Interview tips and advice
Not many things in life can be more daunting than a job interview. With so much competition in the job market, this is your opportunity to demonstrate that you're the best person for the position.
The way you handle yourself is only one of several factors that ultimately determines whether you get the job, but it is one of the most important nonetheless. So what can you do to ensure you come across well in an interview?
Preparing for a job interview is key, particularly as there are some questions you are guaranteed to be asked.
Interview preparation
At a basic level most interviews will head off down one of two paths:
- They will begin with the interviewer describing the job and the organisation to you, before asking you to talk about yourself.
This has the advantage of allowing you time to settle down and get a feel for the personality of the interviewer(s). The disadvantage lies in the possibility of new information emerging on which you might be expected to answer questions. - The interviewer will put you 'on stage' straight away by asking you what attracted you to the position and why you would be a suitable candidate.
This approach requires you to make an immediate impact and to talk without the benefit of an established rapport. On the up side, it gives you two chances to sell yourself - at the start of the interview and again at the question stage.
During the interview
- Learn your achievements from your CV and be prepared to elaborate on them, make sure you have all your facts and figures clearly at hand.
- Be fluent and confident about describing yourself and what you can bring.
- Remember that you are not boasting, just merely stating quantifiable facts about what you have to offer.
- Be enthusiastic about your career and what you have achieved, but avoid unnecessary detail.
- Talk in 'sound bites' until you catch the interest of the interviewer, at which point it is fine to elaborate.
- Never interrupt - even if the question is obvious, wait for the interviewer to finish before your reply.
- Listen actively - there is always something more to learn about the organisation and on which you might capitalise.
- Always use positive language to describe your past career history and never criticise former employers, bosses or colleagues - it will simply mark you down as disloyal.
Answering interview questions
When practicing interview questions and answers, try and think of examples you could use to describe how you have dealt with different situations. Here are some examples of how to answer common interview questions:
"Tell me a little about yourself"
This is an ice-breaker, and it's always a challenge to answer because it's so broad. The best approach is to narrow the scope of the question by focusing on those aspects of your background that make you qualified for the position. From there, you can talk about your interest in this particular job and company.
"Tell me about your last job"
Most interviewers are looking for a direct link between your responsibilities in your most recent position and the job they have open. This is your chance to highlight your transferable skills and talk about specifics, including who you reported to, the number of people you managed, how your position fit into the company's big picture and the contributions you made.
Make sure you aren't general in your answers. Tell the interviewer what your job entailed day to day and how those responsibilities have prepared you for the current position you're seeking.
"What are your weaknesses?"
It's difficult enough admitting your downfalls to those you know well, much less someone whom you've just met.
This isn't the time to beat yourself up: don't talk about all those projects you started but didn't have time to finish at your last job. Instead, be candid and brief. Maybe planning wasn't your strong suit in the past, but you've found an organisational system that keeps you on track.
"Why should I hire you?"
Don't get caught up in what may appear to be an easy answer ("because I'm the best person for the job"). Instead, hone in on specific qualities that make you a good fit for this position.
Talk about what you know about the job from the description and how you can make a significant contribution. You can also use examples of your skills to back this up.
"What's the biggest problem you faced in your last job, and how did you solve it?"
An interviewer who asks this question is looking for insight into what you consider a challenge and how you would handle a difficult situation.
Come prepared with two or three examples of difficulties you overcame on the job that are relevant to the position for which you are interviewing.
"What kind of salary do you require?"
Generally, it's better to postpone discussions about salary until you have a thorough understanding of the job responsibilities and what the employer is willing to pay.
But in case it does come up early in the interview process, be sure you know your monetary requirements and market value. Your perceived "value" is generally the basis of most companies' salary decisions.
Asking questions
Questions provide your final opportunity to sell yourself to the interviewer(s). Use this opportunity to find out more about the organisational structure, your prospective role in it, the nature of the job, the challenge it offers and its career potential.
If you feel that you will not remember all the things you need to ask, write them down and ask if the interviewer minds if you refer to your notes. Try to limit the time spent on questions, the panel may be irritated if you appear too demanding and throw the interview schedule off too much.
Follow up after the interview
Always write a thank-you email after an interview. Re-affirm your continued interest in the post or email and say that you hope to be called back for a further discussion.
If your application is unsuccessful, do not be afraid to call and ask for feedback. This can be invaluable advice to inform your next round of applications.
Additional Interview Tips
Do:
- Make eye contact
- Remember your CV details
- Make a note of your questions if you feel you might forget them
- Remember interviewers have to convince you that you should join a company just as much as you need them to employ you.
Don't:
- Interrupt the interviewer
- Smoke before your interview
- Volunteer your weaknesses
A successful interview relies partly on thorough preparation and partly on thoughtful response to questions on the day. In addition, you can demonstrate a lot to your interviewers with your own questions and effective follow-up.
For more career development tips please visit our careers advice page, or alternatively you can contact one of our recruitment experts today.
