Interview Tips and Questions - Preparing for the Interview
- Preparing For The Interview
- How To Prepare
- First Impressions
- During An Interview - Coping With Nerves
- During An Interview - Projecting The Right Image
- The Interview
- The Most Popular Interview Questions
- The Tough Interview Questions
- Your Questions For The Interviewer
- Psychometric Testing
- Assessment Centers
- Second Interviews
- What To Do While Your Waiting To Hear
- What To Do If You Get The Job
Preparing For The Interview:
Well done. Following your successful job application you have now been offered an interview for that new job. You have obviously impressed your future potential employer with your CV and application form to be offered an interview in the first place. You will have no doubt have probably beaten a number of other applicants but something in your application has made you stand out from the other candidates.
An employer isn't looking to employ any old person to fill their job; hence they have already sifted through all of the applications and compiled a shortlist which you are now on! All the interviewer needs to do from there is choose the candidate to fill their job. The only way they are going to do this is meet each applicant in person. There are many variables in choosing a new person for a job. What one employer classes as an important quality, another may not. Some feel experience is an important factor. Others value qualifications or team management skills or a combination of both. What you have got to remember is that you will have to make a lasting impression on the interviewer to get you nearer to securing that new job. Your future employer is going to have to make a choice from several applicants. This will inevitably be a hard decision to make. After all, summing up candidates suitability in a few short hours isn't easy for anybody, so you must make an impression. It's no easier sitting in an interviewer's shoes than being a candidate. If you go well prepared then you are able to manipulate an interview to your advantage and get across your strengths.
Prior To The Interview:
Remember your employer knows all about the job they are looking to fill; what it entails and what qualities they are looking for in a potential candidate. They also have a fair amount of information about you; your CV and application form. It is always a good idea to take a copy of these with you to the interview. The interviewer will have a checklist of areas they are looking to satisfy themselves about to ensure you can do the job. These will encompass some general interview questions and others specifically about you as a person, such as your interests, hobbies and what you like to do outside of the workplace.
How Will The Interview Be Structured?
Most interviews follow a fairly similar simple format. Usually you will be invited into the interview room, offered a drink of tea, coffee or water etc and then sometimes a bit of casual chat such as "How was your journey?" Get the idea! Next, your interviewer will ask some general questions, such as "Tell me about yourself" or "Are you an organised person?" They may then ask you questions about your CV such as "You say you are good at time management, can you give us an example?" Once the interviewer feels that they have satisfactory answers to all their questions they will then give you the opportunity to ask any questions you may have about the job, the company etc.
Convincing Your Interviewer & Offering Them Reassurance:
It is really important at the interview stage that the interviewer feels happy about all the areas they have covered. They may keep going back to specific questions if they don't feel they have got the answer they require. This is often a good sign as it means they are taking your application seriously and they may just want reassurance on one or two points. If you can put their mind at rest it will make you a far stronger contender. If you haven't been asked any questions, you have either done a fantastic job at clarifying all of their concerns and queries, or you are unlikely to have got the job. Try and be as open as you can without going on and on. I know it's not always easy to judge, but if you think there is a subject that the interviewer has covered and is not comfortable with, try to get your point across. There are certain areas that can and will cause concern to an employer, such as lack of experience or missing periods of employment during your career. These may have simple answers to them, but if the interviewer doesn't have a good understanding, because they haven't asked you the right questions, they are going to be wary. If you think something is bothering them try and give a good explanation. If you are well prepared before the interview and you think there is something in your career history that might be of concern you will have a sensible answer ready. You will then avoid feeling speechless when asked "Why is there an 18 month gap in your employment history?"
Being Interviewed For A Job By Your Existing Employer:
An interview is an interview! Should you be applying for promotion or a change of job in your existing company then your employer will already have a lot of the current information about you, such as timekeeping or time management skills, personal details etc, etc. Other than this information the interview will follow the same structure as any other interview. However specific questions about your current position may well come into play and have a more dominant effect on the meeting. It could be that although there are certain areas they already know about, they may still ask you about them. Things like "How well do you work under pressure and meeting targets?" They are already aware of your capabilities as you work for them but they want you to answer this question anyway. Just go ahead and give them the answer they want to hear!
Just because you already work for them don't treat this any differently to an interview being conducted by a new employer. Yes, the interviewer may already know you, so they may well be a little less informal in their greeting but once you get down to business treat the situation the same as if you were applying for a job outside of your current employer. A good point of useful information; don't crack jokes about people you work with or chit chat about Joe in accounts. It isn't perceived professional and it will do you no favours in your career advancement.
Be Prepared For The Questions That Will Be Asked:
It's almost impossible to know exactly what questions are going to be asked at the interview but you can expect certain areas that are likely to be explored. Brief yourself on the skills required for the job, including the experience that you have to do it. Think about questions that may arise from the answers you gave on your application form and lastly consider any questions that may arise regarding your CV. As previously mentioned, breaks in your career, work experience and so on. If you work in a sales role you will already understand the importance of preparation prior to meeting a new customer or trying to close a deal. It is no different when presenting yourself for an interview to win a new job. You need to Prepare Your Offensive, Do Your Research, and Prepare for the Meeting. The better organised you are the more professionally and accurately you will be able to answer each question. This will put both you and the interviewer at ease.
How To Prepare
Prepare Your Offensive:
Now going into an interview is no different from going into battle. The end result is to come out the winner! The better your offensive, the more chance you have at winning the interviewer over. Your objective is to succeed. How are you going to do this? Well you need to know where you are going and how you are going to get there. You need to know what traps or pitfalls there are along the way, so the best practice is to plan and be prepared. Simple isn't it; so what have you got to do? Well you have got to win over the interviewer. The only way of doing this is by convincing him, or her, that you are the man, or woman, for the job. You are going to achieve this by showing the interviewer that you know about their organisation, know about the job, know how to do the job and would be the best person for the role. The is done by preparation so you can present yourself as cool, calm, collected but not too cocky! If you have ever played a new computer game or purchased a new item of equipment you know that your job is going to be much easier if you get the instructions our first to work out how to operate it, rather than rushing in all with guns blazing without doing any research.
Do Some Research About The Employer:
Now I am no easy employer to work for. I have allocated my time for you to attend an interview and I have also spent some time reading through your CV and application form. In return I think that after inviting you to come along and see me, the least I can expect is for you to have spent some of your time doing a bit of research about my company and what we do. Not every employer takes this stance but many do. By doing a little research this will show the interviewer that you have put some effort into trying to get this job. Besides which, are you really looking to apply to work for a company you know nothing about? If so, you can't really be that serious about the interview. It's really simple to do research on a company. Get hold of the company's sales brochures, reports and accounts. The easiest way to obtain this information is to ring up the receptionist and ask for a copy. You could say something like "I've got an interview with your company and I would like to find out a bit more about your organisation. Please could you send me some of your literature?" This is not so easy if it's only a small employer. However you can also look at the company's web site if they have one, research local news items by visiting the local library and searching the newspaper archives outlining press releases. It's easy to do this. Visit your local branch and explain what you are after and I am sure they will help. Remember you get out of life what you put in. Invest time and effort and you will be rewarded.
Be Prepared For The Interview:
There are several areas that you must be ensure you have covered when preparing for the interview. The first fundamental one being not to be late! Before the big day, plan your route. If you are going by car have a trial run and see how long it takes you to get there. The same rule applies if you are going by bus or train. When you have determined how long it is likely to take you, add half an hour to the journey. If you are early, don't worry. You can always have a drink or read your magazine, but one thing is for sure you will be calm and more relaxed, whereas if you are running late you will be on edge; not a good start to an interview. Take a phone with you (or money to use a phone box) just in case something happens. It is very discourteous to be late and it really annoys most people, so you aren't going to get off to a good start on that basis. Just as a pointer it's always a good idea to take a pen and paper with you or alternatively a briefcase or handbag with a pen and paper in it.
