INTERVIEW TIPS

Congratulations if you have been selected for an interview. Now you will have to convince the
interviewer that you are the right person for the role. You will need to show that you are
sufficiently motivated to get the job done well and that you will fit in with the company's
organisational structure and the team in which you will work.

Preparation is everything. The better you prepare for the interview the less likely the chance that
you will come across a question that will surprise you.

The following are guidelines, hints and tips to help you ACE the Interview.

Company Research

Research should always be your first step. Gathering background information on employers is a
crucial element in successful interview preparation. You will need to be prepared to answer the
questions "What do your know about our company"? and "Why do you want to work here?"
Knowing as much as possible about the company's past performance and future plans can make
your interview more interactive and could be just the leg up you need in a competitive job market.
Before the interview review the company's web site and don't be afraid to contact your
prospective employer to request company literature if you recruitment consultant does not have
any readily available. Google the company to see what other information is available online.

Practice Makes Perfect

Practice makes perfect (or at least leads to improvement). Practice with a friend and record or
videotape your responses so you can replay the interview and see how well you did. Prepare
answers to commonly asked interview questions. Doing so will help you analyse your background
and qualifications for the position.

How to dress for success

Wear a solid colour conservative suit with a coordinated shirt or blouse (Suggestion Back suit,
white shirt)
Wear moderate shoes
Make sure your hair is well groomed and neat
Don't overdo the perfume, makeup, cologne or after shave
Limit your jewellery
Make sure to try on your outfit BEFORE the day of the interview
Tips: It is better to be overdressed than underdressed

Body language

You may be superbly qualified for a job, but you must also look motivated and interested. The
way you act, your posture, gestures and facial expressions, will reveal a lot about you.

Look the interviewer in the eye and don't be afraid to smile when it is appropriate.
If you are being interviewed by more than one person, always look at and address the person
who posed the question, then glance at the others when you have finished your answer.

Adopt a good posture. Don't cross your arms, fidget, tap your feet, sprawl or lean forward
anxiously.

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Sounding positive

You must be ready to expand on, not simply regurgitate, the information presented on your CV
and anticipate the route the interviewer might take. No one fits a job perfectly so emphasise your
most relevant skills and slant answers to reassure the interviewer that any shortfall is not a
problem.
• Don't use tentative language. Phrases such as 'I feel I could', 'I think I can'. 'Perhaps I
would' - dilute the strength of your case.
• Don't confine your answers to monosyllabic yes and no's which make the interview more
like an interrogation.
• Be enthusiastic but don't constantly interrupt.
• Practice makes perfect. Before the interview, test your fluency by talking out loud or
presenting to partners and friends.
• Don't be evasive. Make a virtue of any career gaps on your CV.
Competency based Interviews

These are also known as skills-based, behavioural, criteria or structured interviews and work on
the principle that: past performance is the best predictor of future performance. Competency
based interviews are where the interviewers have clearly identified the skills required to carry out
the job for which you are applying and will ask specific questions about the skills involved.

What is a competency?

A competency is a specific quality, knowledge, skill or behaviour that you should have to be
successful in a particular job or role. In demonstrating your competencies you will be showing the
skills and the background knowledge necessary for you to perform a particular task effectively,
together with the motivation or drive to make things happen.

Typical competencies could be:

• Negotiation
• Communication
• Diplomacy
• Staying calm under pressure
• Handling difficult situations
• Time management
• Decision making
• Problem solving
• Planning and organisation
• Persuasiveness
• Teamwork
The aims of a competency based interview are: To obtain information about how you have
previously demonstrated the key competencies for the post through specific questions and to
explore the examples further to obtain a clear understanding of the situation, what you did, your
contribution and the outcome. The questions call for examples of situations where you have used
the relevant skill. The question would be along the lines of “Describe a situation where you used
your communication skills to achieve a particular outcome against all odds”.

A possible starting point is to think about your past achievements: The things that you have done
that you are most proud of, Situations you feel that you have handled particularly well, Ways in
which you have contributed to the success of the business as a whole.

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As the interview will be focused on past specific examples, it would be advisable to think about
possible examples that you could use.

• Consider your role in the situation

• Were there any potential barriers or pitfalls?
• How did you overcome them?
• Is there anything you would have done differently?
• Is there anything that you have learned?
Compose a paragraph or so for each situation, outlining what happened, how you approached it
and what the outcome was. The "STAR" format should help you to structure these outlines:

S – Situation - What was the situation in which you found yourself?

T – Task - What was the specific task which you had to achieve?

A – Action - What action did you take?

R – Result - What was the outcome of your action?

The focus should be on you even if the situation involved a group, interviewers will want to know
what your specific role in achieving the desired result was. Once you have done this, select the
examples which you feel are the best illustrations of the required competence.

