Interview Preparation

Help with preparing for an interview
Getting invited to an interview means you've passed the first hurdle - your application must have made a good impression.
Now you need to prepare yourself for the interview to make sure you don't waste the opportunity.

Before the day
Get information
Find out about the employer and the job - you could ask the employer if they have an information pack or speak to people you know who work or have worked for the company. The library may have business information in directories such as the 'UK Kompass Register'.

Try to find out the answer to the following questions:

what do they do/make/sell?
who are their customers?
what sort of organisation are they?
financial information - turnover, profits etc.
what exactly will the job involve?
what sort of person do you think they want?
how can you best fit your skills to match the job?
Plan for the interview
Then think about the interview itself:

Who will be interviewing? If it is your prospective manager, the interview may be more detailed. If the Personnel Manager is interviewing, it may be less direct or detailed, but could still be testing.
Will there be a test to take? Find out before the interview and ask for an example of the things you'll be asked to do.
If you have a disability, contact the employer prior to the interview if you require any particular arrangements. Check the day before to ensure details have been noted prior to your arrival.
Prepare for questions you might be asked
The following is a list of twenty questions you may be asked at an interview. Some suggestions are given which you may like to use to prepare your own answer.

Thorough preparation will give you the confidence to do your best at an interview.

1. Why do you want to work here?

Mention:

Good reputation of the firm
Any other positive information you have about the firm, e.g. their training record
It will give you a chance to do work which interests you
2. Why did you leave your last job?

Explaining briefly and honestly the reasons why your last job ended. If there is anything positive to say, say it, e.g.:

If you left for health reasons point out that you are now fit and reassure the employer that you can do the duties required, or, if you were dismissed, that you take responsibility for your actions and have learnt from the experience.

3. Have you done this kind of work before?

Yes - tell them the skills you have and how you can use them.
No - quickly describe other work experience which will help you learn the job quickly. Emphasise your interest and enthusiasm to learn.
4. What did you do in your last job?

Describe:

skills and duties relevant to new job
machines/equipment used
your responsibilities
people you dealt with
how long you were there
if you were promoted
5. What kinds of equipment can you operate?

Name any type of equipment relevant to the new job
Your training/qualifications
Length of time you have operated this equipment
6. How long have you been out of work - how do you spend your time?

Describe:

jobsearch activity
voluntary work
further education or study
hobbies
7. Why have you had a) so many jobs? b) only one job?

Mention:

a) so many jobs?

You wanted to widen your experience in different types of work/firms. Many of the jobs were temporary. You would rather be in work than out of work.

b) only one job?

You had several different jobs within your last employment. The opportunity to develop. Their good record in training and development.

8. Why should I take you on?

Be ready for this question and answer confidently and positively
Describe your skills and experience and how they relate to this job
Reassure the employer that you are hard-working, reliable and capable
9. Aren't you too a) young? b) old?

Describe:

a) too young?

Your experience to date including any training or supervisory experience. Explain that you are keen to prove yourself, adaptable and quick to learn, physically fit, not going to move away, etc.

b) too old?

Emphasise the benefits of your long experience:

less need for training
your ability to make decisions quickly
your good health - you are looking forward to many more productive years
that you can still adapt to change
your good work history
10. Aren't you over-qualified?

Emphasise:

You are looking for something fresh/new/different
You can take as well as give instructions
11. How do you get on with people?

Describe how you have previously worked as part of a team
Mention your ability to get on with people at all levels
Give examples
12. What makes a good team member?

Describe the skills required e.g.:

good communication
flexibility
adaptability
co-operation
sense of humour
13. How do you cope with pressure?

Describe the pressures in previous jobs using a recent example, e.g. how you coped with a changed deadline, completed a rush order or dealt with staff shortages.

14. What are your strengths and weaknesses?

They should already know your strengths from your Application Form/CV or they would not be interviewing you, but if they ask about any weaknesses:

Start by describing parts of your last job that you found testing but explain how you overcame these problems
Be fairly brief but honest, e.g. "I can sometimes be a little too enthusiastic".
Note: Employers value people who can admit their mistakes rather than blaming their failings on others.

15. What would you like to be doing in five years time?

Explain that you would ideally like to be working for the same company but to have developed within it.

16. When was the last time you did anything stupid/lost your temper?

Avoid describing a work example. Use something from your personal life that with hind-sight you would not do again. Explain how you learned from the experience.

17. What wage do you expect to earn?

If the wage level is negotiable - be prepared to negotiate. The dilemma is "where to pitch your bid?" Too high, you could price yourself out. Too low, you could lose out. Before going to the interview find out about wage levels in the company and compare them with your current needs.

18. How often were you absent from your last job?

If rarely - say so
If absence has been a problem - explain why and reassure the employer that you are now completely fit or the problem will not recur
19. When would you be available to start?

As soon as possible! Do not put any barriers in the way.

20. Do you have any questions?

You may like to prepare for this - it is almost always asked at the interview. You could ask:

why is the job vacant?
why did the last person leave?
who would I report to?
what training will I do, if any?
what would my first job be?
does the company carry out Job Reviews?
If yes - how often?
how soon will I hear about the result of my application?
how would I be paid?
Plan your journey
Consider a "dummy run" before the day of the interview or check how long the journey will take.
If necessary ask the Employer for directions, bus routes or details of car parking.
Plan an alternative means of getting there and be prepared for the unexpected.
If you have a disability, check there are no obstacles which could cause you problems or delays.
Think about what you will wear
This may depend upon the sort of work you will be doing:

