MAKING YOURINTERVIEWCOUNT

Introduction

An effective interview style is a powerful tool in your search for a new job. Improving your technique will increase your confidence and differentiate you from other candidates. Many people come out of an interview feeling that they did not perform as well as they could have, or were not provided with the opportunity to shine. To gain interview success you must master four key points:

You must be able to demonstrate your skills and expertise verbally and within a limited time scale.

1.

2You must respond openly, answer every question fully and attempt to provide examples.

1

You must be able to handle any objections or questions that are put to you.

You may have to justify your salary expectations.

2

Preparation

Always ensure you have the following information:

The name and position of the person

conducting the interview.

Some time spent preparing will benefit you a great deal. By knowing what to expect you will be more confident and in control during your interview.

The company name, address and telephone number.

The likely length of the interview (so you can leave yourself plenty of time).

How to get there. Don’t make assumptions about parking or the time it will take to reach your destination. A trial run will make sure you know where you are going.

3

4

3

Have a good knowledge of the company and the job. Your recruitment consultant will provide you with information but personal effort will enhance your credibility and reinforce your interest in the role.

The format of the interview and whether there will be any tests performed.

Confirm with your recruitment consultant the documents you may need to take to the interview. These are likely to include:

A copy of the job description.

A copy of your CV.

Certificates or ID.

References from previous work experience.

Consider taking along a notepad with any questions you may have. This will also come in handy for jotting down information during the interview.

4

Do Your Homework

There are many sources you can access that will provide background industry and company specific information.

Your consultant at Thorpe Molloy McCulloch Recruitment will be a valuable source of information.

3

Company websites usually provide a lot of information but on-line business publications can be helpful sources too.

2

National, local and trade press.

5

1.

If not available to download from the website, telephone the company to request copies of relevant marketing literature.

Useful information to know includes:

• What the company does.• Industry type and its place in the market.• Size of the organisation.• Current turnover.• Whether it is part of a larger group.

Friends or acquaintances who already work for the company.

6

Dress Code

Whether it is right or wrong, people do make judgments based on appearances. Dress to impress - it’s important that it looks like you have made an effort for your interview. Companies will expect you to look smart, a classic business suit is your best choice.

yesno

7

• A firm hand shake (not too vigorous!).

• Smile!

• Eye contact.

• Arrive around 5-10 minutes early – allow yourself plenty of time.

• Create a good impression with thereceptionist – they are sometimescalled on for feedback.

• If you are asked to complete acompany application form, taketime to complete it as thoroughlyas possible.

• Remain calm and confident ifkept waiting, there is likely to bea very good reason.

• Most of all try to relax and be positive.

The personal statement you make at interview should be based upon:

First Impressions

8

What do you know about our company?

The research you’ve done will be invaluable here.

What was the biggest challenge at your last job?

Explain a situation or project that was daunting but where you were ultimately successful.

What immediate contributions can you make?

Think about your strengths and skills when answering this question and consider how they will benefit the company. From your review of the job specification you may have identified the goals or objectives of the role, consider how you can immediately contribute to these too.

Typical Questions Often Asked By Companies

Interviews are often structured in a particular way in order to assess the suitability of applicants. Therefore, some questions can often be anticipated and if you have a general idea of what may be asked you can prepare beforehand.

1.

2

3

9

What has been your most rewarding experience?

Consider what you’ve done, or been a part of, that made you feel good during your career. It may be business related or it may relate to activities undertaken by a business, such as socially responsible activities, learning new skills, working as part of a team or professional training.

Why do you want to work for us?

This is another question that requires you to know about the company and to have a good understanding of the role you are

interviewing for.

Tell me about yourself?

A short personal profile is all that is required here, this could cover a range of topics including previous roles, qualifications, family, hobbies and personal achievements.

What motivates you?

To mention a personal motivator is fine, but focus primarily on your professional motivators – future promotion or leading a team; developing people or meeting sales targets are just a few examples.

5

7

10

What are your greatest strengths/weaknesses?

This is a very common question so you should have a prepared response which includes examples. Don’t emphasise a weakness, but turn it into a positive by explaining what you are doing to improve.

Why do you want to leave your current job?

