Interview Preparation

The more preparation that you do before the interview, the less time you will need to think on your feet in the interview. It is important for you to think about why you have been invited to the interview and the objective of the interviewer The Company will have already received a copy of your CV and perhaps a copy of your Personal Profile (psychometric) together with a report from the consultant.

Other than seeing what you look like and how you compose yourself, the interviewer will have specific questions that they want to ask you to gather further information, or to test you aptitude trying to envisage you doing the job, fitting into their culture and adopting their working practices successfully. They will check your experience, expertise, specific skills, altitude and how are likely to interact with the other members of the team. They may want you to ‘hit the ground running’ and immediately produce results for the company arid therefore they will be assessing your versatility, speed of thought and flexibility, sometimes referred to as ‘fluid intelligence’.

Be prepared for same of the following questions:

• What are your strengths and weaknesses?
• Why do you wish to leave your current employer?
• What made you apply for this job?
• Why do you want this job?
• What motivates you and what do-motivates you?
• What do you enjoy most about your current job?
• What do you least enjoy about your current job?
• What has been your greatest achievement?
• What is the biggest mistake that you have ever made?
• What did you learn from this?
• Why have you moved employers such a lot (if applicable)?
• Would you be prepared to relocate?
• Would you be prepared to go that extra mile, above and beyond the call of duty?
• How would your employees describe your management style?
• Why should I employ you in this position?
• What is the hardest thing you have ever had to overcome?
• What skills can you bring into the company?
• What do you want to achieve in the next five years?
• What is your opinion of our company?
• How do you like to be managed?

What to say:
It is likely that you may be talking for at least two thirds of the interview, as it is the interviewer who wishes to gather information about you. It is important, therefore, that you are precise and offer detailed and exact answers to questions without
Waffling. Before answering think why have they asked that question and what information are they looking far?’ You need to be natural when in conversation and be positive with their replies. There is nothing worse than someone who does not answer the question or gives some vague reply ‘Sitting on the fence’ will not do you any favours and may demonstrate your indecisiveness or lack of conviction.
Interviewers may throw same questions at you to see how handle them but also it may be that they are trying to impose. It may just be a test and you may need to treat it as such. Without being confrontational it is important to be assertive with strong interviewers, as it is likely that they will not be impressed if you submit passively. You must remember to be diplomatic but stand firm if they believe they are right

It is important to consider what is going to make them remember you and how welt yo~i stand out from the crowd.

Body Language
An experienced interviewer will be looking at how you compose yourself during the interview and these are some of the points you need to consider.

Posture — Sit up right, look keen and interested but not to wooden. It you lean back this may be seen as a casual attitude and, therefore, that you are not very interested in the jab. It is however, important to look and feel relaxed and, therefore, a compromise can be reached, as it would be wise to adopt a number of poses when either listening or talking.

Hands — Keep control of hands as they have a tendency to let people down at interview by almost having a mind of their own. It sometimes works to clasp hands lightly together but be careful when folding arms as this can sometimes be seen as someone being defensive and evasive. An open stance normally suggests that a more open and honest discussion will take place. Do not let your hand touch your face as this is a sign of nerves, just as playing with hair or fiddling with something like a pen or button etc. may also be construed as nervousness and potentially a weakness.

Face — Maintain eye contact with the interviewer as this not only shows that you are interested in what is being said but also looked upon by some people as a strength of character, however, do not stare. It is important to smile and look as if you are enjoying the experience and also that you are enjoying meeting the interviewer. If you enjoy talking to them they are more likely to want to meet you again.

A happy face is a positive one!