Tips: DON'T give general examples and DO give specific examples

The interviewer will be concerned with pinning you down in terms of your previous actions in the
skill areas they are assessing. It is important to understand that a behavioural question is very
different from a theoretical one, which many interviewers often ask. It uses words like “did”,
“having done” or “currently doing” and will involve you talking about a specific past experience.
For example they could assess this competence by asking you the question “What would you do
if you had someone working for you who was confrontational?” – a theoretical question. But an
interviewer trained in competency-based interviewing would word the question as “When was the
last time you had to deal with an aggressive or uncooperative member of staff? What did you
do?”

Preparation is the key to performing well at any interview. Below are some tips on interview
preparation:
• Ensure you have a copy of the job description clearly defining the key competencies for
the role
• Think clearly about the key competencies needed for the job.
• Take some time to reflect on your experience and the evidence that you have included in
the application form and its relevance to the job, whether it be from employment,
academic or from another source, for example, from vacation or part-time work; university
clubs and societies; voluntary work; study at school or university; holidays and travel or
personal and family experiences.
• Think about examples, either past experiences or projects, which you can use in the
interview situation to illustrate each competency.
• Think about some additional examples that demonstrate the key competencies.
• Think about how you would describe your contribution to your most important
achievements.
• Think positively about why this role appeals to you, and why you think you should be
considered for this role and be prepared to talk about this during the interview.

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Standard Interview Questions

There are some common interview questions and you should prepare your answers before-
hand. The key thing to remember when responding to interview questions is to keep your
answers brief and to the point. If you are faced with a difficult question, make sure you stay
calm, don't get defensive, and take a moment to think about your response before you answer.
The 5 second rule should apply here, it gives you time to think, construct you response and
answer effectively. Never answer a question you don't understand with a knee-jerk response.
Always seek clarification before answering and if you don't know an answer, it's much better to
admit this than guess.

Remember, the responses below are only suggestions. Try to personalise your response as
much as possible.

Q: Tell me about yourself.

A: Identify some of your main attributes and memorise them. Describe your qualifications,
career history and range of skills, emphasising those skills relevant to the job on offer.

Q: What have your achievements been to date?

A. Select an achievement that is work-related and fairly recent. Identify the skills you used in
the achievement and quantify the benefit it had to the company. For example, 'my greatest
achievement has been to design and implement a new sales ledger system, bringing it in
ahead of time and improving our debtors' position significantly, saving the company £50,000 a
month in interest'.

Q: Are you happy with your career-to-date?

A: This question is really about your self-esteem, confidence and career aspirations. The
answer must be 'yes', followed by a brief explanation as to what it is about your career so far
that's made you happy. If you have hit a career plateau, or you feel you are moving too slowly,
then you must qualify your answer.

Q: What is the most difficult situation you have had to face and how did you tackle it?

A: The purpose of this question is to find out what your definition of difficult is and whether you
can show a logical approach to problem solving. In order to show yourself in a positive light,
select a difficult work situation which was not caused by you and which can be quickly
explained in a few sentences. Explain how you defined the problem, what the options were,
why you selected the one you did and what the outcome was. Always end on a positive note.

Q: What do you like about your present job?

A: This is a straightforward question. All you have to do is make sure that your 'likes'
correspond to the skills required for the job on offer. Be enthusiastic; describe your job as
interesting and diverse but do not overdo it - after all, you are looking to leave.

Q: What do you dislike about your present job?

A: Be cautious with this answer. Do not be too specific as you may draw attention to
weaknesses that will leave you open to further problems. One approach is to choose a
characteristic of your present company, such as its size or slow decision-making processes
etc. Give your answer with the air of someone who takes problems and frustrations in your
stride as part of the job.

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Q: What are your strengths?

A: This is one question that you know you are going to get so there is no excuse for being
unprepared. Concentrate on discussing your main strengths. List three or four proficiencies
e.g. your ability to learn quickly, determination to succeed, positive attitude, your ability to
relate to people and achieve a common goal. You may be asked to give examples of the
above so be prepared.

Q: What is your greatest weakness?

A: Do not say you have none - this will lead to further problems. You have two options - use a
professed weakness such as a lack of experience (not ability) on your part in an area that is
not vital for the job. The second option is to describe a personal or professional weakness that
could also be considered to be a strength and the steps you have taken to combat it. An
example would be: "I know my team think I'm too demanding at times - I tend to drive them
pretty hard but I'm getting much better at using the carrot and not the stick". This final question
is particularly tricky. Obviously, you can't claim to have no weaknesses, but you don't want to
stress anything too negative. The best solution is to admit to one weakness and then turn it
around and show how you have constructively overcome it.

Q: Why do you want to leave your current employer?

