JOB INTERVIEW SKILLS

MAHENGE, W.
© 2013
Preparation is the key to success

– Review own skills, experiences and qualities

• Check CV
• Anticipate questions and identify relevant examples
• Prepare key selling points
– Research organisation
• Websites, reports, articles, company literature, etc
• Contacts with knowledge of organisation or sector
• Relevant articles in the press
• Personal visit or telephone call
– Research job and occupational area
• Job description – or similar
• Current issues
– Prepare your questions
– Practice
 How to dress for an interview
• Keep the skin to a minimum
There are no universal rules for workplace
wardrobes, but you can usually assume that
employers don't want you to bare too much
skin in the workplace. Even before you're
hired, employers want to know you have good
judgment, which means dressing as if you're
already on the job -- or at least dressing
cautiously until you know how lax the
company's dress code is.
 Get the best fit

• Most job seekers are trying to look professional for

their interviews, but sometimes a few simple missteps
can harm their image and make the wrong impression.
• To get the right clothing fit, it is recommends that men
ask if stores offer tailoring. If the service isn't offered,
they should check with their local dry cleaner. Women
often encounter problems when they don't choose the
right clothing for their body shape. "Accentuating
curves and hiding problem areas are important when
dressing for any event. Try to be well covered in your
‘sensitive’ areas...unless you have a ‘hidden agenda’
 Keep it subtle

As a rule of thumb, what you wear should not be more

memorable than what you say during the interview. In
some fields, such as interior design, fashion and hair
styling, it's often acceptable -- and in some cases,
preferred -- to show attention to trends and take risks
with your wardrobe. For most fields, however,
employers prefer their workers to dress on the side of
caution. Basic black or blue suits and skirts are safe
bets for an interview, as they're unlikely to raise any
eyebrows. That doesn't mean your wardrobe must be
devoid of personality, however.
 Look polished
• Tailored clothes help your professional image, but
they're pointless if you're going to show up looking as
if you just pulled your suit out of the bottom of the
hamper. (Note: Always make sure your clothes are
clean a few days before your interview so you're not
actually pulling your suit out of the bottom of the
hamper.)
• "Once you've nailed your best fit, always be sure your
pieces are properly pressed before heading to the
office or an interview. Showing up in clean, non-
wrinkled apparel shows you care about your
appearance and yourself,"
 Practice
• Practice
Practice answering interview questions and
practice your responses to the typical job
interview questions and answers most
employers ask. Think of actual examples you
can use to describe your skills. Providing
evidence of your successes is a great way to
promote your candidacy. Also have a list of
your own questions to ask the employer
ready.
 Research
• Prepare a response so you are ready for the
question What do you know about this
company? Know the interviewer's name and
use it during the job interview. If you're not
sure of the name, call and ask prior to the
interview. Try to relate what you know about
the company when answering questions.
 GET READY
• Make sure your interview attire is neat, tidy
and appropriate for the type of firm you are
interviewing with. Bring a nice portfolio with
copies of your resume. Include a pen and
paper for note taking.
 Be On Time

Be on time for the interview. On time means

five to ten minutes early. If need be, take
some time to drive to the interview location
ahead of time so you know exactly where you
are going and how long it will take to get
there.
 Stay Calm
• During the job interview try to relax and stay
as calm possible. Take a moment to regroup.
Maintain eye contact with the interviewer.
Listen to the entire question before you
answer and pay attention - you will be
embarrassed if you forget the question!
 Follow Up

• Always follow-up with a thank you note

reiterating your interest in the position. If you
interview with multiple people send each one
a personal thank you note. Send your thank
you note (email is fine) within 24 hours of
your interview.
 Types of Interview Questions
When you go on a job interview there are a
variety of types of interview questions you'll
be asked. You'll be asked about your
employment history, your ability to work on a
team, your leadership skills, your motivation,
as well as other interview questions related to
your skills and abilities.
Interview Questions Listed by Job
• The better prepared you are to answer the
specific questions that are related to the job
for which you are applying, the more
successful your interview will be. Here are
interview questions for a variety of different
types of positions.
 Qualities Employers Seek
• Good all-round intelligence
• Enthusiasm, commitment and motivation
• Good communication skills
• Team work ability
• Ability to solve problems
• Capacity to work hard
• Initiative and self-reliance
• Balanced personality
 Preparing for Competency Interview

• Identify the competencies required for job

– Review job description or ask for information
• Define each competency in behavioural terms
• Identify past experience to illustrate how you
demonstrated that behaviour
• Prepare examples for each competency
• Practice talking about your experience
• Try to give a complete answer - STAR
 Watch the Body Language
• First impressions very powerful
– Halo effect or Devil effect
• Allow time to relax
• Dress appropriately
• Entrance, introductions & handshake
• Smile and make eye contact
• Be aware of own movements
• Watch body language of interviewer
 After the Interview
Review own performance
what went well
what went badly
what you wished you had said
prepare for next stage
Invitation to second / final round interviews
assessment centre
psychometric testing
panel interview
Rejection letter / email
if you can request feedback - use it
 Top 10 Interview Questions
There are questions that employers
commonly ask at job interviews and it's
important to be prepared to respond to those
interview questions. Review the top 10
interview questions you'll most likely be asked
at a job interview.
 Typical interview questions
1. What is your greatest strength?
2. What is your greatest weakness?
3. How do you handle stress and pressure?
4. Describe a difficult work situation / project
and how you overcame it.
5. How do you evaluate success?
 Questions Cont’d
6. Why are you leaving or have left your job?
7. Why do you want this job?
8. Why should we hire you?
9. What are your goals for the future?
10.Tell me/us about yourself.
 Tell me/us about yourself.

