Winning the interview game

Professional approach

Being the best person for the job is unfortunately not enough - being the best interviewee is what will get you the job you want.

Your aim is to appear professional, relevant and interesting.  Remember that your future employer is not only looking for specific skills and experience but also for someone who will fit in with the team.  It is therefore your job to sell yourself and build rapport with the interviewer.

Above all, you must demonstrate the benefit and relevance of your skills and experience to prospective employers.  You should have your own agenda.  You will possess a number of areas of experience that are pertinent to the job in question - make sure that you present all of these, whether questioned about them or not.  Don't forget that sometimes you may have to compensate for an inadequate interviewer!

Whilst the interview is your chance to impress your potential employer, don't forget that it is a two-way discussion and it's also your opportunity to find out more about the role and the company.  Is this organisation and this job what you are really looking for?

If you are unsure about any aspect of your interview technique, our consultants are able to give you lots of help and advice including practising interview answers with you.

Preparation

However suitable you think you are for the position, there is no substitute for thorough preparation.  Research the company, its history, its products or services, its competitors and the markets in which it operates. 

Think about the questions you are most likely to be asked - you should be able to anticipate most of these and prepare your answers accordingly (see the list of possible questions below).  Whilst you should not appear over-rehearsed, thinking carefully about these questions will ensure you are better prepared.

Prepare any questions that you want to ask the interviewer.  Ideally, at least one should relate to the annual report - firstly, to show that you have taken the trouble to read it, and secondly, to demonstrate your technical knowledge.  The quality of your questions will say good things about you as a candidate.

Finally, review your CV before the interview and make sure that you are completely familiar with its content, including details such as employment dates.

Presentation

Remember when your mother used to tell you: "It's not how you look, it's what's inside that counts"?  Well, the uncomfortable fact is, in today's business climate, this is simply not true.  The image you present has never been more important, and first impressions are vital.

Research has consistently highlighted premature decision-making by many interviewers, based on how a candidate comes across in those crucial first moments.  Typically, recruitment decisions are made in the first five minutes, during which time you have had little or no opportunity to speak in your own favour.

Research also suggests that some interviewers actually filter what they discover in the interview, based on their initial impression.  Essentially, if a candidate looks the part, the interviewer is more likely to assume he or she can do the job.  If you don't look successful, the interviewer has no reason to think you are.

The old adage is undeniably true - you never get a second chance to make a first impression!
Personality

Remember that the interviewer is not merely assessing your skills and experience, but also whether they like you and, above all, whether they think you'll fit in with the existing team.  So be yourself and remember that enthusiasm can often compensate for lack of experience.

It is important to try and develop a rapport with your interviewer - help put them at their ease.  The more comfortable the interviewer feels with you, the better the interview will go.  Look for clues in the interviewer's office - family photos, framed certificates, prints on the wall or a sports bag in the corner and create an opportunity to discuss common interests.

Take note of the following points:

• A firm handshake is very important
• Maintain good eye contact, but keep it natural!
• Don't go on too much - try not to speak for more than two or three minutes without further prompting
• Don't digress
• Avoid jargon
• Don't fidget

Monitor the interviewer's body language - if they appear uninterested or restless, you may have become long-winded or allowed yourself to get side-tracked.

Positive attitude

The interview itself is neither the time nor the place to decide whether or not you want the job.  The purpose of the interview is not to get the job, but to win the job offer, which you can subsequently evaluate.  At the interview, be positive and enthusiastic throughout - don't mention any reservations until you have received the offer. 

Never mention salary yourself and, if raised by the interviewer, try to sidestep the subject.  Remember, you are motivated by higher ideals!  And those are 'opportunity', 'challenge' and 'increased responsibility'. 

Salary negotiation should only be entered into after you have received the offer.  You have to demonstrate that you can do the job, that you want the job and that you will fit in.

On receiving the offer, you may wish to arrange a further meeting to discuss salary details and explore any reservations you might have.  By this stage your bargaining power has increased and the interviewer may be professionally embarrassed if you turn the offer down.

Possible interview questions

This is by no means an exhaustive list but will get you thinking along the right lines:

• What kind of people do you like working with?
• What type of person do you find it most difficult to work with?  Why?
• Do you prefer to work alone or in a group?
• Have there been any instances where you have had to manage or supervise others?  Give examples.
• Is there anything you would rather avoid doing in your job?  Why?
• In your previous job, what kind of pressures did you encounter?
• How do you feel about travel?  On average, how many nights a week would you be willing to stay away from home?
• What do you feel you have done particularly well in your current / last job?  In what areas have you achieved the greatest success?  Why do you think this is?
• In your last job, what did you find most difficult?
• If you are employed, what are your reasons for wanting to leave your present job?
• What are you looking for in a company?
• What are your salary expectations at the moment?  And in five years from now?
• What do you see as your best qualities?
• What about the other side of the coin?  Apart from knowledge or experience, what traits do you feel could be improved upon?
• Do you consider yourself a self-starter?  If so, explain why.
• What would you consider to be your greatest achievement to date?  Why?
• How do you feel about working long hours and weekends?
• Deep down, do you consider yourself to be: a) a clerk?  b) an entrepreneur?  c) a manager?  Why?
• Are you a good communicator?  Give examples.
• How do you schedule your time?  Are you good at setting priorities?
• How often do you attend formal meetings with peers?  What role did you play at the last meeting?
• Describe the biggest problem you have faced in the last six months.  How did you handle it?
• Explain your biggest mistake in delegating.
• Explain your biggest mistake in not delegating.
• What is the toughest decision you have had to make while at your present company?  What alternatives did you consider?
• What change has caused you the most difficulty and why?
• What are your standards of success in your job?
• How far have you ever compromised your standards?  Give examples.
• Give some instances in which you have anticipated problems or influenced new direction.
• Do you feel pressure?  How do you deal with it?