Interview Advice

Preparation

Remember to do your research before attending your interview; it is vital that you are prepared. It may sound obvious but make sure at the least you find out the following:

• The name of the person you will be meeting
• The company name, address and how you are going to get there
• The interview format
• What the company does
• Where the company originates from, annual turnover or recent history or successes

Making an impression

First Impressions Count

• Dress smartly, in business attire
• Don’t be late - plan your route before hand and if you have time, do a dummy run
• Have positive and professional contact with everybody who represent your potential employer
• Give a positive and firm hand shake, smile and make eye contact throughout your meeting
• Be aware of your body language - crossed arms, hands in pockets or sloughing in your chair can give off the wrong impression.

During your interview remember to:

• Turn your phone off, relax, take a deep breath
• Listen carefully to the questions asked - if you don’t hear clearly, ask politely for the question to be repeated
• Consider your answers before giving them and speak clearly and slowly
• Be honest - do not to exaggerate your experience
• Do not be negative about your past of present employer or current work situation

 

Interview Questions

The key thing in answering ANY questions at your interview is to answer in a positive and confident manner. Do not dwell or highlight any negative aspects of any part of your career to date. The list of questions that could come up could run to hundreds. Here are a few of the most common ones that we have come across:

• What motivates you?
• What de-motivates you? How do you deal with it?
• How do you measure your own performance?
• How do you deal with disagreements with managers/colleagues?
• What do you do if you cannot get a solution or meet a certain deadline?
• How do you deal with stress?
• How would you describe yourself?
• How would your manager/colleagues describe you?
• Why do you think we should recruit you? What can you bring to the company?

Competency based questions

Competency based questions are designed to assess you suitability for the role you are interviewing for by asking for a description of a certain event or situation, your involvement and its outcome.  Always make sure you provide relevant, specific answers that are well explained, thought out and detailed. Use specific situations from your experience as examples. We have added a few examples below.

Key competencies assessed may include team work, decision making, communication, leadership, commercial awareness, responsibility, innovation. 

• Tell us about a time when you have managed to turn a difficult situation around to achieve a positive outcome?
• What methods did you employ?
• What goals/standards do you set yourself at work?
• How do you know that you are achieving them?
• Did you succeed in achieving these?
• Tell us about a recent time when you had to adapt to change?
• How did you feel about it?
• What did you find difficult about the change?
• Tell us about a situation when you had to deal with issues that affected your enthusiasm?
• What affect did this have on you?
• How did you cope with this?
• Tell us about a time when you have managed to turn a difficult situation around to achieve a positive outcome?
• What methods did you employ?

Questions for you to ask

The interview is a two way process and it is important that you ask at least one question, it is a perfect opportunity to clarify any queries. If it relates back to an earlier point that may have been made, it proves you have been listening and are interested. Question you could ask may include:

• What are the company’s future goals?
• What attracted you to the organisation?
• What is the next stage in the interview process?

Utilise the advice that our consultants give, they will ensure that you are prepared and that you feel confident for your interview; if you are unsure about anything just ask.

Offer/Resignation Advice

Congratulations, you have been offered the job - What now?

• Do not hand in your notice until you have received your offer in writing. Contracts are pretty standard documents and you do not need to be a lawyer to understand them; read them slowly and carefully. Don’t be afraid to ask questions if you need anything clarified as this can save a lot of time and heartache - your consultant will help you through every step of this process.
• No matter what your current situation is, it is vital for your long term career that you are professional when you hand in your notice. Your reputation in whatever field you work in and your ability to secure a reference now and in the future rely on this discussion being handled well.
• Your resignation letter to your existing employer should be brief and to the point, stating your intention to leave and suggesting a leaving date. This should be in line with your contracted notice period but obviously, with mutual agreement, earlier may be possible. Always finish your letter by thanking your employers for their support.