Interview Skills
Proper preparation is vital. The number of candidates who have no idea what they are doing and have not bothered to do any research constantly surprises us.
You must participate. You have to obtain the information to enable you to decide that this is the right job for you. After all, this organisation may well expect to consume more than one-third of your life. The most effective way of participating is to answer a question and then ask one of your own. But it must be relevant. This ensures the interview remains conversational and on track. It’s half your interview too, you know.
When asked a question, answer with a brief, to the point example - your achievements are ideal for this. Never volunteer information that has not been requested. The person interviewing you is not your friend and is certainly not working on your behalf.
When asked your strengths, these should be relevant to their key selection criteria. If they want a marketing person, they don’t care how well you play the guitar.
If asked about your weaknesses, never ever admit to anything that may have a bearing on your capacity to do the job.
Just about every interview conducted today will be based on the “behavioural model”. This assumes that what you have done in the past is the best indicator of what you will do in the future. If you don’t talk about your past successes, then any competent interviewer will have you talking about your past failures. When you get to that point, it will be assumed that you will continue to fail in the future and the interview will move into courtesy mode, or cease!
Most candidates eliminate themselves in the first four minutes.
If you are thirty years old, then on the average wage your earning capacity through to 65 years of age exceeds $3 million. This is the amount you put at risk every time you go to interview. Perhaps you should take this seriously!
Prepare answers to obvious questions, such as:
- Why do you want this position?
- What did you like most about your previous position?
- Why do you want to change jobs now?
- Want didn’t you like about your last job?
- How do you cope with pressure?
- Tell me about a time when something unexpected ruined your plans and what did you do to cope?
- What is the difference between management and leadership?
- How would you define teamwork?
- Where would you like to be in five years time?
- What goals did you set for yourself last year and did you achieve them?
- If I spoke to your current/last boss, what would he/she say about you?
Never, under any circumstances, be critical of your previous employer or boss.
Remember that your answers must reflect their key selection criteria - not your key acceptance criteria.
We can take you through a comprehensive program on interview skills in the comfort of your own home. It’s simple, it’s secure and it’s very effective. We provide a complete manual allowing you to undertake the program step by step, building your confidence progressively, until you are ready to take that important step.
Contact us for full details.
