Tips on the interview process to create a great first impression in the first 5 minutes.

Interview Preparation questions

Interviews give your potential employer the chance to see you – in the flesh, or remotely over a video call – to learn about your likes and dislikes, capabilities, and get an overall feel for whether you will fit in with the organization.

• A key part of any interview preparation is practicing your answers, and starting with some of the top interview questions is a prudent approach.
• Categories of questions you may encounter include basic interview questions, behavioral questions, questions about salary and questions about you and your skills.
• Be sure to research the company and the role well, and prepare for an interview as you would a test.

It also means using the opportunity to assess the environment you will be working in, those you will be working with and for, and making it clear in your mind whether the job and organization are right for you. There are many things an?interviewer?might want to learn during a telephone interview.

The questions you’re asked could be related to your current role, such as ‘Why are you leaving your current position?’, about your resume, such as ‘Take me through your resume’, or based on your ability to do the role you’ve applied for, such as ‘What interests you about this job?’

Important note: The employer has a copy of your resume in front of them. They are not looking for the audiobook. Let's see how you would answer these questions:

Questions about the job/company - What do you know about the company? Many employers ask this question at some point in the process to find out what your preparation skills are like. In other words, it’s?research?time…

Take some time to look at what the company does, what the role entails, plus any other information you can get to help paint a picture of the business. The company website is the best place to start but try to look at as many sources as possible. Showing a range of different research will really start demonstrating to the employer how much you want the job. Right answer:?A short overview of the company, any memorable dates (such as when it was founded) and the company’s mission statement is a great start. Wrong answer:?‘Not that much if I’m honest. I just really need the job.

Questions about you - What are your greatest achievements? An interviewer may ask this question as a way of vetting which candidates are telling the truth on their resume. So, make sure you can actually quantify each individual accomplishment listed and answer a few questions around them. And by questions, I mean more than reading the exact same sentence they’ve already read. Remember, it may sound impressive to tell people all about your achievements as As an Area Manager, but if you can’t expand on these achievements when asked, you won’t be able to maintain confidence with your interviewer. Right answer:?Any achievements which may relate to an attribute required for the role (check job description). For example, if it asks for someone who works well in a team, you could talk about a group project you took charge of which led to excellent results. Wrong answer:?‘I can’t think of any at the moment’, ‘They should all be on my resume’, ‘I got to level 100 on Candy Crush

Questions about your current role -Why are you leaving your current position? Usually asked at the start of an?interview, this is an opportunity to find out straight away how good you are at thinking on your feet. The easiest way to think on your feet in this situation is simply to think ahead. It may sound obvious, but if you know the question is likely to come up, a little time rehearsing a potential answer will help you remain calm and collected. It’s also advisable to avoid being overly critical of your current employer, or going into too much detail about the reason you’re looking to move on. It may seem satisfying at the time to vent about your frustrations, but you’ll only send alarm bells ringing to your prospective employer. Right answer:?Something short, positive and relatively non-specific e.g. ‘I didn’t find the work challenging enough, and that’s what I really like about this position’. Always be prepared to give examples. Wrong answer:?‘I’m not really allowed to talk about it, for legal reasons…’

What are some of the main responsibilities in your current role? Right answer:?List a few of your main duties in a way that deviates from what you’ve already said in your resume. Position your answer to include what experience you have that makes you right for this position. Wrong answer:?‘Well I do everything… and… um….’

Do you have any questions? As with all interviews, this one is pretty much a no brainer. The advantages of being asked this in a telephone interview, however, is that you can think of them beforehand (standard) and write them down to have in front of you without the interviewer even knowing (covert). That way you can avoid the dreaded awkward silence at the end of the interview, something especially painful on the phone. Right answer:?An unequivocal ‘Yes’. Wrong answer:?‘Pass’.

Recommended follow-up interview questions

?Can you tell me more about the company? This question will help you to learn more about the company and what they do, as well as give you an opportunity to demonstrate how well you’ve researched it. You can also personalize it by asking about the workplace, what the environment is like, and why it’s a great place to work. And although this question is a great way to find out more about the clients the employer deals with, their industry, and the marketplace in general – use your initiative before you ask it (and make sure you’ve done your?research).?The last thing you want to do is go over ground you’ve already covered.

?Is this post a new or existing one? This question is a great way to get an idea of what’s expected of you and it can lead to a wider discussion. If it’s a new post, then ask why it’s been created or how your performance will be measured. If it’s an existing one, ask who you’ll be replacing (and if they’re big shoes to fill). This can also set groundwork to further discuss your potential responsibilities and duties. But again, always use your initiative here). The last thing you want to do is tread on any toes – or, worse, seem like you haven’t been paying attention throughout proceedings.

?What would my day-to-day responsibilities be? This is a proactive way to figure out whether the role is actually right for you. Find out what a typical day in the role would entail and ask your interviewer if they can describe your area of responsibility, and what their expectations are. That way, there will be no surprises if you end up being offered the job.

When can I expect to hear from you? This is the perfect way to end an interview – so don’t forget it. Not only does it show that you’re keen, it’s also good for your peace of mind. No-one wants to sit by the phone for a week, waiting for it to ring – especially if it turns out it’s not going to for a minimum of two weeks because they have other interviews to do.

?Still wondering what questions to ask at an interview? Of course, you don’t have to stick to these questions, and they won’t necessarily work in every situation. However, it’s always best to have a few prepared just in case you do draw a blank.

And remember: this is a bonus opportunity to sell yourself as the best person for the job.?Don’t pass it up.