RAINBOW RECRUITMENT

Interview Techniques for Candidates

Rainbow Recruitment
May 2005 WE COVER THE WHOLE SPECTRUM

Before the Interview

First Impressions
Always ensure you are wearing business dress (including a tie for men, and no bare legs for ladies). Greet the interviewer with an enthusiastic smile and a firm handshake and act in a professional manner throughout the interview.

Research
Research the company in as much detail as you can. The interviewer will rightly see your efforts as a sign of commitment. Use as many sources as possible such as the company website, reports and even speaking to employees of the company. If you have any questions, your consultant should have expert knowledge of the employer, the environment you will be working in, the company culture as well as the employers expectations and candidate requirements. It is important to find out specific facts about the company such as: What their products and services are Who are their main competitors? What is their mission statement/future goals

Preparation
Review and update your CV and make sure you have positive answers if the interviewer wants more detail on the information you have supplied. Read the job description carefully and think of ways in which your experience would benefit the company and where the challenges lie for you. (make notes to refer to if need be)

Punctuality
Be punctual. It is better to arrive early than just on time. Allow plenty of time in case of travel delays and also time to freshen up if required. If you do find yourself unavoidably delayed, notify us immediately, or the company directly, giving the reason and your estimated time of arrival.

Conduct
Be alert, keen and enthusiastic and maintain a high level of eye contact throughout. A positive attitude is essential to convince the employer to offer you that lucrative position. If more than one candidate is suitable for the job, it will often go to the candidate who shows most interest in and desire to do the role in question.

Useful hints

Do ask about career progression but do not let enthusiasm about future roles outweigh the current position on offer - your interviewer will not want to feel that you will be lost from this position 6 months after you've been trained! If, at any point, you begin to have reservations about the role and/or the company, do not show it. You may later hear details which revive your interest substantially, but your chance by then may have been lost. You can always turn down second interviews or job offers when you have had time to appraise them in the cold light of day. It is best not to ask detailed questions about terms and conditions at the initial interview. These will be clarified through Rainbow Recruitment at a later stage. If the interviewer opens a discussion on salary, indicate a range rather than a specific salary so that your options remain open for negotiation at any subsequent interviews.

In Summary: Interview Do's:

Allow plenty of time to travel to your interview Switch your mobile off Introduce yourself courteously including a firm handshake Smile during the interview Show how your experience can benefit the company Ask questions concerning the company Construct your answers carefully Show willingness to learn and progress Be assertive without being aggressive Prepare 10 relevant questions, you'll probably cover 5 in the interview

Interview Don'ts

Don't be late for the interview Don't be unprepared for the interview Don't answer questions with a 'yes' or 'no'. Expand whenever possible Don't lie. Answer all questions truthfully and honestly Dont overemphasise money. do not discuss salary in the 1st interview unless they do; getting the job at this stage is the main priority - salary negotiations will follow Don't say negative things about previous employers Don't show lack of career planning or aspirations For every responsibility/requirement on the job specification, ensure that you have at least one example of an experience or a transferable skill that covers that requirement for the interview.

Interview Questions What type of questions will you be asked in an interview?

Q. Tell me about yourself (I want to hear you talk) A. This is a conversation starter that is nearly always asked. Talk about your qualifications, career history and range of skills. Emphasise those skills that are most relevant to the position on offer Q. Tell me the most challenging situation you have faced recently and how have you dealt with it? (They want to know: Are you logical? Do you show initiative? Whats your definition of difficult?) A. this is a trap question. To avoid it select a difficult work situation that was not caused by you, the options available, how you selected the appropriate one and why and how you resolved it and what the outcome was. Ensure that it is positive. Q. What are your strengths? (What are you good at and how will it add value) A. This is one question that you know you are going to get so there is no excuse for not being prepared. Concentrate on discussing your main strengths. List three of four explanations of how they could benefit the employer. Strengths could include your technical proficiency, ability to learn quickly, determination to succeed, positive attitude, your ability to relate to people and achieve a common goal. Have examples of each ready so you are prepared if the interviewer asks you. Q. What are your weaknesses? (Self perception and awareness) A. Dont say you have none this will ensure further problems. You can approach this question in two ways, use a professed weakness such as 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 a strength and the steps you have taken to combat it. Q. Why do you want to leave your current employer? (Helps the interviewer evaluate and understand your motives for leaving and also determine your stability factor) A. This should be straightforward. State how you are looking for more challenge, responsibility, experience and a change of environment. NEVER be negative in your reasons for leaving, and rarely will it be appropriate to cite salary as the primary motivator. Q. What do you dislike about your present job? (The interviewer is trying to find out whether the job on offer has responsibilities you may dislike or which will make you unsuitable) A. Be careful when answering a question such as this! Do not be too specific as you may draw attention to weaknesses which will leave you open to further problems. One approach is to choose a characteristic of your present company such as its size e.g. slow decision making, and give your answer in a way to show the interviewer you are someone who takes problems and frustrations in their stride.

Other possible questions an interviewer may ask: Have you worked under pressure? (Meaning can you?) When have you had to face a conflict of interest at work? What kind of people do you find difficult to work with? What are you looking for in a company? What can you bring to the organisation? How would your workmates describe you? Why should I give this job to you instead of the other people on the shortlist?

