Interview Tips

The purpose of a CV is to get you into the interview room. Once you are there, your success will depend on your suitability, your preparation and your performance. Generally speaking, the first interview is an opportunity for one or two middle managers or Human Resources to assess a number of candidates, with minimal disruption to their working day. The purpose is usually to get a general first impression and to try to identify any reason why the individual might not be suitable. Typically about 60% of candidates are filtered out at this stage. First impressions, presentation, enthusiasm and preparation are essential.

The second interview is more detailed. Although you are up against only one or two other candidates, only one candidate can receive an offer of employment. The managers will have discussed your strengths and weaknesses at length, and will have identified any concerns that they want to address with you. Senior management are brought in, questions become more specific and you may be required to complete a psychometric or technical test. In preparation, it is important to know the schedule of the interview and what concerns the interviewers have. Your recruitment consultant should provide you with feedback from your first interview.

Four Main Types of Interview:

  1. Chronological – The interviewer will discuss your CV with you in chronological order and may ask you to explain how you got to this position in your career. You may also be asked where you see yourself in the future and what your goals are. Try to structure your answers to demonstrate what you can do for the organisation, rather than what you personally want to gain.
  2. Competency Based – The interviewer may ask you to demonstrate certain competencies that are required for the job, such as leadership, team skills, attention to detail or resilience. The job specification will give you clues as to what these competencies are. You should try to think of a couple of examples of occasions in your professional career when you have successfully demonstrated such competencies.
  3. Role specific – This is often used for temporary roles or contracts where you are expected to already possess the necessary skills. You will be asked to give examples of occasions when you have performed the tasks listed in the job specification and what the outcomes were. Again, if you have prepared, this should be easy.
  4. The ‘informal chat’ - Again, another method used for temporary roles though some interviewers use this for permanent recruitment too. It is often used by small companies that don’t have an HR department or by a hiring manager or director during a second or third interview. It is particularly appropriate when team-fit or commercial acumen is important. Remember to smile, strike up a rapport with the interviewer and try to get across some of the benefits of hiring you.

Be Prepared:

There are several things that you can do before the interview to give you the leading edge over the other applicants. A positive attitude is very important. Even if you are not entirely convinced about the role, be positive and committed, while asking the questions that you need answered to help you make your decision after the interview. A company will not consider someone who is not keen and enthusiastic.

Research: Research the company profile, structure and history in as much detail as possible. Visit the company websites for more detailed information and maybe even request a copy of their Annual Report. Your consultant will also have expert knowledge of the client, the environment, the company culture and the employer's expectations.

It is important to find out specific facts about the company:

  • Key competitors
  • Products and services
  • Potential for future growth
  • Reputation on the market
  • Industry risks and future challenges

Make sure that you are up to date with the facts and figures of your former employer. You will be expected to know information about the companies that you have previously worked for.

Punctuality: Ensure that you know the exact location and time of the interview and that you have the phone number of your recruitment consultant in case of delay. Again, first impressions are very important so if you know you are going to be more than 5 minutes late, always call your recruitment consultant. Allow enough time to get lost twice!”.

Presentation: First impressions are always important. Ensure that you are dressed for the job you want, rather than the job you have. If in doubt, always wear a suit. Smile, hold eye contact on initial greeting and, keep your hands above the table, relax and sit down when invited to. Try to use your hands and body language when talking, and avoid crossing your arms!

Common Interview Questions:

Interviews are intended to answer three fundamental questions:

  1. Do you fit into the company culture / team?
  2. Do you have the appropriate skills and experience?
  3. Are you motivated and prepared to commit to the job?

Tell me about yourself: Describe your qualifications, career history and range of skills, emphasising those skills relevant to the job on offer. Identify some of your main attributes and memorise them.

What are your biggest achievements: Take an achievement that is work-related and fairly recent. Identify the skills you used in the achievement and quantify the benefit it had to the company.

Are you happy with your career-to-date: This question is really about your self-esteem, confidence and career aspirations. The answer must be 'yes', followed by a brief explanation as to what it is about your career so far that's made you particularly happy. If you have hit a career plateau, or you feel you are moving too slowly, then you must qualify your answer.

Describe a difficult situation that you have faced. Explain what you did and the outcome: The purpose of this question is to find out what your definition of difficult is and whether you can show a logical approach to problem solving. In order to show yourself in a positive light, select a difficult work situation which was not caused by you and which can be quickly explained in a few sentences. Explain how you defined the problem, what the options were, why you selected the one you did and what the outcome was. Always try to end on a positive note.