Making the Right First Impressions at the Interview
First Impressions
Do First Impressions Count? You Bet They Do!
You would be very surprised at what can be ascertained from the first few moments in someone's presence. Indeed, it is an accepted fact that a decision can be made in the first few minutes. An interviewer or employer will discover a great deal about you in a relatively small amount of time by use of their experience in body language. It's a bit like when you make new friends, generally speaking you know within a few moments of meeting a person for the very first time whether you will like them or not (despite knowing very little about their background). I personally think it is some form of basic primate instinct. So your first few seconds are fairly vital when you walk into that interview room or when you are greeted by your employer. We all give out different signals and these can be influenced by the way you dress, to your body language. In my opinion good body language starts with a firm handshake, (that's firm, don't shake their hand off!) and being smartly dressed. Don't bathe in perfume or aftershave as strong smells often give off an overpowering smell and can be very off putting. Not everyone has the same taste in cologne and there is nothing worse than being stuck in a room with a smell that makes you feel ill. It's always best to be clean and neutral!
Prior To Attending Your Job Interview:
It's always a good idea (and I think a courteous one which shows manners and initiative) to confirm with your prospective interviewer the interview arrangements by letter once you have been invited to attend the interview. This doesn't need to be a long winded letter. It can just be brief, confirming the time and place of the interview. It also gives you the opportunity to send in any documents that the interviewer may wish to see in advance or anything you may have omitted to send when you originally enclosed your CV and job application form.
Dress Code - What Clothes Should You Wear For Your Job Interview?
It's always a tough call when trying to decide what to wear for a job interview. Traditionally men always wore their smartest suit and tie and the same could be said for women; either a nice skirt and blouse or a suit. However things have changed a lot since the old days. For example if you are going to work for an IT firm or Graphic Designers then the dress code may be smart but casual. By the same token if you are going to work for a firm of Solicitors, Accountants or Insurance Brokers then the chances are the dress code is going to be formal. It can be a hard call to decide what to wear for your interview. If you are applying for an internal job then this won't apply to you as you will already know what standard of outfit is or isn't acceptable at your place of work. There are two fairly simple ways to ascertain what type of dress code your potential future employer demands and these are as follows:
1. Drive up to the offices or workplace at a time when the staff will be arriving or leaving. This will give you a good indication of what types of clothes the other employees are wearing.
2. Pick up the phone and ring the interviewer's secretary and ask whether the company has a dress code.
As a pointer it's always a good idea to "Dress above the Rest" at an interview. Remember you are out to make a special impression. Although you will want to fit in if you get the job, you need to be appointed first! So a pretty simple rule. If the dress code is casual then you need to be dressed casually but a little smarter. For example if the other employees are wearing trousers and open neck shirts then it would be a good idea for you to wear trousers, a tie and a smart jacket. If the dress code is a suit and tie then you will need to wear your best suit and tie – get the picture. It's pretty easy for you to judge for yourself. Another good point is when you are invited into the interview don't ever remove your jacket without be asked. If the room is hot, well quite frankly that's just a bit of tough luck. I have to admit I have always kept my jacket on even when my interviewer has asked me if I would like to remove it. My reason being that we all perspire during stress and there is nothing worse than seeing perspiration marks around the arms of your shirt! A manger once recalled a very funny story about a lady who was interviewed on a hot sunny day. After the initial greeting the applicant asked "It's so hot out there, do you mind if I take my shoes off?" Without waiting for a reply she then proceeded to do exactly that. The interviewer spent the whole of the time being distracted by brightly painted red toes wiggly about. Needless to say the interview was quite short and no time was spent even considering whether to make a job offer or not. So what type of clothes should you wear at your interview? Well it's an individual's choice. However I would steer clear of bright outrageous ties if you are a man as not every interviewer will share your love of cartoon characters such as the Simpson's. Whether male of female try and settle on neutral colours. Finally as previously mentioned it's a bad idea to wear overpowering aftershave or perfume. It can be very off putting to others.
On Arrival At Your Job Interview:
If you are organised you will have arrived at your interview in good time and you will have a few moments to compose yourself and utilise the rest room before your big moment. If there are some bathrooms in the waiting area (if not just ask someone to direct you to them) go and make a few final checks on your appearance. You might want to comb your hair, use the lavatory or adjust your make up. This time will give you the opportunity to make sure you are ship shape and looking a million dollars. It will also give you reassurance so that once you are in the interview you don't have to worry about whether you have done your zips up, your hair looks tidy or your lipstick is smudged; issues that are important but that you don't want to have to worry whilst trying to win over the interviewer. It's always a good idea if you have a briefcase and are wearing a tie to take a spare, just in case you spill something down it before going into the interview. It's easily done. I was once attending an interview and on the way I stopped to drink a can of coke as I had arrived early. To say I was mortified when I spilt it down my tie is an understatement. I had no spare and apologised profusely to my interviewer, who was very kind and said it didn't matter. However I still spent the entire interview worrying about it and my performance was definitely hindered by it. A lesson learned to say the least!
When Your Interviewer Comes Out To Take You Into The Interview – Or When You Are Called Into The Interview Room:
OK, in my opinion this is the most stressful time of the interview and when my heart beats the most! It's when you are entering the unknown; new surroundings, new people (sometimes as many as four or five) and a strange room. As I have stated before, you need your maximum concentration at this point as "First Impressions" do count. So how do you greet your interviewer? Firstly look your interviewer in the eyes and smile. Everyone likes a smiley face. I don't mean beam like a Cheshire cat; just a pleasant friendly smile. Secondly, offer your hand out to shake. Don't squeeze the interviewers hand until it turns blue, just a firm professional handshake will suffice. At the same time give a greeting. "Hello very pleased to meet you" or something like that. Your interviewer will then either take you into the interview room, or you may already be in there as you have been called in, and offer you a seat. Please do not just sit down when you enter the room. Wait to be offered a seat. It is good manners.
Coping and Dealing with Nerves at your interview
During An Interview - Nerves
Nerves – Yes love them or hate them we all have them and they apply to everything we do in life, whether it's a new job, a date, going to the dentist or being reprimanded. What are nerves? Well they are your bodies' way of dealing with stress usually caused by a fear of the unknown. Your body puts up a protective barrier to help you deal with this. Symptoms include; dry mouth, shaky hands, sweating, thumping heart, faintness, feeling like you need to go to the bathroom. Does this sound familiar? Everyone is nervous when attending a job interview. After all you are doing this because you want to get that new job. Your body is releasing chemical called adrenalin which assists you in focusing your mind completely on the situation that you are dealing with. The secret is being able to manipulate and control your frame of mind, use that adrenalin to your advantage and not let it take over completely.
How Can I Control My Nerves?