Give yourself plenty of time to decide what to wear and get the clothes ready the day before.
You don't have to buy a new outfit! Aim for neat, tidy, clean and uncluttered appearance.
If you look good it will help you feel good!
Gather together the written information you will need at the interview
CV, references, certificates, portfolio or examples of your work (if requested by the Employer).
Re -read the job advert to refresh your memory - make sure you haven't missed something.
And finally
Try to get a good night's sleep!
The day of your interview
Before Leaving
Give yourself plenty of time to get ready
Make sure you've got all relevant paperwork, e.g. CVs, invitation letter
If you are unavoidably delayed, Telephone early to explain, apologise and try to get another appointment
On Arrival
Aim to arrive about 10 minutes before the interview time
Give your name to the receptionist or whoever is there to greet you
Try to relax and keep calm
Chat to the receptionist or whoever greets you, before going into the interview. This will ensure that the first thing you say isn't croaked out because you haven't spoken to anyone for oven an hour!
Your interview
First, accept that the symptoms of nerves - a fast heartbeat, clammy hands and butterflies in the stomach - are natural. These are your body's natural way of meeting a challenge and in small doses can give you the 'oomph' to make a good impression.

You will make an impression in the first few minutes. It takes this time for people to assess someone and store this information. Once an impression has been formed, it's seldom changed. It's important to make first impression work for you.

Nervous tension may make your voice sound shaky. Practice deep slow breathing before you get to the interview. This will slow down your heart rate and help you avoid taking quick ,shallow breaths.

Here are some tips which may help.
DO DON'T
enter the room confidently
shake hands firmly - and introduce yourself
be polite and friendly - look the interviewer straight in the eye as soon as you enter the room
look interested - ask questions as well as answering
answer questions as fully as you can - avoid yes and no answers
provide examples to prove your achievements
tell the truth
ask if you don't understand a question
speak clearly
sell yourself - get your good points across/be positive
give a friendly smile (if in doubt don't - it is better to look serious than insincere)
sit until invited
fidget and slouch in the chair
smoke
swear (even mildly)
criticise former employers
interrupt
draw attention to your weaknesses
go over the top - stay calm and stick to the facts

Remember, most employers like:

people who listen
people who answer questions with examples
people who are brief in the right places
people who come prepared
people who appear confident
Also remember during discussions (and in your letters) employers look again at people who can:

Cut costs
Maintain competitive advantage
Make it look better
Improve the packaging
Get it done more quickly
Avoid potential problems
Improve appearance
Organise it
Increase sales/profits/turnover
Expedite the workflow
Make the boss look good
Use old things in a new way
Provide more information
Cut down time
Open more territories
Provide a tax advantage
Reduce the risks
Meet deadlines easily
Cut staff costs
Reduce inventories
Get Government Support
Develop staff performance
Turn round a bad situation
Introduce new systems
Improve teamwork and relationships

Other types of interview
Not all interviews will follow the same one-to-one model. You may have to face other interview situations.

The following gives a brief outline of some of the different types of interview.

Panel Interview
The panels are often made up of two or more members, for example Personnel Officer and Head of Section/Foreman/Supervisor.

Try not to be intimidated by this situation. Look at the person asking the question, and glance at the others occasionally as you reply. Remember the decision will be made by more than one person which in turn could increase you chance of success.

Competency-based Interview
These interviews are designed to allow you to demonstrate your level of competency in key areas of the job. You may be asked to discuss examples of your previous work and achievements. The examples you give should be different from those on your original Application Form. Before the interview you will need to list the competencies needed for the job and think about things you have done which illustrate each one.

Group Interviews
You may be invited to be assessed as part of a group. This is to test how you might work as part of a team. Be prepared to take an active part in the discussion/task and put forward your ideas in an assertive but not aggressive way.

Skills Tests
These are designed to measure the level of your knowledge, or understanding of the job, such as typing test, driving tests, manual dexterity, etc. Find out what the test will involve and try to practice before the interview.

Personality Tests
You could face questions on your thoughts, feelings and behaviour in certain situations.

There is no such thing as a right or wrong answer as the overall picture is what is important. The end result is a personality rating used to see if the person fits the job advertised. Analysis of these tests is highly skilled and may be used by larger organisations to supplement other recruitment methods.

Aptitude Tests
These are designed to predict how well you might do certain tasks. They test abilities such as reasoning with words/number/diagrams; problem-solving; following instructions. These are usually set as a test paper which you have to complete within a set time limit. You can try to improve your ability to do these tests by answering or completing practice tests.

Dealing with the unexpected

The following situations can cause problems but being prepared may help you deal with them if they arise.

The unprepared interviewer
Not all employers have had training or are experienced in interviewing people. They could be just as nervous as you are about the situation. You might find yourself being talked at and given little opportunity to sell yourself. This may mean waiting for a gap in the conversation and taking the lead during the interview (but not taking over!)

Delays and interruption
Don't become impatient if the Employer keeps you waiting. They may have good reasons for this, so try to keep calm. If the interviewer is interrupted - for instanced by a Telephone call - offer to leave the room.

Uncomfortable surroundings
If you find yourself being interviewed in unsuitable surroundings such as a busy public area, or noisy part of a factory - again, keep calm and try to do your best. You could ask the Employer if you could go elsewhere but you will have to use your own judgement as to whether this request would be acceptable.

After the interview
While it is still fresh in your mind, think about how the interview went:

what went well?
what went badly?
were there any questions you found difficult and why?
Use a checklist to help you identify areas for improvement.

Did you:

arrive on time?
dress appropriately?
greet the interviewer politely?
sit well and avoid fidgeting?
answer the questions fully enough?
sell myself - stress why I was the best person for the job?
describe my previous duties well?
look at the interviewer and smile occasionally?
thank the interviewer for taking the time to see me?
Try to learn as much as you can from each interview.

Aim to become more prepared and confident in the future by looking for areas to improve and developing your stronger areas of performance.

In this way you will increase your chance of getting that job.