviewer’s point of view the interview is an opportunity to explore more fully what is already known about you from an application form, letter of application or other recommendation. Your social skills, work motivation, keenness for the job, likely long-term commitment and general suitability will all be under scrutiny.
From the job-seeker’s point of view, as well as being an opportunity to demonstrate suitability for the job, an interview can be used to obtain more information about the firm and the job on offer. You will also experience the general atmosphere and environment in the company.
Remember, your objective is to be offered the job by convincing the interviewer that you are more capable than any of the other candidates. To achieve this, careful preparation is recommended.
Before The Interview
It is important to find out as much as possible about the firm and the particular job being applied for. Few employers can resist the candidate who has more than a superficial knowledge of the organisation and who has taken the trouble to find out about it. The type of information about a firm or organisation which you should try to gather includes:
– where its headquarters and branches are
– what service it provides or what it produces
– who the main competitors are
– where the main market is
– staff numbers
– trading history
Although you will probably not use all this information during the interview, the fact that you have it will boost your confidence greatly and the odd comment which shows you know about the firm is bound to impress.
- Make sure you know where the interview is being held and how to get there, allowing plenty of time for traffic jams and public transport running late. Few people like to be kept waiting and it creates a bad impression if you arrive late.
- If you are unavoidably delayed, telephone and let the interviewer know you will be late and explain why.
- It is important to pay some attention to personal grooming since appearances do count. Dirty shoes, unkempt hair and grubby clothes can create an unfavorable first impression difficult to overcome.
- Be sure you know the name of the person you are to see and his/her position in the firm.
- A job interview may last 15 minutes or up to an hour. You will be asked many questions - some straightforward factual ones and others more complicated, as the interviewer tries to find out about your attitudes towards life and work.
During The Interview
How you get on at the actual interview is critical and jobs are offered largely on the strength of a good performance. Even if all the candidates could do the job equally well, some will give the impression that they would be unsuitable. However, it is up to you to put across your abliities, experience and achievements in a positive way and to convince the inteviewer that you are the most suitable candidate for the job.
In any interview, the interviewer will be trying to assess you on certain main areas:
Intelligence
Have you the ability to do the job?
Do you learn quickly?
Will you take instructions and act accordingly?
Acceptability What is your speech like?
How do you express yourself?
How confident are you?
What is your appearance like?
Qualifications
Do you have the basic qualifications for the job?
What have your educational achievements been?
If you do not have formal qualifications, have you made an effort to bring yourself up to the required standard?
Do you belong to any professional bodies?
What use have you made of your previous experience?
Adjustment
Are you a stable person, capable of withstanding stress?
How do you get on with other people?
What are your domestic circumstances?
Do you take your career seriously?
Do you take your family responsibilities seriously?
How do you react to criticism? Are you easily bored?
Motivation and Achievement
Can you work on your own initiative?
Can you get things done even when faced with difficulties?
Have you long-term personal goals?
Can you get things done on time?
Do you finish a job?
Do you pay attention to detail?
Do you have pride in any work you do?
Areas such as these will be investigated with the aim of finding out if you would be the most suitable person for the job. Most interviewers are not trying to trip you up or trap you – they are trying to make sure you are the right person for the job.
Points to Remember
- be business like
- do not sit down until invited – or at least until the interviewer sits down
- do not touch or lean on the interviewer’s desk or table
- do not slouch in your chair, equally, do not sit nervously on the edge of it try not to display nervousness by fidgeting
- show that you can listen, show positive interest in remarks
- look at the interviewer – not round the room or at your feet
- speak clearly
- ask about the job – intelligent questions about the job not only make a good impression but can provide you with information you need to help you decide whether the post is an appropriate one for you
- do not swear – even mildly
- do not interrupt the interviewer
- do not interview the interviewer
- do not argue with the interviewer
- smile
The Panel Interview Panel (or Board) interviews can be rather disconcerting, it is almost impossible to make an impression with several interviewers in a short space of time, but remember that the panel is there to select someone and that the other candidates will be in the same situation.
The points made earlier about dress and grooming, and about how you move and sit, are more important for panel interviews than for those conducted by a single interviewer, as there are more eyes observing you. It is particularly important to speak clearly and loudly enough for all the panel members to be able to hear you.
Direct an answer primarily to the person who asked the question but look at the others from time to time and be alert to any reactions from them (nods of approval, etc.)
General Hints
Try not to answer questions with YES or NO or other single words. Always expand your answers into at least a few sentences.
Do not draw attention to any of your weaknesses (e.g. age, physical shortcoming, lack of qualifications, and long time out of work) by making constant reference to it or apologising.
Be prepared to cope with questions on weak or sensitive areas.
Be ready with answers which show up your strong points especially those which are relevant to the job e.g. ‘I get on well with people’ or ‘I work well with figures’. Try to give practical examples where possible.
Do not criticise present or past employers.
Listen to what you are being asked;
think before you answer.
Asking the Right Questions Towards the end of the interview you are likely to be given the chance to ask questions yourself. Provided they have not already been dealt with, it is reasonable to ask about some of the following:–
Promotion prospects
Training
Further education
Pay
Hours
Pension scheme
Assessment of job performance
Staff transfers to other branches
Management structure
The main problems in the job
At the end of the interview thank the interviewer(s) and leave confidently. Do not overstay your welcome.
After the Interview At the end of the interview you may not be told whether you have got the job. Other candidates may still have to be interviewed or other people in the firm may have to be consulted before a decision is made. However well the interview went, try not to assume that the job is yours until you have an offer in writing. You should continue with your job search until you receive a firm offer. If you have not heard from the employer within a fortnight it is reasonable to contact the firm to clarify the current position.
If you are offered the job you want, confirm your acceptance immediately in writing.
Remember it is not the end of the world if you are unsuccessful. Look on it as good experience, the more interviews you go to, the better your performance will become. Try to be objective, analyse what went wrong and learn from experience.
Questions Employers Ask Here are some questions employers frequently ask, and the reason why they ask them.
- Why do you think you would like to work for our company? (To see if you have learned anything about the company before applying.)
- What subjects did you enjoy at school? (Your answer reveals some of your interests, attitudes.)
- What activities do you participate in, outside of work? (To see abilities and interests which your work or school record did not reveal.)
- What do you consider to be your strengths? (An honest answer is a great help to an interviewer but be careful not to brag.)
- What do you consider to be your weaknesses? (Shows if you can recognise your own faults – but do not overdo it)
- What sort of job do you hope to have in five years? (This is your chance to show your drive, ambition and ultimate goal.)
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What starting salary would you expect? (If you are not certain, say: “Any fair salary is fine to start with".)
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Would you accept a job which required you to travel? (Many jobs require travel – think about it before you are asked.)
- What do you feel you have to offer to the job? (This gives you a chance to show you have abilities useful to your employer.)
- Why did you leave your last job? (In case you had problems there.)
- What did you like best and least about your last job? (Try to bring up the qualities that would make you a good employee.)
- What suggestions or changes did you make in your last job? (This gives you a chance to show you are a constructive person who has accomplishments.)
- Why did you apply for this job? (Most employers prefer a person who has selected a job to one who drifted into it.)
- If you could have any job in the world what would you choose? (This should relate to the job for which you are applying; but do not show limited ambition by setting your sights too low.)
- What types of books do you read or films, TV do you watch? (To see if you are a well-rounded person, with varied interests.)
- How did your previous employers treat you? (If you think they all treated you badly, you may be viewed as a chronic complainer.)