For employers, the objective of the interview is to qualify candidates.
For candidates, the goal is to receive offers. It’s key you make the right impression.
Preparation
Make sure you know exactly where the interview will take place and the name and position of the
Person you are due to meet. Work out your route in advance and allow a generous margin of error in
case of unforeseen circumstances. Have the telephone number of the company handy so that you
can let them know if you are running late this is generally forgiven whereas unannounced lateness
generally isn’t. Find out roughly how long the interview will take and arrange other appointments
accordingly don’t leave your car on a meter and end up worrying more about being clamped than
getting the job.
Research the company
Candidates who arrive at interviews completely unprepared are remembered for all the wrong
reasons.Instead of demonstrating their competence and thoroughness, they display a ‘wing-it’
mentality that doesn’t sit well with employers.
Use the Internet as a starting point for your research. Using a reliable search engine, conduct a
keyword search on the company name.
Learn about the products and/or services offered by the organization.
Gain an understanding of the employer’s history, philosophies, objectives and policies relating to its
history, its current situation and its future.
Determine problem or need areas that you would be able to fill with your own unique interests and
abilities.
Prepare yourself
Interviewers ask the same general questions in addition to those of a more technical nature. Learn
them, prepare your answers, and practice them on friends. Common questions are “Why are you
interested in this position?” “Tell me about your current boss”. “What are the most
satisfying/frustrating things about your current employment?” “What are your strengths/where do you
think your weaknesses lie?” “Why do you think we should give you this job? “Where do you see
yourself in 5/10 years’ time?”
But in order to answer some of these questions you need to prepare yourself and engage in Self Assessment:
In other words, you need to do some soul-searching.
While it can be difficult to force yourself to do this, it is necessary if you want to perform effectively in
the actual interview – some helpful hints are.
- Organize information about yourself in the areas of educational, work and personal
experiences in order to be able to relate to the position you are seeking. - Become aware of your strengths and weaknesses; be able to present them in a positive
manner. Don’t pretend you have no weaknesses because everyone has some but on the other
hand don’t put yourself down, because you could be talking your way out of a job. - You need to discuss your weaknesses as though you have recognized them and strive to
overcome them. “I used to have bad time management, now I prioritize my workload first thing
every morning”. “I like to take control and be involved in everything. I sometimes find it hard to
delegate but when I have the results have been positive. “ - Think about your career goals: How do your aspirations relate to the employer and in the
future? What can you offer the employer? How can you contribute to the employer in a way
that will benefit the organization? - What unique skills, abilities, and interests can you offer? Have in mind the characteristics that
you would like to get across in the interview and review everything you’ve done in the past for
evidence of these characteristics and be prepared to address weak areas or gaps in your
resume. - Ensure that you know your resume inside out and anticipate the questions you’ll be asked.
Then put in the time to make your responses flow. Aim to sound natural and conversational,
not as though you’re reading from a script.
Sell yourself. Try to avoid giving cliched answers to interview questions (it is likely your interviewer
has heard these responses more than you care to imagine). Use examples from your own
experience, give your opinion.