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Preparing for the Big Day
Preparation for the big day is probably the most important part of the selection process.
Imagine if you hadn't completed any research on the company and, you were asked the question "Can you tell me what the current share price is?"
It is a fact that interviewers progress candidates that fit in with the company image and reject candidates who don't, and this decision usually happens in the first few minutes of the interview.
However, don't despair, more and more companies, especially those that administer assessment centres, make calculated decisions by extracting information from a number of resources, but first impressions always count, you cannot get away from this.
You don't get a second chance to make a first impression.
Company Research
Question Research
Testing
Assessment Groups
Countdown
The Interview
After the Interview - Evaluate
Feedback
The interviewer will be very impressed if you show that you've taken the trouble to find out about the company, things like:
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Its position in the industry,
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Its markets,
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Its performance, turnover and profits.
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If the company is big enough, phone and ask the receptionist or public relations / information department for some literature covering products / services. You may even be able to get their annual report in which the Chairman's statement can be a very useful source of information as it summarises
past performance and future prospects.
Naturally, it helps a lot if you know someone who already works in the same industry and who has time for a chat. If you know someone who works for the company, you're in luck. If you know someone who works for the company and who knows the person who will be interviewing you, you've hit the jackpot!!!!
Get in touch with them and pick up some tips on what the interviewer is like and what they are looking for.
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You will get asked two types of question at job interviews:
Specified questions - which relate to the particular job you're applying for.
Predictable questions - the sort of things that get asked at every interview in one form or another.
Specified Questions
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You've gathered lots of information on this company. Now look at it in conjunction with the job ad.
The job description
Your CV
The application form (if you have filled one in)
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Now think; what's the employer looking for and how well do you fit the bill?
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Bearing in mind that the only information they've got is your CV / application form, are there any areas where you don't match exactly what they 're looking for? What sort of questions are they going to ask about this?
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For instance, the job might put you in charge of a number of people: if you've got little or no staff management experience, they're going to ask you about this at the interview.
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Predictable Questions
Here's a list of the kind of things they'll hit you with. It's not everything, of course. If you come across any others, add them to the list.
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Career history - general
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Could you take me through the last
years / jobs?
Tell me about your experience of
(any experience likely to be needed for the job in question)
Describe your career progress.
What are your aspirations?
What do you consider your strengths, weaknesses or faults?
What do you look for in a job?
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Career history - specific
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Describe your last job. What were your responsibilities and duties?
What problems did you encounter? How did you overcome them?
What do you think of your last boss?
How did you get on with managers / colleagues / subordinates?
Why did you leave?
What have you been doing since leaving?
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The new job
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Why do you want to work for us?
What attracted you to this job?
What do you know about this company?
Why should we employ you?
We are having a problem with
what would you do about it?
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Your responses
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They should be concise, and avoid irrelevant details.
They should highlight your strengths and sidestep weaknesses.
Try rehearsing them with a friend or member of family.
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Questions to ask
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The interview is your chance to ask questions and to discover whether this is the position and company for you. You might be very anxious just to get a job, but a mistake at this stage could be worse than being unemployed a while longer.
In any case, you're expected to ask questions.
So when the chance arises, ask away, get the information you require. It's also a chance for you to show an intelligent interest in the company and what you can do for it.
Subjects for questions will come up anyway during the interview. But just in case they don't, jot down a few interesting ones on a piece of paper and produce it in the interview. The interviewer won't mind you saying, "I did make a note of a few questions I wanted to ask
"
A word of warning: Keep money out of it for now.
If you don't know what the salary and benefits are, you don't want to ask them about it until it looks like the jobs in the bag and you're in a position of power. So let them bring the subject up first. Otherwise, it's going to look like money's all you care about.
If the company has offered to pay your expenses in coming to the interview, be careful about how you bring up the subject. If someone from personnel is interviewing you they'll probably remember to ask you about your expenses.
If your possible future manager is interviewing you, s/he may forget to raise the subject.
If the subject isn't brought up, and the sum involved is small, and you are keen to get the job, it's probably best to forget about it.
Obviously, there is nothing wrong in asking, but it is important to leave the interviewer on a high note, and a query over expenses could have a deflating effect.
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These days, more and more companies are using psychological, IQ, personality and aptitude tests on prospective employees.
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There are a few points worth noting:
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First, you don't need any special skills to complete a test, and there's no need to feel anxious about them.
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Second, unless you're a psychologist, you can't cheat in a personality test. So answer all the questions honestly.
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Third, don't be nervous. It is unlikely that sneaky methods of psychological testing will be used.
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One place where you may come across psychological tests is as part of a group assessment. This is a technique that has been mainly reserved for senior appointments, but it is starting to be used on a wider basis - it is entirely possible that you will not be forced to do one, but forewarned is
forearmed.
Usually about six candidates are grouped for assessment. They may have a one-to-one interview, be given some tests and be involved in individual or group exercises. It sounds a little daunting, but everyone is in the same boat, and will probably feel nervous.