It would be unprofessional to talk about what you perceive to be your current employer’s shortcomings. Focus rather on the career development opportunities you are looking for and which you hope to find with a new employer.

How would your friends describe you?

Provide a selection of key adjectives which describe you, for example insightful, creative, ambitious. Providing some explanation for your choices will greatly improve your answer.

What would you do if your current employer tried to persuade you to stay?

This can be a very difficult question to answer. If you are concerned about this discuss it with your recruitment consultant who will help

prepare you.

10

9

1111

What are your salary expectations?

Be realistic. Your recruitment consultant is the ideal resource to provide general market salary advice and will also be able to provide a guide as to the employer’s thoughts on this specific vacancy. If unacceptable to you, discuss this with your consultant prior to the interview as surprising your interviewer with a naive number will damage your credibility. The safest answer is to confirm your current package in full and advise that you will give due consideration to a competitive offer.

What can you offer that others can’t?

Park your modesty at the door as this is an opportunity to blow your professional trumpet! Consider what makes you unique and the specific talents that differentiate you.

What’s your proudest career achievement?

This could relate to any professional achievement,whether financial, commercial or individual. Whatever you choose, be able to explain why it made you feel proud.

13

14

12

The interview is a two way process. The company interviewing you will want to find out whether you are suitable to the position and you will want to find out if the company and position are right for you. You should therefore ensure that you have enough information to make up your mind. Also, try to show your interest or knowledge by asking relevant questions about the business, not just the job.

Listen carefully during your interview because it will reflect positively if you ask one or two questions leading on from something the interviewer has said. Conversely, it can be disheartening for an interviewer if you ask one of your prepared questions on a topic already clarified - it will appear that you have not been listening.

Typical Questions To Ask The Company

13

Questions about salary and benefits should be led by the interviewer. If you want to discuss remuneration wait until second interview because it’s important your interest in the position, rather than the salary, shines through.

10.

Questions to ask may include:

1. What would be a typical working day for this position?

2. How would you describe your company culture?

3. Will I be working in a team?

4. What are the objectives for this role and how do you see the roledeveloping?

5. What will be the key performance indicators for measuring successin this position?

6. What training do you provide, and do you offer study support?

7. Where does the company aim to be in five years time?

8. What differentiates your company from your competitors?

9. What is the next step in the interview process?

When can I expect to hear from you?

14

The Interview

Top Tips

• Always remain positive, do not give negative responses regardingprevious employers or positions.

• Do not slouch or fidget with pens or business cards as it will appearthat you are not focused on the interview.

• Maintain eye contact with theinterviewer. Try to do this with allinterviewers if there is more thanone, as it does convey sincerity.

• Do not smoke or eat, but do accepttea or coffee if you want it.

• Don’t chew gum!

• Be yourself as getting yourpersonality across is veryimportant. The purpose of aninterview is to get to know you, thatwon’t be possible if you are unable toengage with the interviewer.

Even though you have prepared thoroughly you may still feel anxious. Consider asking your recruitment consultant to participate in a mock interview, it could be very useful to you and help calm your nerves.

Switch your mobile phone off, or to silent

15

• Try not to talk too quickly and don’t try to be amusing – your sense of humour may not be the same as the interviewer.

• If you forget to switch off your phone and receive a call, reject it, switch off your phone and politely apologise.

• A common fear at interview is being asked a difficult question and your mind going blank. If this happens, compose yourself and take a moment to think it through. To be as prepared as you can, be ready to answer specific questions about your CV, think carefully about what you’ve done and your ambitions.

• Always ask at least one question, it is a perfect opportunity to clarify any queries. Your preparation will help you formulate questions relating to the company, for example, the structure of the department or opportunities for progression.

• Know what is on your CV, if you cannot remember details the interviewer may have doubts regarding authenticity.

• Be polite and if you are interested in the position do not be afraid to say so.

• If you are unsure by the end of the interview whether the position is for you, try to remain interested and enthusiastic. Another role within the same company may arise at a later date and people who come across well at interview are often remembered.

• If you receive a business card from the interviewer then it would be good practice to send an email post interview thanking them for their time.

16

17

Interview Testing

Interview testing has become a popular option with employers.

