How To Be Successful At Interviews
o matter how expert or fully prepared. Gather
experienced you are, when information about the recruiting
you are applying for a organisation (this includes your
promotion in your own present employer if it is an
organisation, or a post in internal interview): before you
another organisation, being fully decide whether to attend the
prepared for the interview is interview, it is essential that
critical. Your expertise, you gather information about the
knowledge, reputation, organisation and analyse this.
experience, and appearance, will You need information on its
help you, but it is highly likely recent and forecast performance,
that the other candidates will the condition of the business
have similar attributes. sector in which it operates, and
the post that it is offering. If
The key to success is to treat the organisation and sector are
the interview as a project, for healthy, and the post looks
which you must gather secure and has potential, then
information, make decisions on you can move on to the next
feasibility, set objectives, stage. If your findings are
identify the resources needed, negative then it is almost
draw up a plan of action, and certain that the best decision
manage the project carefully would be to reject the
through to closure. In simple opportunity. You need to gather
terms, you must be professionally information about the condition
prepared for the interview, in of yourself, looking at how your
order to have the optimum chance personal and career plans are
of success. progressing, focusing on how the
prospects in your current job
Here is list of actions that you match with your personal and
should carry out in order to be career objectives, and then how
the new post could help you to you because it will become
achieve those objectives. obvious to them that the position
they are offering is not a
Decide to attend or not to attend natural fit with your career to
the interview. You need to make date, and worse, they may well
an objective decision as to ask you how this new opportunity
whether taking up this new post fits with your future personal
is the right decision for you, at development plans, and be
this time. Armed with the disappointed with your
information that you gathered unconvincing response.
earlier, you can assess the
merits of being appointed to the Gather details of the job itself.
new post, against staying in your You need as much information as
current post, albeit perhaps you can gather about the nature
until a more appropriate of the job, the role,
opportunity arises, and make your responsibilities, reporting
decision confidently. It is, of relationships, location of the
course, tempting to apply for a workplace, working conditions,
job which appears to offer a and conditions of employment such
higher salary, more as working hours, holidays, and
responsibility, more status, and corporate policies and procedures
new directions, and if this is so that apply to the position. Some
appealing that you are confident of this information will be given
that you can adjust your to you in the information pack
development plans to match it, sent to you by the interviewing
and be happy with that decision, organisation, or department, but
then yes, attend the interview often, sadly, the quality of
and perform to the best of your information sent out is poor.
ability. However, be warned that Most professional organisations
the interviewers may well reject will have HR departments that
will answer your questions on time to tidy your physical
these issues, or pass you on to appearance after your journey,
the appropriate line manager. and sufficient time to become
calm before the actual interview.
Research the interview format:
you need to do some basic but Your appearance. Do not make the
essential research on the mistake of thinking that it is
practicalities of the interview. only your history,
Again, some of this information qualifications, skills, and
will be sent to you. You should knowledge that will win you the
be clear about: how to get to the job. Most other candidates will
organisation and the specific have similar attributes, so you
interview location (don’t rely on need to make an impression, to
asking for this information when look professional, smart, and
you arrive, as this adds to the appropriate for the post. In many
stress of the occasion); who is cases, there will have been a
on the interview panel (their previous holder of the post that
titles will give you important the interviewers may be using,
clues as to their relationships albeit subconsciously, as a
to the post); what format the benchmark. You can’t guess what
interview will take (there is the interviewers want, or don’t
nothing worse than arriving want, in terms of physical
expecting a traditional appearance and personality, but
face-to-face interview and don’t for one second believe
finding that it is a day-long anyone that tells you this
series of tests, group doesn’t matter (it shouldn’t,
activities, and interviews). perhaps, in certain
circumstances, but you are being
Timing of arrival. Make sure that invited into their world, and
you arrive in good time, allowing they will be looking for someone
who they will be comfortable with is that type of environment. In
(even if the role requires you to most situations, for most posts
be an aggressive change-agent). on offer to professionals,
Yes, in some countries there is specialists, managers, experts,
legislation that says the job consultants, a business outfit is
should be offered to the most expected at the interview, even
appropriate person, regardless of if, after appointment, they would
appearance, but in real life this never again expect you to come to
isn’t what happens. The answer to work in anything remotely as
this dilemma is to research the formal.
culture of the organisation that
you are joining, so that you are Your approach: in a word – think
aware of how people, in positions positively. You are offering your
similar to the one you are being talents, your experience, your
interviewed for, dress and time, effort, and energies, to
behave, and you can comment on or this organisation, and you need
ask questions about this during to give the impression that you
the interview. However, don’t go would be a valuable asset that
to the interview in jeans and they would be foolish to reject.
