Interview strategies

TWO KEY AREAS OF YOU PRE-INTERVIEW PREPARATION NEED TO BE:

1. Checking your digital profile is appropriate and up to date.

2. Preparing your evidence to back up your application is essential i.e. if you say you have a skill or experience - be able to prove it .

So, take your time - read it in chunks - more than once - print it out - read it in the toilet (a great place for concentration) and just get it all firmly clear in your head and in your heart.

IF YOU DO NOTHING ELSE - RESEARCH "EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS"

Here is one good example of many you can find:

Interview Questions About Emotional Intelligence

AND REMEMBER THE "6 P's"

Preparation and planning prevent pee poor performance! (sorry about that).

"TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF"

This is the classic opening interview question. So, you need to get it right...

(There is also the last interview question "Do you have any questions for us?" - you need to get that right too. See below)

It is not usually a good idea to start at your childhood, where you went to school, your hobbies etc...

You need a competitive edge - so try something like...

"I'm great with people...

I love working in teams....

I'm really good at doing research for a project...

I'm an ideas person...

I love the detail is all correct...

I like to organise people...

I'm always trying to make sure we have our priorities right..."

Interviewers really want to know what you will bring to their party!

Understanding even approximately where you fit will help you to make you "interesting" to the interviewer.

Believe it or not, interviewers WANT you to be successful! - they are desperate to find the right person - and you might be it! Don't hide your lighht under a bushel - let it shine brightly!

So, give them interesting aspects about yourself that they can follow up with questions like:

"That's great to hear, because we need XYZ in this role - can you tell us more? Some examples?"

BANG - you're IN! - they like you!

Be enthusiastic and tell them how wonderful you are.

Because if you can't sell yourself, then what can you sell for them? Always remember, "People buy people" - we buy from people we like!

There are no right or wrong personality types (if we were all the same, life would be extremely boring!)

"DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR US?"

This is always the last interview question - but it's still really important!

Of course, it is an opportunity for you to clarify anything you want BUT it's also a fantastic opportunity to stand out from the crowd.

If you are seriously interested in working for these people, you will have done your research - right?

You will have looked at their website, their annual report and accounts - right?

You will have identified something you are genuinely interested in knowing more about that has not been covered in the interview - right?

Because you are smart and have that competitive edge over your fellow interviewees - now is the time to show it.... for example...

"When I was looking at your strategic aims for the next three years, I saw XYZ which really interested me.

"This is an area of work I would like to develop into myself".

"Could you let me know a little bit more about this please - particularly how you intend to...?"

Get the idea? Be smart - but not too clever!

LET'S TAKE A SHORT BREAK...

Here is an intriguing little exercise - with a very important message…

To get ahead in life - what is the most important between these three?

Hard work

Knowledge

Attitude

Let's find out...

If each letter of the alphabet has a number from A = 1% through to Z = 26%

Add up the total for each word...

H A R D W O R K = 8+1+… =

K N O W L E D G E = 11+14+… =

A T T I T U D E = 1+20+… =

Now we know this might just be a coincidence but...

As Mr Henry Ford (Founder of Ford Motors) said:

“Give me a person of average intelligence, but with a burning desire (attitude),

and I will give you a winner, every time!”

THE INTERVIEW PROCESS

Your application is designed to get an interview!
The interview process is your opportunity to show that you are the right person for the job.
When you are invited to the interview you should congratulate yourself as you have passed the first level of screening, and the employer has acknowledged that they are interested in you.

Understanding what employers look for...

Employers will use a wide variety of techniques to screen, filter and assess potential candidates to ensure they find the right person.
It is no longer just about qualifications. Your transferable skills, attitude, and work experience are very important.
Employers are looking for is people with the potential to become the future managers of their organisation. They will invest a lot of money in training you and will want to be sure of a good return on their investment.

Interpersonal / social skills

Ability to holding a conversation!
Intelligence to ask insightful questions.
Good listening skills.
Good body Language – how you sit, stand, make people eye contact, smile and relate to other people.
Written skills – being able to lay out your thinking clearly, write reports etc.
Presentation skills – be able, confidently, to present information, arguments, cases.

