Interview Preparation

Research shows that people make their mind up about someone in the first few seconds of meeting with them. So it's best to get off to a good start from the outset. No matter how well qualified you may seem 'on paper' for a job, when recruiting, an employer will still be interested in your personality and presentation. Indeed with more than one suitable applicant for a role, interview performance is often the deciding factor. This makes the face to face meeting a critical part of the recruitment process and you will need to impress from the start.

Interview preparation is probably the single most important differentiator between good candidates- the one best prepared invariably gets the job.

Preparation is the evidence of professionalism, interest in and commitment to their company but above all, it is indicative or the way a candidate is likely to work.

Following the interview preparation guidelines below will help overcome any interview nerves and instil confidence for a productive meeting with your potential employer.

Practical tips

Double check the date, time and location of the interview and be familiar with the name and title of the interviewer. Take your interview confirmation letter with you.

Prepare your interview outfit in advance - all of it. Ensure your appearance is smart, comfortable and professional. First impressions count! Where possible, wear a suit. If it is not possible to wear a suit, speak to your Consultant who will advise you on appropriate dress.

Familiarise yourself with the journey to the location, to ensure you arrive in plenty of time. If driving, do a 'dummy run'. Check timetables and book train tickets in advance. Anticipate delays, especially on unknown routes. Contact your interviewer swiftly if you are unavoidably delayed on the day.

Do not arrive over-laden with belongings! Take any requested certificates, references etc, a spare CV and a notepad and pen. A mobile phone is always useful, but ensure it is turned OFF before arrival at reception.

Be punctual for your meeting but it is inadvisable to arrive more than half an hour early. Leave yourself enough time to visit the toilets and tidy up if necessary.

Remember that you start making an impression on your prospective employer the moment you arrive at reception. Be courteous to the receptionist and any other staff you may meet prior to your interview. Their opinion of you is often sought and may even have some influence on the final selection.

Research

Find out as much information as possible about your prospective employer in advance. Many now have websites which are packed with information. Familiarise yourself with mission statements, past performance, future goals and current analyst ratings. Be aware that if your prospective employer does have a comprehensive website, you may seriously compromise your chances if it becomes apparent you have not taken time to research it.

It is good to know some (if not all) of the following about the organisation before you attend the interview: 

• Who is the Company owned by- Private or public?
• Is it part of a larger group- are there subsidiaries you should be aware of?
• Gain an understanding of the business the company is in, who their main competitors are and where they are positioned in the market.
• How are they viewed in the market place?
• Read recent press cuttings. Having done your research you can use it to develop questions and points of view “I noticed in a recent article in the FT that you are expanding into a new market- what are the implications of this expansion for the business unit that you’re being interviewed for”
• Read the annual report, accounts and corporate brochure.
• What services or products does it have to offer?
• Look at current growth to date and what the potential for the future is.
• Rehearsal- having collected your information and thought about it you need to practice delivering it.

You will be expected to know in detail about your current/former employer. Bring yourself up to date with the current facts / figures.

If there is no company website, it is still easy to research your employer. All national newspapers and professional magazines have online sites with archive articles. You can also utilise web search engines just by entering the company name. Talk to anyone you know who has worked at the organisation. If all else fails do try phoning the company and requesting general information.

Body Language

Do not underestimate the power of body language. The way in which you present yourself will tell an employer much more than your CV ever could. You should be aware of any bad habits you are prone to.

• Your handshake should be firm
• Do not slouch - always maintain good posture 
• Be a good listener as well as an orator. Acknowledge the interviewer’s comments with nods and if there is more than one present then switch your glance between them at regular intervals
• Try not to gesticulate too much as it suggests nervousness

The Interview……. Do’s

• Be on time.
• Greet your interviewer standing, with a strong, firm handshake and a smile! Good body language is vital. Do have an easy topic of non-work conversation ready as an ice-breaker. Sit up straight with both feet on the floor. Speak clearly and confidently. Try and maintain a comfortable level of eye contact throughout.
• A standard interview will generally start with an introductory chat, moving on to questions specific to your application and experience. General information about the company and role may follow, finishing with an opportunity for you to ask your own questions. Do ask questions throughout the interview if possible.
• Be familiar with your CV and prepared to answer questions from it. Similarly, ensure you have read any job description thoroughly and think of ways in which your experience will benefit your potential employer.
• LISTEN to what is being asked of you. Think about your answers to more difficult questions and do not give irrelevant detail. Give positive examples from your experience to date but be concise. Avoid one word answers however. Prepare yourself in advance for likely questions (see next section for common interview questions).
• Be ready to ask questions that you have prepared beforehand. This can demonstrate you have thought about the role and done some research on the organisation. Ensure they are open, thus encouraging the interviewer to provide you with additional information.
• Show your enthusiasm for the role, even if you have some reservations. These can be discussed at a later stage.
• Do keep the information positive - don’t give bad news unasked
• Do come prepared with a list of questions to ask

