For most people, the interview is the most challenging part of the job seeking process, so we thought we'd provide 5 tips to help. Hopefully these will make the interview process a little less daunting.
1. Prepare adequately
Whether you are meeting with a future employer or a recruitment consultant, it is essential you have prepared adequately. In a nutshell, this means:
- Researching the organisation
- Understanding the scope of the role
- Knowing where you are going and who you are meeting
2. Be clear exactly why you want the job
You must be able to clearly articulate why you are looking to move on from your current employer, and why this particular opportunity attracts you.
"Career Progression" is often not an adequate response, unless it is substantiated with a further statement providing more explanation. You need to be specific with exactly what career progression you are after - is it a step up to management, the opportunity to diversify into a new industry, more strategic decision making, or national scope?
3. Know key reasons why they should hire you
Be confident about the value you can add to the business. This is often best illustrated by articulating key achievements in past roles.
4. Anticipate potential questions
Behavioural Based Interviews (BBI) are the most common style of interviewing used today. They require you to draw on past experience and describe specific examples of events that demonstrate your competence.
The most effective way of answering these types of questions is to use the following technique:
1. SITUATION - What was the specific situation? Give an example that happened in the past.
2. PROCESS - What was the process you went through to resolve the situation?
3. OUTCOME - What was the outcome or result you achieved and what were your key learnings?
If you have spent the time to develop a career plan and also have a clear resume, you should have no problem drawing on specific examples, however don't only rely on your resume detail.
Remember to use I, not WE.
And remember to use numbers, revenues or percentages to help illustrate your answer.
5. Have a list of questions to ask
An interview is an opportunity for both you and the employer to make an informed decision about your suitability for the role. Asking questions is also a way to let the interviewer know that you are interested in the role and the company.
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