Examples of other questions for Senior and Management positions:

Give me an example of a time you have had to think outside the box to make something happen. Give me an example of when you implemented an idea into your workplace that you brought with you from a previous place of work. What was the concept behind this and how did it change from one workplace to the next? Tell me when you had to develop innovative approaches to anticipate new customer needs? How do you breakdown your workload during the week? Give me an example of a particularly busy week and how you organise your constituent parts. Give me an example of when your actions had a specific effect on a larger issue in an organisation When have you had to identify and interpret external developments in the marketplace that affected the strategy and direction of a business that you were working for? Tell me how you record details of customer (internal or external) conversations that you have may impact on your work in future. Tell me something you have achieved at work about which you are particularly proud. Focus on an example that shows how you drove a piece of work forwards and had difficulty in delivering. When have you changed a process in the workplace to make work practices more effective? Give a specific example of how this helped resolve a wider concern in the company. Teams are filled with people who are good at some things and need development in other areas. How do you reward and tackle good and bad performance? Give me an example of a time when you pushed an individual outside his/her comfort zone?

What questions should you ask the interviewer?

How has this position become vacant? What will my role entail? How will my performance be monitored? What are the opportunities for further training? Will this position involve travelling? How does the culture of the team/this organisation compare to others? What is about this department and organisation that you (the interviewer) enjoy?

Conclusion of the Interview Closing the interview

If you are interested in the role, ask about the next interview stage if appropriate. If the interviewer offers you the job on the spot and you want it, accept it there and then. If you require further time to think it over, be tactful I saying so and qualify your reasons. Try and provide a definite date to the interviewer when you can provide your answer. Do not be disappointed if no definite job offer is made at the interview stage. The interviewer will in most cases need to consult colleagues first or interview other suitable candidates. If you feel that the interview is not going well, do not be discouraged. Sometimes this is part of an interviewers technique to see how you perform under pressure and may have no bearing on whether you will/ will not get the job. Always display a positive attitude. DO NOT FORGET TO THANK THE INTERVIEWER!

What do I do after the interview is over?

It is essential immediately after the interview that you call Rainbow Recruitment and speak to your consultant and provide them with feedback. In most cases, the consultant can not get feedback from the client without speaking to you first. Some of the questions your recruitment consultant will ask Who did you see at the interview? How long were you there for? What sort of questions were you asked? Were you able to answer all the questions? Did the client say what would happen next? Was there anything you forgot to ask or would like to find out? One of the most important learning aspects of interviewing is the feedback that youll receive from the recruitment consultants after they have spoken to your potential employer. Whether it is positive or negative, it is essential that you take it on board and use it for future interviews.

GOOD LUCK!

How to Answer 10 Tricky Interview Questions

Comment Print

By Karen Burns Posted: March 3, 2010

Karen Burns

Does it seem as though some job interview questions are designed to trip you up? It should, because they are. Here are 10 of the trickiest tricky questions you might be asked at a job interview, with ideas on how to handle them: [See the best careers for 2010.] 1. Tell me about yourself.

DO: Talk about the ways that what you know and what you can do are perfectly suited to this job. DONT: Tell the interviewer your life story.

2. Tell me something bad youve heard about our company.

DO: You wouldnt apply for a job at a company you disapproved of, would you? So you should be able to honestly answer that you havent heard anything negative about this place. DONT: Repeat gossip you might have heard.

[See how to ace the phone interview.] 3. Why should I hire you?

DO: Impress your interviewer with how much you know about the companys requirements and then describe how you are the best person to meet those requirements.

DONT: Get tripped up by a lack of prior research.

4. Where do you see yourself in five years?

DO: Talk about how your specific abilities, training, and experience will enable you to smoothly integrate with this company. DONT: Say that you have no idea.

5. How would you react if I told you your interview so far was terrible?

DO: Recognize that this is a test to see if you get flustered. Say, mildly, that you would ask for reasons why. DONT: Freak out. Remember, the interviewer said if.

[See how to keep your thank-you note out of the trash.] 6. Whats the last book you read?

DO: Mention a book that reflects well on you. Choose something by a reputable author that your interviewer has probably heard of. DONT: Name a book you havent actually read.

7. Can you work under pressure?

DO: Say that of course you can, and then relate a brief story about a time you did. DONT: Just say, "Yes I can." Provide a specific example.

8. Whos your hero?

DO: Name a person who has inspired you and then describe specifically how this inspiration relates to your work. DONT: Get caught off-guard by what should really be a softball question. Come prepared with a good answer.

9. Have you ever considered starting your own business?

DO: Talk about how you are happiest and do your best work in a company that is amazingly similar to the one youre applying at. DONT: Go on and on about how youd love to be your own boss one day.

10. If you won the lottery, would you still work?

DO: Be honest and say youd be thrilled to win the lottery; then add that even if you did youd still seek out satisfying work, because work is what makes people happy. DONT: Say that youd never work again (too honest) or that youd just work for free (too BS-y).

Bottom line: It pays to think through in advance how you would handle some of the more common trick questions. In general, remember never to badmouth or blame others, especially past employers. Be careful not to betray your

nervousness with jittery body language. Dont lie or babble, or show frustration, impatience, disappointment, or anger. The most important thing to remember is that hiring managers who ask these questions are far more interested in how you answer than what you answer. They just want to see how well you think on your feet. So even if a question completely flummoxes you, keep your cool, smile, and look em in the eye. Karen Burns is the author of the illustrated career advice book The Amazing Adventures of Working Girl: Real-Life Career Advice You Can Actually Use, recently released by Running Press. She blogs at www.karenburnsworkinggirl.com.