Successful Interview Techniques
An interview will ultimately make or break your job search. No matter how strong your experience and expertise, your success or failure will inevitably be driven by how well you perform during the interview. Although each interview is a unique event and will be structured depending on the types of roles recruited for; the recruiting organisation and the candidate being interviewed, by following a few simple guidelines you will give yourself the best opportunity to shine.
Before the interview
Pre-interview preparation will really make a difference. It is a chance for you to explore the roles and responsibilities referred to in your CV and covering letter, and also tailor your experience and expertise to best meet the needs of the interviewing company and role.
Know your audience
Once you have confirmed your interview, find out everything you can about the company you would like to work for. Carrying out good and relevant research is the most powerful thing you can do to improve your chances of getting a job. It distinguishes good interviewees from bad and it can be virtually guaranteed that the most prepared candidate will get the job over someone who has not bothered.
There are many ways to research a company, but looking at their annual report, website and in-house magazines/newsletters will provide enough ammunition for you to demonstrate your commitment and willingness to go that extra mile.
Know your industry
Researching the company is a great way to impress an interviewer but to really show you understand the role and appreciate the environment in which they work and the challenges they face, you should show an in-depth understanding of their industry/sector and identify where you can add value.
Trade publications offer a wealth of industry specific information and will highlight the issues that affect, or have the potential to affect, your chosen company. Many trade publications also boast their own websites where you subscribe to receive email alerts or read the latest news.
Knowledge of competitor activity shows you are reading around your subject. Websites such as www.hoovers.com provide up to the minute facts and figures about companies from around the world, while sites such as the www.ft.com are a good starting point for the latest company and industry news.
Know yourself
Inevitably your CV will provide the structure for the meeting. Therefore having a CV you know to be true and knowing it inside out is crucial to your success. However, making your mark in the interview is dependent on more than just knowing your CV. The majority of recruiters will look to the interview to learn how your experience and expertise can meet their unique challenges. They will expect you to show your understanding of their business and prove how you can meet their requirements. Both of these will be explored using a series of key questions designed specifically for the role being recruited.
To ensure you maximise your impact in this area, it is crucial to prepare answers for the type of questions you'll be asked; in particular why you want the job, what your strengths are, how you would do the job and how you’d make a difference. Providing clear and concise evidence to show what you've achieved in the past and how these achievements added value are a distinct advantage – facts and figures are particularly valuable.
Know how to impress
Preparing incisive and relevant questions to ask at interview could provide an edge over competing interviewees. The key is to impress the recruiter and avoid those run of the mill subjects that you should know or that will come out during the recruitment process.
Good questions will tend to focus on the priorities and scope of the role, on the structure and nature of the organisation and examine ways of making a difference or an improvement. The key is to focus on the needs of the organisation and not your own, Consider what questions the successful candidate would ask… then make sure you are that candidate!
During the interview
Preparation is the key to a successful interview. By following the pointers referenced in previous sections, you should be able maximise your impact on the day and give yourself the best chance of succeeding. The aim now is to focus on making the best impression possible.
Regardless of how you feel about your current employer, the role you are about to interview for or the person who is interviewing you, it is crucial to adopt an enthusiastic, alert and positive mind-set throughout the meeting. There is no benefit to being negative about your current role/employer and any negativity could reflect badly on you. If an employer sees you as someone who is quick to criticise, they are likely to be fearful of your attitude and approach to challenges, so make sure you focus on the good.
Adopting this positive mindset, you should use the interview to show you have the technical skills required, are sufficiently motivated to get the job done and have the right personality to succeed. Focusing on your positive attitude toward work, excellent communication skills, strong interpersonal skills, confidence, flexibility, leadership and self-motivation will ensure you give your all and make you difficult to refuse.
Following the interview
If you are particularly keen on a job and would like to increase your chances of securing an offer, it is a good idea to follow up the meeting by sending an email or letter to reinforce your commitment. If you do decide to send either, take this opportunity to show your passion for the role, your determination to succeed and address any issues raised during the interview, while also re-emphasising your ability to do the job.
If you do not get the job, there is no reason to give up. The truth is you will not be offered every job you interview for, no matter how perfect you think you might be for the role. In fact, being turned down for a role should be regarded as an opportunity to improve your future performance. Once you have received confirmation that you have been unsuccessful, always take the opportunity to ask politely for feedback and then take on board any comments made when applying for the next role.
Competency-based interviews work on the principle that past behaviour is the best indicator of how people will behave in the future. Potential employees are required to show how their previous experience and expertise can be used to meet the challenges facing a potential new employer. For an employer, this means allocating key competencies to each role within their organisation and then assessing candidates against these competencies and each other.
Competencies can be split into five areas; each having its own drivers for the business:
Individual competencies – these refer to the personal attributes required for a role and focus on key areas such as decisiveness, integrity, independence etc.
Managerial competencies – as the name suggests, these refer to a person’s ability to manage others and focus on key areas such as leadership, planning and project management.
Motivational competencies – these are the things that drive you and qualities that will be required to succeed in the role. Behaviours such as motivation, initiative and resilience are vital in this area.
Analytical competencies – analytical skills, numerical problem solving, attention to detail and other decision making abilities are explored here.