The way to shine is to prepare. Analyse the job and list the skills the Assessors will be looking for. If accuracy with figures is required, you must assume that your numeracy will be tested: if it's a supervisory position, the Assessors will be looking for leadership qualities in the group situations.
You may be asked to give a short presentation, so why not prepare one in anticipation - if, on the day, you get to choose the subject, your presentation will undoubtedly be the best, and if you are given a subject, at least you will have had some practice in putting a presentation together.
Before we leave Group Assessments, there is a milder version you should consider. It's called the Open Day, or something similar. You're offered a chance to look around, and to get a feel for the company in a casual, friendly atmosphere. Assume that you are being assessed, you will not be
tested, but you will be observed. Think about how you are going to handle yourself and the right questions to ask - get an impression of the company and leave them with a good one of you.
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You mustn't be late. Plan your route to the interview beforehand - check transport, timing, parking etc. Aim to arrive ten minutes early.
At the last convenient time before the interview, re-read the relevant correspondence, the advert and your original notes, your covering letter, CV or application form, and job specification, if you have one.
As for what I say next, I make no apology - you'd be amazed at the sloppy way some interviewees present themselves! So:
Be smartly dressed. Comfortable, but not casual. However an important point to note is what the company dress culture is. With so many businesses now changing to business casuals it is always best to check. The interviewer will immediately notice untidy hair, dirty fingernails, scruffy collar
and tie, creased clothes and dirty shoes. Ensure breath is fresh, not smelling of your lunchtime pint or last night's garlic bread. Also remember some people perspire more readily in stressful situations, so be aware of personal freshness.
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The impression you create in the first minute is very, very important. Make a good impression and you've smoothed the way for a good interview. Make a bad impression and you start with a major handicap.
So, you're shown into the interviewer's office by the secretary, you smile, thank the secretary, you advance to the interviewer, shake hands firmly, wait until you're invited to sit down, then sit down comfortably, without slouching and without letting your hands fidget. Don't be anxious. You're
well prepared for everything that's ahead.
Because you're well prepared, there will hopefully be no unpleasant surprises. Whole library loads of books have been written about how to conduct yourself during interviews, but let's just stick with some common dos and don'ts.
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Be natural, smile.
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Remember the courtesies - please, thanks, would you mind.
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Show enthusiasm for the job and the company. But do it sincerely - don't grovel.
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Let the interviewer lead the conversation.
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Be concise. Don't waffle.
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Be friendly, but not "matey".
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Accept tea or coffee, if offered.
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Be positive.
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Avoid arguments or disagreements with the interviewer.
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DON'T
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Just answer "yes" or "no". Support answers with concise, relevant answers (more on this in a minute).
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Parrot back the answers to questions you've prepared for. Pause briefly before answering.
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Ever, ever, ever criticise previous employers.
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Be modest, but don't boast either.
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Talk too much or interrupt.
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Mention family matters, unless asked.
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Interview the interviewer.
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Patronise or embarrass the interviewer, even if s/he's doing a lousy job.
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Smoke unless you absolutely have to, and even then only if you are invited to do so. No pipes or cigars.
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Pay plenty of attention to your non-verbal behaviour. Look interested, listen actively to what's being said, and give the occasional nod of agreement or understanding. Watch your posture, don't slouch. Smile where appropriate.
Maintain eye contact. If, on occasion, you find this difficult, briefly avert your eyes to a point just over the interviewer's shoulder.
Interview questions can be phrased in several different ways. A lot depends on how experienced or how well trained the interviewer is.
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A good interviewer will structure questions in the following ways:
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Open. What? When? How? Why? Open questions can't be answered with a simple "yes" or "no".
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Probe. A probe question usually follows up the answer to the previous questions. Imagine you'd just said that in your last job you overcame some problem a probe question would require you to explain how, exactly, you solved it.
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What if? What would you do in this situation? How would you go about increasing sales of XYZ? How would you deal with a subordinate who always turned up late?
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After the Interview - Evaluate
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At the first chance you get after the interview, perhaps in your car, on the bus or train, write notes on:
Any important aspect rose at the interview.
On your own performance. Things you should or should not have said, points that you made that went down well. How was your overall presentation?
What have you learned from this interview?
Keep these notes and look at them again when you next have an interview (assuming you don't get this job this time around!)
Finally, write a quick "thank you" letter and use this as an opportunity to state or reaffirm briefly the contribution you can make to the company, and make clear your enthusiasm for the job. If you think that there's any really important point that you didn't bring up in the interview, use this
chance to raise it briefly!
Okay, the only real feedback you want from the interview is a job offer.
But even if you don't get an offer your time has not been wasted.
If you get a rejection letter, tell yourself that the rejection is only 99% certain. While it wouldn't help to build up false hopes, the fact is you may have missed getting the job by the narrowest margin. And whomever they do offer the job to might fall under a bus or decide they don't want it.
So, if possible, seek feedback. The interviewer is in a good position to comment on your interview performance, and this is useful in helping you polish up any rough spots for the future.
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