Job Interview Techniques

Preparation is the first essential step towards a successful interview. Employers will not be impressed with candidates who do not prepare adequately for interviews and possess little or no information about the company.

Interview Preparation

1) Do your research. Learn specific facts about the company: its plant, office or store locations; its products and services; its recent business growth; its growth potential for the future. You can get this information from a number of sources, such as websites, company profiles, annual reports etc. 
You should also be aware of relevant facts and figures regarding your present or former employer. Refresh your memory on this, as you will be expected to know a lot about a company for which you have previously worked. 

2) Be prepared. Make sure you know the exact time and location of the interview beforehand, and that you know the interviewer's correct title and pronunciation of his or her full name. 

3) Dress smartly on the day of the interview. Do not wear casual clothes even if you know that it is company policy.

The Interview

During the interview, you will be assessed for your strengths and weaknesses. In addition to this, specific personal characteristics will be examined, such as attitude, aptitude, stability, motivation and maturity.
Some interview do's and don'ts:

• DO arrive on time or a few minutes early. Late arrival for a job interview is never excusable.

• DO be a good listener as well as a good talker.
• DO smile.
• DO look the interviewer in the eye.
• DO follow the interviewer's lead. Try, however, to obtain a full description of the position and its duties at an early stage so that you can communicate your appropriate background and skills accordingly.
• DO make sure that your good points get across to the interviewer in a clear, factual and sincere manner. Waffle will get you nowhere. Bear in mind that only you can sell yourself and make the interviewer aware of the benefits that you can offer to the organisation.
• DO always conduct yourself as if you are determined to get the job you are discussing. Never close the door on opportunity. It is better to be in a position where you can choose from a number of offers - rather than only one.
• DON’T have your mobile phone on. (If you need it switched on to trace calls, put it on silent, not vibrate.)
• DON'T answer questions with a simple ''yes'' or ''no''. Explain yourself whenever possible. Describe those things about yourself that relate to the position on offer.
• DON'T lie. Answer questions truthfully, frankly and as close to the point as possible.
• DON'T make offensive remarks about your present or former employers.
• DON'T enquire about salary, holidays, bonuses etc. at the initial interview unless you are positive that the interviewer wants to hire you. You should, however, know your market value and be prepared to specify your required salary or range.

Be prepared to answer questions such as:

• Why did you choose a career in accountancy/IT/sales/banking/marketing..etc?
• What kind of job are you seeking?
• Why would you like to work for our company?
• What do you want to be doing in your career five years from now?
• What interests you about our product/service?
• What have you done that shows initiative in the past?
• What are your major weaknesses and what are your strengths?
• What do you think determines a person's progress in a good company?
• What are your hobbies?
• What does ''teamwork'' mean to you?

Ask the interviewer questions.

Remember that an interview is a two-way street. The interviewer will try to determine through questioning whether you are the right person for a specific job. Likewise, you must determine through questioning whether this potential employer will provide the opportunity for career development that you seek.
Some questions you might ask include:

• Can you give me a detailed description of the position?
• Why has the position become available?
• What is the culture of the company?
• What induction/training programme is there?
• What kinds of people have previously been successful in the company?
• What advanced training programmes are available for those who demonstrate ability?
• What plans does the company have for future development?
• Which are the company's best selling products or services?
• What is the next step?

Closing the Interview

• IF you are interested in the position, enquire about the next interview stage. If the interviewer offers the position to you and you want it, accept on the spot. If you wish for some time to think it over, be polite and tactful in asking for that time. Set a definite date on which you can provide an answer.
• DON’T be too discouraged if no definite offer is made nor a specific salary discussed. The interviewer will probably want to consult colleagues or interview other candidates (or both) before making a decision.
• IF you get the impression that the interview is not going very well and you have already been rejected, don’t let your discouragement show. Once in a while an interviewer who is genuinely interested in your possibilities may intend to discourage you in order to test your reaction.
• THANK the interviewer for the time spent with you.