Interview Tips
2. Ask questions!
3. Turn negatives into positives
4. It's a career move!
5. Get ALL the information across
6. The question of money
7. Be flexible!
8. Don't talk about what you don't know
9. Be prepared!
10. Be positive and friendly.
11. Punctuality
1. Dress professionally
The old cliché is right, first impressions do last, so it is of vital importance that you dress appropriately for the interview. Men should make sure that they wear a suit and tie if possible, whereas women should ideally wear a formal business suit. This will not be perceived as old-fashioned or overly formal but will actually give the impression that you are treating the interview, company and interviewer with the seriousness and respect they deserve. Put yourselves in the shoes of a director, HR Manager or other senior person interviewing a potential candidate for a role within their company; it is universally agreed that they are more likely to form a positive initial impression of a candidate who has made the effort to be smartly dressed for their meeting. At the very least, it will give you an edge over other candidates who perhaps have not made this same level of effort.
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2. Ask questions!
Remember to ask lots of questions - actually have four or five ready to ask if possible. It is of vital importance that you show interest. It gives the impression that you have initiative and it may also make the interview more informal and relaxed. A confident approach is a key element to success in interviews but please remember not to be over confident as this can often be perceived as arrogance. Know your limitations regarding the role and be prepared to address any aspects of the position you might be unfamiliar with. It's OK not to know the answer sometimes, remember, a prospective employer realises that you're unlikely to move into a job where you aren't going to be learning something new. Here are some examples of questions you should and shouldn't ask.
What not to ask: Money, Hours of Work, Holidays
Don't ask about money. It looks mercenary and it shouldn't be the reason why you went for the interview in the first place (For some good advice on how the handle the 'money' issue, please see Point 6 below). Likewise, don't ask about the hours of work (they will be what they will be to get the job done!) as this might give the impression you are a clock-watcher even though you're not. Another thing you do not need to know at interview stage is what the holiday entitlements are. If the company decides to offer you the job, all of this information will be in the contract of employment and you can decide then whether you are happy with the holiday entitlements or not.
What to ask: Projects you will be working on, The team you will be working with, Training etc.,
These are the questions you should be asking. Put yourself in the interviewer's shoes and try to think about what they would like to hear you asking. Companies want to see people who show a genuine interest in the company, the job and also that they are serious about their future. It is important to give the impression that you are ambitious and have a very clear and concise idea about what direction your career is going. It's a fine line again however as you don't want to give the impression you want to run before you walk. You should be aware of your limitations and explain to them that whilst you are very ambitious, you know it may take you a certain amount of time for you to come up to speed. Tell them you think you're up to the job though!
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3. Turn negatives into positives
Make sure to turn negatives into positives! If an interviewer says you have limited experience in a certain area for example, agree with him/her but clarify this by saying that you will give nothing less than 100% commitment if given adequate training in this area. Mention that you're a quick learner and eager to learn new things. You can tell them also that you absorb new information very easily and if shown how to do something once, you won't need to be shown again.
4. It's a career move!
Remember to focus on the fact that this is a career move for you. Companies don't want to take on people who are unfocused on developing their careers so it is extremely important to get this point across. If they think you not committed to staying with the company for a long time, they may not consider taking your application to the next stage. Companies invest a lot of time and money in new employees and they obviously don't want them to leave after short periods of time.
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5. Get ALL the information across
Make sure that you are prepared for the interview and ready to get all your points across in the allotted time. If you feel like you haven't given a good account of yourself during the interview, make sure to ask them if they wouldn't mind you taking another 5 or 10 minutes out of their time to tell them a little bit more about yourself. This may extend the interview further, particularly if you mention some area they haven't touched on before. Taking this positive stance could put you in a very strong position for the job. It will show them that you have initiative, that you're a positive individual and that you are 100% focused on what you're doing. It will also show them that this is the way you are likely to be in a working environment, so they are more likely to employ you if they see you in this light. Remember, you only get 'one chance' at the interview so grab it with both hands while you can. The last thing you want is to come out of the interview and regret not getting certain points across, points that might have put you in a better position for the job.
