Interview Tips
How to create a good first impression at the interview.
Remember: an interview is not an interrogation. It’s your opportunity to find out about prospective employers – and their chance to find out about you. Nobody wants to be a round peg in a square hole, so the more you find out about one another, the more likely you are both to be happy with the outcome of the interview.
Nevertheless, there are certain things you can do to improve your chances of being offered the job:
- Arrive on time – being late doesn’t create a great first impression!
- Smile, shake hands and say, ‘How do you do?’ when you enter the interview room.
- Dress in a businesslike way.
- Listen as well as answer questions – and to show you’re interested, ask a few questions yourself.
- If you are interested in the position, say so! Ask about the next stage tell them you hope to see them again.
- Say goodbye as politely as you said hello.
Questions to ask at Interview – don’t ask them all!!
Here are questions to consider asking at an interview – Pick a selection perhaps 3 or 4, tailor them to suit you and you so you feel comfortable asking
Job Position Interview Questions
- What are the prospects for growth for the person in this job?
- Is it a new position or a replacement for someone?
- What is the biggest challenge someone in this job faces on a daily basis?
- How has this position come about?
- How would you describe the daily tasks of this role?
- What are the key skills for success in this job?
- How will the company measure success within this role?
- What is the working pattern like for the role?
- Who will I be communicating with usually in this role?
- How do you think this role will evolve over time?
- How does the employee receive feedback in the role?
Interviewee Questions
- Could you describe your career path within the organisation?
- What would you say is the best thing about working for the company?
- Where do you see yourself in five years from now?
- What does the typical career path look like for an ambitious employee in this department?
Company Interview Questions
- How would you describe the culture of the organisation?
- What are the future goals of the company?
- Where do you see the company in three years’ time?
- What are the goals of the department?
- How would you describe the culture of the company?
- What do you think are the main challenges of the organisation in the coming years?
- What is the culture like in the department?
- How does the company provide feedback on performance?
- How visible are senior leaders within the organisation?
Post-Interview Questions
- When should I expect to hear back?
- How should I expect to hear back from you?
- When do you expect the job to start?
- What is the next stage if successful?