The secret to controlling your nerves is to convince your brain that you have little to worry about. The reality is that we all get ourselves worked up far too much in the first place. We convince ourselves that we are going to underperform or embarrass ourselves beyond belief. After all I am sure you will have been in many situations where you have been a nervous wreck and once the situation is over, like at the end of an interview or coming out of the dentist, you get the overwhelming experience of calmness. Yes, this is caused by your body relaxing and the adrenalin ceasing. So how can you combat this? Well it's really simple. All you need to do is be prepared and calm yourself. The nerves, to a degree, will be far less. I am sure you will have heard of the term "Mind Over Matter". Well it's true. The brain and body are complicated things. You can convince yourself of anything if you want to and this can have a negative as well as positive outcome. So to deal with this issue and put your mind at rest, hence reducing your nervousness, it's always a good idea to try and address the areas you need to deal with where you feel you will be an absolute failure if things go badly wrong. So let's just look at the major areas:
1. Drinks - should you or shouldn't you? As I have mentioned before if you are offered a drink, be it tea, coffee or water and you think you are suddenly going to have an explosive fit and chuck your cup three foot in the air, don't accept one. The only exception I can recommend here is Water. The reason being is that if you have a glass of water, no one is going to notice if you did or didn't drink it. However if you get stuck for something to say when asked a difficult question, or you find your mouth is getting irritably dry, it's a good excuse to take a sip. While it doesn't buy you a great deal of time it does give you chance to pause and reflect on the question a few moments before you give an answer.
2. Awkward Questions – Well unless you have a crystal ball you are not going to know what you are going to be asked. However if you know anything about the job then you can have a good second guess at what is likely to come up and figure out some answers accordingly. Just remember how it was when you sat exams at school. You didn't know which questions were going to come up, so you revised all of them. Again, as previously mentioned, if there is a discrepancy in your CV and you think it may be an issue, try and think of an appropriate answer. Don't just ignore it and think to yourself "I hope they don't mention that". Be prepared, it will lessen the worry.
3. Shaky Hands! Well I have to admit I always get shaky hands and I am sure I am not alone on this issue. There is no real definitive way of dealing with this. The only thing you can do is keep them under control by placing one hand on top of the other and keeping them on your lap. As you gain confidence throughout the interview and your mind drifts away from the issue, you will find that the shaking will naturally ease and it should no longer prove a problem.
4. Dropping Or Tripping Over Your Briefcase Or Handbag. Come on, there's absolutely no need to be clinging onto that briefcase or handbag. Place them on the floor, under your chair preferably. That way you aren't going to drop them or fall over them when you get up. If you need a pen and paper (and it's always good to have them) take them out at the start of the meeting.
5. Fear Of Sneezing or Having a Runny Nose. Again it all comes down to being prepared. Make sure you take a handkerchief or tissue and have it somewhere accessible. It's no good locked in your handbag or briefcase. Place it in your pocket so you can get at it quickly should you need to.
Make Life Easier For Yourself At The Interview:
Now I am not trying to teach my grandmother to suck eggs but the night before your interview try and get a good night's sleep. Eat your evening meal earlier than usual and go to bed a bit earlier. Don't go out on the lash with your mates until 2.00 am in the morning or for a curry or other meal that gives off a strong smelling after odour. As you will no doubt be aware, garlic smells dreadful the next day and will ooze out of your pores for a good 24 hours after eating it. Try and steer clear of meals that include this. Also alcohol stays in the blood stream for a fair while and you don't want to be turning up at your new job interview feeling hung over and tired. If you are worried about your breath smelling then eat a mint before you go into the interview or use a menthol spray. You can buy little handy ones from the chemist which will fit in your pocket.
On the morning of the interview, if it's in the morning, try and have some breakfast, I know it's difficult to eat on a stomach that's turning around faster that a washing machine on a full spin cycle, but food is for the brain and it will help you keep your mind on the job. Besides which if you don't eat and have an empty stomach it is very likely that you will experience that intensely dreadful sickly feeling. If you have an interview during the afternoon see if you can catch an early lunch or if the interview is early evening try and eat a decent breakfast and catch a late lunch. Ideally you don't want to eat more than two hours before the start of the interview to give your body the chance to digest your food.
If you are really strung out and feeling uptight just before your job interview begins then you can always try some breathing exercises. Now I am no therapist but I always find that breathing deep breaths in through your nose, holding it in for a few seconds and breathing out through your mouth helps. My doctor told me to try this when I was a bit younger and had problems dealing with stress. It seems to work for me and helps me relax. Think happy thoughts. Whether they are about your children, your wife, husband, partner or whatever, try and think of something that makes you smile. It takes far more muscles to make you frown than it does to make you smile and using this technique you will automatically begin to feel the element of wellbeing. It will also temporarily take your mind off the situation ahead which will ease your stress and worry. When you get into the interview and are seated, try and relax and get comfortable, I don't mean slouch in the chair, but try and pick a position where you are not all screwed up like the hunchback of Notre Dame. Being comfortable will help relax all of your muscles including your legs, abdomen and chest, ultimately making your breathing more relaxed. During your interview make sure you listen to each question posed to you properly. Don't try and think of an answer while your interviewer is still asking the question.
Projecting The Right Image during an interview - What does your body language tell the employer?
During The Interview – Projecting the Right image
Selling Yourself
So, I have explained the ins and outs of preparing for your new job interview and dealing with the stress element leading up to this; and then entering into the interview environment. You are now well dressed; have greeted your interviewer (s) correctly; created your comfortable sitting posture and are now ready to convince your interviewer that you are the man or woman that they have been searching for to fill that job opening. To some the actual performance comes easily. For others they have to work at it. Some people are natural born sales people and know how to sell themselves others are not so lucky. Generally speaking if you already work in a sales role, as I do, what I will explain next is really second nature and it is unlikely that I will be offering you anything that you don't already know. Sales people are natural born performers whether it is due to their personality or due to the nature of the work they have previously carried out. The term "life is a stage and you're on it" has never spoken truer than at a job interview. I have been on hundreds of sales courses and read many sales books over the course of my career such as "how to win friends and influence people" but it all comes down to one thing and that is getting a stranger to believe in you and, or, your product. At an interview you are the one that needs to put on a good performance. There are many different qualities the interviewer is going to be looking for in their potential candidate. These will encompass qualifications, experience, you as a person and the way that you integrate with others. Also they will consider your previous employment history, your enthusiasm towards your career, along with many other factors. So here are a few areas to think about. They are all really interlinked and if you can employ all of them at interview stage you are well on your way to getting that new job.
Show Your Interviewer That You Are Enthusiastic:
So what exactly is an employer looking for? Well firstly I would say enthusiasm. If someone asks you a question and you give a one word answer it doesn't really look very enthusiastic. So the way to deal with this is to answer the question as deeply as you can. For example; Interviewer "Your background is in commercial liability underwriting but I see you are now involved in commercial property underwriting". Don't simply answer with a Yes or No answer, expand on it. You could answer along the lines of "Yes I was originally trained in liability underwriting, an area I spent several years working in which I thoroughly enjoyed. However I had the opportunity to expand my overall underwriting skills to encompass property underwriting so I jumped at the chance as I felt it would enhance my experience overall within my team". Obviously you can tailor this to your own circumstances but you see what I am getting at. Be enthusiastic. Don't just give one word answers. Make your interviewer interested in you and what you have done. Show him that you really are passionate about everything you do. To the interviewer this shows that you will have enthusiasm and dedication to your new job should they decide to employ you.
Show Your Interviewer You Are A Confident Candidate And That You Know Your Stuff:
Another area where all sales people are naturals is confidence! I know it's not always easy when you are under pressure and nervous to ooze confidence, but this is a really important area. The more confident you are the more chance you will have of bagging the job. Try and expand on your answers again in this area. If you are asked a negative question try and respond with a positive confident answer. For example: Interviewer "You don't appear to have done much cold calling for a while and this job will involve quite a large amount of self lead generation how do you feel about that?" You could answer along the lines of "Yes I haven't been involved in cold calling for 6 months which has been quite disappointing to me as I thoroughly enjoyed it and felt that it was one of my strong areas. I really have missed this element of my work because I got the opportunity of speaking to new people each day. I really got a buzz when I finally closed a deal that I knew I had generated from start to finish. Cold calling is an area I am keen to get back into and it's a talent that I feel comes naturally to me".
