Definition of job interview

‘an interview is to determine whether an applicant is suitable for a position of employment’

We can help you with preparation for any interview we have set up for you with our Clients. Below you will find a few handy tips to help you through the interview process:

Preparation: Before the interview
During: Things to do
During: Things to avoid – don’t…
Summary
After the interview
Questions that could be asked

Preparation: Before the interview

• Read and find out all you can about the position – read between the lines
• Use your network to research the organisation – website, people, etc.
• Work out the key requirements to do the job
• Prepare and extract appropriate experience
• Find who and what the job interviewer is and does
• Prepare your cv
• Prepare answers: know your cv backwards
• Think through likely questions
• Review strengths and (one or two) weaknesses
• Talk it over with someone else
• Make sure you know exactly where the interview is and how to get there
• Dress well: look tidy
• Allow plenty of time to get there
• Relax and observe the environment and the people as you wait.

During: Things to do

• Walk into the interview with a smile; firm handshake
• Study the environment – for clues to style, culture and to the attitudes of the interviewer
• Be alert and upright – and relax!
• Look enthusiastic and interested.
• Look at interviewer for signs and signals
• Be positive, firm, confident and polite
• Keep hands under control
• Speak clearly
• Let interviewer lead
• Remember interviewer’s name and use it
• Make sure you express achievements clearly
• Keep responses simple, clear and enthusiastic
• Illustrate by real experiences – examples
• Use action verbs: “I did…” etc.
• Be honest and open but not irrelevant
• Make sure you get your good points across in relation to the particular job or role.
• Think replies out before answering. general-> specific
• Ask questions
• Appear flexible
• Watch out when it seems to be all over because you may relax too much
• Clarify details of the next stages
• Thank for interview
• Leave with a smile.

During: Things to avoid – don’t…

• Slouch, fiddle or fold arms tightly or too casual
• Stare interviewer out
• Let your eyes wander all around
• Mumble or let your voice fall away
• Speak in a monotone
• Go on too long, ramble, be irrelevant
• Use passive words. “I was involved in…”, “It was decided…”
• Be negative about others, your previous bosses, company, colleagues, yourself or anything!
• Evaluate in terms of badness/goodness: stay factual
• Dwell on failures or volunteer irrelevant information
• Answer what you weren’t asked
• Attempt to dominate, control or argue
• Repeat “in fact”, “obviously”, “so on”, “you know”, etc.
• Use jargon unless you’re sure it will be understood
• Undersell yourself
• Sound like a victim
• Leave anything important out
• Leave in doubt over salary range expectations

Summary

• Prepare
• Relax
• Be Concise
• Be Relevant
• Be Confident

 After the interview

• Don’t do anything silly before you’re off the premises
• Don’t make a fuss over expenses
• Attempt to recall and write down what happened and how you felt about it – good and bad.
• Note especially areas of difficulty and prepare future responses now
• Compare with previous interviews
• What did I miss saying?
• Discuss what happened with someone you trust
• Prepare for further interview and if it happens
  - don’t be too confident
  - don’t assume you won’t have to cover the same ground
• Follow-up if nothing heard within time-scale +7days

Questions that could be asked

• What do you know about our company?
• Why did you choose to apply for this role/job?
• What do you think you can bring to this role?
• What kind of people do you like working with?
• What kind of people do you find most difficult to work with? Why?
• Do you prefer to work alone or in a group?
• Is there anything you would rather avoid doing in your job? Why?
• What do you feel you have done particularly well in your job? In what areas have you achieved greatest success? Why do you think this is?
• In your last job, did you find anything difficult?
• Why do you want to leave your present job?
• What do you see as your best qualities?
• What about the other side of the coin? Apart from knowledge or experience, what traits do you feel could be improved upon?
• What would you consider to be your greatest achievement to date? Why?
• Are you a good communicator?
• Describe the biggest problem that you have faced within the last six months. How did you handle it?
• Give some instances in which you have anticipated problems or influenced new direction.
• Do you feel pressure? Tell me about it. How do you deal with it?

After the interview it is important that you contact Matrix Recruitment as soon as possible to discuss how you feel the interview went and your thoughts on the position on offer. This will help us provide you with the best service possible.

GOOD LUCK!!