A: State how you are looking for a new challenge, more responsibility, experience and a
change of environment. Do not be negative in your reasons for leaving. It is rarely appropriate
to cite salary as your primary motivator.

Q: Why have you applied for this particular job?

A: The employer is looking for evidence that the job suits you, fits in with your general
aptitudes, coincides with your long-term goals and involves doing things you enjoy. Make sure
you have a good understanding of the role and the organisation, and describe the attributes of
the organisation that interest you.

Second Interview

What happens at a Second Interview?

You undoubtedly made a good impression in your first interview; now is your chance to
reinforce that impression.

The first interview is a type of screening process, the purpose to allow the employer to identify
individuals for the company's list of potential candidates to hire. Most of the first interview was
to determine if you could do the job. The second interview is all about your enthusiasm for the
job and how well you will fit into the company’s corporate culture.

A second interview will be more in-depth, consisting of more difficult and gruelling questions
than the first. All the rules for first interviews still apply but it’s important to find out even more
about the company and the job for which you’re applying.

The second interview is also an opportunity for another supervisor or manager to evaluate you
as well as an opportunity to probe for more detailed information. It's also the time in which the
company is measuring you against your competition. So you need to be very sharp and very
enthusiastic.

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Here are some tips to help you in your second interview.

Offer new information. If you talked about your experiences and accomplishments the first
time, now talk briefly about your ideas. You want the interviewer to know more about you, just
as you want to learn more about the company.

Give new examples of what you have accomplished. This can be especially effective if
you've done additional research. For example, in the initial interview you talked about your
results as a manager in your present job; now talk about your results in previous jobs.

Ask more specific questions.

Let your research show. Prior to your second interview, you should learn as much as
possible about the company, its operations, procedures, and basic management philosophy.
This lets the interviewer see that you are serious about the job without going on about how
much you think you would like it. The interviewers are also looking for increased knowledge of
the company and the position for which you’re interviewing.

Some companies use IQ, aptitude and personality tests. Group discussions and group
exercises are not uncommon, and are often used by the Civil Service, the armed forces and
some of the larger business companies. In a panel interview, you may be invited to meet a
panel of three or four people at the same time.

At the end of the session there should be an opportunity to ask questions about job
requirements and salary.

Questions to ask at the end of the Interview

The interview is a two-way process. At the end of the interview, the employer will usually ask if
you have any questions about the job or company, so always prepare a few in advance. This is
a good chance to clarify any points of doubt - after all, you need to make sure that the job is
exactly what you expected and what you want. You should aim to ask at least 3 good
questions at the end of your interview, and we have attached some for your information and
use.

• What is the structure of the department like?

• Who would I report to? Is there one manager or a few etc?
• Management structure: Is it Hierarchical or Flat?
• How does the department liaise with other departments? Offices abroad?
• What are the main objectives and responsibilities of the position?
• How does the company expect these objectives to be met?
• What obstacles are commonly encountered in reaching these objectives?
• What is the desired time frame for reaching the objectives?
• What resources are available from the company and what must be found elsewhere to
reach the objectives?
• What are the targets for the first 6 months?
• How would you describe your company culture?
• What is your vision for your department over the next two to three years?
• What major challenges are you currently facing as a manager?
• What makes your company better than your competitors?
• What are the areas where your competitors are better than your company?
• Who do you consider your customers to be?

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 • What can you tell me about the other people in the organization I would be working with?
Can I meet with any of them before accepting an offer of employment?
• What are the most important skills and attributes you are looking for in filling this
position?
• What is your management style?
• What is your preferred method of communicating with your team?
• What is the organization’s plan for the next five years, and how does this department or
division fit in?
• What specific skills from the person you hire would make your life easier?
• What are some of the skills and abilities you see as necessary for someone to succeed in
this job?
• What do you see as the most important opportunities for improvement in the area I hope
to join?
• What are the attributes of the job that you’d like to see improved?
• What is your company’s policy on attending seminars, workshops, and other training
opportunities?
• What attracted you to working for this organization?
• What have you liked most about working here?
• How will my leadership responsibilities and performance be measured? By whom?
• (If this a new position) What made you decide to open up this position?
• How would you describe your own management style?
• What are the most important traits you look for in a subordinate?
• How do you like your subordinates to communicate with you?
• What personal qualities or characteristics do you most value?
• How would you describe the experience of working here?
• What are a couple of misconceptions people have about the company?
• What happened to the person who previously held this job?
• From all I can see, I’d really like to work here, and I believe I can be a great addition to
your team. What’s the next step in the selection process?
• Before I leave, is there anything else you need to know concerning my ability to do this
job?
• How long will it take you to make a final recruitment decision?

