Be One Step Ahead On Interview
Preparation
Always prepare well. Gone are the days of winging it at interview. We don’t have a crystal ball so some amount of improvisation will be needed in any case. In this digital day and age, everyone has access to the internet and most companies have a website where you can gather information. You will never regret homework before interview. A few printed pages as a prompt are no harm taking in with you as well as a recent copy of your CV.
Main points for research
· What exactly does this company do? Try explaining it to a friend.
· What do they stand for? Most companies have aims and mission statements on their websites.
· Who are their main competitors?
· What recent news stories or blogs can you find on them?
Whether you are the kind of person who enjoys being interviewed or whether you dread them, there’s nothing to give you confidence and the competitive edge like preparation.
Specific Questions
In terms of preparation for specific questions here are some of the trickier and most common questions:
What’s your understanding of the role?
This is a very typical question and it’s not a trick question but it's surprising how many people get to interview and are struck dumb by this question. Make sure you really do understand this one and have a good read through the job specification/advert or ask the agency for help if it’s not clear enough.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Everyone hates these ones! For strengths, think of three adjectives which would apply well to the role in question and give real working examples of each.
Weaknesses are tougher as the last thing you want to do on interview is expose weaknesses but they can be turned to your advantage. If you think of ones that you have identified and worked on and which are not going to disqualify you from the job. E.g., I’m a bit of a perfectionist but I’ve learned by experience to prioritise tasks in order to complete them to the best possible standard in order to meet deadlines. Use examples that are genuine and true to yourself and your personality.
Remember, whatever the question; How would you describe your timekeeping? How do you cope under pressure? Are you a good team player? How do you go about developing new business? Your answers will have more weight and be more credible if you give real life examples.
Presentation
The best advice if you're not sure what to wear is, keep it smart and keep it simple. Wear a suit if possible or the closest thing to it. Even if you are interviewing at a company you know has a creative and relaxed environment, you can always get more casual and take your cues from other employees once you've landed the job but it’s always good to dress “interview smart” for an interview.
You want to be remembered for your ability to do the job and your own personality, not that novelty tie or pink and green hair!
That long hair do might look perfect on leaving the house but a windy day could leave you arriving to your interview looking windswept and unkempt. If in doubt, tie it up neatly and, although some makeup is nice, it's better not to overdo make up and jewellery. Tattoos might look cool at the summer festivals, but I would keep them covered on the day and remove any big piercings, like tongue ones, especially if you are going for an office position where you will be meeting clients.
On the day
Don’t be late. There’s nothing worse than someone arriving late for interview as, no matter what the reason or excuse, it will just look sloppy and that you can’t be bothered. If you are running late, always call ahead and let the company know and the agency if possible as they can make excuses for you but being late is better avoided as it reflects badly on everyone. If it does happen, make your apologies quickly and try not to let it make you nervous. There’s nothing you can do about it at that stage.
A firm handshake will stand you in good stead.
Maintaining eye contact is a great way of showing interest and nodding your understanding and approval are ways of showing you are on the same wavelength.
Remember your grammar and speak as correctly as possible. No matter how well it is going, and how relaxed the interviewer makes you feel, always watch your P’s and Q’s.
Closing
If you’ve heard enough to know you have what it takes and really can imagine yourself in the role, make sure that comes across when you part company.
Close the interview with something positive and decisive. If it’s a Sales role you are going for, offer to come back and do a presentation and there's nothing wrong with asking if they think you have what it takes or asking if they have any hesitation in your ability to perform the role. Then, you can deal with any possible negatives on the spot. Whatever the position, there’s nothing wrong with saying “I’m really keen on this job and feel I would really enjoy it and do a great job.”
Above all, try to enjoy each interview and learn from the experience. Gone are the days when you landed every job you interviewed for; it's tough out there. Don't take rejection personally.
Onwards and upwards.
www.purplepower-recruitment.co.uk
Always prepare well. Gone are the days of winging it at interview. We don’t have a crystal ball so some amount of improvisation will be needed in any case. In this digital day and age, everyone has access to the internet and most companies have a website where you can gather information. You will never regret homework before interview. A few printed pages as a prompt are no harm taking in with you as well as a recent copy of your CV.
Main points for research
· What exactly does this company do? Try explaining it to a friend.
· What do they stand for? Most companies have aims and mission statements on their websites.
· Who are their main competitors?
· What recent news stories or blogs can you find on them?
Whether you are the kind of person who enjoys being interviewed or whether you dread them, there’s nothing to give you confidence and the competitive edge like preparation.
Specific Questions
In terms of preparation for specific questions here are some of the trickier and most common questions:
What’s your understanding of the role?
This is a very typical question and it’s not a trick question but it's surprising how many people get to interview and are struck dumb by this question. Make sure you really do understand this one and have a good read through the job specification/advert or ask the agency for help if it’s not clear enough.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Everyone hates these ones! For strengths, think of three adjectives which would apply well to the role in question and give real working examples of each.
Weaknesses are tougher as the last thing you want to do on interview is expose weaknesses but they can be turned to your advantage. If you think of ones that you have identified and worked on and which are not going to disqualify you from the job. E.g., I’m a bit of a perfectionist but I’ve learned by experience to prioritise tasks in order to complete them to the best possible standard in order to meet deadlines. Use examples that are genuine and true to yourself and your personality.
Remember, whatever the question; How would you describe your timekeeping? How do you cope under pressure? Are you a good team player? How do you go about developing new business? Your answers will have more weight and be more credible if you give real life examples.
Presentation
The best advice if you're not sure what to wear is, keep it smart and keep it simple. Wear a suit if possible or the closest thing to it. Even if you are interviewing at a company you know has a creative and relaxed environment, you can always get more casual and take your cues from other employees once you've landed the job but it’s always good to dress “interview smart” for an interview.
You want to be remembered for your ability to do the job and your own personality, not that novelty tie or pink and green hair!
That long hair do might look perfect on leaving the house but a windy day could leave you arriving to your interview looking windswept and unkempt. If in doubt, tie it up neatly and, although some makeup is nice, it's better not to overdo make up and jewellery. Tattoos might look cool at the summer festivals, but I would keep them covered on the day and remove any big piercings, like tongue ones, especially if you are going for an office position where you will be meeting clients.
On the day
Don’t be late. There’s nothing worse than someone arriving late for interview as, no matter what the reason or excuse, it will just look sloppy and that you can’t be bothered. If you are running late, always call ahead and let the company know and the agency if possible as they can make excuses for you but being late is better avoided as it reflects badly on everyone. If it does happen, make your apologies quickly and try not to let it make you nervous. There’s nothing you can do about it at that stage.
A firm handshake will stand you in good stead.
Maintaining eye contact is a great way of showing interest and nodding your understanding and approval are ways of showing you are on the same wavelength.
Remember your grammar and speak as correctly as possible. No matter how well it is going, and how relaxed the interviewer makes you feel, always watch your P’s and Q’s.
Closing
If you’ve heard enough to know you have what it takes and really can imagine yourself in the role, make sure that comes across when you part company.
Close the interview with something positive and decisive. If it’s a Sales role you are going for, offer to come back and do a presentation and there's nothing wrong with asking if they think you have what it takes or asking if they have any hesitation in your ability to perform the role. Then, you can deal with any possible negatives on the spot. Whatever the position, there’s nothing wrong with saying “I’m really keen on this job and feel I would really enjoy it and do a great job.”
Above all, try to enjoy each interview and learn from the experience. Gone are the days when you landed every job you interviewed for; it's tough out there. Don't take rejection personally.
Onwards and upwards.
www.purplepower-recruitment.co.uk
Comments
Post a Comment