Posted on 7/11/2018 by Consult Group
- Know the company
Most all companies these days, have a website – ensure you Learn as much about the company before attending the interview. Be Careful – don’t come across as a know it all. Instead, use the information to ask questions about the company and role. - Rehearse the questions
List on paper all the questions you think an interviewer may ask you. Prepare sample answers, writing these down also – the act of writing down the questions and answers will ensure you remember them. Practice with someone answering these questions. - Identify your weaknesses
Think about your weaknesses. What would you be prepared to expose as an area of your experience/skill that is currently lacking? Interviewers expect people to emphasize their strengths but do not expect to hear of a “need”. They will appreciate your candor, it will impress them. However, ensure whatever you disclose can be easily remedied or you can show how you are overcoming the weakness. - Re-read your resume
Go over your resume and plan how you will address any “time gaps”. For instance, if you had a couple of months between leaving one job and taking up the next, make sure you have a legitimate explanation. - Be driven by your achievements
Ensure your past history, academia and work, is achievement driven. Be prepared to talk about specific achievements rather than your job description. Explain how you feel/felt about a success or failure. - Questions
Avoid those questions that push the interviewer for a commitment – unless you are interviewing for a sales job.
Try these:
- “Would you tell me about the people who work in the team?”
- “How have other people progressed in the organization?”
- “What is the decision process and timeframe for selecting someone for this role?” - Using third person tense
Use third person tense, not “I” when talking about the job. Avoid sounding as though you assume the job is yours. Don’t ask: “What would my salary be in a year’s time?” Instead: “What would the position potentially pay in a year?” - Be positive
Find something positive about the company from your web browsing that you feel the interviewer will know about and feed them the opportunity to (proudly) talk about it. Leaving a good impression after the interview may help with other recommendations or referrals either within or outside the company. - Photographs
IF your resume does not contain a photograph ensure that you have both a spare photo and resume with you. When the interviewer is going back through their interview notes it helps them to recall you more easily. - Be sure of the interview location
Regardless of how genuine the reason, a late arrival is usually viewed as a huge negative and your fault. Make a test run to the interview location the day before. Ensure your mobile phone is fully charged and use a GPS app if possible. Should you get stuck in traffic, you can at least warn the interviewer of your delay and approximate time of arrival.