how to develop a great job interview technique

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How to develop a great job interview technique

A job interview is all about selling yourself to the employer and convincing them that you’re

the right person for the job. If you don’t do this, no

typically lasts anything up to forty

to make a first impression, and selectors often make up their minds about a candidate’s

personality within just the first four minutes of an interview. You should then make the best use

of those crucial first few minutes t

Points to Remember

1. Prepare well beforehand

• Research the employer –

report. Also, try linking in with someone on a social networking site who works for

company to get some inside information.

• Make sure you know ‘inside out’ the skills the employer is looking for

information given on the job advertisement and in the job specification.

• Make a list of key points you want to get across

Don’t forget the skills that employers want:

• Communication skills – presenting, listening.

• Organisation and planning skills

unsupervised.

• Working in a team – listening to other people's points of view

joining in with ideas.

• Problem-solving – being able to find alternative solutions.

• Flexibility – being able to adapt to changing working environments.

• Time management – being able to prioritise and organise.

Overleaf there are examples of interview questions and also questions that you could ask. If

you can answer their questions fully and evidence your answers to these, then you should do

well.



to draw upon their Christian faith and apply it in a practical way to their job situation.

Tel: 07503 177126 [email protected]



the right person for the job. If you don’t do this, no-one else will do if for you! A job interview

typically lasts anything up to forty-five minutes. However it takes on average only 90 seconds



of those crucial first few minutes to create the right sort of impression.

Prepare well beforehand

visit their website, read the company brochure and annual

report. Also, try linking in with someone on a social networking site who works for

company to get some inside information.

Make sure you know ‘inside out’ the skills the employer is looking for


Make a list of key points you want to get across

Don’t forget the skills that employers want:

presenting, listening.

Organisation and planning skills – being able to prioritise your workload and work

listening to other people's points of view, being constructive and

being able to find alternative solutions.

being able to adapt to changing working environments.

being able to prioritise and organise.




it in a practical way to their job situation.

[email protected]



one else will do if for you! A job interview

takes on average only 90 seconds



visit their website, read the company brochure and annual

report. Also, try linking in with someone on a social networking site who works for the

Make sure you know ‘inside out’ the skills the employer is looking for – check the


being able to prioritise your workload and work

, being constructive and

being able to adapt to changing working environments.




2. On the day of the interview

• Dress appropriately, be clean and tidy – a dark business suit is usual. Remember to

polish your shoes!

• First impressions count – from the moment you walk through the door and are greeted

by the receptionist. They could be asked for their impression of you.

• Smile and give the interviewer a good, firm handshake.

• Be prepared for any questions and give good examples to back up your claim.

• Make sure you answer the questions asked!

• Give yourself time to answer. If you don't understand say, ‘Can you clarify the question

please?’

• Answer as fully as possible. Make it easy for the selector to see that you are right for

the job, but don’t talk too much.

• Watch your body language – don't fidget! Try and remain calm and confident.

• Keep eye contact with the interviewer.

• Be enthusiastic and as natural as possible. It will show in your voice and in your face.

• Remember to smile, shake hands and say ‘thank you for seeing me’ at the end of the

interview

Interview Questions

The bulk of the interview will be taken up with their questions, but a good interviewer will

always leave time for you to ask questions of your own – it is a two-way process. While the

interviewer is trying to decide whether you're right for the company, you need to think ‘Is this

job right for me?’

By asking questions of your own you will obtain the information you need to make the right

decision if the job is offered to you. Not only is this an essential way of extracting information,

it's another opportunity to make yourself look good by highlighting your strengths, showing off

your research efforts and demonstrating your enthusiasm. If you don't ask questions it will look

as if you are not interested.

Questions you could be asked:

• What do you know about this company/industry?

• Why are you interested in working for the company?

• What experience have you had of working in teams?

• What have you found the most enjoyable aspect of your course?

• What positions of responsibility have you had?

• What are your strengths and weaknesses?

• What can you offer us?

• What is your greatest achievement to date?

• What work experience have you had?

• What did you learn from it?

• Why are you interested in this line of work?

• Where do you see yourself in three to five years' time?


• What are your long-term career ambitions?

• What do you like to do in your spare time?

• Tell me about yourself.

Questions you could ask:

• What are the key tasks and responsibilities of this role?

• Where do you see this role fitting in with the rest of the organisation?

• Will the job involve travel?

• Do you run an induction programme?

• What training and development do you offer?

• What are your performance review procedures?

• What are your key criteria for promotion?

• How would you define your company culture?

• What are your strategies for growth?

• When do you expect to make a decision?

After the Interview

Feedback

It is useful to obtain feedback from your interview performance and whether you have been

successful or not. The employer will have assessed your performance objectively and you will

be given specific examples of how you demonstrated effective or ineffective behaviour.

This feedback will highlight your strengths and areas for further development. If you are

receiving telephone feedback, make sure that you have pen and paper handy so that you can

take notes.

If at first you don’t succeed…

It is often difficult to accept that you have been unsuccessful in your application for a job – it

may be that you performed well but lost out to a better candidate on the day. We live in a very

competitive market and there will obviously be occasions when you are unsuccessful, but as

long as you apply for work for which you have the necessary qualifications and experience

then eventually you should succeed.

It may be useful to ask yourself the following questions:

• Am I applying for the wrong sort of jobs?

• Am I being too narrow in my search for a job?

• Have I customised my CV for the job I am applying for?

• Do I need to review my interview/presentation techniques?

• Where am I going wrong in selling myself?

• Am I researching and preparing enough for the interview?

• What image am I presenting to the interviewer/assessor?

• Is my body language assertive or passive?


Enlist some help from a work colleague, friend or a careers adviser. Show them your CV, the

job applied for and go through your interview technique with them. They will be more objective

than you and will be able to offer constructive support.


to draw upon their Christian faith and apply it in a practical way to their job situation.

www.want2geton.co.uk Tel: 07503 177126 [email protected]