Interview Tips
Your qualifications, experience and proven track record have got you this far, now you need to impress the interviewer and convince them that you are the right person for the job. Preparation and confidence are vital.
General Tips
Before your interview make sure you find out everything you can about the company. Re-read your application and think through your career and the questions your interviewers might ask you. Try and anticipate the general questions which will be asked and prepare some questions to ask the interviewer. Remember you need to find out whether this company can offer you the career you are looking for!
To do well at the interview you will need to convince your interviewer that you are technically qualified to do the job. You will also need to show that you are sufficiently motivated to get the job done and that you will fit well within the company's organisational structure and the team in which you will work.
You should dress smartly for the interview and leave home earlier than you need to - you may be delayed by traffic or for other reasons. At the interview you must be positive about yourself and your abilities and make sure you do not waffle.
Preparation
Interviewers are continually amazed by the number of candidates who have not prepared and possess little or no knowledge about the company they are interviewing with. Time spent prior to the interview researching the organisation will pay off on the day. In order to approach the interview successfully you should also carry out a mini self-assessment of your professional profile and experience to date, the qualifications you possess and where you want to go with your career. Write down a few points about your strengths and weaknesses so that you have a clear idea of what to say (or not) in the interview.
You should know the following about 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?
- Who are their main competitors?
- How are they viewed in the market place?
- Read recent press cuttings.
- Look at their website.
- Obtain a copy of their company brochure.
- What services or products it has to offer.
- Look at current growth to date and what the potential for the future is.
- You will be expected to know in detail about your current/former employer. Bring yourself up to date with the facts and the figures.
Feedback
If you are continually unsuccessful at interview then you need to examine your interview performance carefully. Were you unprepared for the interview? Did you say unfavourable things about your previous employers? Were you aggressive or acting in a superior in way? All of these things could have contributed to your failure to get the job. To become more successful in your job quest, after any interview you should try and get as much feedback as possible from the people who have interviewed you. Once you have some feedback you can modify your interview technique and hopefully do better at the next interview.