Analytical skills

Organised thinking - reasoning and logical thinking
Ability to handle information – i.e. to digest, conclude, deduce, extrapolate from data
Ability to evaluate info and put together rational arguments

Creative thinking skills

Team working and problem-solving skills that lead to innovation
Your ability to “think beyond the obvious” will be tested in many interview settings.
Minds are like parachutes – they work best when open

Project management skills

Critical path analysis
Scenario Planning
Multi-tasking on various projects

Teamworking skills

Working with different people with different skills
Short term teams set up to do a specific task or project
Longer term teams working in different functions: finance, manufacturing, sales, marketing…
Teams based at head office and in the field

Commitment and attitude

Show your enthusiasm for the employee by “doing your homework” and researching them deeply.
Have intelligent questions about them to ask at interview.
Remember the “6 P’s” – Preparation and planning prevent pretty poor performance!
If an employer is giving you their time, then have the respect for them to turn up in an informed and intelligent state.
Stand out from the crowd – show your enthusiasm!
Try to develop an awareness of what the culture of the organisation is.
You need to fit with the organisational culture!

First interview (there are often two)

The first stage interview is often a simple face to face interview based around your application form.
It is a selection process to filter people to go forward to the second stage interview.

Prep and research

Everyone likes to feel they are "important" - so does the interviewer!
Demonstrate this job and this employer really "matters" to you.
Do your homework - Learn as much as you can about the organisation, its products, services, history, financial position – a good source if information will be their web site and annual reports.
Find out as much as you can about the position you are applying for.

First impressions

Whether you like it or not, whether you think it is right or wrong - people are making subconscious judgements about you from the moment you walk through the door. So, first impressions do count!

Handshake – try to have a good firm, confident handshake! Practice with your friends.
Smiling – shows confidence and tells something about your personality – try smiling despite the nerves!
Your posture – the way you stand and sit – be positive – look the part!
Clear speech – don’t mumble, don’t talk too fast, talk at the appropriate volume level.
Eye contact – don’t look at the floor when you speak – look at the interviewer – be natural – don’t stare either!

Personal presentation

The key is to be appropriately dressed and comfortable!

Be aware of the organisation’s “dress code” – i.e. don’t turn up in the wrong gear – jeans for a suit occasion or vice-versa (horrible thought)
Don’t feel you have to go and buy new clothes if what you have already are smart and you feel comfortable in.
Clothes should be clean and tidy, shoes shiny etc
Better to be too smartly dressed than too casually
Be aware that if you have just washed your hair and smell nice – people notice that too! (but don’t go overboard on after shave or perfume).

Questions

Interviews are an information finding exercise for both parties. You may be asked to expand on answers you have given in your application form, and you will be asked different additional questions. You should be prepared to answer the following commonly asked questions

“Could you describe a time or give an example of when you have…”

… worked in a team

… lead a group of people

…solved a difficult problem

…had to work against tight deadlines

…had to persuade someone to do something they did not want to but had to be done

… had to plan and co-ordinate an event/project/activity

… had to overcome a difficulty or failure

… had to deal with a conflict

… had to step outside of the rules to achieve something

… have found teamwork has not worked – why, how did you deal with it, how was blame handles…

Two favourite questions are:

“Could you describe the strengths that you could bring to this position…”

“What are your weaknesses…”

This all links back to your knowledge of the organisation, the job, your well-prepared application

Ensure that you can confidently talk about everything on your application form
Be able to expand and provide more information on all the topics covered
Having a well-prepared set of questions to ask:
Don’t just ask questions for the sake of it!
Prepare some questions before you go for the interview
Don’t ask questions that you should know the answer to (e.g., about information you should already have read in the graduate brochure or other information they have already provided you with)

Difficult questions are always asked! You should expect them. So here are some tips:

