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Introduction

Stress counsellors tell us that one of the most stressful situations that individuals participate in is that of a job change. One way to reduce this stress is to take control of the situation. Most people change jobs every 5 years on average and we therefore get very little practice in being interviewed.

The interview process is not easy and is full of pitfalls especially if you are unprepared. However there is positive action you can take, and these notes will assist you to prepare yourself in order to maximise your opportunities and to leave as little as possible to chance.

So do take time to prepare, because the first interview you have may be the ideal opportunity!

Please read these notes carefully and act on the advice

Preparation

Did you know that 90% of people who attend an interview do not prepare properly?

Why not be one of the 10%

When anyone attends an interview they are being judged not only on their qualifications and experience but how they present themselves and the impact made on the interviewer.

It is a fact that people who are less experienced but are better prepared will have a far higher chance of getting the job.

So why not give yourself an edge over the other 90%

You only have one chance to sell yourself properly and spending one or two hours on thorough preparation could be the difference between success and failure.

Remember the interview is a two way process. This is your opportunity to find out whether you want to work for the interviewer as well as their assessing your suitability. Show your interest, but remember to ask pertinent questions when prompted.

Sell your strengths. Let them know the advantages of employing you and how it will benefit them.

Skills questions

Please find below a sample of the type of questions used to assess candidates skills, it is recommended that you use past job situations in preparing your answers, prior to any interview. Better to meet the interviewer with your answers prepared than to struggle for an answer at the interview.

A: CUSTOMER FOCUS

(Dealing with internal and external customer requirements; ensuring that others are customer focused.)

1. How do you make sure that you are aware of the customer requirements?
2. How did you make sure that you kept your focus on customers?

B: COMMUNICATION

(Applying appropriate social skills in formal and informal interactions and across a variety of situations to build effective relationships.)

1. Describe a recent discussion with one of your colleagues who was having or causing problems.
2. How do you promote understanding between yourself and clients/colleagues? Give me an example?

C: QUALITY AND EFFICIENCY

(Tolerance for and the ability to cope with, the detailed tasks and paperwork associated with the job. Right first time approach, maintains a consistent standard.)

1. How do you maintain a consistent standard of quality work?
2. What has been the biggest quality issue that you have had to handle and what was the outcome?

D: INFLUENCING AND NEGOTIATION

(Use of appropriate methods and styles to influence others to accept an idea, plan or course of action. Compromises to reach agreement where appropriate.)

1. What has been the best idea that you have sold up the line recently? Why was the idea bought?
2. What has been your best idea that you have sold to another department? What was the outcome?

E: TENACITY AND RESILIENCE

(Staying with a position or plan of action until the desired objective is no longer reasonably achievable.)

1. 1.Give me an example of a particularly difficult situation, you have had to deal with?
   What did you do to try and overcome it?
2. What are the main pressures in your job? How do you cope with them?

F: PLANNING

(Establishing a course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a specific goal. Planning assignments and appropriate allocation of resources.)

1. Tell me about a time when you had to respond to an unforeseen expectation or demand? What was the outcome?
2. What do you do to prepare for your weekly activity? Give me an example.

G: MANAGEMENT OF CONFLICT

(Handling interpersonal situations involving conflict, pressure or controversy in a way that leads to a constructive solution.)

1. When did you last lose your temper? What were the reasons? What was the outcome?
2. What customer problem have you had to handle recently? What was the outcome?

H: COMPUTER SKILLS

(What levels of skills have been developed and how up to date is the knowledge)

1. What operating systems are you accustomed to using?
2. Describe your range of computer skills.

The 11 questions that are most likely to be asked at interview

1. Give details of your past achievements, such as
   • Qualifications
   • Service
   • Performance
   • Team working etc
2. What are your greatest achievements in life and why?
3. What are your 3 main strengths and why?
4. What are your 3 main weaknesses (Turn them into positives!)
5. What do you enjoy most about your job?
6. What motivates you?
7. What part of your job do you find most demanding
8. What frustrates you about your job?
9. What has been your biggest career disappointment?
10. Give an example of a situation when you did not succeed. How did you cope with it?
11. What would be a typical day?

