Interview Tips
After all the work you put in to your CV, hopefully the next step will be that you are invited for an interview. This is your chance to sell your skills face to face and just as importantly, to get a good look at the employer to see the company environment, offices and indeed the people who already work there.
The better prepared you are for the interview, the less daunting it will appear and the better your chances of making a favourable impression. Prior to attending an interview your Consultant will provide you with the following information:
- Date, time, location and contact details
- The format of the interview
- Whether you need to prepare a presentation or notes
- A job specification for the role you have been selected for
- A copy of your company CV
Make sure you have read over the job description and understand it fully, especially the desired skills and experience required. Do your research – You are certain to be asked specific questions about the company, so make sure you’ve done your homework on things like their last year’s profits and latest product launches. Also take a look at the latest developments in the industry so you can converse with confidence.
Look over your CV so you a familiar with every aspect of it, in the likely event that the interviewers will ask you about parts of your CV you will then be able to answer any questions they have.
Remember the three ‘W’s – Who? Where? When? These are crucial for making a good impression. Know who will be interviewing you and leave yourself plenty of time to get to the venue.
Prepare yourself for the type of questions they will ask and have some answers thought out. Although there is no set format that every job interview will follow, there are some questions that you can almost guarantee will crop up. You should prepare answers to some of the most common questions, about your personal strengths and weaknesses, as well as being able to explain why you would be the best person for the job.
Dress smartly and conservatively. If in doubt the smarter the better!
Once the interview has been conducted, contact your Selective Recruitment consultant and let them know how the interview went, your thoughts on the role and company, and how things are expected to move forward.
