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Interview Guide

Before the Interview

Preparation for an interview is vital and can affect the success of your application. Thorough preparation will give you an idea of what to expect and help you to be more confident.

These are some of the steps you should take in your preparation:

Company Research:

You should have a good understanding of what the company does, how big it is, the team structure within the department and who the main competitors are. Always find out well in advance exactly where the interview is, and how to get there.

Understand the Role:

You need to make sure you have fully understood the job description and know how it fits in to the overall company structure.

Look at the responsibilities and the requirements listed in the job description and think of examples of where you have demonstrated each of these.

Interview Research:

Make sure you know who you will be meeting in the interview as well as the structure of the interview, e.g. one-on-one interview, panel interview, role plays or questionnaires.

Plan your answers to the most common questions. Some examples of these are:

• Why did you leave your last job / why are you thinking about leaving your present employer?

  The basic rule of thumb here is don't lie. Never be embarrassed about redundancy. Your position was made redundant, not you. Be positive about 'new doors opening' and never be rude about your last employer or bitter about your personal circumstances. If there was a clash of personalities, say so.

  If you are in work, be clear as to why you are/may be looking to leave your current employer. There's nothing wrong with being ambitious.

• Why do you want to work for this company /why do you want this job?

  Describe what you know about the business (research beforehand) and the position. Give basic information as to why you appear suitable, but ask for more details on the role. For example, you could ask, 'Are there any particular requirements of the job it's worth talking about now?' You need to gather as much information about what problems this employer may have and what sort of person they are looking for so you can tailor your responses and feed back what it is they want to hear - demonstrating relevant skills, abilities and achievements in the process.

On the day of the Interview:

Dress appropriately. Smart business dress will usually be appropriate.

Make sure you are punctual!!! Arrive at least 10 minutes before your scheduled interview time. If you are going to be late for any reason then make sure you inform the interviewer as early as possible.

The Interview itself:

• If you don't understand a question, ask for clarification. This is expected and is preferable to providing an unsuitable answer.
• Pause when necessary to collect your thoughts. People who are nervous tend either to "draw a blank" or to babble. It is much better to pause for a few moments and make sure that you are answering the question appropriately.
• Always expand. Never answer a question with a "yes" or "no."
• The interview is the main opportunity for you to elaborate about your achievements and your abilities. Support this with examples which demonstrate that what you are saying.
• Always be positive. Never complain about anything - not your former employer, work colleagues, job role or even the weather. Don't apologise if you do not have examples, try to give similar examples and let the employer decide if you have what he/she is looking for.
• Be confident and positive in your body language. Look directly at the interviewer when you talk and listen, speak clearly, be enthusiastic and express a keen interest in the position, keep to the point and be concise and always be honest.

Interviews generally follow a set pattern. The interviewer will:

• Tell you about the company and the job.
• Ask you questions to assess your abilities, personality and motivation.
• Ask if you have any questions.
• Inform you of the next stage of the process and when a final decision will be made.

The most important thing to remember is that the interview is a two way process. You are there to find out information about them as much as they are there to find out about you. This is your chance to find out information that isn't in the job description and this can help you make an informed decision about whether you definitely want the job.

Potential questions for you to ask:

• Can you tell me more about the company?
• Can you describe my area of responsibility?
• Is this post a new or existing one?
• In your opinion, what is the career path for someone in this position?
• Do you offer any support for further training and development?
• Who are your clients/competitors?
• Will you be holding second interviews?