t-shirt, even if that’s the day This doesn’t mean being
to day standard. You need to look aggressive, over enthusiastic,
as professional, as serious about pompous, or pretentious, but it
obtaining the job, as possible. does mean showing the
For men, that almost certainly interviewers that you are a
means a business suit, or jacket confident, assertive, pro-active,
and trousers, with or without flexible, professional who would
tie. For women, a business suit perform successfully if
or business outfit. For both appointed.
sexes, smart-casual can be
acceptable, if, but only if, it Prepare for, and practice
answering, the interview which links your experience and
questions: think about questions existing skills to the demands of
that you are likely to be asked. the new role. If you are asked -
Brainstorm this with a colleague, What would you say are your
friend, or partner, and practice biggest strengths and worst
answering. Practice using the weaknesses? then talk mostly
interview questions to strengthen about your strengths, giving
your argument that you are the examples of how these have been
best person for the job. For effectively used, and be very,
example, you will be almost very careful talking about your
certainly be asked about your alleged weaknesses. Choose a
experience and qualifications, relatively harmless weakness that
even though this will be shown in could be interpreted as a
your CV. Your response should be strength, such as being
phrased in such a way that you over-zealous about quality
relate your experience, criteria being met, or insisting
knowledge, and qualifications, to on deadlines being met which can
the role and responsibilities of upset some team members. Don’t,
the new post, showing how these under any circumstances,
existing attributes will give you negatively criticise your present
the confidence and skills to or past employers, or colleagues.
successfully handle the tasks Even if the organisation that you
that lie ahead. With luck you work for is known to have faults
will not be asked questions such or bad practices, don’t criticise
as - What do you think are the it or any personnel within it.
main benefits that you could This is almost always a fatal
bring to this job, if appointed? mistake. You will almost always
However, it still happens, so you be asked some questions about the
must be prepared for them. Again, interviewing organisation. Again,
practice responding in a way use these as an opportunity to
show you have researched the them and one that has arisen
organisation, but also to explore because something raised in the
what the organisation is planning interview. Make sure that your
(at least in the area that you questions are ones that reinforce
will be working in), and-or what your suitability for the post.
they are expecting of you. For You could, for example, ask
example, you could mention new questions about personal
markets that the organisation has development opportunities,
recently entered and ask if that explaining, briefly, what you
will impact on the post that you feel would be a potentially
are being interviewed for. If you useful development activity (of
are asked about hobbies and benefit to you and to the
interests, don’t give a list of organisation) if you were to be
twenty, keep it simple and don’t offered the post (this should be
try to impress with esoteric an area that you have considered
hobbies that you don’t actually whilst researching the
have. Imagine saying that you organisation and the job itself).
enjoy watching French films and
then being asked a question about General behaviour: remember, you
this, in French, by one of the are being assessed at all times,
interviewers who is fluent in the possibly from when you enter the
language! building and approach the
receptionist, certainly from the
Questions asked by you. Most moment you walk into the
interviews will close with the interview room to the moment you
interviewee being asked if they leave. You must be as natural and
have any questions to ask. The relaxed, physically and mentally,
answer should always be - Yes. as possible, but also
Have two questions ready, and professional, polite, and
either ask these or ask one of courteous. Never argue, unless
you have been given a direct have appeared negative as the
instruction to give your opposing interview ended you will have
views. Be alert, show an interest reduced your chances
in each interviewer as the ask considerably.
questions, and answer directly to
that person, but occasionally In summary, the key to being
look at the others during your successful at an interview is to
answer. In answering questions, treat it as a project that needs
don’t be evasive, be confident, to be planned and executed in as
and use your answers to professional a manner as
demonstrate how you would make a possible. Changing jobs, moving
good match for the position on into a new position, changing
offer. organisations, changing the
direction of your career, perhaps
Final words: as the interview moving into a different business
ends, thank the interviewers for sector, leaving behind friends
their time and questions. Say and colleagues, meeting, working
that you would be very pleased if with, managing, new colleagues,
appointed to the job and that you is a major change in your life.
look forward to hearing from The interview is your doorway
them. Even if you have doubts at into a new world, into the next
that moment, this is a courteous stage of your personal
and wise way to end the interview development. It is a major event,
– you may later decide that you a major opportunity, and must be
would like the job and if you treated as one.
About the Author:
CJ Williams is a tutor and management consultant currently working with Brighton School of Business and Management in the UK, specialising in Business and Management courses taught via distance learning. CJ Williams can be contacted via http://www.brightonsbm.com
Published At: www.Isnare.com
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