Show Your Interviewer That You Are Positive:
It's easy to become negative about anything in life, but in work life and a career environment, a positive person in the workplace can be a real asset to an employer. Positive people give off positive vibes and those good vibrations nearly always rub off on other employees. The end result creates a happy, proactive, enthusiastic work force which ultimately creates a better working environment and more efficient team. If you can demonstrate this quality to your interviewer at interview stage you will definitely impress them.
Watch Your Body Language:
Body language is an area that many interviewers will take seriously. What we do and how we do it can show underlying areas that can be picked up upon. Body language is an area that has been analysed for many, many years by professionals and interviewers alike. It really is amazing what you can learn from someone just by their mannerisms. As I have stated before I am no expert, but to give you an example, if you ask a person a question and their eyes gaze up thoughtfully to the left hand side of their eyeball you know that the chances of their answer being true are high. If on the other hand they look up to the right of their eyeball the chances are they are searching for a made up answer to your question. There are certain exceptions to the rule but the theory is based upon the fact that the left side of your brain is where you retrieve data from and the right is the fictional side of your brain! Interesting isn't it and one to be aware of. Other areas that give off body language signals, without you knowing about them, are as follows:
Don't:
1. Cross Your Arms: It makes you look defensive.
2. Sit on the edge of your seat.
3. Mess with your face or play with your jewellery or hair.
4. Rock on the seat.
5. Interrupt when being asked a question.
6. Give one word answers (unless the answer dictates a one word answer).
Do:
1. Smile as frequently as possible (especially when you are asked a question and respond to the person who has asked the question) but don't overdo it!
2. Keep your hands in your lap; don't wave them around all over the place.
3. Keep eye contact at all times (I don't mean stare out your interviewer). If there is more than one interviewer, flick from person to person.
4. Be articulate and listen carefully to each question before giving your answer.
5. Keep calm and don't panic!The Day of the Interview - Information to Assist
The Interview
General Interview Guidelines – The Do's and The Don't's!
Once your interview gets under way and the list of general questions that need to be asked by the interviewer are answered; and provided at his point you haven't managed to throw your tea cup 6 foot into the air because you have the jitters, you should, if you have taken in what I have already said, begin to be feeling a little less nervous so you can really get down to business. Try and answer all of the questions the interviewer throws at you in a precise and confident manner. If your interviewer is asking a question and halfway through you wish to make a comment, don't interrupt unless you really think that it is very, very appropriate. It is bad manners. Ideally wait for the question to be fully delivered to you and give your answer; even if it means saying to your interviewer "Can I just go back on the point you made in a previous question?" It is really difficult in this instance where you feel you want to pass comment on something you really feel passionate about but you have to try and bite your tongue. Nobody likes being interrupted and in my experience interviewers are all full of self importance and feel that their question is more important than your answer!
Answering Questions Posed To You By The Interviewer:
Your potential new employer is looking for a candidate that can do the job and will fit into his or her business. The chances are that the candidate is undoubtedly going to need to be a team player and a person who can listen and give enthusiastic and positive input into their job and daily work life. As the questions start to flow try and remember not to go on and on when giving your answers.
Try and keep your answers as precise as possible, but not yes and no answers. If you are asked a specific question that requires you to provide an example of how you have dealt with a situation or closed a sale then give an example that makes your achievement stand out. If you have won the salesman of the year award then give a little background into how you achieved it. Inevitably there will be times when you run out of steam and these moments can be quite frustrating, so just sit back and relax and take a few seconds to compose yourself before you deliver your answer to the question.
There are some people who think that talking is more important than listening, but they would be totally wrong. Being able to listen to a question without interruption is an art especially if you are genuinely interested in the subject. By showing this quality you will make a good impression. If you are asked a question, that you do not know the answer to, do not to be tempted to lie. If you do you had better make sure you keep your story straight. Answering a question with a lie can get you into big trouble and really achieves very little. After all, the questions have been laid down to see if you are the person the interviewer is looking for and if you can't give a straight answer then the chances are you are not the person for the job. Don't do it, it will all end in tears!
There are some employers that will ask you what you think of your current boss. This is a trick question. They are really not in the slightest bit bothered whether you think they are a complete moron. All they are trying to ascertain is whether you are a loyal employee and can act in a professional and neutral manner. After all if they offer you the job they will be your next boss! You also have to bear in mind that what goes around comes around; slating your boss won't achieve anything other than making you look petty and bitter. Save that experience for when you are in the pub with your mates!
Different Types Of Interview Questions:
An interview will have a structured format and there will be several different types of interview questions set to enable the interviewer to gauge your response to technical as well as hypothetical questions. For example a Technical Question may involve specifics about the way a certain type of application is dealt with. Let's say you are applying for a job in the construction industry there may be certain questions set out to see how you would deal with a particular problem within a mechanical process. Hypothetical Questions can apply to any type of job role and they are designed to ascertain how you would deal with a situation or chain of events. Some less professional interviewers may also throw questions at you which are deliberately set to get your back up, to judge how you deal with the situation.
This is fairly rare and in any event to be honest any interviewer who engages in this type of underhand maneuver I don't think would be a particularly good employer. Just my opinion!
Types Of Interview:
If you haven't had a lot of experience with attending interviews then you will not be aware of the different ways that employers are able to conduct interviews and the way that they are held. Aside from a traditional interview i.e. one candidate and one interviewer, there are three different types of interviews and dependent upon the position involved will depend upon the type of interview you may have.
Firstly there is the Telephone Interview. This involves an interviewer calling you up and having a chat with you over the phone to judge your telephone skills. This often happens where the job may entail working in a call centre and the emphasis is on how well you perform on the telephone. This method is also used if the interviewer is trying to shortlist a group of candidates in a quick manner and is often carried out by an external recruiter such as an agency. You may or may not be told that you will be having a telephone interview. It depends on the employer. If you have applied for a job where heavy telephone use is likely to be a major part of the job, then this may be the option chosen. The interview should be treated as any other and it's a good idea to make notes as you go along if you can. If you are successful it may be that you will be asked there and then to attend a face to face interview, so make sure you have a pen and paper to hand.
Another type of interview is what is known a Panel Interview. These are a bit more tricky and stressful than a one to one interview. A panel interview will usually have anything from three to six interviewers sitting in on the meeting. Basically this is a way of cutting down on time where the decision for the applicant needs to be discussed by several different members of the business. It could be that you are applying for a sales post and the interview needs the Sales Manager, HR Manager, Head of Department and, if the role involves some form of IT work, one of the IT Managers. It's always difficult attending these interviews as it can feel like you are one against many but it's not set up like this for any nasty reason. It's just easier for the company. If you are faced with a Panel Interview always try and answer each question posed by each member of the panel back to the individual who has posed the question, whilst casually glancing at the other people present. Also when you enter the room you will obviously shake hands with the head of the panel or the person who has taken you in but whether you decide to shake all of the panel's hands is a decision you will need to make at the time. If they all stand and offer their hands your decision will be made easier.
The final type of interview is a Sequential Interview. This can also be a tough type of interview leaving you feeling absolutely drained. Basically how this works is you will be interviewed by a series of different people. It might be that the HR Manager interviews you first, then the Sales Manager and then the Local Director. The chances are that each member of staff will have different questions but there may be some overlap so you might find yourself answering the same questions twice!
