Interview Tips

Interviews are a two way process. As much as the company is investigating you as to your suitability, so will you be investigating the company to see if they are right for you.

What you should know about the company before the interview.

• Who owns the company? Private or public? Find out about the company and job that you are applying for- conduct some research. Obtain a copy of the job description or any publication that is relevant to the post you are applying for and also of the company. Knowledge of recent news about the company will indicate a pro-active interest.
• Who are their main competitors? Obtain knowledge about the economic sector of the company participates in as well as some understanding of its competitors.
• How are they viewed in the market place?
• What service or products has it to offer?
• What is the current growth of the company and what potential is there for the future?
• Make sure you know the exact location, time of your interview, who you are seeing, what their position is within the company and how to pronounce their names.

Time spent on research prior to your interview will pay off on the day.

The Interviewer will want to know:

• Can you do the job? Do you meet all the criteria in the job description?
• Will you do the job? Have you the right attitude and motivation? Is the job realising your career goals?
• Will you fit into the team? Will it be the right culture match?

You should be asking yourself these very same questions. Think about it.

During The Interview

DO’S

• Arrive early. Being late for an interview is unforgivable. Rather arrive early and spend some time waiting out side the building

• Greet the interviewer by first name with a solid hand shake and smile

• Dress neatly. Your dress should express level of professionalism fitting to the position

• Listen to the question carefully before responding

• Be prepared to answer basic questions

• Have good posture, body language, and good eye contact

• Have a positive attitude. Show confidence, maintain poise and smile

• Be assertive

• Market yourself. Show your worth. Show how your experience would benefit the company

DON’T’S

• Do not bad-mouth previous employers
• Do not arrive unprepared for the interview
• Do not make excuses for failings
• Do not give vague responses to questions
• Do not show too much concern about rapid advancement, yet do show a clearly defined career path
• Do not express strong prejudices or any personal intolerance
• Do not show any reservation about the company or position. You can always refuse a second interview after consideration
• Do not overemphasize money Salary discussion is secondary. Your goal is to sell yourself
• Do not leave your cell phone on during the interview
• Do not chew gum
• Do not fling your portfolio on the desk. Talk it through with the interviewer. This applies to ad agency and public relations candidates.

Closing the Interview

• Always close the interview on a positive note; even if you did not think that it went that well. The interviewer may have thought otherwise
• Confirm your strengths and the reason why you will be an asset to the company
• If you really want the job, ASK FOR IT
• If the job is offered to you on the spot and you want it, accept it
• If the job is offered to you and you need to think about it, say so, stating a definite time when you will get back to the employer
• Show willingness and availability for a second interview
• Ask at the end of the interview when the employer will be making the hiring decision
• Thank the interviewer for the interview and end with a firm handshake
• Don’t be too hard on yourself. Things don't always work out as we wish them to be
• Laugh - it is the best medicine

Body Language

DO’S AND DON’TS

• Walk slowly and deliberately when entering the room. Shoulders back. Walk tall
• Give a firm handshake while maintaining constant eye contact. A firm handshake shows confidence in yourself and your abilities
• Never appear to be staring, look away from time to time. Never look down
• Listen
• Show enthusiasm, be alert. Your attitude should never be viewed as indifferent
• Give non-verbal feedback by smiling and nodding
• Control your movements. Do not hurry
• Do not fidget. Be aware of what you are doing with your hands. Avoid expansive hand gestures
• Don’t forget to breath
• Do not be aggressive or act in superior, conceited or overbearing away.
• Do speak clearly with good diction and grammar
• Do no talk too much.
• Do not lose concentration or attention.

 FAQ’s

Questions you can ask at an interview

• What will my responsibilities be?
• Why is this position available?
• How will you assess my performance?
• How does this position fit in to the rest of the company?
• Who will I report to and who will report in to me?
• Does your company encourage further study?
• What is your company’s further growth plans?
• Where will I be based?
• Will the position entail travel?
• How soon will you decide on the appointment?

What is the next step? Where do we go from there?

Ask questions. A recruiter for a major company says “I only hire staff that ask questions. I can tell more about the person by the questions they ask than the answers they give."

It is also said that by not asking questions a candidate “shows a peculiar lack of curiosity and comprehension”

If you do not ask questions, an interviewer cannot tell if you are interested in the job, and that may cost you a job offer. Asking the right questions not only ensures a lively discussion, it makes the interview job easier.

The best reason for asking questions is to get information you need to make an informed decision, should the company make you an offer. Not all questions are created equal and there are some you are better off not asking.

QUESTION YOU CAN EXPECT TO BE ASKED:

Q) Tell me about yourself (what the interviewer is really saying: " I want to hear you talking " )

Q) What are your strengths? (Straightforward answering is required here, what are you good at and how can you add value to the company?)

Q) What are your weaknesses? (Your self -awareness and self-perception is being questioned here)

Q) What have been your achievements? (What is being asked here is “Are you an achiever?)

Q) What do you like about your present job? (The interviewer is really trying to discover that the job on offer will have aspects of what you enjoy.)
.
Q) What do you dislike about your present job? (Does the job on offer have responsibilities that you will dislike and which will make you unsuitable?)

Q) What is the most difficult situation you have had to face and how have you tackled it? (What is “difficult” for you and are you logical in problem solving)

Q) What kind of decision do you find the most difficult to make? (What is being said here is: " I need someone who is strong and decisive and yet has empathy")

Q) Why do you want to leave? (Your motives are being evaluated and the interview is trying to understand your reason for wanting to leave)