As the saying goes, "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail". So here is a valuable insight into the world of interview questions and the techniques best used to answer them.
There are some questions that are asked frequently in interviews and you should prepare your answers before-hand. The key things to remember when responding to interview questions are to keep your answers relevant, brief and to the point. If you are faced with a difficult question, make sure you stay calm, don't get defensive, and take a moment to think about your response before you answer.
Remember, these responses are only suggestions. Try to personalise your response as much as possible.
Competency Based Interview Questions

There are 6 main competencies that an employer may look to investigate during an interview/assessment process.

1) Business Acumen:

Knows how businesses work, knowledgeable in current and possible future policies, practices, trends and information affecting his/her business and organisation, knows the competition, is aware of how strategies and tactics work in the marketplace.

Competency Questions:

• Give me an example of when you’ve had to sacrifice a short-term goal for a long term gain. 
• Describe a time when you had to make a risky or tough decision that you felt confident would have a positive impact.

2) Command Skills:

Relishes leading, takes unpopular stand if necessary, encourages direct and tough debates but isn’t afraid to end it and move on. Is looked to for direction in a crisis and faces adversity head on energised by tough challenges.

Competency Questions:

• Describe a situation where your leadership skills were rejected. Why were they rejected? What did you do to manage the situation?
• Tell me about a time where you managed a highly sensitive or critical situation. What made it highly sensitive or critical? Why did you choose to end the course of action you choose?

3) Dealing with Ambiguity:

Can efficiently cope with change, can shift gears comfortably, can decide and act without having the total picture, isn’t upset when things are up in the air, doesn’t have to finish things before moving on, can deal comfortably with risk and uncertainty.

Competency Questions:

• Describe a situation where you had to make a tough decision even though you did not have all of the important information. What was the situation? How did you overcome your lack of information?
• Tell me about a situation where you had to face multiple demands or where priorities kept changing. How did you deal with that?

4) Functional / Technical Skills:

Has the functional and technical knowledge to do the job at a high level of accomplishment

Competency Questions:

• Tell me about a time when you misapplied your technical skills to a problem/situation. What did you do to correct the misapplication? What did you learn from the situation? 
• Tell me about a time when you felt your technical skills were not up to the level needed to successfully complete a project or resolve an issue. What did you do to upgrade your skills?

5) Integrity and Trust

Is widely trusted, is seen as a direct, truthful individual, can present the unvarnished truth in an appropriate and helpful manner, keeps confidences, admits mistakes and doesn’t misinterpret him/herself for personal gain.

Competency Questions:

• Describe a time when you had to present material or implement a process that you were not in full support of. Did you voice your concern? How did you do this and who did you voice your concern to?
• Tell me about a time when you demonstrated personal integrity in a business situation. What led to your decision to act in accordance with your beliefs? What challenges, if any, did you face? How did you integrate your personal values with what was needed for the business?

6) Intellectual Horsepower

Is bright and intelligent.
Deals with concepts and complexity comfortably, described as intellectually sharp, capable and agile.

Competency Questions: 

• Tell me about a time when you set a challenging goal for yourself and what you did to achieve it. How did you overcome any obstacles you encountered? 
• Describe the most complex problem or issue you have dealt with on the job. How did you arrive at this solution?

Example of Standard Questions

Q. Tell me about yourself

A. Identify some of your main attributes and memorise them. Describe your qualifications, career history and range of skills, emphasising those skills relevant to the job on offer.

Q. What have your achievements been to date?

A. Select an achievement that is work-related and fairly recent. Identify the skills you used in the achievement and quantify the benefit it had to the company. For example, 'my greatest achievement has been to design and implement a new sales ledger system, bringing it in ahead of time and improving our debtors' position significantly, saving the company £50,000 per month in interest'.