Interpersonal competencies – these refer to how a person deals with others and covers areas such as communication, openness and the ability to work as part of a team.
Preparation
While each interview will have its own competencies, it is beneficial to prepare answers to questions you anticipate being asked. Reviewing the job description and/or advert will provide the basis on which to structure your answers and show examples of where you have been able to illustrate success in each competency.
The STAR model is a particularly good structure on which to build your responses and will provide an effective way to structure your thoughts.
Situation – describe a situation or problem you have encountered.
Task – outline the task that was required to resolve the issue or problem.
Action – describe the action you took to overcome the issue or problem.
Result – highlight the outcomes achieved.
At the interview
Always be honest about your attributes as you will inevitably get caught out – if not before you start the interview, then very soon afterwards.
Take the time to consider your answers. Don’t think: I’ve already prepared this response so I’m going to continue with it regardless. Ask yourself whether you are using the best example to illustrate the attribute they are interested in. You might find it useful to take notes into the interview; this is not a memory test and notes will allow you to better prepare, giving you more courage in your convictions.
If you are unsure as to what the interviewer is asking you, don’t be afraid to ask them to clarify what they mean – they will not think any less of you. Rather than say “I don’t understand what you mean”, try, “Do you mean such-and-such?” This will show that you have at least tried to interpret what they’ve said.
Finally, make sure you take time to ask the interviewer about the environment, culture and people in the company. The competency process is not only about them evaluating your attributes, but also you evaluating whether the company is right for you.
Although it can safely be said that no two interviews are the same, there are areas that a recruiter will always focus on to draw the best comparison between competing candidates. As “typical” questions, you can safely assume that some, if not all, of the following will feature at some point during the interview. Before you arrive, make sure to plan ahead and prepare answers to these frequently asked questions.
Why do you want this job? Why do you want to work here?
Stress the aspects of the role which have encouraged you to apply, focusing on the issues that matter. Avoid referring to things such as better pay, shorter hours etc. Avoid referring to the negative aspects of your current or most recent role.
What qualities do you think will be required for this job?
Although the job advert will provide a good basis for your answer, use your knowledge of the role and the industry to understand what will help you succeed in the role.
You might want to refer to the personality traits you have that will add value to the technical aspects of the role. Leadership, communication and interpersonal skills will always stand you in good stead.
What do you know about us?
This is your chance to show the employer you are serious about your application. Your interview preparation will have given you a great foundation on which to talk about their products and services, sales figures, news etc.
Talking about any challenges the company faces will also provide further brownie points and increase the likelihood of you standing out from the crowd.
Why should we employ you?
Your aim when answering this question is to show how well you fit the requirements of the job.
Refer to your previous experience and achievements; show how they are relevant to the company and/or role in question and highlight where you can add value.
Why did you join your previous company? Why are you looking to leave now?
Always be positive about your reasons for joining and leaving a company. Avoid saying anything negative about your present or most recent employer. If you are willing to criticise them, this does not bode well for the future and the recruiting company might wonder what you will say about them when you leave.
To say you are looking for a new challenge is always a good way to approach this question. Explain the challenges you faced in your previous role, how you successfully managed them and how these qualities will add value in your new role.
What will you bring to the role/company?
The key to getting the most from this question is to try and anticipate what your future objectives would be if you were to get the job. Your answers should then focus on how you would satisfy these objectives.
Try to also focus on the particular requirements of the role. Look at similar roles inside and outside the company and use this information to show how you will be able to hit the ground running and add immediate value.
Where do you want to be in 2/5/10 years time?
For most people and most roles this question refers to the type of situation they’d like to be in over the specified period. This question therefore provides the opportunity to reinforce your experience and expertise and further make your case.
Employers will respond best if they can see where you will make a positive contribution.
What were your key achievements in your last role?
Focus on one or two achievements that are specifically linked to the role you are applying for.
Either position yourself as the driver of these initiatives or as the person who was able to affect change.
Make sure the examples you use delivered tangible results and you have the figures to support them. The examples should show significant organisational benefits, whether it be making/saving money, increasing efficiency, improving quality etc.
What are your strengths?
This is one of the most frequently asked questions in any interview and you should expect to be faced with both this and the question that follows.
The aim of this question is to convey your level of self-awareness as well as showing you can identify the particular strengths associated with the role.
Avoid merely telling them how great you are and prepare two or three strengths that are particularly relevant to the requirements of the role and/or company.
You should also look to analyse why you are strong in these areas and how you can make a difference.
What are your weaknesses?
This has the potential to be a really tough question if you’ve not carefully considered how to answer it.
A strong answer starts by saying you are not actually weak in any area but then lists areas for improvement that could be interpreted as strengths, for example not giving up on something when you strongly believe in it.
This question will inevitably prompt follow-up questions, enabling you to show how you are working on managing your weaknesses.
Tell me about a big challenge or difficulty you faced and how you dealt with it?
This question allows the opportunity to show you can achieve results in the face of adversity and that you are professional regardless of the challenges you are faced with. It also allows the interviewer to explore your definition of difficult and whether you can show a logical approach to problem solving. Again, this will provide you with an opportunity to show how you can shine and will reinforce your ability to negotiate and navigate choppy waters. Make sure you are not overly critical about your former/current colleagues/company, and again focus on where you were key to the resolution.
