We’ve put this page together to help you prepare for your interview.
Preparation is absolutely key to ensuring that you give your best at an interview.
Preparation
Effective preparation will enable you to talk clearly, calmly and logically through experience and give appropriate answers and evidence of your expertise and experience.
People always ask, what questions will they ask me? The answer to that is on the job spec. Questions will be asked about your skills in relation to those listed/required on the job spec.
Prepare examples of where you have previously used those skills and the context/projects/tasks in which they have been applied.
When discussing the example, talk about what YOU did. Therefore you should state ‘I was responsible for… or I did…’. If you talk about ‘we’ in terms of the team’s responsibility, the interviewer is left confused. They will not know what you took responsibility for in the task/project.
Other Important Preparation for Interview
Research the company
Prepare as you would for any high-level presentation. Find out as much as you can about the company through annual reports, newspapers, etc. This effort demonstrates your resourcefulness, sincere interest and curiosity.
Know Your 3 Best Interpersonal Strengths and Your 3 Best Technical Strengths
Prepare to discuss each strength for 1-2 minutes, in detail, with examples. The interpersonal examples should confirm your ability to work with others, be flexible, proactive and results oriented. The technical examples should confirm that you have above average abilities, relative to your peers, in these specific areas. These should relate to the vacancy you are interviewing for to help demonstrate you are the best person for the job.
Be well dressed and groomed
Being well dressed and groomed is your best and easiest opportunity to impress someone. Never dress down regardless of how casual you perceive the circumstances to be. Stick with conservative styles.
Be early to your interview
It is most appropriate to arrive about 10 mins early. This gives reception time to contact the interviewer so the interviewer can collect you from reception and the interview start on time.
Be involved and curious
The most effective interviews are those where an active two-way conversation prevails. Try to avoid yes/no answers and give examples where ever possible.
Be enthusiastic and friendly to everyone you meet (people talk)
First impressions, positive or negative, can dramatically affect the ultimate evaluation.
Tell them you want It (if this is the right job for you, don’t be shy in saying so!)
Make it clear that based on what you have heard so far, you would be interested in going to the next round.
If you think you made a wrong step, don’t panic. Wait until the end of the interview and then ask your interviewer, “Is there anything I have not made clear?”
Probing Questions to Ask
At the end of the interview show interest by asking two or three questions relating to your interest and the role. (Leave out questions regarding the salary or benefits as the recruitment consultant will have this information).
Questions you should consider asking are:
- What are the challenges of this role?
- What should be the most important objectives for the person filling this position?
- Is there a formal performance evaluation process?
- What departments or individuals will I be working with outside of my immediate group?
- What are my long-term opportunities?
Don’t be timid about asking these questions. Asking questions demonstrates that you are prepared, genuinely interested, and respectful of the interviewer and the interview process.
If it’s a final interview then ask questions to help you understand if it is the job for you. When you leave the interview room you should have asked all questions important to you so if offered you will know that you want the job.
Finally, be yourself! Let your personality shine through and try not to be too nervous, although everyone feels a little apprehensive before an important interview. As long as you have prepared fully, are armed with a few questions and have thought through answers to the common interview questions then you’ll be an exceptional candidate!