Q. Are you happy with your career to date?

A. This question is really about your self-esteem, confidence and career aspirations. The answer must be 'yes', followed by a brief explanation as to what it is about your career so far that's made you happy. If you have hit a career plateau, or you feel you are moving too slowly, then you must qualify your answer.

Q. What is the most difficult situation you have had to face and how did you tackle it?

A. The purpose of this question is to find out what your definition of difficult is and whether you can show a logical approach to problem solving. In order to show yourself in a positive light, select a difficult work situation which was not caused by you and which can be quickly explained in a few sentences. Explain how you defined the problem, what the options were, why you selected the one you did and what the outcome was. Always end on a positive note.

Q. What do you like about your present job?

A. This is a straightforward question. All you have to do is make sure that your 'likes' correspond to the skills etc. required in the job on offer. Be enthusiastic; describe your job as interesting and diverse but do not overdo it - after all, you are looking to leave.

Q. What do you dislike about your current job?

A. Be cautious with this answer. Do not be too specific as you may draw attention to weaknesses that will leave you open to further problems. One approach is to choose a characteristic of your present company, such as its size or slow decision-making processes etc. Give your answer with the air of someone who takes problems and frustrations in your stride as part of the job.

Q. What are your strengths?

A. This is one question that you know you are going to get so there is no excuse for being unprepared. Concentrate on discussing your main strengths. List three or four proficiencies e.g. your ability to learn quickly, determination to succeed, positive attitude, your ability to relate to people and achieve a common goal. You may be asked to give examples of the above so be prepared.

Q. What is your greatest weakness?

A. Do not say you have none - this will lead to further problems. You have two options - use a professed weakness such as a lack of experience (not ability) on your part in an area that is not vital for the job. The second option is to describe a personal or professional weakness that could also be considered to be a strength, and the steps you have taken to combat it.
An example would be, 'I know my team think I'm too demanding at times - I tend to drive them pretty hard but I'm getting much better at using the carrot and not the stick'.

Q. Why do you want to leave your current employer?

A. State how you are looking for a new challenge, more responsibility, experience and a change of environment. Do not be negative in your reasons for leaving. It is rarely appropriate to use salary as your primary motivator.

Q. Why have your applied for this particular job?

A. The employer is looking for evidence that the job suits you, fits in with your general aptitudes, coincides with your long-term goals and involves doing things you enjoy. Make sure you have a good understanding of the role and the organisation, and describe the attributes of the organisation that interest you most.

Other Questions to Consider:

• How does your job fit in to your department and company? 
• What do you enjoy about this industry? 
• Give an example of when you have worked under pressure. 
• What kinds of people do you like working with? 
• Give me an example of when your work was criticised. 
• Give me an example of when you have felt anger at work. How did you cope and did you still perform a good job? 
• What kind of people do you find it difficult to work with? 
• Give me an example of when you have had to face a conflict of interest at work. 
• Tell me about the last time you disagreed with your boss. 
• Give me an example of when you haven't got on with others. 
• Do you prefer to work alone or in a group? Why? 
• This organisation is very different to your current employer - how do you think you are going to fit in? 
• What are you looking for in a company? 
• How do you measure your own performance? 
• What kind of pressures have you encountered at work? 
• Are you a self-starter? Give me examples to demonstrate this? 
• What changes in the workplace have caused you difficulty and why? 
• How do you feel about working long hours and/or weekends? 
• Give me an example of when you have been out of your depth. 
• What have you failed to achieve to date? 
• What can you bring to this organisation? 
• What do you know about our company? Our competitors? 
• Why do you feel that you are suitable? What unique characteristics do you have that make you a better prospect than other candidates?
• What attracts you to this role / company? 
• Describe a management style that suits you 
• How do you handle your daily time / objectives? 
• What would your colleagues / peers say about you? 
• Use three words to describe yourself. 
• Why should I give this job to you? 
• Can you give me an example of when you’ve had to delegate authority and or / responsibility? 
• What systems do you use to keep track of things that require your attention? 
• Have you ever had to discipline or correct a colleague/friend at work? How did you handle the situation? 
• What would your friends say about you? 
• Where do you see yourself in 2-5 years’ time? 
• Tell me about a situation where you have had to overcome significant obstacles to reach a goal? 
• Have you ever had to influence others to bring about change? How did you do this? 
• What’s the most difficult situation you have dealt with to date? 
• What’s the most important professional decision you have made? 
• What motivates you and why? 
• Where else have you been looking? 
• Give me an example of when you’ve given up? 
• Where do you feel you need development or training?