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6. The question of money
The question of money can often be one of the most awkward questions in an interview situation. It's a subject that can change the whole complexion of the interview if it's not broached properly and the last thing you want to do is undo all the good work you might have done up until that point. There are no hard and fast rules about how you should handle the money question but we believe that the following is as good a way as any.
If the company asks you about money, tell them what you are earning in your current position (or what your last salary was, if you are not working at present), what you are ideally looking for to make a move but most significantly, that it's not the most important thing for you at this time. Tell them you are more interested in the challenge of the job and finding a role where you can learn new things, develop your career going forward and enjoy the work you do on a daily basis. You must get across that career progression and job satisfaction are more important to you than remuneration.
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7. Be flexible!
Flexibility is one of the major factors in determining whether or not you will be successful in an interview situation. You need to put yourself in a position where the company offers you the job; at that point you can decide whether to accept it or not, but at least you will in a position where that's a decision you need to make. If you are inflexible and aren't prepared to meet the company halfway, they won't offer you the job so there won't be any decision to make - simple. If for example, a company asks you if you are prepared to do overtime etc., say 'yes'. You want to show flexibility when they ask you to do something and you will generally find that what exists in most organisations is a system of give and take. If you're fair with them, they are most likely going to be fair with you also.
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8. Don't talk about what you don't know
If you don't know the answer to a question, tell them you don't know rather than pretending. Remember, it's unlikely you will know the answer to everything a prospective employer asks you; most people leave their jobs so that they can learn new things and develop new skills, so there will obviously be questions to which you don't know the answer. So be confident enough to tell the interviewer that you don't know the answer but that you're willing to learn and that you generally pick things up quickly. Ask them to explain it to you though! This will show again that you're a focused individual and that you are genuinely keen to learn new things.
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9. Be prepared!
Imagine the company has interviewed two candidates for the job and they can't make a decision on who to appoint into the position. Both candidates are equally good for the role and both are available to start immediately. So to whom do they offer the job? To the candidate who was more prepared for the interview, that's who! Preparation is the key - it could be the difference between you getting or not getting the job, particularly if it's a 50/50 situation between you and another candidate! You should know the company's website almost by heart, their products and services too and the job specification, if there is one. You should attempt to draw direct comparisons between what you do and have done in the past and what they do and require you to do for this particular job. All of this sets an excellent precedent for the rest of the interview and gives them a positive impression of you from the outset.
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10. Be positive and friendly.
Be positive and friendly - Just do your best and you'll do fine! Most people regard interviews as nerve wracking experiences but it's normally not that bad. If you prepare yourself in the right way, as outlined above, you should have nothing to worry about. A positive approach is key to your success and honesty and flexibility throughout never fails to leave a good impression. If you feel like you're under pressure, its' only the pressure you're putting yourself under, not pressure from the interviewer. Try to remember that they're as eager for you to do well as you are - they have a position that they need to fill and need it filled ASAP. HR people are often under a lot of pressure from their hiring managers to identify suitable candidates for jobs so it's important to realise that if you do well, they will be more than happy to take you forward to the next stage.
Last but not least, remember to thank them for taking the time to meet with you and tell them you're very interested in taking it to the next stage. If you feel that the interview has gone well, why not ask them if you can have a look around the office, where you might be working etc., You want to end on a good note so even if they haven't got the time to show you around, it should definitely leave them with a positive lasting impression.
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11. Punctuality
It goes without saying that you must be on time for your interview, and you should really aim to arrive ten minutes early so that you have an extra bit of breathing space just in case. Should an unavoidable delay occur with an unexpected traffic jam/accident or some other unavoidable situation, please call the company or your Globester contact to let them know what's happening. This will be very much appreciated by the interviewers as if they are left waiting and have no idea you're running late, it may leave them with a negative impression of you from the outset, a situation you should ideally be trying to avoid. Your Globester consultant will ensure that you have all the necessary contact information you need prior to attending the interview.
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