It is the candidate's responsibility to know when the interview will take place and to be available at the scheduled time. Make sure you know how to get there and who you are due to see. Make a trial visit if possible at the right time of day to check for travelling times and potential hold-ups. Give yourself plenty of leeway in travelling on the day. Try to be well rested beforehand which should help your alertness. Give yourself plenty of time for the interview don't arrange to meet a friend or book a different interview too close to the first. Look at existing workers, see how they are dressed. Be punctual and dress in appropriate business attire.
The key to making a good impression and having a successful interview is preparation. There is nothing worse for an Interviewer than talking to a candidate who has clearly no idea at all about the company. With thorough preparation you will be in a strong position to display your knowledge of yourself, the job and business to which you are applying. Look at the company website. It is impressive if the candidate has read the business press and spotted news or has seen a press release from the company.
Read your application form before the interview, it may be several months since it was written. Be prepared to talk about the topics you have put on the form. If you have written that you are for example a keen reader, it is a good idea to have in mind the books you have read in the last six months, you will probably be asked to talk about them. Always bear in mind that the Interviewer may have the same interests as you.
What to bring...
You must have unrestricted ability to work in the UK to be considered for most vacancies and training/graduate schemes. Therefore, you will be required to provide identification, such as birth certificate or passport. Also take copies of your exam results and an up-to-date CV. Keep your travel receipts in case you are offered reimbursement of your expenses.
Career motivation...
If you are invited to interview you would be expected to have:
- A clear understanding of the job area you have chosen to apply to and where it fits in the company.
- A recognition of the demands involved in gaining suitable professional qualifications (eg ACT, ACCA).
- An understanding of the company's business and its position (as against its competitors) in its industry sector.
Think about the typical interview questions detailed on the right. Recall your experiences and achievements, both academic and non-academic, and consider the qualities demonstrated and the challenges you faced.
Behavioural Questions...
A behavioural question evaluates the candidiates past experience as it relates to the new job: "Tell me about a time in a previous job when you had to work in a team/ lead a team/ cope with a difficult person." You should be prepared to explain the circumstances, your actions and the results.
A STAR answer would include the four elements of:
- S - describe the situation.
- T - what tactics did you adopt.
- A - what was achieved.
- R - upon review what would you have done differently.
Situational Questions...
A situational question places a candidate in a hypothetical situation and asks how they would respond. This type of question evaluates the candidate's ability to apply their knowledge and skills to situations they may encounter on the new job: "You have been asked to work on a team in your office with the goal of increasing the unit's sales performance. What steps would you take?" Your response should be thorough and detailed but should not include information that is not required by the question. It should include a specific description of the actions you would take in that situation.
Projective Questions...
Be prepared for an Interviewer's favourite: "How would your best friend/boss/teacher describe you?" Think honestly about the answer but also try to have a 30 second story ready along the lines of "He/she would probably think first of the time when I...." Ideally this story should link in with the skills and experience that the job requires.
Golden Rules for Answering Questions...
- Speak clearly, confidently and slowly.
- Don't try to answer a question that you have not understood, ask for clarification.
- Talk openly and with enthusiasm about your achievements, but don't overstate them.
- Keep your answers relevant to the question.
- Don't pretend to know something that you don't.
- Try to be yourself; show sincerity and enthusiasm but avoid being too serious.
Be prepared for the hostile Interviewer. They could interrupt your answers, disagree with your comments or try to intimidate you with their greater knowledge of the business. Remember it is a game to see if you can maintain your composure.
Your responses should always be polite, stay calm and don't rise to the bait, speak evenly.
If the Interviewer uses silence, then simply count to twenty and then ask an open question about the position, politely.
Have Your Own Questions Ready...
An interview is a good place for you to get a better feel for whether or not the company is right for you. Most Interviewers end up with an open invitation "Have you any questions?"
Think along the lines of:
- Can you give me an outline of the company's induction programme for new recruits?
- How is the company likely to develop over the next few/five years?
- What are the next steps in the hiring process?
Good luck.
Remember the 5Ps...
Planning and
Preparation
Prevent
Poor
Performance
Top Tips:
- First impressions are important so dress smartly but avoid clothes that are uncomfortable.
- Shake hands firmly and smile.
- Listen carefully to the question you have been asked and think before you answer.
- Speak clearly and don't be tempted to waffle.
- Keep good eye-contact with the Interviewers.
- Avoid flippancy in your responses.
- Try to relax and think about your body language.
- If you are unsure of the answer to the question, say so, don't be tempted to make something up in the hope the Interviewers won't notice.
- Be positive and enthusiastic but don't be tempted to be over familiar, casual and laid back.
Why have you applied to us?
What do you know of our business?
What skills do you have that make you suitable?
What exam results are you expecting?
Tell me about your involvement in...?
I see you've spent time working in... what did you learn?
Tell me about a time when you were under great pressure? How did you cope? What was the outcome?
A person in your team is disrupting production. How would you approach them?
The quality of a product is causing complaints from some customers. What would you do?
Practice your opening greeting:
"Good morning Mr Branson, my name is Alan Sugar, thank you for seeing me today."
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