Psychometric Tests

These tests come in the form of a written questionnaire asking for your views regarding different hypothetical work situations. You are asked to decide which option suits you best. From your answers a profile on your professional preferences, strengths and weaknesses can be formulated.

Due to the subjective nature of these tests they are seldom used as the sole criteria for interview success.

18

Competency Based InterviewsDuring competency based interviews, candidates are asked questions on their behaviour to certain circumstances or challenges. The skills and competencies that are tested will vary depending on the post that you are applying for, but some examples are communication skills; ability to influence and negotiate; ability to lead.

Preparation is important. Make sure that you understand which skills and competencies will be tested so you can identify examples from your career. The interviewer will allocate marks depending on the extent to which responses match pre-determined response indicators.

3.

Ability and Aptitude Tests

Aptitude and ability tests are designed to assess your logical reasoning or thinking performance. Consisting of multiple choice questions administered under exam conditions, the test results are compared to a control group so that judgements can be made about your abilities.

You may be asked the questions on paper or online. To prepare as best as you can, find out which type of questions you are going to be asked (for example numeric ability, abstract reasoning or data checking) and practice by completing sample papers.

However popular testing has become, the majority of organisations still rely on qualifications and previous experience to judge aptitude.

Phone / Video Conference InterviewsSometimes it just won’t be possible to meet in person to conduct an interview. A cost effective solution for many companies that don’t have a local office is to perform first interviews by either telephone, video conference or Skype. These can be less intimidating than a face-to-face interview but can make it more difficult to convey your personality. Final hiring decisions are rarely made without meeting in person.

Panel InterviewsDo not be distressed if faced with a number of people in a panel interview situation. They tend to specialise in different areas and often include a representative from Human Resources, who may ask more general questions, leaving more specialised questions to Line Managers.

Acknowledge with eye contact all members of the panel while focusing on the person asking the question. If possible try to remember the names of the interviewers.

Interview Formats

2

1

There are many interview formats used by employers during the selection process. In addition to individual face-to-face meetings and interview testing, other common scenarios you may encounter are:

19

PresentationsFor some positions, particularly senior roles, you may be asked to give a presentation so the interviewers can gauge your communication skills as well as your ability to share and present your ideas. Keep your slides concise and clear, prompt cards will keep you on message and practising your presentation will ensure you stay within the time limit. Find out who you will be presenting to so that you can pitch your presentation correctly. Remember to maintain eye contact with your audience during the presentation and at the end, it’s a nice touch to invite questions.

Second InterviewsSecond interviews show that your performance at first interview has been impressive. They are usually more challenging than first interviews, with more in-depth, open ended questioning, but they do give you the opportunity to obtain more detail regarding the role, salary and benefits and a final chance to clarify any concerns you may have. You may also be given the opportunity to meet the people you will be working with.

20

The Job OfferYou’ve sailed through the interview process and have been made an offer. Take time to consider it, there is no need to respond immediately. Talk with your recruitment consultant to ensure your salary expectations are in line with the offer as employers will not be receptive to requests to change terms and conditions once the offer has been made.

If your recruitment consultant understands the details of your current salary and benefits package, as well as your expectations, then they can manage discussions on your behalf much more effectively.

Following your interview it is important to thoroughly brief your recruitment consultant on how the interview went, whether you remain interested in the role or whether you have any reservations. Your recruitment consultant will be able to help with any questions you have. It is also useful for Thorpe Molloy McCulloch Recruitment to obtain your feedback on the company for our records, so we can advise other people what to expect for future positions.

Social NetworksAlthough not a legitimate tool for basing a hiring decision, employers may check your personal pages on social networking sites such as Facebook. Make sure that your privacy settings allow only friends and family to see your page, as a potential employer may have very different ideas on what constitutes appropriate behaviour outside work.

Interview Feedback

21

In conclusion, remain calm and focused. You have already impressed us and you have impressed the company with your CV. Your recruitment consultant will also have briefed the company on your individual qualities and ambitions. Finding the right position for you is our main goal and by working together we can do this successfully.

22

38 Albyn Place

Aberdeen AB10 1YN

T 01224 327 000

E hello@tmmrecruitment.com

www.tmmrecruitment.com