Interview skills are learnt. Do
your pre-interview homework, learn what questions you can anticipate and how
best to answer them. Practice and preparation are key for a successful
interview.
Your CV has impressed, your research and networking activities have paid off and
you have landed an Interview with your company of choice. Now to make sure you
turn this Interview into a pot of gold and secure the job of your dreams. Below
are some general tips and guidelines that should assist you through the
Interview:
1. Research
Most of you will have researched your company of choice thoroughly in order to
get to this point. For those who haven't, it is essential that you do some
background research on the company and the job before you walk in that door. The
Interviewer will expect you to know a little about the industry and the company
and will be very impressed if you are familiar with specific events, news and
concerns relating to the business. Newspapers, industry and trade magazines,
local libraries and the Internet are all good sources of information. Feel free
to pick up the phone and ask the company for their annual reports and any
marketing materials - most companies are more than happy to oblige. The very
minimum information you will want to know is what lines of business the company
is in, what the requirements and responsibilities are for the job you are
applying for and the latest news pertaining to the company. Specific information
about the company's new product lines, competitive positioning, plans for the
future, vision, mission and values, business objectives and key personnel
changes will further impress as will any information that bears directly to the
position you are applying for. Treat knowledge as a primary competitive
advantage; the more information you have about the company and role, the higher
your chances of success.
2. Be prepared
It is highly advisabe that you take with you to the interview a notebook to take
notes and extra copies of your CV (in many cases the employer will have
misplaced it, have an unclear copy if it was faxed, or simply expect you to
provide it). In many types of jobs, you may want to take with you examples of
your work eg. past creative work if you are in advertising, design or similar
roles, published work if you are a writer etc. You may also want to take with
you references and copies of your educational certificates just in case,
although these are typically not required at the initial interview stage.
3. Dress for success
Your first Interview is the first impression an employer will have of you and it
is essential to make a favorable first impact. You should always plan to dress
relatively conservatively for the first Interview even if the job involves
casual wear. You can always dress down in later meetings. Generally, the image
you want that first meeting is clean, well-groomed and conservative.
4. Be punctual
Make sure you arrive for the Interview a good 15 minutes early. Allow yourself
plenty of time for any potential mishaps eg traffic jams, unclear directions,
public transportation difficulties etc. Showing up late indicates disrespect for
the employer's time and hints at sloppy planning and poor time-management and
judgement.
5. Attitude counts
This is the time to show off your interpersonal skills. Employers are looking
for certain key character traits and you need to demonstrate them at the
Interview. Keep the following in mind:
Listening skills. Make sure you listen intently, let the Interviewer complete
his sentences and you don't interrupt. At the same time, show interest in what
he is saying and ask pertinent and interesting questions. Good active listening
skills are essential in any role.
Enthusiasm. In many cases, you may not be ideally qualified for the position, or
you may have a steep learning curve ahead of you. You need to demonstrate to the
Employer that you are extremely interested in the position and have the drive
and ambition and keenness it takes to succeed! Enthusiasm is contagious and
employers are always keen to add enthusiastic members to their team in the hopes
that their positive attitude rubs off on the team and lifts the general spirit
of the workplace. Your positive attitude will impress the interviewer as long as
it is genuine and not overplayed and he will leave the Interview with a
favorable 'feel' about you.
Eye contact. Maintain professional eye contact with the Interviewer. Looking
away continuously suggests distractibility and disinterest. Looking down
suggests shyness and lack of confidence. By all means though keep it natural and
feel free to nod your head and smile and even laugh where appropriate. Try to
avoid staring the employer down, nodding superfluously or fixing a fake grin on
your face out of nervousness.
Emotional Intelligence. You need to demonstrate to the Interviewer that you have
a high level of emotional intelligence and are willing and able to detect and
adapt readily to new environments, demands, people, work styles etc. The
Interview is a good place to demonstrate this. Be sensitive to the Interviewer's
personal style by paying attention to his general behavior, his demeanor, his
office space and the types of questions he asks, and tailor your answers and
tone and pace of delivery accordingly.
Professionalism. Above all, be professional. Respect the Interviewer-Interviewee
boundaries at all times and do not behave in an overly friendly or casual
fashion with the Interviewer. Avoid bringing up your personal life unless in a
directly relevant manner, do not comment on politics, religion or any other
controversial topics dear to your heart, do not stray from the Interview topics
and keep your answers factual, honest and professional.
6. Have the answers
There is no telling what style an Interviewer will take and what questions he
will come up with. Interviews range from the very structured and professional to
ad hoc conversations where the employer may simply ask you to talk about
yourself. In most well-established corporations however, certain questions are
quite standard and we recommend you take the time to really think about them,
develop answers and find evidence to support your answers from past experiences
and qualifications. Read up on common and uncommon interview questions before
the interview in preparation and know your CV inside and out so that no question
about your career takes you unawares. Take time to introspect and reflect on
what has enabled you to succeed in the past and how you intend to succeed in the
future in the new role. Practice mock interviews with friends or run through
possible scenarios in your mind in advance of the interview. Bayt has prepared a
list of Common Interview Questions that you can start practicing on. Practice
visualisation - if you see yourself already in the new role and succeeding in
your new capacity, chances are the interviewer may see you in that capacity too;
just make sure you are fully aware of what it is that has enabled you to obtain
the role and what it is about your skills, qualifications, character traits and
experience that has enabled you to succeed so you can communicate these factors
clearly, honestly and and convincingly to the employer.