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Interviews are a crucial part of the recruitment
process. The purpose of an interview is
to give the employer a chance to assess
you and for you to demonstrate your abilities
and personality. If you have reached the
interview stage that means you have already
impressed the employer and employer believes
that you have the ability to do the job.
All you need to do is show the employer
that they are right!
If you are successful at the interview stage
you will receive an official job offer letter
offering you the job. This information below
describes what you can expect at interviews
and takes you through to prepare better
for the interview in today’s competitive
job market. |
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Telephone
Interview |
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Employers
are increasingly using telephone interviews
as an integral part of the recruitment process.
Take a print out of your official CV. Read
your official CV thoroughly. Employer will
be using the same official CV during the
interview to ask questions. Keep a pen and
paper near the telephone. Be prepared for
the interview. Information such as latest
news on your industry, the new skills you
learned recently and so on will help you
to get the ‘Positive’ mind set
before the interview. |
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The important things to remember
about telephone interviews are: |
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As with
face-to-face interviews, first impressions
count in telephonic interviews as well!
There are no visual expressions in a telephonic
interview. So, be aware of how you sound.
Do not speak very loud just because you
think that the interviewer can able to listen
you good. Make sure you listen carefully
of what the interviewer says and asks. Let
the interviewer finish the questions. Don’t
keep interrupting, wait for a suitable moment
to start speaking. Do you understand the
questions being asked? Don’t ramble
on with your answers. Ensure that you are
giving relevant information. Be clear and
concise. Ask about anything you are unsure
about.
Remember the power of silence, and don’t
talk yourself out of a job whilst you are
trying to fill silences left by the interviewer.
These silences are rarely as long as they
feel at the time, and whether the interviewer
is simply gathering their thoughts or, more
deliberately, seeing how deep a hole you
can dig for yourself, it is up to you how
much and what you say.
Turn off any kind of music in the background
during the interview. Be prepared. Interviews
can take up 15 minutes to an hour. Keep
a glass of water nearby to drink during
the interview.
You could be called at any time so make
sure that your family members / friends
are briefed to take a detailed message such
as employer’s name and telephone number.
Also, The telephone is answered in a sensible
manner - no silly comments. |
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Interview
Preparation |
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SEARCH: |
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Look at
the employer’s web site, if they have
one. What do they do? What are the services
they are offering? Find out as much as you
can, it will impress the interviewer to
know that you have spent time find out about
them. Also, this will make you well prepared
for any questions you may be asked during
the interview. |
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MENTAL PREPARATION: |
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Try not
to make the common mistake of learning parrot-fashion
answers to questions you expect to be asked.
Not only will it be obvious to the interviewer,
but it is also likely that you will become
flustered when you are asked a different
question to one you expected or have to
answer in a different way to how you had
prepared. It is important to think about
the interview beforehand and how you may
answer certain types of question, but prepare
in relation to the competencies they are
looking for rather than actual questions.
Think about how you will provide evidence
of certain competencies and qualities. For
example, if you are asked about being a
team player, what evidence will you use
to show this? |
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KNOWLEDGE ABOUT YOURSELF: |
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It is important
to read your official CV thoroughly. The
information you have conveyed to the employer
through your official CV is very important
and it plays vital role in selection. Read
through your official CV and imagine you
are the interviewer. What questions would
you ask if you are in their shoes? Make
sure that you can give at least one example
(and preferably more) for each of the skills
and attributes that the employer is looking
for, and that you can talk about those skills
and experiences in a positive way. These
will convey positive messages about your
competence, motivation and perseverance. |
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KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE JOB: |
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It is important
that you know more about the job offer before
the interview. It is hard to explain how
your qualifications, skills and experiences
will finely suit with the job offered by
the employer. That is why you should have
a clear understanding about the job offer
and understanding of the types of duties
you would be involved in is necessary.
|
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HOW TO ANSWER THE
DIFFICULT QUESTIONS: |
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You may
feel that there are certain questions, which
would completely flummox you. Questions
often perceived as particularly difficult
include those, which appear to be an invitation
to shoot you in the foot. |
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IN THE
PAST: |
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| 1) |
What were you trying
to achieve? |
| 2) |
What you have achieved? |
| 3) |
Have you been stressed, stretched,
tired, or bored about your job? |
| 4) |
How have you made the best use of
your skills and talents? |
| 5) |
Which of your weakness have you tried
to eliminate? |
| 6) |
Which of your strengths have you tried
to enhance (or) improve? |
|
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IN THE
PRESENT: |
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| 1) |
What are your job skills? |
| 2) |
How well do you communicate as an
individual (or) as a team member? |
| 3) |
How well do you motivate yourself? |
| 4) |
How well do you organize your duties
and work? |
| 5) |
How good are you at making decisions? |
| 6) |
How effective are your problem solving
skills? |
| 7) |
Do you try to understand the people
around you? |
| 8) |
How assertive are you? |
| 9) |
How accommodative are you? |
| 10) |
How loyal are you? |
| 11) |
Why should we select you to employ? |
|
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IN THE
FUTURE: |
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| 1) |
What would you like to
achieve in next 12 months? |
| 2) |
What would you like to learn in the
near future? |
|
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The
rules for answering these are the same as
for any other question, and one of the reasons
that they are asked at all is to see how
you react. Relax, be honest, keep in mind
the points that you want to make about yourself,
and turn the matter around so that you can
emphasize the positive whilst minimizing
weaker areas.
For example, in answer to the question –
‘ What is your biggest weakness?’
- You can answer that you tend to be perfectionist,
who can cause time management problems,
but that you have realized this and now
ensure you, allocate your time effectively
to meet the deadlines. You could go on to
explain how you have done this, maybe through
a time allocation chart. This answer demonstrates
that you have accepted you have a weakness
and have adapted your working style to turn
it into a positive. |
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POSITIVE
ENDINGS: |
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Do not fail
to thank the interviewer and convey your
enthusiasm for the job position offered.
Above all, end the interview on a positive
note by saying ‘Thank you very much
and Have a nice day’.
Finally, just try and relax and enjoy the
interview. Learn from the experience. If
you follow the tips above, you should have
a good chance of being successful. |
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Good Luck! |
