Expert advice from an Ex Chevron, Ex BHP Billiton, Ex Hays and Ex ANZ Recruiter - How to prepare for your next interview

The below is another snippet from our Interview Guide to help you in preparing for your next interview. At Pro Resume Write we have multiple experienced Recruitment Specialists ready to help you so contact us today at [email protected] to get help and book an interview coaching session! 

Do not be afraid to ask the Recruitment Specialist relevant questions about the interview process, for example; 

√ How many people will be attending on the day? 

√ How long will the interview go for? 

√ Is there anything that I need to bring with me? 

√ Would they mind sending you a copy of the advertisement with the interview confirmation, so you may fully prepare beforehand? etc. 

Questions which are not relevant and should not be asked are; 

х How many people are you interviewing? 

х What do you think my chances are? 

х How much money are you paying? etc.  

Again, at this stage it is too early in the process to begin asking questions around remuneration and benefits. If you believe in yourself and your abilities, have faith the company will pay in line with the current market rate. In many large organisations the Recruitment Specialist will not know what money is being paid until they present an offer of employment. If you press on this subject it can make the relationship awkward, just understand that if they are able to share it with you they will. 

Be sure to listen to the Recruitment Specialist when they are explaining the interview process. A good Recruiter will talk you through what will happen on the day of the interview. They should cover; who will be there, how long it will go for and where it will be. They will then send you an interview confirmation for you to refer to, but it is always a good idea to jot down the details just in case. 

Now remember all companies are different, including what sort of interview structure and style they use. The Recruitment Specialist will describe their particular method, it is very important that you understand and have clear expectations of what is involved and what you need to prepare for. It is highly recommended that you take lots of notes at this stage. A popular method with large organisations which is now beginning to be adopted by many smaller companies is; behavioural interviewing combined with competency based questions, some specific positions may require you to do a presentation also.

The best way to prepare for an interview of any kind is to ensure that you are 100% familiar with the information stated in the advert. The advertisement will generally highlight; 

• Brief description of the Company
• The function of the position
• The key responsibilities of the role
• The technical and non-technical skill set the preferred candidate should possess
• The companies values and preferred candidates personal attributes

Go through each point of the advert and look for synergies with your own experience. Pose each of these points to yourself as a question and using your experience answer it.     

For example, if the position requires you to have written safety procedures then ask yourself “What safety procedures have I written?” Then write down the answer.

If the position requires you to have good communications skills, ask yourself ‘When have I demonstrated good communication?” Then write down the answer.

For example, if the position requires you to have written safety procedures then ask yourself “What safety procedures have I written?” Then write down the answer.

If the position requires you to have good communications skills, ask yourself ‘When have I demonstrated good communication?” Then write down the answer.

Follow the STAR technique included in this guide when practicing the answers to your questions. This technique or ones similar are most likely to be used during the interview itself, so it is important that you have taken the time to remember the details of relevant events.

Be sure to research the company thoroughly; know what the business is about and the recent ventures it has been involved in, is it a local or global company, where does it sit in its specific market, how is it tracking with its projects etc. You will not normally be quizzed on this in the interview but do not be surprised if you are asked what you know about the company. The last thing you want is to be caught off guard. It is important for you to know this information for yourself as well, as it should form part of your reasoning why you want the role and understanding of how it will influence your career path.      

It is important to know what the company’s values are, as there will normally be a question or two related to these or behavioural questions written to be in line with them. The company will be assessing to see how your personal values match with theirs and are you a good culture fit for the company. It is important to know what the company’s values are, as there will normally be a question or two related to these or behavioural questions written to be in line with them. The company will be assessing to see how your personal values match with theirs and whether you are a good culture fit for the company.

The interview is going to be the perfect time for you to ask the interviewers any questions you may have, do not waste this opportunity! Before the interview, ensure you have a list of questions you would like to ask. This will demonstrate to the interviewers that you have thought about the position in depth, as long as your questions are appropriate this will be seen as favourable by the interviewers.

The interviewer should introduce this section, however, if this is missed politely ask if there is time for you to ask a few questions. Keep it brief, about three is sufficient. Some standard questions which are appropriate to ask are;

• What do you see as the key challenges of this role?
• What would you be expecting of the successful candidate in the first 3 - 6 months?
• I feel I have a good understanding of the role but can you provide a brief insight into how you feel it fits into the bigger organisation/project.
• In regards to the team you manage can you provide an insight into the size and make up of responsibilities?
• What do you think are the key challenges of this project and how can this role help to make a difference?

Definitely do not ask about salary and remuneration in the interview. This is not the appropriate time to have that discussion and should always be handled offline with the recruiter.