The 8 main reasons why employers reject candidates at first interview

1. Candidates do not show enough enthusiasm about themselves, the Industry or the job.
2. Candidates cannot convince the Employer that they are achievers in life.
3. Candidates cannot demonstrate that they can overcome adversity.
4. Candidates are overtly critical of current or previous employers, coming across as negative or bitter.
5. Candidates are ill prepared for the interview and don't fully 'SELL' their abilities.
6. Candidates are unlikely to fit into the culture of the organisation.
7. There is no chemistry or personality.
8. Poor appearance or manner.

How to hire yourself a new employer

DO	DONT
Find out as much as possible about the Company and the role before you go.	Attend any interview without proper research and preparation.
Go to solve the employers problems.	Go to the meeting just to get a job.
Be an equal. It's your meeting as well!	Behave like a subordinate.
Make sure you secure a second interview.	Forget that getting a second interview is your main reason for being there.
Think carefully before you answer every question.	React to questions by saying the first thing that comes into your head.
Indicate to the employer how you are going to do the job.	State or imply that there is any part of the job you cannot do.
Tell them about your achievements and skills. Show them your folder.	Be too modest about your successes.
Be positive and proud throughout.	Give any negative vibes about your abilities.
Highlight your strengths.	Volunteer your weaknesses.
Give the employer plenty of reasons to want to eventually offer you the job.	Provide any ammunition that might Cause you to be rejected.

Useful tips on preperation

Obtain as much information as possible about the company you are visiting, and the role you will be expected to fulfil. Prepare well thought out questions in advance of any interview, e.g. products, location, input expectations.

Some probing questions you might ask:

• A detailed description of the position?
• Reason the position is available?
• Anticipated induction and training programme?
• Advanced training programmes available for those who demonstrate outstanding ability?
• Career progression?
• Next step in the recruitment process?

The preparation may take some time to collate, but from experience I can assure you that this is invaluable and will give you the edge over the edge over the other applicants and will place you in top 10% of interviewees.

Prepare the questions you will be asking during the interview. Remember that an interview is a "two way street". The employer will try to determine through questioning whether the company will give you the opportunity for growth and development you seek.

The interview procedure

At the meeting

If you are well prepared, the interview will be so much easier and the following suggestions will help you to make the meeting productive and successful.

• Allow more time to get to the meeting than expected.
• The objective of the first interview is to progress to a second interview.
• Think about the answers rather than making off the cuff responses. Ensure that the answers you give to questions are precise and concise. If necessary repeat questions back to the interviewer to ensure that you have fully understood the question. You will be judged on the quality of the questions you ask, and these should have been well thought out in advance of the interview.
• Remember that the interviewer has an agenda and possibly a tight time scale.
• Be yourself and concentrate on your strengths. If you try to change your personality a good interviewer will spot it.
• Be enthusiastic and smile a lot. Enjoy the meeting!
• Be honest, but do not highlight any weaknesses. It is up to the interviewer to find them.
• Maintain good, confident body language
• Leave on a positive note and secure a commitment for another meeting if you want to proceed.
• At a second interview ask for the job!

After the meeting

As soon as possible after the meeting take some time to review what happened. You should ask yourself the following questions.

• Did you feel comfortable with the interviewer and could you work with him/her?
• Did you like the perceived culture of the company?
• How did you feel about any of the other staff you may have met?
• What were the positive points of the meeting?
• What are your areas of concern (if any)?
• Were there any questions you did not ask and require further information or clarification.

Feedback

Feedback is a very important part of the service that I provide both to yourself and potential employers.

As soon as possible after each meeting please carry out the review and then call me.

You will find this an extremely useful call. We will discuss the content of the meeting and enable you to query anything that was not made clear at the interview. I also obtain feedback from the company and can guide you on likely discussion points for future meetings.

Throughout the interview process I will keep in close contact with both yourself and potential employers and will strive to help you obtain the career move of your choice so that you can now say:

A thought

Will you be offered the job if you come across as a scruffy, negative, pessimistic, incoherent, indecisive, vague, ill prepared who has NO ambition, goals or achievements, and has NOT bothered to find out anything about the company that they have applied to work for?