How to prepare for an successful job interview

The job interview is probably the most important step you will take in your job search journey and career – it’s your best chance to show the a hiring manager or recruitment company that you’re the best person for their job.

Job Description Review :

Most job descriptions follow a similar pattern and are usually categorised by the following points:

Job title/Department

Duties and tasks

Qualification and Skills required

Experience (for Senior roles)

Read and review the job description very thoroughly and be sure to align your competencies with the skills required for the job. You will consequently ready yourself for questions around your previous experiences, performing similar duties in other organisations.

Research the company :

Spend a few hours learning everything you can about the company—from as many sources as you can. Talk to friends and contacts, read current news releases, and, yes, spend some time on Google. Often, candidates just look at the information a company is pushing out via the website and social media, but fail to look more in depth at what others are saying so review the portals such as Glassdoor, Ambitionbox etc., By doing so, you’ll get the larger picture about the company (along with any negative press).

Preparation of Questions you will be asked :

Common Questions

1. Tell me about yourself.

2. What attracted you to our company?

3. Tell me about your strengths.

4. What are your weaknesses?

5. Where do you see yourself in five years?

6. Can you tell me about a time where you encountered a business challenge? How did you overcome it?

7. What are the most important things you are looking for in your next role?

8. Why are you leaving your current job?

9. What are your salary expectations?

10. Do you have any questions for me?

Behavioral / Situational Questions :

The CAR method

The CAR principle gives you a structured way to respond to the interviewer, by giving Context (describe the background and situation that you were in), Action (describe what action or steps you took) and Result (describe the professional outcomes you achieved). 

The STAR method

The STAR method provides a similar structure, and stands for Situation or Task (describe the specific event or task you were given), Action (describe what steps you took) and Result (describe the professional outcomes you delivered to the business). 

Tell me about a time when you had to give a team member constructive criticism. How did you go about giving it?

Tell me about your greatest career achievement to date. Can you describe what steps led to the outcome?

Tell me about a time when you had to analyse information to solve a problem. How did you go about doing it, and what was the result?

Tell me about a time where you discovered an error, made by either yourself or a colleague. What did you do? How did you approach the situation?

Have you ever solved a problem in a way that was unexpected? Tell me about it.

Describe a situation where you had to make an unpopular decision. How did you go about communicating it to your team?

Tell me about a time when you haven’t achieved what you set out to do. How did you deal with it?

Preparation of Questions you want to ask the employer :

1.    Can you walk me through a typical day in the life of this role?

2.    What will be my biggest challenge in this role?

3.    How will my success be measured in this role? What are the kinds of KPIs you have in place?

4.    What have you enjoyed most about working here? 

5.    Who do you think would be the ideal candidate for this role, and how do I measure up? Is there anything that you think is missing from my skill set/experience?

6.    Why did the previous person leave this role?

7.    What are the opportunities for growth within this role? What types of training and professional development programs can you offer?

How to ace an interview :

Whether you get offered the job depends largely on how you perform during the interview, so its imperative to make a great first impression on your hiring manager.

It’s not just what you do, it’s also what you say, and how you say it.

Do

• Dress Neatly. Make sure your clothes are clean, ironed and presentable.
• Make eye contact, and begin with a strong handshake. This will signal your confidence when you meet your interviewer for the first time.
• Sit still, with your feet firmly on the ground. This will help you maintain your posture and avoid fidgeting.
• Remember your CV details. In particular the experience most relevant to the role you’re interviewing for.
• Make a note of your questions. Bring a note-pad if you feel you might forget important points.
• Remember. It’s just as important for the interviewer to sell the benefits of working at their business, as it is for you to impress your next potential employer.

Don’t

• Turn up late to the interview. If for some reason on the day it’s unavoidable, call ahead to let your interviewer know your expected time of arrival.
• Dress sloppily or inappropriately. Not sure what to wear? Read our guidelines.
• Smoke before your interview. Whilst a quick cigarette might seem like a good idea to calm your nerves, the smell will be noticeable and unpleasant for your interviewer.
• Volunteer your weaknesses. Whilst honesty is always the best policy, there is no need to volunteer your shortfalls unless asked directly.
• Criticise your current or previous employer. Doing so could give your interviewer the impression you’re difficult to work with.

How to follow up an interview :

Don’t stop there. The next part of the process is just as important, if not more so. In today’s competitive job market it’s imperative you follow up your initial job interview with a thank-you email to reiterate your interest in the role, and brush up on your second interview skills.