Interview tips
Our top ten tips for interview
Tip 1 – First impressions count
Make a positive first impression: smile; be positive and warm; don't be negative or critical. Have positive and interested body language. Pay attention.
Tip 2 – Do your research
Research the company and their products before the interview. Get a brochure and read it. Read their website. Then, at an appropriate time, make reference to something about the company or the product you have found out.
Tip 3 – Listen
Listen to the question asked and answer that question and that question only. If you must digress, make sure you clearly link what you say to the question asked.
Tip 4 – Don’t take over
Let them run the interview their way - even if you think they are doing it badly.
Tip 5 – Answer the question
Remain positive and answer their questions, giving them the information they want.
Tip 6 – Make eye contact
Keep your eyes on their eyes. One of the most common breaks of eye contact occurs when people are thinking of an answer, and this is no excuse. While you are thinking, remain attentive to the person you are speaking with by maintaining eye contact.
Tip 7 – Travel light
If you have the day off and intend to go shopping, do it afterwards. Going to an interview with a folder about the firm that is interviewing you so you look the part and have done the research.
Tip 8 – Speak their language
Frame the answers to your questions in their language. Every industry has a favourite lingo. If you are crossing industries, use their 'buzz words' instead of your old ones to show you have done your homework and can relate to their way of thinking.
Tip 9 – Give them a reason to hire you
Towards the end, express your interest in the position and give them genuine tangible reasons why you are interested. Be positive and confident as you ask them for some feedback on your suitability for the role. Finally, reinforce your interest and ask if you can be taken to the next stage.
Tip 10 – Relax
Relax and be positive. They are interviewing people because they need someone.
Remember: most interviewers are looking for reasons to employ people.
Be Prepared - Know Your Product – You
Your life
Before you formally start your interview, an interviewer may engage you in a general conversation. This may happen as you walk to the room, get a coffee or glass of water.
They may not be consciously looking for it, but be ready to talk about your life outside of work in a way that shows 'you have a life' and not in a way that may indicate that your personal life impinges on work.
Your history
Without referring to your resume, be able to give a brief overview of your work history. Again without referring to your resume, be able to talk in detail about your last three positions. This will entail a couple of sentences on the company, a couple on what your role was, and then detailed information about your achievements.
To identify your achievements ask yourself:
- what was my task?
- Size of projects, management capability and achievements.
- What makes you better than the next interviewed candidate?
- how was my job performance measured?
- what reasons did I have or would I have had to justify a pay rise?
- what were my key performance indicators?
- in a sales or executive management role, know all of the following:
- what your company or project budgets were, achievements, strategy, capability
- what you actually achieved
Think of a couple of examples for different situations that relate to your work experience. For example:
[Q] What would you do if you where in this situation?
[A] Well I experienced a similar situation and did this...
Your future
You may be asked bluntly 'where do you see yourself in five years?' or you may not. Either way, there is a good chance you will be asked this question.
Have an answer ready that reflects some positive truth about you while not shooting yourself in the foot. Remember that you are being interviewed for a certain position; by the time you are employed, trained, and up and running, any employer will want to see a return on investment before promotion so be realistic in your reply.