Written by Drienie, Senior Recruitment Consultant, FS Personnel Recruitment Services Pty Ltd
FS Personnel – Inspired by Growth
Why is it important to prepare for your upcoming interview?
The most important thing to landing a job is to ensure that you are fully prepared for the interview. By preparing, you will feel much more in control. You’ll have anticipated what will get asked in the interview, you will have learnt so much about the business and you’ll feel cool, calm and collected.
How to prepare for your interview:
How To Prepare for an Interview in 11 Steps | Indeed.com
5 Steps to a Successful Interview – Article Display Content – QualityInfo
1. Digital Interviews
Test your internet connection prior to the interview.
Ensure that your background is neat and tidy.
Look presentable.
Always keep eye contact with the interviewer.
Ensure your head and shoulders are visible.
Sit upright during the whole interview.
It is important to know which position you are interviewed for.
Get the MS Teams- or Zoom-link prior to the interview.
2. Do research on the company and role
Researching the company you’re applying to is an important part of preparing for an interview. Not only will it help provide context for your interview conversations, but it will also help you when preparing thoughtful questions for your interviewers.
Take the time to arm yourself with some serious knowledge about the company’s products, service, mission, the people, its performance and history and you will stand out as knowledgeable, self-motivated and a valuable asset to the company.
3. Examine the job description
During your prep work, you should use the employer’s job description as a guide. The job description is a list of the qualifications, qualities and background the employer is looking for in an ideal candidate. The more you can align yourself with these details, the more the employer will be able to see that you are qualified. The job description may also give your ideas about questions the employer may ask throughout the interview. Market yourself by focussing on the qualities and requirements the company are looking for.
4. What are your greatest strengths?
This question gives you an opportunity to talk about both your technical and soft skills. When an interviewer asks you to describe your strengths, share qualities and personal attributes and then relate them back to the role for which you’re being interviewed for.
Example of Strengths:
– Team player
– Good communication and listening skills
– High work ethic
– Customer service
– Problem solving
– Enthusiasm
– Leadership skills
– Organisation / Organised
– Deadline driven
– Money Driven (Sales position)
The list can go on. Some interviewers would want you to elaborate on your strengths, others prefer it short and sweat.
If you struggle and are not sure what your strengths are; think what your previous employers’ feedback would be if he/she is contacted for a reference on you, how will the employer describe you as a person in the workplace and how they will describe your qualities and how you did your work.
Examples for a more elaborated explanation on your strengths:
I have great communication skills.
I’m a natural problem-solver. I find it rewarding to dig deep and uncover solutions to challenges – it’s like solving a puzzle. It’s something I’ve always been excelled at, and something I enjoy.
Much of product development is about finding innovative solutions to challenging issues, which is what drew me to this career path in the first place.”
5. Understand the interview format:
Ask in advance who will be in attendance and what the format of the interview will be.
Will it be a panel interview?
Most interviews are competency-based which means the interviewer will be looking for specific examples from you. For example, “tell me about a time when….”.
Also ask how long is the interview process, 1 interview, 2 or even 3? If you’re working with a good Recruitment Consultant, they should cover all of this with you (hint hint!).
6. Prepare some questions for the interviewer:
At the end of the interview the interviewer is likely to ask if you have any questions for them. If you haven’t, it might look like you haven’t prepared, or worse, that you’re not interested. It’s a good idea to prepare a few questions, such as:
‘when are you looking for this person to start’,
‘what training an induction is offered’ &
‘how do you develop your people’
etc.
Your questions should relate to the company or the job duties, but it is not appropriate to ask how much the job pays. Use the following questions to help you think about what you may want to ask your interviewer.
- When do you expect to fill the position?
- What education and training does the company provide?
- Is there a probation period?
- What opportunities are there for advancement?
- What tools, safety gear, or uniforms are required? Do I purchase them, or does the company supply them?
- May I see the area where I will be working?
7. Don’t forget about nonverbal communication.
Nonverbal communication plays a major role in a job interview. Are you looking at your feet? Do you have your arms crossed? Do you lean on the back of your chair? All these signs will show inward-looking attitudes to the interviewer and he won’t feel free to get to know you better. Make sure to keep this in mind. Also, employers will be looking at your appearance and how you present yourself. Dress neat and professional, ladies, no cleavage showing.
8. Be punctual at your interview.
It is mandatory to be on time at for a job interview. Not just on time: come early. It will show your future boss how punctual and organized you are. Try to be ready for the interview at least 5 to 10 minutes in advance.
9. Some extra tips to keep in mind!
- Look neat and presentable
- Make eye contact with the interviewer at all times
- Listen carefully to the question asked by the interviewer, if you did not hear or understand the question clearly ask the interviewer to repeat the question.
- Be yourself and be confident
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