Closing And Leaving The Interview:
Once the interview has finished and this should be fairly obvious as the interviewer will intimate that it has, you will want to stand, pick up your briefcase or handbag from under the chair, if that's where you put them; and then shake hands with the interviewer. Again, in a firm but not grip wrenching manner. Try and avoid the temptation to wipe your sweaty hands on your clothes in front of the interviewer. A better tactic is to just clench your hands together and rub them a couple of times gently to remove any wetness. Thank the interviewer for the time that they have afforded to you, say goodbye in a nice smiley manner and leave the room. Some people will escort you out onto the main floor; others may see you out of the building, but whichever, try and stay as professional as possible. Remember the job is not yours until you have signed on the dotted line!
Some of the Popular answers to Interviewers Questions
Interview Questions
Generally speaking there are going to be certain questions that arise at your interview that you can pretty much expect to get asked at any interview you may attend. The great thing about this is the fact that you can rehearse your answers to these questions and with enough practice they will flow off your tongue easier than honey sipping down your throat! These questions are likely to be fired at all candidates applying for the job. So, although they may sound personal to you and they are to a degree; these are pretty standard interview questions. So here goes. You have to bear in mind that these are the responses that I would consider giving. They are obviously not set in stone and you will need to adapt answers according to your situation:
Tell Me About Yourself
– Sounds a bit like the sort of question you get asked on a date! This isn't as straight forward to answer as at first it might seem. Don't start rambling on about how much you love watching the Simpsons on the TV. That isn't what the interviewer is looking to hear. You will probably need to answer this question with a question. Perhaps you could try saying "What would you like to know about me?" This then gives your interviewer the chance to get you to tell them exactly what information they are looking for. If possible try and keep this part of the interview to a minimum. If you can, see if you can build into your response positives which relate to the job you are applying for. For example; if it's a sales role you could say "I am a very organised person who enjoys finding a new prospect, working with it and closing the deal, carrying out the completion from start to finish". Sometimes your interviewer might ask about your hobbies and again you should pick out points that relate to the job you are applying for whether remote or not.
What Is the Most Enjoyable Part Of Your Current Job?
- This is a fairly straight forward question but has a bit of a double meaning. Obviously there are going to be parts of your existing job that you don't like doing or you wouldn't be applying for this new position would you? But your job can't be that great either or you wouldn't be applying for this job! Don't get led down this route. Just answer something along the lines of "I do enjoy my present job so I can't really put my finger on any part of it that I dislike. I am just looking to further my career" and leave it at that. It is possible to use this question to your benefit but you need to make sure you pick something that is going to compliment the job you are applying for.
Tell Us About The Biggest Challenge You've Ever Faced In Your Career?
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Why Do You Want To Leave Your Present Job?
- This is a bit of a stupid question really as the chances of the interviewer getting a straight answer are fairly limited. Let's face it; if the job you are in doesn't pay very well and you want more money, you are going to be looking for a new job. It might be that your current boss is a complete idiot and you don't like him. It could be you can't stand working with John in accounts. You aren't going to say any of these things are you? Well hopefully not! I think a standard response along the lines of "I feel that I have outgrown the company I am in and my contribution as part of a team could be put to better use with a larger or more focused company where I can expand my skills further. I am really interested in……..but my existing employer doesn't have the resources to let me advance in this area" and leave it at that. Just try not to be negative about the job you are leaving. It doesn't look good.
What Is Your Present Boss Like?
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What Do You Think This Job Entails?
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What Do You Know about this Organisation?
- Now if you have taken my earlier advice you will have done your research and read up about what the company is involved in, its products, its turnover and its strategy. You will really impress your interviewer if you are able to show that you have this knowledge. As previously mentioned people like to think that if you are really eager to work for them. You will have done some research about what they do and how they do it. So let's say you are applying for a job with a major high street retailer you could say something like "I notice that you are one of the leading stores who operate a "Fair Trade Policy" when purchasing your goods from third world countries. I have to say that I am very supportive of this and it would be nice to work for an employer who cares about the impact their business has on people in the outside world".
What Made You Apply For This Job And Why Do You Want It?
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What Qualities Do You Think You Can Bring To This Job Position?
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How Long Would You Expect To Work For Our Organisation?
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What's Your Greatest Strength?
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What Is Your Biggest Weakness?
- Bit of a tricky question this, after all no one wants to show their weaknesses but we all have them. The most comprehensive way of dealing with this question is to try and turn it into a "positive" from a "negative". So you could perhaps say "my biggest weakness is buying the kids sweets when they ask for them in the shop" or "I really dislike washing the car at the weekend but once I have done it I always feel a real sense of satisfaction".
Where Do You See Yourself In Five Years Time?
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What Would Your Work Colleagues Say About You?
- This question provides another opportunity for you to demonstrate that you are easy to get on with, a team player and a generally amenable person who works well with other people. You could answer this question with a quote such as "I am an organised, approachable, dependable, easy to get on with team member who is always willing to offer my advice or assistance to colleagues where needed". Don't go overboard with your answer, making out you are something you are not. You may get away with stretching the truth, but if you are not a "natural team leader" don't say you are!
What Would Your Friends Say About You?
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What Interests Do You Have Outside Of Your Work?
- This will be a definite question (in my opinion) and is posed by your interviewer to try and ascertain what you are like outside of your working environment. If you don't like football or snooker don't say that you do. Just provide honest answers. There is nothing worse than saying you follow a sport and then it turning out that the interviewer is mad about the subject and starts asking you questions you can't answer. You will look a fool and your honesty will be under scrutiny!
What Type Of Books Or Publications Do You Like?
- This question needs an honest answer. Just because you think the interviewer is looking to hear you tell them that you have just finished "Marketing Skills Made Easy" and that it was the best read of your life, it isn't a good idea to make it up. If you have genuinely read David Jason's autobiography or Stephen King's latest book then tell the employer what you enjoyed about it. Of course if you work within certain industries; read the trade publications and have recently read an interesting article about the latest "blue widget release" then by all means use this as an example.
Some of the toughest and most difficult questions an Interviewer may ask you - be prepared
Tough Interview questions
We know all interview questions are tough but these are the real hard ones. Generally these questions aren't asked to make your life difficult or to make you squirm. They are simply asked so that the interviewer can find out what he wants to know in the best possible way. When you are posed with a difficult question which you find awkward to answer, it puts you under pressure. Therefore there may be certain questions that are delivered to you to see how well you cope. It not unreasonable if the new job you are applying for is likely to carry an element of pressure. Just remember there is no need to get worked up or frightened. As I keep saying, if you have done your research and prepared properly for the interview these questions won't be half as difficult as you think. When a question is posed to you try and keep calm. Think about the question for a few moments and deliver your answer accordingly. So here we go!
Are You A Good Leader?
- Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can manage or lead well in your job and how you deal with the people who work under you. Perhaps you could answer this question along the lines of "I feel that my team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm but fair with the people who work for me and find that I get a good deal of respect by operating in this manner".
How Do You Feel About Taking Direction From Your Superiors?
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How Do You Feel About Carrying Out Mundane or Repetitive Work?
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Are You A Natural Born Leader?
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How Well Do You Handle Criticism?
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How Well Do You Work Within A Team Environment?
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What Motivates You?
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Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of Your Team?
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You Have Only Been With Your Employer A Very Short Time - Why?
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How Do You Deal With Interpersonal Problems Within Your Team?
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How Would Your Current Boss Describe You?
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What Part Of Your Job Do You Dislike The Most?
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If You Were Starting Out Again In Your Career Are There Any Decisions You Would Make Differently?
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You Have Been With Your Employer A Long Time - Why?
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Do You Feel That Your Career Has Been A Success To Date?
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We Think You Might Be Overqualified For This Job!
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If You Were Appointed To This Position How Long Would It Be Before You Would Expect To Be Promoted?
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How Have You Managed To Attend This Interview In Works Time?
