Interview tips
It can't be overstated that preparation before your interview will greatly increase your chances of selection for the second round.
If you have got this far in the selection process, you have already proved your suitability on paper for the position and now its time to do the same again, this time face to face with the interviewer. The employer is obviously interested in you so it's now all up to you to impress upon your potential employer that you're the best person for the role.
Here you'll find some very important points to bear in mind before you take this crucial step.
Typical interview questions : be prepared!
Question: |
"Tell me about yourself." |
| Purpose: | The interviewer is trying to get to know you and find out what you think of yourself. He/she wants learn about your ambitions, goals and general attitude towards yourself, but this question is primarily designed to relax you and enable the remainder of the interview to continue smoothy. |
| Suggestions: |
Try to relax, like the interviewer wants you to. It's important at this stage to describe your most recent employment experiences, and brief coverage of previous experiences and education or training can also be useful. |
Question: |
"Why do you want to work here?" |
| Purpose: |
To find out what you know and like about the company and if you would stay. To see if your work qualifications fit their requirements and approach. To find out if you are genuinely interested in contributing to the company or only the security, benefits and prestige they may offer. |
| Suggestions: |
Describe what you know about the company.
If appropriate, compliment the company (ie. reputation service, growth, product). Mention the effort you have put into collecting background information. Say that you like the work you do and how your skills match their requirements. |
Question: |
"How do you react when asked to do a task you are unfamiliar with?" |
| Purpose: |
See if you can judge and handle real life working situations. See if you are aware of the company's policies. Assess your interpersonal skills. Assess your command, leadership and decisiveness qualities. |
| Suggestions: |
Mention your commitment to follow company guidelines and to consult your manager/boss where appropriate. Describe a time when you successfully dealt with a suitable situation. Describe situations, experience, skills and attributes that you feel would be of appropriate value. |
Question: |
"Can you work under pressure or tight deadlines?" |
| Purpose: | To find out your attitude or experience of pressure and your ability to deal with it. |
| Suggestions: |
Give job-related examples from your past experience showing your ability to cope with pressure. Describe what you consider normal pressures for the type of work you would be doing. If you cannot cope with pressure, first state some positive points (ie. your thoroughness, cheerful attitude, punctuality). Add that you prefer knowing deadlines in advance and work better in that situation. |
Question: |
"What are your strengths?" |
| Purpose: |
To discover reasons for hiring you. To find out how well you know yourself. To find out if you believe in yourself; and if you are the right person for the position. |
| Suggestions: | Mention that besides the work skills, training and experience that you would offer, you also offer job-related qualities such as reliability, enthusiasm, dependability, flexibility and efficiency. If time permits, back up these qualities with examples. |
Question: |
"What are your weaknesses?" |
| Purpose: | To discover if you are wrong for the job as a result of lack of experience or training, poor people skills, refusal to follow orders, poor attitude, laziness, indecisiveness, bad team-worker etc. |
| Suggestions: |
Describe a positive attribute, then continue with a statement of reassurance.
For example, "I feel that it is very important to meet deadlines and satisfy the customer;
When I see that this is not happening I have to fight really hard to stay patient, diplomatic, firm."
[please don't use these exact words!]
Honestly describe an obvious weakness, then describe factors that make up for it. When you raise a doubt, explain it immediately. If you cannot think of any weaknesses, tell the employer this. |
Quick list of Do`s & Don'ts
- Do know the time and place of the interview and the interviewers full name and title!
- Do know and fully understand the job description of the position for which you are interviewing and companies business overview.
- Do be 15 minutes early in anticipation of traffic problems or other unanticipated delays. Also, know where you're going. If possible travel the route the day before. Late arrival for a job interview is never excusable.
- Do dress professionally (i.e. Sunday best, but not funeral best!).
- Do shake the interviewer's hand firmly.
- Do speak slowly and clearly. Don't rush your answers.
- Do be alert and interested at all times and look the interviewer(s) in the eye and try to include the rest of the panel in eye contact from time to time (where applicable).
- Do answer every question fully and above all honestly.
- Do be consistent in your answers throughout all the interviews.
- Do ask questions to show interest in the Company and the position.
- Do thank the interviewer(s) for their time and anything extra such as a company tour, providing you with additional information about the job or company, meeting other personnel etc.
- Don't smoke, even if the interviewer does and offers you a cigarette.
- Don't over-answer questions.
- Don't ask about salary, bonuses, holidays, etc, unless you feel the employer is interested in hiring you (a good example of this is "would you like the job!").
- Don't answer with a simple "yes" or "no". Explain answers where possible.
- Don't forget a copy of your CV, for you and the interviewer (interviewers are often busy and may misplace a CV once in a while). An interviewer may refer to dates which can confuse the best of us if it is along time ago, this shouldn't cause you any stress if you have the information in front of you.
- Don't say anything negative about present or previous employers or co-workers.
The second interview
When you are called back for a second interview, don't be afraid to repeat the winning formula!
Try to produce the same performance that was so successful for you in the first interview. It is likely you will meet different people so don't think you have to come up with completely new tactics. Even if some of the individuals are the same don't take it for granted that they will get bored.
This is an additional opportunity for you to reaffirm your suitability for the job and it will put them at ease if they hear similar information and will strengthen their conviction that you are indeed the most suitable candidate for the job.
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