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Resource Center CV Presentation Interview Techniques

Interview Techniques

Once your application has come as far as the interview stage you have successfully crossed the first hurdle - your qualifications and experience have been judged as suitable for the position, your CV and covering letter or application form have done the job of convincing the employer that you are worth seeing.

Pre-interview preparation is as much a part of the process as the interview itself.

"Homework"
Do your research about the company - check out their website. Try telephoning the head office and asking if there is an information pack or General Report that could be sent out to you.

Know the products they have on offer, and keep up to date with any new developments about the company, you can normally find this information their website. Be aware with what is going generally in the business arena they operate in. Find out who there main competitors are and check out what they are offering.

If you don't know who to speak to in order to find these details, just explain to the switchboard operator that you are attending an interview and would like to find out some information on the company. Be honest with them and usually they will reward you with lots of useful information.

Make notes
Think about questions that you would like to ask based on the details you have been able to gather. Tailor your questions specifically to the role that you are being interviewed for, and make it clear in the interview that you are curious to find out more - write your questions down and take them with you to the interview.

If you have picked up on something positive let the interviewer know this (at the appropriate time) and ask an open-ended question (that cannot be answered with a "yes" or "no") that enables them to talk more about it.

Go over your CV or application form
Make sure that you are familiar with what you have put down. Always keep a copy of your covering letter and application form if applicable. Go over them before the interview - if there has been a time gap between submitting your application and going for the interview you may have forgotten what you said.

Each job you apply for will require you to highlight different strengths and skills and you don't want to be caught out because you can't remember why you said you wanted the job, particularly if you have fired off dozens of applications.

Prepare your strengths and weaknesses
This is a favourite question, and one designed to find out how well you know yourself. However with a bit of preparation you can avoid this becoming a stumbling block. Think carefully about what you are good at and what you enjoy doing - if you are good with people say so. If you are a confident negotiator and the role you are being interviewed for requires contracting skills then this is a relevant strength. But there is no point in saying that you write great copy if you are going for an IT job. When it comes to weaknesses you can turn them into positives with some careful wording. For example, lets say that you like to have an empty in-tray when you go home at the end of the day.

When describing your weaknesses try not to pretend that they are strengths in disguise. One of the most obvious examples used is saying that ‘you are impatient’ and when others do not keep up with your fast work rate you get frustrated. Whilst this may sound good to you, to an experienced interviewer it is a real turn off. It could indicate that you rush things or that you are not thorough enough with your work.

There may be times when you are so busy that you just can't get through that pile of paper and you might find this stressful. Rather than saying "My main weakness is that I am a control freak and I can't stand it when I am not on top of everything", try saying "I must admit I do like
to feel that I have achieved something by the end of the day. Time management is important to me and when I see a full in-tray I try to ensure that I take the time to prioritise what needs to be done so that I don't go home feeling too snowed under".

Contribution
Before you go to the interview spend some time considering what your contribution to the role and the company would be.

Forward thinking about how you will be able to add value to the organisation will enable you to highlight this during your interview.

The interview

Be on time
It's true that some interviewers will keep you waiting, but it is not considered acceptable for you to be late. If you are not sure about the location and can do a practice run then do so. Otherwise try to time your journey so that you arrive fifteen minutes early and wait out the extra time nearby.

If you really cannot avoid being late, for example if a train service has been delayed or cancelled, then make sure you call and let them know what is happening.

Appearance
Although you may be very much an individual in your personal taste for clothes, remember that it is better to err on the conservative side for an interview situation. Good grooming and cleanliness can only work in your favour; hair should be tidy, nails should be clean, shoes should be polished and skirts and suits should be pressed.

These points may be obvious but first impressions are important and they last.

Listening
When in the interview, concentrate and listen at all times to the interviewer, DO NOT let your mind wander as it will be easily spotted if you do. Nod your head in affirmation of what the interviewer is saying, look interested and respond when asked.

Questions
If you are well prepared then it is unlikely that any questions that arise will cause you any problems. You will have gone in knowing about the company and how your experience and skills relate to the role. You should be prepared for questions that relate to any challenges in your career or problems that you overcame, what contributions you will bring to the role, what your career goals are, where you see your strengths and weaknesses, why you are leaving your current position, why you want the job. At the end of the interview the interviewer will probably ask you if you have any questions. Remember that asking questions shows your interest in both the company and the job. Even if there is nothing else you need to know about the actual role, don't just reply in the negative.

Something along the lines of "Well actually you have answered most of my questions about the role, but one thing you mentioned earlier that I thought was interesting was the company's plans for XYZ. I was wondering if that would affect the ABC department in any way?" This shows that you have listened and given thought to what has been discussed during the interview. No-one wants to offer a job to someone who seems bored and unenthusiastic about the role.
And don't ask about benefits or salaries and perks until second interview stage or until you have been offered the position. Clinch the sale (of yourself) first and then talk about the detail.

Communication
A firm handshake and a smile will do a great deal to set the tone for the interview. Body language is also important - try not to lean on the desk and if you are aware of any nervous habits such as foot waggling or nail biting, try to control them.

Eye contact is often judged as an indicator of someone's self confidence or honesty - try not to avoid eye contact even if you are shy and if there is more than one interviewer on the panel try to include them all in your answers to questions.

After the interview

Follow Up
A short, polite letter thanking the interviewer for his/her time and expressing your interest in the position will re-emphasise your enthusiasm for the role. If you don't get the job offer make sure that you contact them for feedback.

Don't second guess why you were not offered the position. It could be for any number of reasons, and whatever they are, knowing these can be an invaluable aid in ensuring that you are offered the next job you go for.