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You Have Read The Job Description And A Summary Of The Job Role So What Areas Of This Job Appeal To You The Least?
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What Sort Of People Do You Find It Difficult To Work With?
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Have You Attended Other Interviews As Well As This One?
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What Do You Think About The Conflict In Iraq, The Credit Crunch, Barack Obama (or something that has a social political bearing)
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What Sort Of Decisions Do You Find The Most Difficult To Make?
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What Is Your Current Bosses Biggest Weakness?
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What Do You Think Of Your Existing Company?
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What Is Your Current Salary?
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What Salary Would You Be Expecting For This Position?
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I have A Pen Here – Sell It Me!
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How Well Do You Work In A Stressful Environment?
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Some questions you Could ask the Interviewer
Want to know what to ask?
At some stage of the interview you are going to be asked if you have any questions to put to the interviewer. Now is the chance for you to show your interest in the company and the position. Try to prepare some questions in advance that could demonstrate your experience for the role. Other questions could be about the company which would give you more information about the organisation. This could be crucial to you deciding to accept any offer that may subsequently be made to you. Not asking any questions at all should not be an option as an interviewer will take this as a sign of disinterest. However you can blow the interview completely by asking the wrong type of question. It is never a good idea to rush straight in and ask about holiday entitlement, length of tea breaks, lunch breaks etc. This will give the employer the sign of your priorities in the workplace and it won't be a good one. I would go so far as to say that second to not asking anything at all, questions such as these could seal your fate completely.
Below are some ideas. You can adapt them to suit the type of vacancy you are applying for. For example if you are applying for a managerial position it is almost inevitable that you will have some staff reporting to you. However if you are an assistant administrator you will be unlikely to be in that position. Remember only you know the job you have applied for and the answers to some of these questions would be obvious. If that is the case don't ask them.
Will I be working in a department or in an area on my own?
Who else is in the department and what do they do?
What training will I need and how will I be given this?
Do you train in house or use external courses?
To whom am I responsible?
Which members of staff are responsible to me and what are their roles?
Is this a new position and if so why has it been created?
If it is an existing position, why has the previous person left the post?
What are the opportunities for promotion?
When would you be looking for the successful candidate to start?
Are you interviewing many people for this position?
When will you let me know if I am to be offered the post?
The use of Psychometric Testing for Candidates
Psychometric Testing
Oh No; I hear you cry help! Well you shouldn't. Psychometric testing is becoming more and more popular now to vet potential candidates and you can use these in your favour. If you've never taken one before it can be a little bit worrying. It's a bit like going back to school and sitting an exam doing those multiple choice questions with puzzles. These needn't be a worry and they are not, once you understand what they're for, how they work and what they are set out to achieve. In my experience it is really no surprise why companies have taken to using these tests to gauge applicants. Nowadays there are some very well qualified applicants for each job. If you were to interview them all you would be there until doomsday. These tests are a good way to assess which candidates are most likely to be the best for the job. If you are the right person for the position then it will just give reassurance to the interviewer and you will be in a good position. On the basis that you have never sat a psychometric test, or heard of one for that matter, I will give you some brief information about them.
A psychometric test isn't really a test. This is because you cannot really fail one. It is called a test because, well in all honesty, how else can you categorise something where you are asked to carry out a task which you will then be assessed on. What these do is ascertain how you think and whether you think in the same format as the company you are applying to. These tests don't tend to be used on their own in the interview and selection process. Basically psychometric tests are split into four areas and can include one or all of the following; An Ability Test, A Personality Test, An Aptitude Test and Motivational Test. Each test speaks for itself really. The ability test is looking to assess your overall general ability, the personality test is assessing what type of personality you have, the aptitude test is carried out to test the skills you have that are specific to areas of the job that you are applying for and the motivational test is set to find out what motivates you. If you are on your way to an interview and you suddenly get a thought go through your head like "oh no I wonder if I will be asked to sit a psychometric test at this interview" don't panic. It is very unlikely, if you haven't been informed this test will form part of the interview, it will be sprung on you. After all, that would be a bit of a dirty trick to play on an unsuspecting candidate. These tests are often carried out on the same day as the interview but generally speaking you will be given advance warning if this is going to form part of the day.
Should you be asked to sit a test as part of the interview then the chances are your interviewer or the HR manager will brief you beforehand as to what the test is about, what you need to do to complete the test and which type of test you will be asked to complete. If they do not brief you, which is fairly unlikely, then you might want to ask them a few questions about the test. Things like; how will the test be taken? What type of test will it be and what will the information be used for? There is plenty of information readily available about psychometric tests on the internet, so if you want examples or more information on this subject just go to Google and search for "psychometric tests". If you know you are going to be taking a test then make sure you have everything you need before attending otherwise it will be just like going into an exam without a pen or your glasses. Make sure you are prepared. You don't want to add to your worries by leaving something important at home that's going to hinder you. You should use the same type of formula when taking the test as you would if you were taking an exam. For those of you have been left school or University for a while and forgotten then here are a couple of pointers:
1. Sit down, keep your cool and follow all of the instructions given on the paper. Read them thoroughly and take them in. If you rush you may misunderstand the way in which the test is being set and end up answering questions incorrectly.
2. If at the start of the test there is an area that you are unsure of or do not fully comprehend then ask the assessor for help.
3. As with any exam you need to answer as many questions as possible correctly so be careful of the time spent on each question. If you are not sure of the answer or don't understand the question, don't get flustered, leave it and move on.
4. Finally, when you have reached the end of the questions and there remain some unanswered ones go back and have another go. If you still don't know the answer just guess, you might come out lucky!
I will now try and give you some insight into what you can expect from the different types of tests and how to answer them. I am no expert at the end of the day so I can only go off past experience and information I have read up on the subject.
Ability/Aptitude Tests:
Ability and aptitude tests are set to assess your specific skills. You will sit the test and the result you get will indicate to your future employer your overall level of ability. The content of the test may be general questions set to see how you think, how you deal with specific circumstances and what type of logic you are using to come up with your answer. These tests are frequently designed using multiple choice questions, or what we called multiple guess questions in my day at school! Sometimes these tests will be set using far more questions than can possibly be answered in the allotted time but it is quality not quantity the examiner will be looking for as your overall score will be a percentage of the right questions answered, not how many questions have been answered. It is fairly easy to do some preparation for aptitude tests. Most of these tests are based around logical thinking. This is something we all do in everyday life. If you really want to try and increase your logical thinking you could try the doing the daily crossword in your newspaper, Sudoku which you can get from most local shops, or even play it on the internet for free. You could try buying one of those puzzle magazines from the newsagents. What I am getting at here is that you need to get your mind working in a logical thinking way. By carrying out exercises that involve mathematical puzzles and problem solving you will give yourself a good start. Remember the more practice you get the better you will become at doing these tests.
Motivation Tests/Personality Tests:
Motivation questionnaires are set to specifically analyse what "motivates" or "drives" you as a person and how you are likely to integrate that into your work. Also how much stamina you have or how much enthusiasm you dedicate to a project. These tests are set using a question, followed by several possible answers. Personality tests are very similar to Motivation Tests and are designed to assess what type of person you are, unlike Aptitude tests which are created to analyse what type of logic you use to address problem solving. There is no right or wrong answer for Personality tests because everybody thinks differently. These tests are designed to see if you will fit in with the company's way of thinking or into the type of job you will be doing. Generally speaking there will be no time limit set at a personality test so they are not as pressurised as aptitude tests. It is not possible to analyse what sort of information the employer is looking for when you take a personality test as different employers will be looking for different qualities and they may be aimed at how well you are going to fit in with their team and company. However, the general type of areas your employer may be looking to quantify are what your attitude is to your work life and personal life, how well you communicate with others, what drives you and how you deal with sorting out and solving problems.
