Interview Tips

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Interview Preparation

Research the Organisation
If you go in unprepared and have researched in a slipshod, haphazard and half hearted way, the interviewer will look at the way you have done your research in the same way you are likely to do the job.

Become familiar with the company history, their purpose and goals. Good sources of information can be; Websites, local libraries (newspaper articles, other info.), company brochures, Chamber of Commerce, personnel dept, sales and marketing dept. or ask friends if they know anyone who works there. You could visit a store, distributor or end user to gain more information. All organisations want to be loved and you have to demonstrate your interest, the benefit will be you can uncover any potential problems early and raise/discuss them with the employer at interview.

This adds a tremendous amount of credibility to you as a potential employee, it should also give you a very good fix on the company and their competition. Make sure the employer is aware of the hard work you’ve done by taking the information into the interview with you.

Presentation
Look professional – it’s best to dress conservatively, with the main emphasis on the obvious – clean and ironed shirt, polished shoes. You never get a second chance to make a good first impression!

Open the meeting with a firm handshake, good eye contact and a confident approach. Take in a briefcase or presentation folder containing a pad and pen so you can write down points that you would like to clarify or raise later in the interview. You are showing interest.

Take Evidence
The main aim of any interview is to see whether you have the skills and ability to do the job being offered. So before your interview it is well worth reading the job specification and identifying what the client is looking for. They will have already reviewed your CV against the job specification so they already believe you have some of the skills to perform the role. However this is your opportunity of taking additional supporting documentation that gives them further information that you’re the right person for the job. This could include sales league tables, incentive plans, review/appraisal reports, referral letters, certificates or even trophies! If you have achieved then take along the evidence.

Speaking/Listening Mix

Ideally you need to mix speaking and listening fifty-fifty during the interview, people who ignore the rule generally don’t make a positive impression. You should try not to speak for more than two minutes when answering a question, an answer may only take 20 seconds but if you are framing your answers along these lines you shouldn’t end up rattling on endlessly. Listening is an active not passive interaction. Effective listeners:

Concentrate on the speaker, following not only words but also body language which, through the use of eyes or gestures, often underlines meaning and gives life to the message.

Respond quickly to points made by the speaker, if only in the shape of encouraging grunts.

Ask questions frequently to clarify meaning and to give the speaker an opportunity to rephrase or underline a point.

Comment on the points made by the speaker, without interrupting the flow, in order to test your understanding and demonstrate that the speaker and you are still on the same wavelength. These comments may summarise something the speaker said, giving them the opportunity to reconsider or clarify the point made.

Make notes on the key points – even if the notes are not referred to later they will help to concentrate the mind.

Are continuously evaluating the messages being delivered to check that they are understood and relevant to the purpose of the meeting.

Are alert at all times to the nuances of what the speaker is saying.

Do not slump in their chairs – they lean forward, show interest and maintain contact through their oral responses and positive body language;

Are prepared to let the speaker go on with the minimum of interruption.

Resource Person
You need to stay focused on what you can do for the employer, rather than what the employer can do for you. You need to be seen as a resourceful person rather than someone just looking for a job. You could pre-prepare a two minute summary on yourself (summary of CV) – that really sells your skills, experience and expertise. Give examples of your achievements, maybe how your ideas have saved your previous company money or how you solved a IT major problem.

Interview Approach
An easy way of deciding on the appropriate actions for interviews is to consider how a ‘unsuccessful interviewee’ would act, behave or the things they would say. Think it through before the interview and obviously plan to act, behave and say the opposite, your goal is to get across how you can increase the companies effectiveness, service and bottom line. You have got to be very clear about your strengths and how they will contribute to your success in the job. If you are unclear about this before the interview you need to clarify it during. Ask – What are the three most important aspects to the role in your mind? You are in effect making an oral proposal of what you can do for the potential employer, to help them with their problems.

Never Run Down Previous Employer
The company will only worry about what you will say about them. There is always something positive you should be able to say about your previous employer.

Clarify The Role
The interview process is a two-way street, the employer is trying to find out about you and you want find out about the organisation and the role. You will hopefully have defined the type of position you are ideally looking for, the things you want out of a new position and the things you don’t. It is imperative that you prepare some questions before the interview, write them on your pad and take them in with you.

Suggested questions:

Why has the position arisen?

What opportunities exist beyond this position and when?

What particular experience or qualities is the company looking for?

How does the employer view the company ‘s position in the market?

What is the selling strategy?

How does the company plan to sustain its position or achieve growth in the future?

How would they describe the company culture?

The Questions Employers Want Answered by You

Why are you here?

Why are you interested in xyz company and not one of our competitors?

What can you do for the company?

If the company were to recruit you would you be part of the company’s problem or part of the solution to those problems?

What are your skills and how much do you know about the sector, product/service or selling style?

What kind of person are you?

Do you have the right kind of personality to get on with the people at the company and line manager and will you share the same values that are important to the company?

What makes you stand out from the other people interviewed?

Do you have better skills or attitude, will you work harder, longer, faster, go the extra mile. Have higher standards etc?

These are the questions most employers will want to know the answers to, even if they don’t actually ask them outright! Think about the job and what it entails – you could play out the interview questions in your head and how you are going to respond.

Closing the Interview
There are some key elements to bear in mind when the interview is coming to an end.

Guidelines:

What timescale is the company working to?

Find out answers to any questions

Are there any reservations, concerning your experience?

Clearly state your interest in the role

Indicate why you think the role would be of interest and why you feel you are ideally suited

Talk through what the particular client will expect from you at the end of the interview, in terms of the close, with your Pin-Point IT Consultant. We are here to help with any issues whatsoever.