change recruitment group

Interview Preparation

Interview skills
You need to think of an interview as the ideal opportunity to show that you are the best person for the job. This means that you need to prepare yourself thoroughly, practice your interview techniques and make sure that you can deal calmly with unexpected or tricky questions.

	Preparation
	Making a good impression
	Arriving
	The Interview
	Closing the Interview
	Afterwards
	Questions you might be asked at interview
	Questions to ask at interview
	Do's and Don'ts of Interview
	General Tips

Preparation

	Find out all you can about the firm. Read corporate brochures, visit the library to research the company background and talk to friends who already work there.
	Remind yourself why you are particularly interested in working for this company.
	Think what skills/knowledge/interests you have to offer.
	Prepare some questions to ask.
	Be prepared for questions.
	If you are facing a panel, find out who is on the panel, and their positions and background if possible

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Making a good impression
First impressions count. Image consultants say that 55% of the impact we make is the way we dress, act and walk through the door, 38% is quality of voice, accent, use of grammar, and overall confidence, and a mere 7% is from what we actually say. With this in mind, make sure that you:

	Dress smartly and professionally.
	Avoid flamboyance or untidiness.
	Avoid heavy aftershave or perfume.
	Don't smoke before the interview.

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Arriving
Make sure that you know:

	Where the interview is.
	When you have to be there.
	How long it will take to get there – allowing for traffic and finding parking.
	Who you are going to see and their position in the company.
	Arrive in good time, ideally ten minutes early. Don't arrive too early as this may disrupt the interviewer's schedule. Be polite and friendly to everyone you meet.

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The Interview

	The best candidate does not always get the job. It is often the case that this is given to the one who performs best at interview.
	The interviewer is not only assessing whether you can do the job but also making sure that you will fit into the team. You need to fulfil those expectations. You are expected to 'sell' yourself, build rapport, reveal attitudes and opinions and talk freely. Above all, you must demonstrate the benefit and relevance of your skills to prospective employers. You will possess a number of areas of expertise pertinent to the job in question. Ensure that you cover them in interview whether you are asked or not.
	It's important to develop a rapport with your interviewer. The more the interviewer has in common with you, the more comfortable they will feel with you and the better the interview will go.
	Be positive – enthusiasm can sometimes compensate for lack of experience.

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Closing the Interview

	You interviewer will usually indicate when you will learn the result. If not, ask what happens next, when the decision is made and when second interviews are to be held. Most firms operate a two-stage selection process. If you are successful you will be short listed for second interview with a view to meeting other managers or colleagues.
	Make sure that the interviewer is aware of your interest in the job and your wish to join the team.

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Afterwards

	Make notes on the interview. Information on the job, interviewer and department will prove invaluable if you are invited to a second interview.
	Write a letter of thanks, if you are very keen.
	If the interview has been arranged through an agency such as change, phone and let your consultant know your thoughts on the interview. You will get initial feedback faster and be kept informed of the next stage or decision dates.

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Questions you might be asked at interview

	What did your boss say about you at your last appraisal?
	What do you regard as your main achievements?
	IWhat hours do you work?
	If I were to spend a week with you, what would I notice about your approach to work?
	Which parts of your job put you under the most pressure?
	Give me an example of a recent problem where you had to make a difficult decision and how you handled it.
	How would your colleagues describe you?
	What attracted you to applying for this job?
	How would you like to see your career developing over the next five years or so?
	Why did you decide to work in this field?
	What other employers have you applied to and for what type of jobs?
	You may be posed a problem, such as we want to expand this specialisation/win new clients. How would you go about it?
	Sum up your strengths and weaknesses.
	What kind of people do you find it most difficult to work with and why?
	What do you know about this company/firm?
	What are you looking for in a company?
	In what area of your job have you achieved the greatest success. Why do you think this is?
	What do you think of our company brochure?
	What are you long term aspirations? Where do you want to be in ten years time?
	What motivates you?

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Questions to ask at interview
You should welcome the opportunity to ask questions, although, surprisingly, most applications find this difficult. Remember that most interviewers will judge you as much by the questions you ask as by the answers you give. Do ask about the job responsibilities, size of team, level of team, firm, staff and services to clients. Your questions might include:

	Who would I report to?
	How often is performance reviewed?
	Why is your company so successful?
	What rate of progress should I make in X years?
	What level of responsibility will I be given?

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Do's and Don'ts of the interview

	In interview, your body language (non verbal communication) can reveal as much about you as what you say. When you meet your interviewer, shake hands warmly – remember the merits of a firm handshake.
	Smile! This will encourage and relax both you and the interviewer. It will also help build rapport.
	Other positive signals include frequent eye contact. Don't gaze around the room as this will make you appear uninterested, vague and lacking concentration.
	Equally off-putting for interviewers is constant eye contact as it will make them feel ill at ease.
	Maintain a good posture, leaning forward slightly to indicate your interest. Try not to sit bolt upright in your chair – this makes you appear uneasy. On the other hand, don't slouch as this will make you seem casual and unconcerned.
	Try to relax and assume a comfortable position, but remain aware of possible negative signals like crossed arms (barrier signal when insecure), hand wringing (tension) or fidgeting like hand over mouth or other distracting movements.
	If in a panel interview, address the person asking the questions but use sweeping glances to include the entire panel.

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General Tips

	Answer questions fully and try not to answer just yes or no. The more you talk, the more you can satisfy the interviewer. But don't ramble! Keep answers clear, concise and don't talk too fast.
	Don't use filler words, slang or dialect and avoid constant hesitations.
	The effective interview should have a 70%/30% split applicant to interviewer split for time spent talking. Interviewers expect applicants to talk far more than you might think.
	Always be positive.
	Be confident and believe in yourself.
	Remember that the interviewer will be looking for evidence that you have the potential to progress in the company. Don't be afraid to sell yourself.
	Even if you feel things have gone badly, don't write it off, remain positive and remember that you can learn and profit from the experience.
	Don't offer derogatory information about your present employer.
	Don't pretend to know something that you are ignorant of, or try to answer a question that you haven't understood. Ask for clarification.
	Be specific about what you want to do and how you see your career progressing.
	Don't lie.

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