Tips & Hints

Interview Tips

Interviews can take many forms but generally fall into the following categories:

• Telephone
• Question and answer
• Competency based
• Presentation

Telephone interview

• Obviously this is done over the phone, however this often makes people feel at ease and switch off.
• Make sure you are alone and have no distractions.
• Make sure you are not driving.
• Most will be pre arranged at a set time but some will be more ad hoc, if it is not convenient take a number and call back at another time.
• Remember it is a real interview, if you do not impress the interviewer you will not be asked to a face to face meeting.

Question & Answer

• This is often the 1st stage of an interview.
• It is more relaxed and is a chance for you to get to know the company and they you.
• If you have evidence of achievement, take it with you.
• Make sure you do at least a basic check up on the company, (ie search the website/industry press).
• Think of some good questions to ask about the company and position. Having no questions to ask can look as if you are not interested.

Competency Based

• These interviews are designed to test your experiences in a given situation.
• Some questions will appear to be irrelevant but they will have meaning so treat all questions the same.
• The interviewer is looking for the most detail you can give, so try to think of dates, time, names, places.
• Try to base your answers on industry examples, but if you don't have one use other examples. Many interviews are scored, if you don't give an answer then you will get 0 for that question.
• Answer the question given, not the one you can or want to answer.
• All answers should have a positive end, i.e you made the sale or the customer went away happy.
• Try to think what the question is designed to test and answer accordingly.

Presentation

• These interviews are normally reserved for more senior position and you should be given ample time to prepare a presentation on a given subject, this may or may not be industry specific.
• The interviewers are looking for not only your ability to stand up and deliver in front of them but also your research skills.
• Try to use Power-point where possible for a professional looking presentation.
• Always take a paper copy to leave as a handout for each interviewer, so they will have something to refer back to when you have gone. If you are the 1st of 6 interviews it may be hard for them to remember you.
• Look each person in the eye when you speak to them, do not look at the floor or ceiling.
• Have a positive and upright stance, face the audience as much as possible.

We are here to guide you through the interview process and will do our best to help you, we know how our clients interview and will have a good idea of what they are looking for and will give you as much insight into this, to enable you to be as prepared possible.

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