Interviews
Interview tips
Interview tips
Some of the best candidates fail at interview stage because they do not prepare and don't know what to expect.
The better prepared that you are the more confident you will be.
Research the company
If you are going on interview through us, your consultant will assist you with this. Try getting hold of any literature, look at their website etc. If the opportunity arises you will be able to demonstrate interest in the company.
Dress to impress!
Always go for smart and professional rather than trendy. Plan your route and allow plenty of time to get to the interview.
Be aware of your body language.
Crossed arms for example indicate hostility or a barrier. Adopt good posture and make sure that you smile.
CV explanation
You must be able to back up and expand on your CV information rather than simply repeating what is written, a good interviewer will probe these points.
Transferable skills are the most important factors to highlight.
Communicate as positively as possible
Try not to use weak answers, for example "I can" instead of "I think I can".
Be confident and outgoing but don't constantly interrupt the interviewer
Do not answer in single syllables
ie yes and no but at the same time keep to the line of questioning don't ramble and go off at a tangent.
If you don't understand a question ask don't guess.
It's your chance to interview them too!
Always prepare some questions to ask at interview in advance, some examples are shown below.
At the end of the interview always thank them for their time and remember to keep smiling.
Typical Interview Question Examples
- How would you describe yourself?
- How would your current manager describe you?
- What motivates you?
- Why are you leaving your current role?
- What skills and expertise do you have for this job?
- What do you know about our company?
- What are your strengths and weaknesses?
- Give an example of how you handled a certain situation ie complaint, busy period, handled customer service etc in your current role.
- What are the opportunities for career progression?
- What training opportunities do you have?
- How has this position been created?
- What can you tell me about the team and people that I will be working
with?
- How long will it take to make a final decision and / or what is the recruitment process?
Well done for getting this far and good luck with your interview, remember if you are not successful try and make sure that you understand why, so that you can possibly address this next time. Don't give up, consider it valuable interview experience.
