Tips for Interview Preparation

Preparation is Key to ensuring you have a successful interview.  This document aims to give you some tips on how to prepare successfully.

The Basics

Make sure you have all the details of the interview - correct location, interviewer/s names and contact details, date and time. If possible try to do a trial run to the location so you know how long it will take you to get there and you so you don't get yourself in a "fluster" before the interview. Aim to arrive about 30 minutes before the interview to allow for traffic or transport delays. Plan what you are wearing and make sure your outfit is washed and ironed the day before and if necessary get a hair cut and polish your shoes!

The Company

Make sure you do your research thoroughly.  The company’s website is always a good place to start; this should give you an overview to their products or services, corporate visions and goals.  You can also expand your research and review the market and their competitors.  Other useful references include; press releases, employees and hard copy company literature.  Make some key notes so that you create an opportunity to discuss something positive you know about them.

The Job

Make sure you are clear on the job role and that it is something you are definitely interested in.  Try to obtain a job description or person specification.  In some cases you will also be able to get a list of competencies they will be testing on.  Try to practice matching your skills to the competencies or key skills they are wanting from their new employee.

Yourself

Re-read your CV, make sure you know how to discuss in greater detail all the points you have mentioned.  Research how the job role fits into your career plans, create solid reasons why you want the position and why they should employ you.  It is very important to know your strengths and weakness and have some examples to back up your answers.  This is especially important if you have problem areas in your background – have explanations ready for gaps in employment or poor exam results. 

Practice your handshake this should be firm, friendly and maintained with eye contact. Put together a “brag file”. Include a copy of your CV, exam certificates, and any references or testimonials from previous employers or clients. Make sure you have some spare paper for taking notes in the interview.

Preparing Answers

Writing questions down and practicing them with someone will certainly make it easier to remember when asked similar questions in the interview. There are some very standard questions that are asked such as “why you left your last job?” and “why should we employ you?” Practice thorough and positive answers to these questions. The interviewer is trying to assess your skills and competence to the job in hand, so there will be some very specific areas he/she may wish to question you on. The Job Description or Person Specification usually gives you some idea of these. When preparing answers think of some good examples; include dates and times when you were in a certain situation, think about the situation, the action and the outcome in a logical sequence so that it demonstrates your skills and strengths.

Preparing Questions

It’s always a good idea to make a list of questions you want to ask at the interview. A good idea is to include these questions in your “brag file”.  It is impossible to remember everything and having them as a prompt will show the employer that you have prepared and given thought to the job role and company.  There really aren’t any taboo questions in an interview, but there are good and bad ways to ask a question and timing is very important. An interview is an opportunity where two parties get together to establish if they are right for each other; this is your opportunity to decipher whether the company or job is right for you.  Questions can include; salary and package, training, what are the best and worst things about the company, what aspects of the job do they think will be the toughest, what are they hoping to find in the person they employ and do they think your suitable?

On the day

Keep your concentration on the interview in hand; don’t arrange anything that may break your focus.  Make sure that you are clean and well groomed, calm and relaxed.  Finally, don’t forget to be yourself!