Why is it even the most confident person turns into a quibbling wreck when it comes to the thought of an interview? Honest answer, we are scared to talk about ourselves; scared to 'Blow our own trumpet' but if we don't how will they ever know..... During any interview the primary objective of the interviewer is to ascertain:
1. Are you the right person for the job
2. Do you have the skill set for the role and promotional prospects
3. Will you fit in with the company/team ethos Interviewers often have their own style of questioning or they may follow a competency style of questions or utilise assessment based; having an understanding of the different style of interview will put you at ease.
Free style interviews- this is where the interviewer creates their own questions, some may be open-ended i.e. Tell me about yourself? Describe your most recent position and any key achievements in that position
Competency based interviews- these are also known as skills-based, behavioural, situational or structured interviews. Targeting the principle that previous experience and performance is the best predictor of future performance. The interviewer will ask questions to seek examples of past behaviour to provide evidence that you have the necessary competencies to be suitable for the role.
Question examples:
Describe a situation when you handled customer complaints.
Give an example of a time when you achieved positive customer feedback
Assessment based interviews - interviewers may construct a selection of tests to analyse your potential, these may include psychometric tests and/or tasks to analyse your behaviour such as team building, prioritisation and communication. You would normally be advised in advance for assessment-based interviews.
Try to remember in any interview it is in the interviewers best interest to get the best out of you, they are not trying to catch you out, they just want to make sure you are the person they are looking for.
Preparation
Often one of the easiest ways to survive the interview is down to preparation. As individuals we work hard, deliver results and remained focused towards our objectives, but this is our day job and we forget just what we have delivered, and these are the points a potential employer wants to know about. It is important to allow yourself enough time to prepare. Solid preparation can assist in your confidence and ability to respond to any questions or tasks you are asked to perform. It is a good idea to allow your self 2/3 hours preparation time either the night or the morning before an interview. Remember 'Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance!' A good way to prepare for an interview is to create a skills matrix pertinent towards the job role you are applying for, if the organisation has issued a job description this will detail the role and skills/competencies required. If not, you know the type of role you are applying for and should be able to create a list of key requirements. Create a matrix with the skills required and think of 4/5 examples of your own achievements for those skills for example:
Customer Relationship Skills
1. Handled customer complaints; resolved a key client issue avoiding refund.
2. Trained and developed junior team members in customer interaction to provide additional sales through standards of service provided.
3. Awarded employee of the month for outstanding reviews on a customer satisfaction survey.
4. Developed relationships with secretarial and administration teams within the local area; creating loyalty and ensuring preferential accommodation rates.
Continue to build the matrix with all the skills and attributes applicable for the job role. This will help reaffirm your own memory and also help at the interview as you have already done the thinking prior to being asked any interview question, making question responses more fluid and impactive. It is important to demonstrate that you are knowledgeable about the organisation and the job role so make sure you do your research.
Presentation
It is important to be smart and appropriately dressed for an interview, but do make sure you are comfortable in the clothes you wear, avoid the clothes you hate as this will dampen your confidence, by wearing things you know you look good in will boost your confidence.
During the Interview
Be positive, maintain eye contact, use visual acknowledgments and body language to show you are interested i.e. nod, smile, sit up and don't fidget. Answer the questions honestly and factually (remembering your matrix) Don't be afraid to ask questions to either clarify questions asked of you or to gain more information about the company, if you are going to work with them it is a good idea to know all about them. Last but not least remember the interviewer only wants to get the best out of you, they do not want to make you feel ill at ease so relax.
1. Are you the right person for the job
2. Do you have the skill set for the role and promotional prospects
3. Will you fit in with the company/team ethos Interviewers often have their own style of questioning or they may follow a competency style of questions or utilise assessment based; having an understanding of the different style of interview will put you at ease.
Free style interviews- this is where the interviewer creates their own questions, some may be open-ended i.e. Tell me about yourself? Describe your most recent position and any key achievements in that position
Competency based interviews- these are also known as skills-based, behavioural, situational or structured interviews. Targeting the principle that previous experience and performance is the best predictor of future performance. The interviewer will ask questions to seek examples of past behaviour to provide evidence that you have the necessary competencies to be suitable for the role.
Question examples:
Describe a situation when you handled customer complaints.
Give an example of a time when you achieved positive customer feedback
Assessment based interviews - interviewers may construct a selection of tests to analyse your potential, these may include psychometric tests and/or tasks to analyse your behaviour such as team building, prioritisation and communication. You would normally be advised in advance for assessment-based interviews.
Try to remember in any interview it is in the interviewers best interest to get the best out of you, they are not trying to catch you out, they just want to make sure you are the person they are looking for.
Preparation
Often one of the easiest ways to survive the interview is down to preparation. As individuals we work hard, deliver results and remained focused towards our objectives, but this is our day job and we forget just what we have delivered, and these are the points a potential employer wants to know about. It is important to allow yourself enough time to prepare. Solid preparation can assist in your confidence and ability to respond to any questions or tasks you are asked to perform. It is a good idea to allow your self 2/3 hours preparation time either the night or the morning before an interview. Remember 'Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance!' A good way to prepare for an interview is to create a skills matrix pertinent towards the job role you are applying for, if the organisation has issued a job description this will detail the role and skills/competencies required. If not, you know the type of role you are applying for and should be able to create a list of key requirements. Create a matrix with the skills required and think of 4/5 examples of your own achievements for those skills for example:
Customer Relationship Skills
1. Handled customer complaints; resolved a key client issue avoiding refund.
2. Trained and developed junior team members in customer interaction to provide additional sales through standards of service provided.
3. Awarded employee of the month for outstanding reviews on a customer satisfaction survey.
4. Developed relationships with secretarial and administration teams within the local area; creating loyalty and ensuring preferential accommodation rates.
Continue to build the matrix with all the skills and attributes applicable for the job role. This will help reaffirm your own memory and also help at the interview as you have already done the thinking prior to being asked any interview question, making question responses more fluid and impactive. It is important to demonstrate that you are knowledgeable about the organisation and the job role so make sure you do your research.
Presentation
It is important to be smart and appropriately dressed for an interview, but do make sure you are comfortable in the clothes you wear, avoid the clothes you hate as this will dampen your confidence, by wearing things you know you look good in will boost your confidence.
During the Interview
Be positive, maintain eye contact, use visual acknowledgments and body language to show you are interested i.e. nod, smile, sit up and don't fidget. Answer the questions honestly and factually (remembering your matrix) Don't be afraid to ask questions to either clarify questions asked of you or to gain more information about the company, if you are going to work with them it is a good idea to know all about them. Last but not least remember the interviewer only wants to get the best out of you, they do not want to make you feel ill at ease so relax.
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