What do you like most about your current role / company: This is a straight forward question. All you have to do is make sure that your 'likes' correspond to the skills required for the job on offer. Be enthusiastic; describe your job as interesting and diverse but do not overdo it - after all, you are looking to leave.

What do you least like about your current position / company: Take care in answering this question. Any negative portrayal of your previous employer may reflect badly on you. Do not be too specific as you may draw attention to weaknesses that will leave you open to further problems. Choose a characteristic of your present company, such as its size or slow decision-making processes etc. Give your answer with the air of someone who takes problems and frustrations in your stride as part of the job.

Describe your biggest strengths: This question almost always comes up. Concentrate on discussing your main strengths. List three or four proficiencies e.g. your ability to learn quickly, determination to succeed, positive attitude, your ability to relate to people and achieve a common goal. You may be asked to give examples of the above so be prepared.

What is your greatest weakness? Most people handle this question badly. Do not say you have none or claim to be a “perfectionist” - this will lead to further problems. You have two options - use a professed weakness such as a lack of experience (not ability) on your part in an area that is not vital for the job. The second option is to describe a personal or professional weakness that could also be considered to be a strength and the steps you have taken to combat it.

Other common interview questions to consider:

  • What kind of pressures have you encountered at work?
  • What are you looking for in a company?
  • How does your job fit in to your department and company?
  • What do you enjoy about this industry?
  • Give an example of when you have worked under pressure.
  • Give me an example of a time when your work was criticised.
  • When have you felt anger at work? How did you continue to perform well?
  • What kind of people do you find it difficult to work with?
  • Give me an example of when you have had to face a conflict of interest at work.
  • Tell me about the last time you disagreed with your boss.
  • Give me an example of when you haven't got on with others.
  • Do you prefer to work alone or in a group? Why?
  • How do you measure your own performance?
  • Are you a self-starter? Give me examples to demonstrate this?
  • What changes in the workplace have caused you difficulty and why?
  • Give me an example of when you have been out of your depth.
  • What can you bring to this organisation?
  • Tell me about your qualifications for this job.
  • How can you contribute to our company / department?
  • Tell me about yourself.
  • Tell us about your analytical skills.
  • Describe your achievements to date.
  • What things make a good team member?
  • What motivates you?
  • What do you do at weekends/ Tell me about your interests?
  • Why did you choose this career?
  • Why do you want to change jobs?
  • Why do you want to leave your current position so soon?
  • What difficulties and challenges do you foresee in making this move?
  • Why do you want to work for this company?
  • Where do you se yourself in 3 years time?
  • Tell me about a time when you tried and failed.

Questions you could ask:

  • What are the company's strengths and weaknesses compared with its competition?
  • Where is the company going? Expansion plans?
  • Over the next 3 years in this role, what are the opportunities for career progression?
  • Could you explain the organisational structure to me?
  • What is the company's policy regarding training?
  • Where do you see the company developing over the next 5 years.
  • Tell me about your experience and your time at the company.
  • How would my performance be monitored?
  • Why has this position become vacant?
  • Who would I report to?
  • What is the policy on transfer overseas?
  • How would I influence my own future in the company?
  • What sort of person progresses well here?

Finishing the Interview:

If you are interested in the role, then let the interviewer know, and ask the about the next stage of the interview process. Ensure that you thank the interviewers for their time.

After the Interview:

After the interview it is essential that you provide honest feedback to your consultant. In most cases, the consultant will not have feedback from the client before speaking to you, so any delay in providing feedback may slow down the whole process.

Feedback from the client is passed on to you by your recruitment consultant. Regardless of whether this feedback is positive or negative, it is essential that you accept it as constructive and use it to your benefit for future interviews. Provided you have demonstrated your worth in the interview and have not discussed your salary expectations, your recruitment consultant will be able to negotiate the best possible deal for you should an employment offer be made.

If an offer is made, most employers will expect you to have made up your mind about whether or not you want the role and will want you to give your response relatively quickly, as to not leave the other potential candidates in the dark.

The next step is to sign the contracts, hand in your notice and agree a start date. This can often feel like a daunting process but your recruitment consultant is able to provide you with advice and support at this point.