Coping With Job Interviews
We have put together some useful information
below on what you should do and not do at interviews.
This information has been supplied by our Professional HR consultants
who work in the marketplace currently on recruitment assignments for
many of the FTSE 100 organisations.
Do
Check you have read the job advertisement and description if sent
before your interview.
Ensure you meet the requirements and you have a positive answer for any
areas you do not fully meet.
Research the company products, staff, culture, clients and competitors.
Ensure you know the correct name of your interviewer and job title.
Be sure you know the interview procedure; some companies have one-to-one
interviews; panel interviews; assessment centres; psychometric testing.
View a map and plan your journey in advance, allowing for delayed trains and accidents.
Have your CV, references and any additional information requested, to hand.
Conservative dress is preferred but check with the culture of the office too -
wear smart attire and ensure your shoes are shiny and well kept.
Layout your clothing the day before.
Read over your CV and make sure you know it back to front.
Focus on your achievements when asked interview questions and portray every
response in a positive way.
Do not interrupt your interviewer and give a steady handshake when entering.
Prepare model answers for any tricky questions you believe they may ask you.
Prepare your own questions in advance, which might include -
What is the department business plan for the next 1 or 5 years? What challenges
do you foresee and how do you plan to overcome these? What challenges do you
envisage in this role?
Unless prompted do not ask what the salary/benefits will be if this is the
first interview.
You could ask if there are any areas they would like further clarification
on at the end - just to be able to have a second opportunity if necessary.
Ask the follow up procedure; when you should expect to hear; 2nd or 3rd
interviews etc if you are unclear and would like to know.
Second Opportunities
If you feel upon reflection you could have answered a question in a
better way or failed to get an important achievement across,
why not follow up with a letter thanking the interviewer for their time and
reiterate your suitability for the post.
Unsuccessful
If you are unsuccessful in your interview,
it is worth a call to request feedback -
whilst they are very busy they might oblige and offer you some valuable tips
as to where you could have improved.
Successful
Great you have secured a job offer, however,
before rushing to resign it is worth requesting and receiving your offer officially by post.
For a Free CV Review
click here
to upload your CV NOW or ring +44 (0) 1932 836731 to speak with a
dedicated Account Manager who will also be able to explain our
interview coaching courses too.
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Practice interview questions
Practice interview questions you may be asked:
Tell me about yourself?
Why should we give you the job?
What is your major achievement?
What are you good at?
What sort of person are you?
What are your strengths?
What are your weaknesses?
How do you get things done?
What do you do in your spare time?
In what environment do you work best?
How did you change the job?
What motivates you?
If you could change your current/last job in any way how would you do it?
If you could change your organisation job in any way how would you do it?
How have you changed over the last five years?
Describe a time when you felt you were doing well?
Describe a time when you felt things were not going too well?
How do you work in a team?
What contribution do you make to a team?
What would your colleagues say about you?
How would your boss describe your work?
Describe your ideal working environment?
When were you most happy at work and WHY?
Describe a difficult situation and what you did about it?
Who are you working best with just now and WHY?
Who are you finding it difficult to work with right now and WHY?
Describe how you typically approach a project?
Given a choice in your work what do you like to do first?
On holiday what do you miss most about your work?
Given a choice, what would you leave till last in your work?
Where do you see yourself going in the next 5 years?
Why did you leave XYZ company?
Why are you dissatisfied with your present job?
Why are you considering a move from your present company?
Why have you stayed so long with one company?
You seem to move from company to company very often?
Why were you out of work for so long?
Why were you made redundant?
If we asked for a reference what would it say about you?
What sort of salary are you expecting?
What do you think is your market value?
On a scale of 1-10 how important is your work to you?
How did you get your last job?
What did you learn in that job?
Why were you transferred/promoted?
Do you like to work in a team or on your own?
What do you like best about your current/last job?
What do/did you like best about your current/last employer?
What did you learn from the XYZ Co approach?
How did that job influence your career?
If you did not have to work what would you do?
Given the achievements in your CV why is your salary so low?
How could your boss improve his/her management of you?
What decisions do you find easy to make?
What decisions do you find difficult to make?
When do you plan to retire?
What will you do in retirement?
What training courses have you been on?
On what do you spend your disposable income?
How do you get the best out of people?
Which of your jobs have given you the greatest satisfaction?
How do you respond to stress? >>>>> give an example.
What sort of person are you socially?
How did you get into this line of work?
How do you manage your staff?
What do you look for in a manager?
What do you look for in a subordinate?
How do you decide on your objectives?
How do you manage your Day?
What interests you most in your work?
What have you read recently that has taken your interest?
What sort of things do you like to delegate?
How do you motivate others?
What do you think you can bring to this position?
What do you think you can bring to this company?
How do you see this job developing?
You do not seem to have much experience of...?
You seem over/under qualified for this job?
We prefer older/younger candidates. What will you do if you do not get this job?
What other jobs have you applied for recently?
What training have you had for this job?
How does this job fit into your career plan?
How long would you plan to stay with this company?
On taking this job, what would be your major contribution?
This job has a large component of....... How will you cope with that?
What support/training will you need to do this job?
What will you look forward to most in this job?
In your view, what are the major problems/opportunities facing this co?
What other irons do you have in the fire for your next job?
What will be your key target in this job if we appoint you?
What aspects of this job would you delegate?
What makes you think you can be successful with us?
What are the major influences that encourage you to take a job?
How does the job sound to you?
What questions do you have for us?
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