How
to be successful at Interview
Prepare
Yourself
Interviews
are two-way meetings. Not only are they an opportunity
for the interviewer to find out about you and if you are
a suitable Candidate for the position but they are also
an opportunity for you to find out about the organisation
and if the position will provide you with the challenge
and job satisfaction you are looking for. Discuss the position
with your Consultant at Blue Square Recruitment who can
advise and assist you in preparing for your interview.
Think
about your skills, qualifications and experience and ensure
that you can talk confidently about what is written on
your CV. Particularly ensure that you can talk about those
skills that are relevant and valuable to the position you
are going for.
Prepare
some questions to ask at the interview. At the first interview
it would be wise to restrict your questions to the details
of the job and the organisation. Salary and benefit discussions
are best left until a second interview or a job offer is
made.
Do
Your Homework
Especially
if it is a Sales or Call Centre job
Find
out as much as possible about the company prior to the
interview.
A
good starting point is to look up their website and find
out about the products and services they offer, the location
of the Company, and the number of employees. Ask Blue Square
Recruitment if they have any extra information on the Company.
Dress
code and appearance
Ask
Blue Square Recruitment what the Client dress code is.
For office work, smart business dress is a must, smart
casual for others, and avoid sportswear and trainers.
Ensure
you are well groomed with tidy hair, clean shoes and clothing.
Do not wear too much perfume or aftershave and keep make-up,
jewellery and nail polish simple.
If
you are taking papers to the interview, carry them in a
suitable case or folder.
Travel
and Timing
Plan
your journey beforehand to ensure you arrive a few minutes
early. Allow for possible travel delays. Just in case of
a major hold up phone Blue Square Recruitment who will
contact the company for you to explain your lateness.
The
Interview
What
to expect
Interviews
come in many forms - panel interviews, one to one interviews,
group interviews etc. Ask Blue Square Recruitment what
form of interview it will be beforehand.
You may be asked to take a test before the interview, depending on the type
of organisation. These might consist of psychometric or aptitude tests.
There
are many different interview styles and each interviewer
will have their own personal style. Some interviewers will
fire questions at you while others will start off with
an open question such as "tell me about yourself" leaving
you to do most of the talking. The majority of interviews
will be somewhere between the two. Be prepared for any
style of interview.
Two-way
communication
| • |
You
have seconds to make a first good impression. |
| • |
Practice
a strong positive handshake and plan your greeting |
| • |
Remember
to smile and be polite to all the staff you meet |
| • |
Make
sure the employer knows the benefits of employing you.
It is important to sell yourself by telling the employer
details of your relevant skills and experience that
you have to contribute to the organisation. |
| • |
Try
not to monopolise the meeting - let your interviewer
talk. |
| • |
Find
out what the key parts of the Candidate specification
are so you can show how you meet them. |
| • |
Show
that you have done some research. |
| • |
Don’t
give negative information or bad news if you are not
asked for it and don’t criticise previous employers
or jobs.The key is to turn negative information into
positive information. |
The
Next Steps
Agree
exactly what the next steps will be, such as who will contact
you to let you know if you have been successful and by
when. You should also find out whether there will be second
interviews and who will conduct them. If you are really
interested in the position make sure you tell Blue Square
Recruitment.
After
the Interview
Tell
your Consultant at Blue Square Recruitment how the interview
went and get feedback from them.
Negotiation
Unsure about an offer
Everything
is negotiable. If the final offer is not what you had hoped
for, discuss your reservations with your Consultant at
Blue Square Recruitment who will take the matter up with
the Client in order to reach a successful conclusion for
all.
Questions
you may encounter at your Interview
| • |
Why
are you applying for this position? |
| • |
What
motivates you? |
| • |
What
do you know about this position? |
| • |
What
are your strengths? |
| • |
What
do you know about this company? |
| • |
Have
you ever worked towards targets? |
| • |
What
do you know about this company? |
| • |
Are
you computer literate? |
| • |
What
do you enjoy most in your current job? |
| • |
What
do you dislike most in your current job? |
| • |
What
do you feel is more important, individual or team performance? |
| • |
Tell
me more about your job? |
| • |
Why
do you want to leave your current job? |
| • |
What
skills can you bring into this current job? |
| • |
Why
do you think you are suitable for this job? |
Questions
to ask at your Interview
| • |
How
long has the company been established? |
| • |
What
is the annual turnover of the company? |
| • |
Are
there any opportunities for advancement within the
company? |
| • |
Is
the company I.I.P accredited? |
| • |
When
will I receive feedback on my interview? |
| • |
What
benefits will I receive should I achieve my targets? |
We
wish you every success! |
