Interview Tips, Before, During and After

Pre-Interview: Preparation, Research and Planning

You have been chosen to attend an interview; being picked out of a myriad of applicants is a success in itself so before you attend, make sure you are confident about the job, the company or organisation, and, most of all, about your own capabilities.

Prepare yourself with knowledge; learn about your prospective employer’s areas of business, values, current news, about the role you are applying for, and, generally, about the kind of issues that are likely to be discussed. Remember, most companies or organisations are proud of their accomplishments, roots, vision and values, and, even as an interviewee, you should demonstrate that you are aware of them and align yourself.

Research both the company or organisation and your role specifically. Background information can be obtained through your prospective employer’s website, Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn account; further information about the company or organisation, and, your role will be readily available from your Viking consultant.

Planning responses to questions such as “what do you know about our company or organisation?” will leave you feeling assured about your compatibility with the job you are applying for, and, it will demonstrate to the interviewer that you are thorough and conscientious.

Anticipate some other likely interview questions. Questions about you will revolve around your current and previous employment, grades, awards and achievements and hobbies so take a good look at your CV and make sure you are comfortable in explaining these things. Questions about the job you are applying for will be specific and may also take into account the field of work, factors influencing this, topical issues, updates. If you envision the demands of the job and the ethos of the organisation or company it makes it much easier to understand the answers needed to the questions asked by the interviewers.

Typical questions might include: Tell us a bit about you?

Why do you want to work for us and what interests you the most about this particular job?

What qualifications or experience do you have that would make you a success in this company?

Which job positions have you enjoyed most? Why?

What would you like to be doing five years from now?

Describe something you have achieved at work that you are proud of?

Tell us about a time when you have had to resolve a problem, an issue or situation involving conflict and, if you resolved it, explain how you achieved this?

What is your greatest strength/weakness/achievement?

What interests you most about this position?

What is important to you in the work that you do?

Some interviewers will ask ‘wild card’ or completely unpredictable questions; your Viking consultant can help you to talk through how best to prepare for these.

The Interview

What to take with you? You should take a copies of your CV, certificates and any references or referrals. Carry everything in just one file, bag or briefcase; or beware, you may appear to be disorganised.

Getting there and punctuality are important things to consider. Make sure you arrive early for the interview and do not rely too heavily on the efficiency of public transport or a traffic-free journey. By arriving at least 15 minutes early, you will have a chance to relax, gather your thoughts and possibly read any company literature if you are being interviewed at premises of the company or organisation. Also remember to be pleasant to receptionists and other staff you meet as they will often be asked for their impressions of you.

A positive first impression makes sure you get the best possible reception from your interviewer. Being clean, neat and tidy and smartly dressed, usually in a suit, will make you feel ready to talk about your suitability for the role (also, your interviewers will expect you to make an effort!).

The interviewer may be just as nervous as you. Try to stay calm. At the outset, your objective is to impress the interviewer by projecting your professional image and demonstrating your suitability for the job.

Greet the interviewer with a smile and a firm handshake and await their invitation to sit before you do.

Prepare to be quizzed! A good interviewer will not only be concentrating on your competence, but they will take a holistic view of you. This will involve exploring your compatibility with the company– your attitudes, views, values, beliefs, personality, and response to pressure may be assessed.

During the interview, bear the following guidelines in mind:

Whilst interviews are formal, try to relax, be mindful of your body language. If you look alert and try not to fidget and become nervous, both you and the interviewer will find that you are engaged and able to communicate well. Showing keen interest and speaking clearly, sincerely and confidently also help to maintain good dialogue between you and the interviewer or interviewers.

When answering questions, after listening carefully to the interviewers, take your time to formulate great, relevant, succinct answers; you are a human, not a robot after all! Instead of answering with a simple “yes” or “no”, sell yourself; support and substantiate your answer with examples from your experience and link this to the position applied for.

Be positive and enthusiastic, even about your current or former employer, people want to work with colleagues acting with integrity and discretion.

The interviewer will likely decide within minutes whether to consider you seriously for the job. As in the movie Casablanca, “here’s looking at you, kid!”.

Usually the interviewer will ask you if you have any questions. This is your time to both impress the interviewer further, and, to seek important answers to pertinent questions such as: What would my initial assignments or tasks here be?

What are the greatest challenges of this role and how did the role come up?

Could you describe a typical day/week?

What training and promotional opportunities are there?

When will you be making a final decision about the role?

When leaving the interview, maintain the positive momentum you have created between you and your interviewer or interviewers; shake hands and thank them for their time in meeting with you (maybe even let them know you are looking forward to hearing from them). Finally, make a fist pump in the air when out of sight, you have this “in the bag”!

Speak to your trustworthy Viking Recruiter who specialises in your industry if you would like their input and objective opinion. Email: [email protected] today !