Candidate Short listing and Assessment Centre Use
Assessment Centres
There are many different ways for an interviewer to shortlist candidates. I have looked at general interviews, telephone interview, psychometric testing and so on. Another area that potential employers use to assess potential candidates capabilities are what are known as assessment centres. Again these are not generally used in isolation. They will form part of the whole selection process. An assessment centre is a place where you will take a test that will probably involve some form of practical work.
Some jobs, by their nature alone, are going to be dependent upon a fully interactive well oiled team. It may be very, very important to the employer that the candidate who is offered the job is able to thoroughly interact with his colleagues to ensure that each project carried out runs smoothly and efficiently. For example you may be put with a group with other candidates and given a project to do. It could be something fairly simple like giving you a model bridge to build as a team, but with a deliberate problem built into the job. What will happen is you will work together to solve the problem and complete the project whilst you are being observed by the assessors or interviewer. What they will do is make notes about each candidate and the chances are they will be looking out for certain aspects, such as who takes the lead of the team, how well you interact with each other etc, etc.
It is often the case that you will get two or more people with the same type of leadership skills on one of these projects, hence possibly causing a clash of personalities. Your assessor will be looking at how well you can communicate with the other people. If you are a true team player or a natural leader then this type of test is a real opportunity to show your skills off and far less imposing than some of the other tests. If you enjoy being creative and interacting with others these assessments can be quite enjoyable. Aside from carrying out little projects you may also have to get involved with group discussions. There could be tasks where you are given a situation that has to be resolved with role play. Some tests may involve physical exercises which take you away for a couple of days and involve getting from one destination to another via an assault course to evaluate your team and leadership skills etc, etc.
Remember that you are under scrutiny by your assessors for each and everything you do whilst you are carrying out your tasks. Don't try and pretend you are a different person or something you are not These tests can take anything from several hours to several days to complete and trying to make out that you are a natural born leader, when you are not, will show through and your assessor will spot it a mile off.
Finally one thing I would add is that even if you are not a natural born leader you must contribute and get involved. If you just sit there and have no input or say nothing, it won't look good at all. Remember not to get into arguments with your team mates. Try and discuss any issues calmly. As I have mentioned it's always easy to start getting frustrated if you find yourself clashing with another team member and it is an issue that is fairly likely to raise its ugly head. If you get involved stay cool headed and professional. Try and enjoy the experience. It is a great way to enhance your interview skills and even in some cases make new friends!Interview Information for that Second Visit to Secure the Job
Second Interviews
If you have been invited back for a second interview then things are looking good. You have obviously managed to impress your interviewer in the first place or else you wouldn't have been invited back for another go. Don't get complacent though. It's just as important to do your preparation prior to the second interview as it was for your first. Your interviewer has either invited you back to get a little more information about you or it may be a more senior member of staff wants to meet you to ask some questions. It could be that the interviewer has decided that you are the best candidate but needs his superior to concur his decision. Many employers use recruitment agencies to carry out the first set of interviews on their behalf to save them time and get a pre-qualified shortlist of candidates. They will have briefed the agency as to what type of candidate they are looking for, qualifications, interpersonal skills etc, etc so this interview may be the first opportunity you have actually had to meet your potential new boss. If you have not already sat a psychometric test or aptitude test then it may be that this will be a requirement at the second interview although, again, if this is to be the case then the chances are that you will have been briefed about it before you attend. Occasionally time may have been against an interviewer at the first meeting and there may have been more questions that needed to be asked. This could be another reason you have been invited back, to clarify any outstanding points that your interviewer didn't ascertain previously. Remember that as the second interview shortlist may have several other candidates on it, your interviewer may want to explore your experience or interpersonal skills in more depth. One thing is for sure though, if you have got this far things are looking positive, so you will want to give this next meeting your very best.
Your second interview therefore is unlikely to follow the same format as the first. If another more senior member of staff is attending then the chances are that the interviewer will have already briefed them as to your background and shared any thoughts or concerns with them. However there may be one or two questions asked that you answered at the first interview. It could be that there are certain specific areas of concern that your interviewer has and it may well be that they will address these questions in a straight manner. There are going to be specific questions your interviewer is looking to find answers to, or clarification of. They are likely to be aimed at your ability to do the job should they offer it you. They could be based around your past performance with your present or previous employers. So it's a fair assumption that some of the questions will be along the lines of "give me an example of a project you have undertaken to increase your sales turnover" or "tell me how you managed to increase your weekly output from x to x". The questions are likely to be aimed at specifics.
It is fair to say that most second interviews usually follow a more informal approach than the first interview. In addition, the chances are you will already have met your interviewer once and you therefore may feel a little less nervous than on the first occasion. If you didn't accept a beverage when it was offered the first time, because you were worried you would throw the cup 6 foot up in the air whenever you were asked a question, you may feel confident to accept one in a less informal environment. Sometimes your interviewer may decide to conduct the second interview outside of the office in either a pub or restaurant. This can be done for a couple of reasons. It may be that the interviewer feels if you are in a more relaxed environment you will let your guard down and that any questions he asks you may attract answers that are more truthful. Secondly, it could be that your interviewer wants to assess your interpersonal and communication skills outside of an office environment. This is something that may be relevant to the interviewer if the job role is going to entail entertaining clients socially. Whatever happens, do not get lured into a false sense of security. Keep professionalism at the forefront of your mind and only say something you would be prepared to say if the interview was being conducted back at the office. If you are offered an alcoholic drink, by all means accept one if you think the circumstances are right. Obviously if you don't drink you can say so. However try and keep it to one. Alcohol is a natural relaxant and if you do drink too much you may let your guard down and you end up saying something you regret, like telling a joke that was perhaps not really suitable for the occasion!
What to do next whilst you wait for the News
So whats Next?
"Thank God for that" I hear you say when you get home and sit down with a cup of tea; the feeling of overwhelming stress starts to drift from your body and a warm feeling of relief enters your soul. However, there is still one more job to do before you sit back and wait for the post to drop on your door mat with the job offer and that is write a letter to your interviewer offering your thanks for the time afforded to you. You need to do it immediately prior to a decision being made about the job. After all it is only courteous and professional to thank someone for the time they have given you. A short letter of thanks to the interviewer is going to give the impression that you have manners; that you really have appreciated the time given to you; that you are a professional person who has good and upstanding morals and that you want to stand out from the crowd to prove that the job really is important to you. It sounds old fashioned but for most employers these are all qualities that an interviewer will be looking for in their ideal candidate and if the decision in close between you and a competitor it could tip the scales in your favour. There is another purpose to writing a thank you letter and that is that you will be one of the few that will bother to put any effort into doing so. What will this achieve? Well, when it comes to selection time, if you are the only person to have written a thank you letter that will be a plus point above everyone else. In turn you will stand out from the crowd and your name will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression in the interviewer's mind. I am not saying that this is going to swing the job in your favour, as there are going to be many factors involved when the interviewer is making his or her decision, but it could do.
What does the letter need to say? Only you can decide what to write but it could be something along the lines of "Thank you for giving me the opportunity of meeting with you this afternoon. I very much appreciate the time you have afforded to me. I would like to say that I am very interested in the job and should there be anything further you would like me to clarify please contact me on my mobile number provided on the top of my CV. I look forward to hearing from you in due course". It might be that there was something you forgot to tell them about yourself at the interview and you could add this but keep it brief and only add it if it really is relevant. The idea is for the interviewer to read and remember the letter not have to spend fifteen minutes wading through it.
