What is an Interview?

A job interview is a conversation which occurs

between a potential employer and a job
applicant. During the job interview, the
employer has the opportunity to appraise
applicant’s qualifications, appearance and
general fitness for the job opening. In parallel
the applicant tries to learn more about the
position, to appraise the employer and to find out if your needs and interests will be met.
Think of the interview as a conversation between two people where each person is
trying to learn more about the other. The interview process is a two-way street. You are
traveling toward a goal—the right job and the employer is traveling toward a goal—the
right hire.

Traits on which you will be judged

1. Personal Characteristics. Do you have good grooming? Do you have good
manners? Do you maintain good eye contact?
2. Self-Expression. Are you confident in expressing your ideas?
3. Maturity. What about your overall sense of balance? Can you make value
judgments and decisions?
4. Personality. What are you like? Outgoing? Shy? Overbearing? Quiet? Will you
fit into their corporate culture?
5. Experience. What about your academic achievements? Involvement in
extracurricular activities? Job skills?
6. Enthusiasm and Interest. Are you really interested in the employer? The
particular job? Industry?
7. Career Goals. What do you want to do in your professional life? Is it consistent
with the company goals?

More about the Interview

As a general rule, a job interview is an important part of the process of applying for a
job, and it may range in formality from a casual conversation to a series of serious
discussions with an assortment of people working within the company.

If a job applicant manages to land a job interview, it indicates that the employer has at
least some interest. Typically, an applicant responds to an advertised job opening,
providing a resume and other requested materials. The employer or a representative
reviews all received applications, and decides who should be invited back for an
interview. In some cases, a preliminary interview may be held on the phone, to save
resources and time for both parties.

Depending on the size of a company and its organization, an applicant may only have
one job interview. This is common with small businesses, in which candidates are often
interviewed directly by the employer. In other cases, a representative of the human
resources department may interview a candidate first, and then he or she will go
through a series of interviews with potential supervisors and other personnel. Larger
companies may also have interview panels with multiple members who cooperate to
make a decision.

Coaching for job interviews can get quite extensive. As a general rule, it is a good idea
to dress neatly, as though you are dressing for work. In addition, it helps to be
organized and well put together. It helps to be able to answer questions about material
on your resume, for example, and it is an excellent idea to put together a list of
questions of your own. After a job interview, it is conventional to shake hands with the
interviewers, and to follow up with a thank-you letter to keep your face fresh in the mind
of your potential employer.

Preparing for a face-to-face interview

Your interview invitation will probably give the
following information. If not, it is perfectly
acceptable to ring up and ask:
  How long will the interview last?
 What format will the interview take?
 Will there be any tests or group exercises?
 Do I need to bring or prepare anything specific?

Make sure that you:

 double check the time and date of your interview;

 know how to get to the venue and how long the journey takes;
 confirm your travel arrangements carefully, especially if you have to make rail
connections;
 check for any planned disruptions to road or rail services;
 plan to arrive early, rather than rushing in late. This is especially important for
assessment centres, where the day runs on a tight schedule;
 find out if accommodation is provided if needed.

What
to take

*The interview letter, with the

name(s) of the interviewer(s) and
their address and phone number.
*A map of how to get there.
*A copy of your CV and/or application
form.
*A note of the key points you want to make and any questions you want to ask.
*Money for a taxi in case you are running late.
*A number to call if you are running late (but remember to switch your mobile off
before going into the interview).
*A small bottle of water.

Top five interview dos and don'ts

It’s no surprise that a strong interview is a determining factor in securing a new position.
The more prepared you are, the more confident you will be - resulting in a better
outcome.
To ensure you put your best foot forward we have outlined some common interview
faux pas to avoid when facing the pressure of a job interview.

So, what are the top five things you should always do before or during an interview?

1. Do your homework
Preparation is the first essential step in the interview process, so don’t let yourself down
before it’s even taken place. Researching the company you are meeting with will show
your interest in the business and give you an upper hand. Look at their website and
what’s happening in the news to widen your research and see what the media is saying
about the company. Don’t limit your research to this alone - make sure you research the
background of your interviewers, including their career history and specific
achievements.

2. Make a good first impression

If you're going to a face-to-face interview, plan your trip there, do a trial run if it is at an
unfamiliar location and arrive a few minutes early for the interview. Late arrival for a job
interview is inexcusable. Bring your CV and ensure you know the dates and its specifics
so you can confidently talk through your CV and give examples.

For a video interview, minimise technical issues by testing your video tool the day
before your interview, on the day of your interview, ensure you are set up and ready to
go at least 15 minutes before your scheduled time, in a quiet and comfortable place.
You won't have the luxury of being able to offer a firm handshake or make eye contact
with your interviewer, so the best alternative is for you to smile confidently and appear
interested and engaged.

Looking the part is also important and you can rarely go wrong wearing a well-fitting
suit. The amount of care you take in your presentation is a sign of your interest in the
role and your seriousness in making a good impression.

3. Listen and respond accordingly

Too often the feedback from clients is that the candidate does not answer the question
in a clear and direct manner. Don’t run circles around the questions, listen and answer
accordingly while using examples from your experience to back it up.

4. Prepare smart, open ended questions to ask the interviewer

Remember that an interview is a two-way street, asking questions will help illustrate
your interest and motivation to succeed in the role and company, as well as get you
noticed and separate you from other candidates. It will also determine if this really is the
opportunity or business you want to join.
“Communicating your experience and successes clearly will highlight any of your
strengths that are relevant to the role. “
5. Sell your strengths and expertise
Make sure that you communicate your strengths to the interviewer in a concise, factual
and sincere manner.

Now you know what you should do, what are the top five things you should not do at an
interview?

1. Don’t speak poorly about your present or former employers

The interviewer will assume you will do this to them if you leave and question your
professionalism. This is a big red flag to anyone interviewing a candidate.

2. Don’t falsify information

Answer questions truthfully and as close to the point as possible. Explain and describe
things about yourself that relate to the position on offer, and truly reflect your past
experience. If you are being probed in an area that is not a strength, be honest and let
your interviewer know you are willing to learn or work on and how you can up skill in this
area. Follow that with strengths you have in another area that you could bring to the
table.

3. Don’t speak over the interviewer

It is important to be a good listener as well as a good talker. It shows that you are
respectful and have strong interpersonal skills. If you are interviewing via a video
platform remember that there will be a slight time delay, avoid rushing to answer a
question in case your interviewer hasn't finished speaking.

4. Don’t assume it isn’t an interview

Regardless of what interview stage you are at or who you are meeting - it may be over a
coffee, a few drinks or just labelled a final chat - it is still used as an opportunity to
assess your suitability for the potential role.

5. Don’t let any past rejections infringe on future ones

Finding a new job can be taxing, make sure you approach every interview as a new
opportunity and learn from past interview mistakes. If you have several interviews lined
up, try to leave some space between them to ensure you are at your best.
ACTIVITY:
Prepare your personal answer to the following common interview questions. Write it in a long
bondpaper and pass it next week during our time.

 Tell me about yourself.

 What is your greatest strength?

 How do you handle failure?

 Why should we hire you?
 What can you contribute to this company?
 What applicable experiences do you have?
 What type of work environment do you prefer?
 Where do you see yourself five years from now?

NOTE: You can do some research online for the sample answers but
make sure that you can use those as reference. Try to construct your
own personal answers that would fit to your personalities and abilities.