Common Interview mistakes

1. Failure to research the company: Recruiters say that they expect candidates to spend at
least one hour doing research on their web sites and reading about their companies via other web
sites. Do your homework before the interview; know what the company does, and who their
competitors are.

2. Being unclear on which job you are interviewing for: Become familiar with the job
description so you can explain how your experiences, talents, strengths, and abilities will connect
with company needs. Highlight how you're suited to that particular job.

3. Not marketing yourself: Define yourself. What makes you different from other job
candidates? Know your major strengths and accomplishments as they relate to the job you are
applying for and the company.

4. Asking silly questions: Have at least three or four intelligent questions to ask the recruiter.
It's OK (it actually leaves a positive impression with the recruiter) to have them written down in
advance and to reference them at the appropriate time. Interviews are an exchange of
information, and arriving without questions shows that you did not prepare for the whole interview.

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5. Dressing inappropriately for the interview: Professional attire and attention to detail still
count. You can never be too professional. Remember that everything-your appearance, your tone
of voice, your conduct-contribute to the impression (positive or negative) that you make. Be
presentable. Wear a pressed suit and shirt and polished shoes.

6. Trying to wing the interview: Practice! Get a list of general interview questions, a friend, a
tape recorder, and a mirror and conduct an interview rehearsal. Practice until your delivery feels
comfortable, not canned.

7. Not being yourself: Be yourself and be honest! Don't pretend to understand a question or
train of thought if you don't. If you don't know an answer, say so. Relax and be yourself.
Remember you're interviewing the company, too.

8. Listening poorly: Focus on the question that is being asked and don't try to anticipate the
next one. It's OK to pause and collect your thoughts before answering a question. Pay special
attention to technical- or work-process-related subjects that are unique to a given firm or
organization: The interviewer may have provided information you will need to answer the question
earlier in the conversation. Employers will be looking for your ability to assimilate new information,
retain it, and, most importantly, recognize that information as useful to you later in the interview.

9. Offering too little detail: When answering case questions or technical questions or solving
technical problems, take the time to "talk through" your thought processes. Recruiters are
interested in seeing how your mind works and how it attacks a problem. Interviewers consistently
place a high value on students who articulate their problem-solving process. These individuals
receive job offers more often than those who could solve the problem but fail to verbalize their
thinking.

10. Lacking enthusiasm: Maintain eye contact, greet the interviewer with a smile and a firm
handshake (not too weak, not too strong), and show common courtesy. Don't be afraid to
display your passion for the job/industry and to show confidence

Closing on a confident note

Leave the employer with a good final impression. Smile, thank them for their time, say you
enjoyed discussing the job and that you look forward to hearing from them soon. Don't add any
afterthoughts as you leave the room.

Finally - Some people always seem to succeed at interviews. They're not lucky, their secret is
careful preparation. The better prepared you are, the more confident you will be and the more
success you will have. Remember, if you have prepared properly then when you go to an
interview you will already have beaten most candidates, the employer wants you to succeed - that
job is yours

More Interview Questions

Work Experience/Job Performance:

1. Why should we hire you? Why do you think you're the right person for this job?
2. What unique qualities or abilities would you bring to this job? Could you give me an
example of how you displayed each of these qualities in your current job? In what ways
do you think you can make a contribution to our company?

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 3. What aspects of your previous experience do you think will be most helpful to you in this
role? Is there any unique experience that would be likely to be of benefit to you in this
position? Please outline this.
4. What do you consider to be your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
5. Tell me about a time that you failed at something, and what you did afterwards. What
major problems have you encountered and how did you deal with them?
6. Are you a team player? Describe a time when you worked on a team project. What was
your relative position on the team? Were you satisfied with your contribution? How could
it have been better?
7. How do you work under pressure? Give an example of how you dealt with it?
8. How do you typically behave when a deadline is approaching?
9. How do you react to criticism?
10. What has been the biggest disappointment in your career to date?
11. What is your greatest achievement to date?
12. Describe your first week in the job if you are successful.
13. Why do you wish to leave your current position?
14. If you had a magic wand what one thing would you change about your present job
circumstances?
15. What was the last thing/person that made you very annoyed?
16. How would your fellow workers describe you?

The interviewer is trying to determine if you’re qualified for the job.

Education/Training/Future Goals:

17. What would you hope to achieve in the first 12 months?

18. Where do you see yourself in five years?
19. What do you see as the next step in your career?
20. Why did you choose your college and course of study?
21. What other types of jobs or companies are you considering?

Company Research:

22. Why have you applied for this particular position? Why do you want to work here?
23. What do you know about this job?
What do you understand to be the main objectives of this position?
24. What salary are you expecting?

Personal:

25. When are you available for work?

26. What do you do in your spare time?
27. How would you describe yourself?

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