Once you have finished your letter and rushed down to the post box to get it off first class, it's probably a good idea to go back and reflect for a short time on how the interview went. There might have been areas where you felt you said the wrong thing or there were things you wished you had said, but had forgotten. You may have made comments that your interviewer appeared impressed by; points that you may undoubtedly wish to use in future interviews should you not get this job. By the same token there may have been questions you didn't feel you gave good answers to. Try and analyse the whole interview as best as you can and jot down any plus points you can come up with or ways in which you can improve your general technique for the future. If you don't jot them down within a day or so you will have forgotten them, so even if you only have a scrap piece of paper write them on it; you never know when they may come in useful.If You Get The Job
Whats Next if you get offered the Job?
Thump! The post has arrived. You open your letter and YES, you have been offered the job! However, it might be that you have decided that you don't want this job after all and that you couldn't stand the interviewer or the company. If that is the case then you should let the employer know politely and as soon as possible; after all there may be someone out there that really does want the job. Turn them down in a professional manner. It is always prudent to remember that you never know when, or if, you and your interviewer's paths might cross again. The last thing you want is to find you've happily settled into your new job and six months down the line your new manager happens to be the interviewer who has now joined your company! A lot happens in industry. Takeovers, mergers, reverse takeovers, you name it, and most industries are very incestuous. So it's not a good idea to tell them to shove their job "where the sun doesn't shine" or anything else along these lines. If you have changed your mind and don't fancy the job anymore just decline it professionally and you then don't have to worry about "what goes around comes around".
Life is never simple. If it were we would all be living in mud huts, feeding our children by living off the land and never worrying about a thing: no complications, decisions to make or anything else. But that isn't the case. The problem you may have is if you have applied for several jobs and attended several interviews and then you get offered one, it may not be your preferred choice. It could be that you are still waiting for an answer from another company, which is the job you would really like, but have not yet had a reply from them. You don't want to accept the first job and then find out a couple of days later that you've been offered the second one. It would be a disaster. Well, there's a couple of ways you can play this. The first thing you need to do in this position would be to try and create yourself some breathing space; buy a bit of time. You could contact the employer and say to them that you're really pleased that they have chosen to offer you the job you'd just like a day to make your mind up for certain or discuss it with your wife. After all changing jobs is a big decision; one that you are not going to make lightly. This isn't an unreasonable request and as long as you keep the time extension short they won't think anything of it. However if you start asking for a week to think about it then your potential new employer is going to start getting suspicious and you could be risking the offer. Don't forget they've been around the block a few times and know their job. No one wants to play second best and if they think you're looking for a better offer with another company, you could blow your chances once and for all.
Now you really are in the driving seat! You have a job offer on the table for a job that you really wouldn't mind doing at all because you know you could do it well. You have little to lose providing you play your cards right. So what do you do next? A good idea would be to contact the company whose decision you are waiting on and explain the situation. Chances are they will be glad to hear that they are your first choice and it always looks good if other organisations want to employ you. However it's fairly unlikely that they will give you an answer there and then. It may be that they will get back to you the following day with their decision. It really doesn't matter if it's no, because all of your doors are still open. It isn't a good idea to play this game if you haven't been offered another job, although it may seem tempting, because the end result could be disastrous. You don't want to lose the chances of getting this job by being overzealous.
Negotiating Your Salary & Benefits Package:
Now comes the really important part. It's always wise to leave discussing salary and any benefits package until you've been offered the job. The reason being, once your future employer has decided that you're the employee for them, you are in a better position to negotiate a mutually acceptable deal. This is not just about money and benefits. It's about your whole contract which includes salary, benefits, holiday entitlement, and working hours plus of course those free season tickets to your favourite football team or use of the corporate hospitality box!! By negotiating it will give the perception that you know what you are actually worth. This might not be exactly what your employer wants to offer, on the basis that you are asking for more than they really want to pay, but it will show that you have good negotiating qualities, a strong personality and good negotiation skills. This will have a good bearing should you be entering a sales orientated role. It's a good quality to have. However, there is little point in trying to squeeze them like a lemon with unrealistic sums. At the end of the day they can only pay you what they can afford and you might end up losing the job at the last minute; something you won't want to do due to greed.
So the big question here is how are you going to determine how much they value you and what are they willing to pay you? Well in all honesty it's no good just plucking a figure out of the air. When you applied for the position the chances are that there would have been an indication of the salary on offer, whether that was a "Salary In The Region Of X" or "Basic Salary In The Region Of X With On Target Earnings Of X" or "Salary Between X and X Subject To Experience". Aim for the top end of the scale or if you are really cheeky you could try and squeeze them for 5% – 15% more than the quoted figure. They can only say no and the chances are you will end up getting more than they would have offered you in the first place. Remember that if you can prove to your future employer that you are better than the average "Joe" you will have a far better chance of negotiating your way to the higher level of the salary bracket. So how do you prove this? Well your qualifications are always a good start. If you have more qualifications than were originally advertised for the position then that's a plus point. You will definitely need to prepare some justifications for asking for the top dollar rate but you could say something like "I'm not only ACII qualified but am four parts FCII qualified and you were originally looking for candidates who were working towards completing their FCII" or "The advertisement for the job stated that the candidate must have two years sales experience for the position whereas I have five years including 12 months experience in pure new business lead generation".
At the end of the day you have been offered the job based on your experience along with other attributes and because you were an overall better candidate than the other applicants. All you really need to do is point out these qualities and use them in your negotiation techniques.
Additional Employment Benefits:
There are other benefits that may apply that are not necessarily salary orientated. They are things such as holiday entitlement, luncheon vouchers or expenses, performance related bonuses, commission, overtime, profit sharing, private health insurance, share options, childcare contribution, sports / gym facilities, company car, mobile phone, rail or travel ticket and non contributory pension. This list is not exhaustive and it would be unrealistic to ask for all of these benefits. The best thing to do is choose maybe two or three and see how you get on. It may be that your employer doesn't want to provide a company car but he may be prepared to finance your travel to and from work. Compromise is as always the golden rule.
Now let's face it, some hard ball managers, whether they be HR Managers or Heads of Department, are going to try and get you as cheaply as possible, so there could be some dirty tactics at play at negotiation stage. You can just bet your bottom dollar that they will be holding a card up their sleeve to try and get you to agree to a lesser package or make you take on more responsibilities that the job role originally stated. Generally speaking this is a little bit "Un British" and ruthless and the chances are they will pull this one out of the hat just when you have almost struck your salary deal. A good example of this is where your employer tells you his right hand man is off sick and is likely to be off for at least six months and would you therefore mind taking over his work. It's not that you don't want to demonstrate what a hard working person you are or that you can't do the job but you've basically agreed on a salary that was acceptable and now you're finding out the job is twice as involved. It's now much harder to go back and negotiate and your employer knows this! All is not lost however. You can prevent this situation happening by you both laying down your cards at the start. All you might say is "We need to talk about my salary, benefits package and holiday entitlement. Are there any other areas or issues concerning the job role or workload that you feel we should discuss whilst we talk about this?" You have now made it extremely difficult for your employer not to mention the fact that his right hand man is off sick and you will be required to do his job as well as your own for the next six months. You can use this in your salary negotiation.
Confirmation Of Your Employer's Job Offer:
When you have agreed everything with your employer, salary and benefits package, working hours, holiday entitlement etc, etc and both you and your employer have agreed on the final points of the deal then your employer should issue you with a letter of confirmation of the offer. This should encompass all of the agreed areas. Once you receive this and are satisfied that everything is correct you should formally respond to your new employer agreeing the terms and conditions outlined in the offer letter.
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Thanks and regards,
S.KARTHIKESAN
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