Interview Tips
Having made your application and obviously created enough interest to warrant being called for 1st stage interview, it is very important to prepare yourself well for interview.
1st STAGE INTERVIEW TIPS
Having received your application, the employer has obviously being impressed enough to call you forward so you must not let yourself down in any way due to lack of preparation.
Go through your own application again (hopefully you have remembered to photocopy the application form or have a copy of your CV and Covering letter). Using a highlighter, highlight the parts of the form or your CV where you have clearly shown how you match the criteria the employer is looking for – you can be guaranteed that there will be considerable time spent discussing each of these areas in more detail.
You must be prepared to discuss your previous experience and exactly what duties you carried out in one or more previous jobs so again, be prepared. Write this information down to familiarise yourself clearly with all previous jobs held.
Prepare yourself for the difficult questions – what motivates you? Describe your strengths? What would you say are your weaknesses? Listen carefully to all questions and answer appropriately and without going on a bit!
If you don’t have a car, know exactly how you are going to make it to work on time each day.
Prepare to be asked what you know about the particular employer – check their website or find out from people you may know works there.
Prepare some questions to ask the interviewer – Why has the vacancy arisen? How long was the previous person in this role? Why did they leave? Who do I report to?
Finally, dress appropriately for the interview no matter what the environment you are going to be working in is like and be on time. Smart appearance, including grooming, is always suitable at any interview and will create a positive impression for any potential employer. If you find you have arrived late for your interview, you may struggle to recover as first impressions last! Show a good level of enthusiasm and interest throughout the interview and find out what the next stage in the process will be.
To Summarise:
- Dress and groom well
- Review your application or CV and covering letter
- Prepare to go through previous experience
- Check company’s website and make yourself familiar with who company are
- Prepare for difficult questions and listen carefully to what you are being asked
- Prepare 3 or 4 of your own questions
- Clearly show suitable level of enthusiasm and interest throughout interview
- BE ON TIME!
2nd STAGE INTERVIEW TIPS
Well Done! You have now put yourself in a situation where you have shown enough potential to be considered a potential employee. However, there are still some other people in the running (probably) and you still need to perform at the highest level to secure the job.
Second stage interviews can be even more unnerving that first time around simply because you are closer to becoming an employee. Again, prepare from your application, your research on the employer and go back through the questions you and they asked, at stage 1.
Do prepare yourself for a higher level in intensity in terms of the employer’s interview style. There will probably be a new face or two on the interview panel and they certainly will go through in even more detail your experience and the reasons why you feel you are best for the job.
In preparing for round 2 it is very important to go back through the 1st stage interview and remember what it was both parties discussed. Try to remember the difficulties you had at first stage interview particularly if there was questions you feel you didn’t answer too well. They may highlight the weaknesses you felt you had and asked how you might overcome these.
Prepare further relevant questions and find out why exactly they called you back a second time. In calling you back, the employer may have asked you to prepare a short presentation – ensure you have done this appropriately and have checked grammar, spelling, presentation style (if powerpoint ensure equipment works ok) and have ample copies for a panel of interviewers.
If you are requested to prepare a presentation, practice on your own before presenting to friends or family and request honest feedback.
Try to relax as much as possible and hold a positive but relaxed posture maintaining a suitable level of eye contact with each interview panellist. If you have to present to the panel, always have notes prepared and at hand in case they want to put you back over a particular slide or point made by you. At the end of the presentation, invite questions from the panel on any aspect of your presentation.
Again, dress and groom well to create the right impression.
Finally, before you go in, take a look around the workplace and try to imagine yourself working there. If this really makes you want the job even more then go in and be your best!
To Summarise:
- Review 1st Stage interview and highlight areas that were difficult for you
- Prepare some further questions
- Find out why they called you back for a second time
- If presenting, prepare well and rehearse with family/friends
- Dress Smart
- Be on Time
Other sections
