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Interview Preparation
When the time and effort you invested in putting together your CV and covering letter pays off you will receive letters inviting you to interview. Now the real preparation begins. Some people think you can't prepare for interviews but it's a bit like an exam – you would never dream of sitting your finals without revising. Here are some of the things that we would recommend you do before each job interview.
Find out about the company
You will probably be asked why you want to work for the company so be aware of what they do and where they're going. It's useful to:
- Get a copy of their annual report, product brochures etc
- Check out their website to uncover new developments
- Check out press clippings
- Be aware of their company values and mission statements if these are published
Find out about the job
Go through the marketing material to find out what the company is looking for. Often clues are given in the advertisement and graduate brochure to the type of person that the company is looking for. Think about the job-specific questions you may be asked.
Find out about the structure of the interview
Interviews differ in formality between employers. There are also different types of interview: technical, biographical and competency based. If you haven't been given any information, ring the company and ask what to expect.
- Ask if the interview is competency based, technical or biographical
- If competency based, find out which competencies are being assessed
- Then think of a couple of examples of where you have demonstrated these – so for example, if the competency is team player – think of some examples where you have worked successfully in a team
It goes without saying but we will anyway
- Know where you are going - take a map and if the area is new to you
- Build in loads of extra time – you want to be in a relaxed confident state – rushing and worrying about being late will only make you feel inadequate and unprepared
- Take a contact telephone number with you so that if the worst happens and you are late you can at least call ahead to apologise and give warning
Make the first impression count
- Dress codes vary between industries and companies – if you're unsure about how to dress, look at the company brochures/annual reports etc for clues about the image it wants to portray
- Smile and make eye contact with the interviewer
- Watch out for cultural clues to the organisation – e.g. if the interviewer introduces himself/herself by his/her first name and is informally dressed, tailor your approach accordingly
Questions you may be asked
- Tell me something about yourself and why you want to work for this company?
- Why did you leave your last job?
- What did you like most/least about your work/or your time at university?
- What are your main strengths and weaknesses?
- How could you contribute to our success?
- What motivates you?
- Are there any people you find difficulty working with?
Emphasise your strong points
List them beforehand and look for opportunities to bring them into the conversation.
Turn a weakness into a strength
'What are your weaknesses?' is still a favourite interview question; if you don't deliver as fast as some, emphasise your diligence and commitment to doing work thoroughly but squash any notion that you can't prioritise or meet deadlines.
Be honest but be positive
If you are asked if you can use a piece of software and you can't, say so, but also talk about any software packages you have mastered to show you're computer literate and indicate your willingness to learn.
Other pointers
- Don't criticise previous employers
- Avoid using the words 'only' and 'just'
- Talk about what you have done and what you can do
- Provide lots of examples to back up what you say: eg 'I get on well with people' or 'I'm a team player' is much stronger if you can point to instances where these qualities have been tried and tested. So, "I get on well with people – an example of this is when I worked in a team to raise money for XYZ charity"
To get further advice go to www.resourcingmatters.com