Bloomsbury Publishing - Get That Job: Interviews: How to keep your head and land your ideal job

Contents

It before answering the questions below.

In questions where you are asked to give a rating, 1 is the lowest grade (i.e. poor, very little) and 5 the highest (i.e. excellent, very much).

1 Give yourself a rating that reflects how comfortable you feel in interviews.

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(If you are at the lower end of the scale then careful planning should help you gain in confidence and market yourself better. Think carefully about these questions and the extra questions in are prepared to deal with the situation if you are asked inappropriate questions.)

2 What is it about the organization that has made you apply for the position?

(If you are struggling to answer this question, spend some more time researching the organization that has invited you for interview. See .)

3 Be honest! To what extent is your interest in your chosen job genuine and to what extent is it attractive because of its high profile, good salary etc.?

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4 Give three reasons why you want this job. (It is important to be aware of your own motives so you can be prepared for tricky questions.)

5 Is there anything you would like to know about the organization and/or position, to help you decide whether the job will suit you? (The interviewer will almost always ask you whether you have any questions, so it is important to have a few well-thought-out queries. See for ideas.)

6 Is there anything you have glossed over or left out of your CV (for example, lots of job changes, leaving school/college/university early, a long period of unemployment)? You are likely to be asked about this how can you explain it? (For advice on dealing with tricky questions, read . The list in this chapter gives examples of potentially challenging areas of questioning that you should be prepared for.)

7 Name three of your weaknesses. How might you overcome them? (This is a popular interview question so its important to have an answer ready!)

8 What are your three main strengths? Are you able to back up each of these strengths? Why have you chosen them?

9 How would you rate your career experience to date?

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10 Describe your most formative experience.

11 Rate the experience gained from your spare-time activities and travel.

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12 Which is your most important interest outside of work and why? Can you apply your experience/ interests positively to what is wanted by your potential employer?

13 Think of good examples to show how you have developed each of the following competences:

planning and organizing

decision-making

communicating

influencing others

teamwork

achieving results

leadership

diplomacy

(Competence-related questions are becoming more and more common. Build on these answers so you are prepared. For hints on how to do this, see .)

Congratulations! Youve cleared the first hurdle in your job search with a great CV and covering letter, and have been invited for an interview youve already found some way to stand out from the crowd. Now you need to build on this success. As you prepare yourself mentally and emotionally for your interview, keep these questions in mind:

Why do you think you are the best person for the job?

What is it about this job that attracts you?

What is it about this organization that has made you apply for the position?

Who will interview you and what do you know about them?

What is the appropriate dress and/or image for this organization?

Step one: Do your homework

Review your CV or application form

Remind yourself thoroughly of all the information on your CV or application form. Think about what questions you might be asked based on your education or work history.

Questions that might be difficult to answer include, Why did you choose to study this subject?, Why did you leave your last job? or Why did you have a period of unemployment? Write notes about what you are going to say and practise your answers.

Research the organization

Finding out as much as you can about the company you are visiting will not only help you decide if it is the sort of organization you would like to work for, but may also give you some ideas for questions to ask the interviewer. If you find an opportunity to show that you have done your research, this will signal to the interviewer that you are enthusiastic about the job, as well as knowledgeable about the market.

Look at the companys website and social media feeds, focusing on the annual report, news, press releases and biographies. This will give you a feel for the organization its key values, its success factor and its people.

Research current factors that might affect the organization, such as industry trends, competitive issues, strategic direction and particular challenges or opportunities.

Step two: Decide what you want to get from the interview

Identify the key points you want to make about your strengths and skills. When you prepared your CV, you listed the key strengths and skills that you thought an employer would be looking for. Revisit that list, choose a skill and think of a recent situation you have been in that will demonstrate that strength or skill to an interviewer. If possible, include any concrete results achieved due to that particular strength or skill.

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It is important to focus on the positive in your answers, even when you have been asked to talk about a difficult situation or your weaknesses. That way, you will come across as someone who rises to a challenge and looks for opportunities to improve and develop.

Prepare a mental list of questions you would like to ask the interviewer(s). Remember that you are also interviewing the organization, so put together a list of questions that will help you decide whether or not this job is a good fit for your personality and your career goals. In addition, well-thought-out and pertinent questions will help to demonstrate your interest in the company and your enthusiasm for the post.

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Avoid asking questions about benefits and salary at a first interview, unless the interviewer brings them up. Get the offer first, then talk about money! For advice on negotiating a good benefits package, see .

Step three: Prepare yourself mentally

Many people, from athletes to salespeople, prepare themselves for challenging situations by mentally picturing a successful result a method that can also be used before attending an interview.

Before the interview, imagine yourself being professional, interesting and enthusiastic in your interview. Also imagine yourself leaving the interview with a good feeling about how you did. This will put you in a positive frame of mind and help you to be at your very best in the interview.

Arrive 15 or 20 minutes early so that you can take some time to relax after your journey. Go and freshen up to help you feel more comfortable and confident. Drink some water, flick through company magazines if they are available. Try to get a feel for the atmosphere, as this will help you to decide if its the sort of place you can see yourself being happy working in. It will also give you an idea of what to expect in the interview and the sort of candidate the interviewers will be looking for.

Ask a friend or family member to role-play the interview with you. School and university career counsellors and career coaches will also do this. Give this person a list of questions that you think you might be asked. Role-play the interview and ask for the other persons feedback. Film it if you can so that you can watch your body language.