• Answer these questions in terms of the qualifications

required of the position.
• Keep responses concise and brief and avoid being
derogatory or negative about previous jobs and
bosses.
• “Tell me about yourself” means, “Tell me about your
qualifications”. Prepare a one to two minute
discussion of your qualifications. Start with education
and discuss your experiences. Describe your
performance (in raises, promotions, innovative
designs, sales volume, increased profits, etc.)
Why are you leaving or have left your job?

– Regardless of why you left, don't speak badly

about your previous employer. The interviewer
may wonder if you will be bad-mouthing his
company next time you're looking for work.
– Regardless of why you left, don't speak badly
about your previous employer. The interviewer
may wonder if you will be bad-mouthing his
company next time you're looking for work.
 Why should we hire you?

• A typical interview question, asked to get your opinion,

or to validate the interviewer's opinion, on why you
would be the best candidate for the position, is "Why
should we hire you?"
• The best way to respond is to give concrete examples
of why your skills and accomplishments make you the
best candidate for the job. Take a few moments to
compare the job description with your abilities, as well
as mentioning what you have accomplished in your
other positions. Be positive and reiterate your interest
in the company and the position
 Why should I hire you for this position?

• Explain your qualifications and how they “fit”

the available position. Address your interest
in the job and the field and why it’s work that
you enjoy. Emphasize your ability to
successfully perform the duties required.
 What is your greatest strength?
• What are your greatest strengths?
Interviewers like to hear abstract qualities.
Loyalty, willingness to work hard, eagerness, fast-
learner, technical skills, politeness, and
promptness expressed in concrete terms are good
examples. Avoid the simple generalization “I like
people”. It is not a good answer.
 What are your career goals?

• Your answer should depend on a specific time

frame:
• Short term: “I want to be the best in my current
position, while learning additional
responsibilities. This, in itself, will assure my
commitment to the firm and raise me to the next
level of responsibility and promotion. I see
myself wanting to stay technical but learn the
necessary skills to lead people and projects.”
 Goals cont’d
• Long term: “After proving my abilities, I see
myself in a firm with the possibility of moving
into a level of management that allows me to
keep my skills sharp.”
 Salary Questions

Salary discussions should be avoided if possible.

• What type of salary do you have in mind?
• DO NOT state a starting figure. A suitable
reply: “I am looking for the right opportunity
and I am confident that if you find me the best
candidate for this position, you will extend me
your best and most fair offer.”
 Personality Questions

– What do you do in your spare time?

• Workaholics are not always the best
employees. Present yourself as a well-
rounded person. Your answer gives you
dimension. Name some hobbies.
 INTERVIEW Dos
• Sound happy when you say, “I’m happy to
meet you.” (Not to mention, look your
interviewer in the eye and shake their hand
firmly.)
• Keep your hands where we can see them—
out of pockets when standing, on the table
when sitting. We trust you when we can see
your hands, we don’t trust you when we can’t.
 DOs
• Clean up your Facebook/MySpace/Twitter
page. Any posts or photos that don’t say, “I
can be trusted with $100,000” have to go.
• Research the company/interviewer
exhaustively. What’s their bestselling
product/mission statement/biggest
competitor? Why specifically do you want to
work for them? How exactly are you going to
contribute to their success?
 Interview Dos
• Have the answer to, “What’s your greatest
strength/weakness?” (FYI: Your greatest
weakness is just a strength taken to an
extreme, “I’m so interested in my subject, I
tend to inundate people with detail about it.
But I’m learning to pick and choose what
information will be most effective,” etc.
 Interview DONTS
– Use useless modifiers. (Great, amazing, incredible,
etc.) Something is only one of these things if you
tell me why.
– Sit with a “too cool for school” attitude (leaning
back, one leg crossed over the other, one arm
thrown over the back of the chair.) Sit up and
forward in your chair. Lean toward your
interviewer. Smile.
– Arrive wearing MP3 headphones in your
ears/sunglasses on your head/ carrying a bag
that’s bulging with papers or old sandwiches, etc.
 DONT
• Bad mouth your former employers. If you
didn’t enjoy the experience, simply say you’re
looking forward to still more challenges.
Employers prize loyalty.
• Don’t accept any food/drink offered to you
during the interview
• Don’t chew anything during the interview
even if you were smoking a while ago and you
are trying to kill the smell
 Your Questions
• Training programmes
• Career development opportunities
• Types of projects & responsibilities
• Reporting structure
• Performance appraisal
• Profile of staff
• Questions about topics raised in interview
• What happens next?
 After the Interview
Review own performance
what went well
what went badly
what you wished you had said
prepare for next stage
Invitation to second / final round interviews
assessment centre
psychometric testing
panel interview
Rejection letter / email
if you can request feedback - use it