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Believe in yourself and shine at an interview.
Everyone approaches a
job interview with some degree of apprehension. Nerves are perfectly
natural; the trick is not to let them weigh you down. The main thing to
remember is that the employer has asked to see you because they think
you are capable of doing the job. Their time is precious and they will
be hoping, just as fervently as you, that you are the perfect solution
to the vacancy. At the interview, your main aim is to reinforce the
excellent impression made by your CV. You do not want to be stuck for
words, so it is important to think about what you are going to say, how
you are going to say it and how you are going to act, beforehand.
Here
are a few proven strategies that will help you take control of the
interview and ensure that the whole process goes smoothly.
Do your homework
Of course, your Apex consultant will brief you
fully about the company and the position being offered. But it's always
worth 'going that extra mile' - you can never have too much
information. Try logging on to the company's website, get hold of
company literature and find out about competitors. If the opportunity
to use this knowledge arises, you'll be able to demonstrate an
impressive level of interest in the organisation.
Making a good first impression
Look smart and professional.
Take a copy of your CV with you. Even the most efficient companies can mislay or forget to bring a document
Plan your route and allow plenty of extra time to get to the interview.
Be courteous, smile and shake hands firmly.
Body language
You
may be superbly qualified for a job, but you must also look motivated
and interested. The way you act, your posture, gestures and facial
expressions, will reveal a lot about you.
Look the interviewer in the eye and don't be afraid to smile when it is appropriate.
If
you are being interviewed by more than one person, always look at and
address the person who posed the question, then glance at the others
when you have finished your answer.
Adopt a good posture. Don't cross your arms, fidget, tap your feet, sprawl or lean forward anxiously.
Sounding positive
You
must be ready to expand on, not simply regurgitate, the information
presented on your CV and anticipate the route the interviewer might
take. No one fits a job perfectly so emphasise your most relevant
skills and slant answers to reassure the interviewer that any shortfall
is not a problem.
- Don't use tentative language. Phrases such as 'I
feel I could', 'I think I can'. 'Perhaps I would' - dilute the strength
of your case.
- Don't confine your answers to monosyllabic yes and no's which make the interview more like an interrogation.
- Be enthusiastic but don't constantly interrupt.
- Practice makes perfect. Before the interview, test your fluency by talking out loud or presenting to partners and friends.
- Don't be evasive. Make a virtue of any career gaps on your CV.
Handling tough questions with confidence
Employers
will ask questions deliberately designed to see how you behave and
react in certain situations. Giving a positive, fluent answer isn't as
difficult as it might seem. With a little advance planning, it's
perfectly possible to anticipate common general enquiries and prepare a
coherent, effective response. In fact, you can turn these questions
into an opportunity to take the initiative and 'sell' the exact message
you want.
Never answer a question you don't understand with a
knee-jerk response. Always seek clarification before answering and if
you don't know an answer, its much better to admit this than guess.
Be prepared for the following questions
- How would you describe yourself?
- How would your manager describe you?
- What is your career path for the future?
- Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
- What motivates you to be successful?
- How do you react when you are left to work without supervision?
- Give me an example of when you feel you have coped extremely well under pressure at work?
- What are your strengths and weaknesses?
This
final question is particularly tricky. Obviously, you can't claim to
have no weaknesses, but you don't want to stress anything too negative.
The best solution is to admit to one weakness and then turn it around
and show how you have constructively overcome it.
The interview is a two-way process
At
the end of the interview, the employer will usually ask if you have any
questions about the job or company, so always prepare a few in advance.
This is a good chance to clarify any points of doubt - after all, you
need to make sure that the job is exactly what you expected and what
you want.
Suggested questions to ask
- What are the opportunities for career progression?
- What are the training opportunities?
- What are my precise responsibilities?
- How much travel is involved?
- What are the targets for the first 6 months?
- How long will it take you to make a final recruitment decision?
Closing on a confident note
Leave
the employer with a good final impression. Smile, thank them for their
time, say you enjoyed discussing the job and that you look forward to
hearing from them soon. Don't add any afterthoughts as you leave the
room.
You are almost there
Some people always seem to succeed
at interviews. They're not lucky, their secret is careful preparation.
The better prepared you are, the more confident you will be and the
more success you will have. Remember, if you have prepared properly
then when you go to an interview you will already have beaten most
candidates, the employer wants you to succeed - that job is yours!
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