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Preparing For Your Interview

Preparing for Your Interview

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oritsezen
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37 views2 pages

Preparing For Your Interview

Preparing for Your Interview

Uploaded by

oritsezen
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Preparing for your interview

Tips and Advice

Preparing for your interview

Prior to the interview:


 If your interview is face to face, plan your journey – know where you’re going.
 If your interview is online, ensure you have the link to join and that you have a good
connection and are in a space where you will not be disturbed.
 Know who you’re going to meet and be on-time (10-15 minutes early)
 Make sure that you are smartly presented for the interview. You want your appearance to
show that you are professional and well-organised.
 Do your homework: research the position and organisation, check the company website,
obtain a catalogue/product list, go to a bookshop to check out their publications, read news
coverage to show you’re up-to-date on current affairs - What are their most recent titles?
Who are their key authors? What markets do they serve?
 Re-read the advert & job spec and think of questions you may be asked; prepare your
elevator pitch, and for the strengths and weaknesses question, turn them into strengths;
explain why you applied for the job, what interests you about the company and what you
know about what they do; think about what the interviewer wants to hear - Employers are
most interested in your relevant and recent experience. Focus on these areas, not
experience that is outside the job remit or from a long time ago.
 Think about what the key results areas for this role are? How can you show that you are able
to achieve these results? What examples can you use from your work history? Remember:
employers buy experience. Think about the evidence of achievement you can talk about in
the interview; rehearse your success stories.
 What is the most difficult question you might have to face? Practice the answer. Practice
again!
 Have some questions of your own prepared, think of examples from your experiences that
illustrate the skills needed. Second guess the employer's "shopping list" from the job details
- what skills / qualities / experience do you have to match? (see examples below).

During the interview:


 Accept a glass of water if offered or have some water to hand if your interview is online.
 Show enthusiasm, be positive and smile and look as if you’re pleased to be there. Be
upbeat. Employers latch on to negative messages, so don't give them any.
 Make good eye contact – body language is important
 Talk slowly, clearly and don’t ramble, take your time to answer difficult questions and be
specific and concise, providing concrete examples
 If asked – show examples of your work i.e. portfolio, project file – but don’t expect to go into
too much detail
 Be yourself, the interview is about whether the interviewer likes you and thinks you will fit
into the team/company
 Offer information, don’t give one word answers. With any question a company asks, if you
are unsure whether you have answered it, don’t be afraid to ask them – “does that answer
your question?”
 In panel interviews focus on the questioner
 If presenting, stick to the time limit – time it when you practice, and do not go over the limit
Preparing for your interview
Tips and Advice

After the interview:


 Remain positive – even if you’re not sure about that particular vacancy but you like the
company, they may consider you for other vacancies in the future, if you’re not successful
this time
 Ask when are you likely to hear back from them
 Thank them for their time, show you are still interested in the job & the company
 Get in touch with us to let us know how you got on.

Example questions

Beginning

COMPANY: Tell me about yourself?

CANDIDATE: Deliver a 60-90 second “elevator pitch” / snapshot overview whereby you describe who
you are and detail the key skills and experience that make you relevant for this role, whilst
enthusiastically outline your motivation in applying for this role, with this company. You can prepare
in advance for this by writing it out and practising it on someone else.

Middle

COMPANY: What is your motivation in applying for this role?

CANDIDATE: Having studied the job description and got a good understanding of the key
requirements, you should be able to enthusiastically explain why it is you want to do this particular
job, describing why you think you are relevant.

COMPANY: Why do you want to work for [COMPANY NAME]?

CANDIDATE: Detail what it is you admire about the company, showing that you have done your
research, looking on the website, to be able to relate to their mission, vision and values. Flatter
them.

End

COMPANY: Have you any questions?

CANDIDATE: This is an opportunity for you to reiterate your fit for this role/company. You can ask
them questions. E.g.:

- Impact: what impact will I make on the project and the team in the first 3-6 months

- Value: what immediate value will this role add to the organisation

- Achievement: what do you expect the person in this role to achieve in the first 6-12 months

The responses the company give to any of the above 3 questions, gives you the chance to then
reinforce why you are the right candidate for the job.

BEST OF LUCK!

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