THE INTERVIEW

Be Prepared

Your details have been sent and have impressed the company enough to see you for interview. This is now your chance to impress them and confirm all the things they liked on your CV!  You will be fully briefed by your consultant before any interview arranged by Recruitment Solutions. However you can never be too prepared!

Research

If you are knowledgeable about the company you will come across as proactive and committed.

• Visit the company website for up-to-date information
• Keep an eye on business or local press for any relevant articles

THE JOB DESCRIPTION

Before your interview familiarise yourself with the job description. Job descriptions are often quite limited and need expanding on in interview but will give you a good basis.  Consider the key skills and experience necessary for the role; think of examples highlighting your strengths in each area.

For all examples that you give consider the situation, the action you took and the effect it had (SAE). For example if confidence is important to the role the interviewer will be looking for you to substantiate and give examples of your own confidence. The line of questioning could include:

• Give an example of when you challenged a decision made by your peers/managers
• What factors did you take into consideration before challenging this decision?
• What action was taken by your manager/peers?
• What was the outcome?

Or if experience with deadlines or databases is important, think about an example of when you have worked to a deadline or examples of when you have worked on databases.

The interviewer will want to see:

• That you present yourself confidently and make a good first impression
• That you can command attention in a group
• That you appear calm and confident under pressure
• That you are assertive about your needs/requirements without being aggressive.

QUESTIONS

Having a few well thought out questions always creates a good impression. See our examples to help with your preparation.

YOUR CV

Read your CV again.  Be prepared to talk in more detail about your experience. If you have gaps in your CV or have not stayed in a job for long make sure you can give positive reasons.  Based on your skills detailed on your CV, consider what you will actually bring to the company.

PLAN YOUR JOURNEY

Aim to arrive 10 minutes early allowing plenty of time for the journey and interview itself.  Obtain clear directions and plan your route in advance.  If you are delayed for any reason, contact your consultant immediately who will phone the client on your behalf.  If you arrive ten minutes early it will give you time to tidy up, relax and collect your thoughts

DRESS CODE

Dress smartly and professionally. Although some companies have now adopted dress down policies a suit is usually advisable. If unsure, speak to your consultant.  It is always better to be slightly overdressed than underdressed.  It is crucial to be well turned out and neat.

Tips:

• Dark suits are thought of as more corporate
• Suit and ties are advisable for men, along with dark socks!
• If wearing a skirt, tights are advisable
• Closed shoes are recommended for women
• Keep your hair tidy
• Avoid excessive jewellery, one pair of earrings is recommended
• It sounds petty, but don’t forget to polish your shoes! 

DURING THE INTERVIEW

Body language

Consider the following:

• A firm handshake shows you are confident.
• Smile, this says "I'm enthusiastic", "I'm friendly"
• make regular eye contact
• be confident and alert, try to hide nerves
• speak slowly and clearly, always think before answering
• listen, don't get distracted and don't talk too much
• maintain an open stance - avoid folding your arms or fidgeting

Closing

Always thank the interviewer and ask what the next stage of the interview process is. Remember to phone your consultant with feedback as soon as possible.

Interview do’s

• Dress professionally. An employer is more likely to recruit someone who will best represent their company
• be prepared
• give clear and concise answers, don't waffle
• speak confidently and remember to sell yourself
• take time to formulate answers
• thank the interviewer and express your interest in the role at the end
• give a firm handshake, lots of eye contact and smile

Interview don’ts

• be late
• over exaggerate your experience or qualifications
• discuss the salary at the first interview unless specifically asked
• criticise any previous employers
• show lack of career planning by appearing unfocussed
• Leave your mobile phone switched-on.

Interview questions

• Tell me about yourself

The interviewer wants to hear a short summary of your qualifications, career history and skills, in particular what you will bring to the new role.

• Why are you looking to leave your current position?

Be careful not to be negative. Try to focus on the positive reasons such as a new challenge with more responsibility or the need for a change if you have been in your current role a long time.

• What do you enjoy about your current job?

Try to focus on things that will be part of the job for which you are applying. Make your interests sound varied and diverse.

• Explain your current role and what you do on a day-to-day basis

Explain how you fit into your department and what your reporting lines are. Talk about whom you interact with and key responsibilities.

• What have been your achievements so far?

Think about recent work achievements, e.g. projects you have been involved in, what were the results, how did they impact the business etc.

• What are your strengths?

A very common question so prepare your answer. Think about three or four of your main strengths and how they would benefit your new employer. Examples include technical proficiency, flexibility and positive attitude. You may also be asked about weaknesses; everyone has some. A weakness is not always negative. Try to briefly explain what you do to overcome it.

• Have you ever come across a difficult situation at work and how did you handle it?

Make sure that it is a work-based problem that did not originate with you. Keep your answer simple and to the point.

Other questions to consider (you won't be asked all of them!)

• How would your friend / colleagues describe you?
  
• Where do you see yourself in five years?
  
• How have you coped when your work has been criticised?
  
• Do you like to work in a team or by yourself, why?
  
• What are you looking for in a company?
  
• What can you bring to this organisation?
  
• How do you work under pressure?
  
• How do you deal with pressure?
  
• How would you cope if you were asked to work late at short notice?
  
• When you are not busy what do you do?
  
• Why should you get this job over other candidates?

Questions for you to ask

You will always have the chance to ask questions yourself. The interview is your chance to see if this is the job for you as well as the interviewer judging you. Even if the interviewer has answered most of your questions, have a few prepared to ask at the end.  Asking questions shows you are interested and taking the interview seriously.

• How does the department fit into the bigger picture of the     company?
• What are the personalities of the team or manager?
• What sort of person is the team looking for?
• How long was the last post-holder in the position?
• Are any internal candidates interested in the position?
• Can you tell me about the company culture?
• Do you run an induction programme?
• What sort of training is on offer?
• How long has the interviewer worked for the company?
• Why do they think it was a good company work for?
• How does the interviewer feel that your skills set meet the requirements of the role?

One important question to ask

What is the next stage following the interview?

Try to avoid asking about the salary, particularly at your first interview. Your consultant will be able to provide you with more detailed information on the salary range and package on offer.