Job Interviews: Preparation is the key to success
Interviews are used by almost all organizations irrespective of
size or sector. Job hunters may not like the process much and
indeed some fear interviews intensely however to get that
crucial job offer and to move up the career ladder you must
become comfortable in the interview room and learn how to become
an excellent interviewee.
A common mistake made by many candidate is the belief that all
they need to succeed is a great resume/CV. True, it will have
gotten you into the interview room but my experience shows that
very often it is not the applicant with the best experience or
skills who will win the job, it's the one who performs best at
the interview.
Preparation is key to giving a great interview performance and
irrespective of how experienced you are we recommend you take
the following steps to ensure you are prepared both physically
and mentally and ready to succeed and win those great job
offers.
Be Prepared:
A common mistake made by candidates is not being fully prepared
and there really is no excuse. There is usually more than enough
time from the date you receive your invite to the interview
itself and proper preparation and practice will enhance greatly
your ability to answer questions, to communicate and to present
yourself in the best possible light. There is no one recommended
way to prepare for an interview. Instead, there are key tools
and techniques that can be used to improve one's chances for
interview success.
Steps to follow include:
Find out as much as possible about the type and format of the
interview: Will it be held at an assessment center or in the
hiring managers office. How many people will be interviewing
you, will you have to make a presentation and if so what
equipment will be available to you?
Research the company: Researching the interviewing organisation
is essential for three reasons. Firstly, through this process
you will discover just what the company does, how strong is the
company financially and does it have a bright future. By
demonstrating your knowledge during the interview you will give
an impression of interest, keenness and enthusiasm which is
highly regarded by interviewers. Secondly, you will have
information to analyse just what the company is looking for,
what do they need now or in the future. You will be in a strong
position to match your skills to the company's requirements, you
can better anticipate likely questions and can focus your
answers during the interview to sell yourself. Thirdly and most
importantly research can go some way to discovering if the
company is right for you, does its culture and values match
yours, do you believe in the integrity of its products etc.
Trial Journey: If possible carry out a trial journey prior to
the interview itself. This will help you familiarise yourself
with the route and the timing and will give you valuable
information to add to your company research
Mock Interview: A mock interview is a great way to practice
your answers prior to the interview. Ask a friend or colleague
to act as the interviewer and to get the most benefit both
parties should treat this as if it was a real interview.
Feedback from 'the interviewer' can be very helpful in ensuring
you can sell yourself most accurately.
First Impressions: Choose the right clothes, shoes and
accessories to help fit in with the recruiting organisation.
Your trial journey would have helped identify ho other employees
dress and give you a view of the corporate culture.