When asked a difficult question, it is perfectly OK to take a few seconds to think about the question
If you do not understand or hear the question properly, ask the interviewer to repeat it (this not only clarifies it but also gives you some extra thinking time)
When you give your answer – speak clearly and confidently and if there are parts of the question you cannot answer – be honest and say you do not know – or cannot say any more - rather than try to make up an answer.
Sell yourself and turn negatives to positives in your answers where possible – something may not have turned out how you wanted – but what did you learn from it? (Honestly often very interesting for the interviewer – makes you more human too – we all make mistakes)
Most importantly, if you have no answers – simply say, “I’m sorry but I don’t have an answer for that question” – you will get respect for your honesty and probably and easier next question to help you along.

Be prepared for different interviewing styles and techniques used by employers

Different interviewers have different styles

Some interviewers are super-friendly
Some are “business like” and formal (even “cold”)
Remember also interviewers are human – they too can have headaches and bad moods – so bear that in mind!

The 7 golden rules

1. Answer the question asked!

2. Be concise – don’t waffle

3. Know when to stop talking

4. Check if your answer is meeting the questioner’s needs - ask them! "Is this answering your question?"

5. Make sure you understand the question and check if you don’t

6. Relate your answers to practical experience

7. Be honest in your answers – if you don’t know – don’t lie or bluff – say “I don’t know”

Second interview

The second stage is more involved than the first stage interview. In addition to more interviews, you will probably be expected to take part in a combination of individual and group exercises and tests. Due to the more involved nature, a second stage interview could involve at least a whole if not several days’ commitment.

Written tests and group activities are designed to explore aspects of your behaviour and personality and to give you the opportunity to demonstrate your skills and abilities.

What to expect at the second stage interview- anything from the list below!

Psychometric tests
Personality profiles
Group discussions
Presentations
Negotiation exercises
Fact finding exercises
Business case studies
Practical exercises
Problem solving exercises / activities
Group activities
Creative thinking exercises

What these exercises are trying to achieve?

All of these have very specific objectives behind them. They use a combination of techniques and approaches to check the characteristics and traits needed for the role you are applying for e.g.

leadership potential
behaviour under stress
communication skills
interpersonal skills
decision making skills
general business acumen
thinking skills
analytical skills

Group work

There may be very similar people in an assessment centre all competing for the same job – however, group exercises are used to try to discover your true personal traits...

Some golden rules are:

Be positive
Play an active role – join in even if it seems a bit strange at first
Try not to dominate or be too quiet!
Make sure you know what the aim of the exercise is – sometimes it is deliberately unclear to test and challenge the participants!
Keep an eye on the time allocated for the exercise
Be honest and try to be yourself
Ensure you listen to others in the group and reference people when making points “Taking what Mary just said I think we could…” etc

Job offer

Having successfully passed through a second stage interview, the company will confirm a job offer in writing.

What is the offer?

A formal invitation for you to join the company
Often conditional on your degree result and references
Details of remuneration package
Terms and conditions of employment

What should you do with your offer?

Carefully read through all the details
Make sure you understand everything
Make sure it is as you expected, and you are happy with all the details

Negotiating your “package”

If you do not feel entirely happy about the offer, it is occasionally possible to negotiate certain aspects such as start date and overall financial package.

However, there will usually only be limited flexibility within the offer. If you are going to try to change your package, some points to remember are:

Try not to have an inflated opinion of yourself – you are new to the world of employment and there is much experience to gain!
Have a good reason to support your case for changing the offer
Be reasonable - don’t expect too much
Be flexible and be prepared for compromises

How to choose between several offers

If you are fortunate enough to receive several job offers – you need to consider your options very carefully. If you have to decide between different jobs, consider the following:

Location of the work
Long-term earning potential instead of just the starting salary
Which organisation do you think you are most suited to and will be happiest in?
Which job do you think you will be able to do the best?
Thinking about the actual day-to-day routine job – which do you think you will enjoy the most?
What are the long-term promotion opportunities?
What training and skills will you receive and benefit from?