Job Interviews - Tips

Preparing for the job interview

Designed to be read with Job Interview Techniques which looks at the process of interviewing such as the different types of interviews you will encounter and how to handle them. Includes behavioural and situational interviewing, structured and unstructured interviews and open and closed questions.

This is where you need to be if you really want  professional in-depth information about the interview process.  Both sections are invaluable to the jobseeker.

You achieved your job search objective and are now competing on an even playing field with other applicants.

All applicants have been deemed suitable, on paper, to the employer’s needs and the employer will be comparing you with other short listed candidates. 

This section shows you how to participate in an interview with a definite plan and more confidence. Your job interview preparation will determine how well you perform  at the interview.

The way you perform at the job interview will be determined by how well you have done your preparation, and your knowledge of the job interview process used by the employer – whether it is formal or informal, for example. If it is a formal interview, with pre set questions, your answers need to be well thought out. You need to anticipate these questions in advance and practice.

Brief overview of job interview questions  

Be prepared for any interview situation. Here are some scenarios that have been discussed in more depth in  Job Interview Techniques

People always want definitive answers to common interview questions. The unstructured interview  (informal) isn’t about answering pre set questions. It is about thinking on your feet and being able to listen to what the employer wants.  The only thing you need to do is to know your skills abilities and what benefits you can offer the employer. 

In a structured interview (formal) you will need responses to all types of questions and you need to demonstrate the processes you used to do the job or solve problems.

Facing an aggressive interviewer

A problem you may face in an informal interview is an aggressive interviewer. An aggressive interviewer uses body language to intimidate you as well as asking awkward questions. I hope there are not too many of these "old school" interviewers about now.

Poor interviewer – closed questions

You may also come up against a poor and inexperienced interviewer who will ask closed questions. These interviews can be difficult and frustrating, so you must take some control. You may be able to turn this interviewer around by asking the questions yourself and use the marketing approach.  A section on how to approach open and closed questions can be found in Job Interview Techniques

Prepare your Referees

Due to the changes in the Privacy Act and the electronic age you should no longer put your referees on your resume, especially if posted on a job board or job searching website. This compromises your privacy as well as your referees' - particularly when you show the referee’s home and business addresses. You should just put "Due to privacy concerns referees provided on request." 
 

It has been said that some Employment Consultants view the absence of any referees, even when using "referees provided at the interview or on request,"  as a negative. Tough bickies. You are being ethical by not putting them on. Make sure you remind them it is a privacy issue by using "due to privacy concerns". and "upon request of referees, for privacy....". Surely they would not object to this. Certainly none of my clients have reported that this was an issue.

• Ensure you take a list of referees to give the employer.  You may want to add to your resume – “please contact me if you intend to contact my referees”. 

This is better than worrying your referee all the time. The exception is Government jobs.  Some employers ring the referees before they get the applicant in for an interview.

•  You should have asked your referees for permission to use them as a referee and you should have sent them your resume with a cover letter saying the type of jobs you are going for (especially if it is a career change).  For example, your referee may not know you have been studying and have a lot more skills than you used in you last job.

• If you get an interview send them a copy of the advertisement and let them know when you are going for the interview and then let them know the result.

Government positions require answers to a lot of questions, so ensure the referee understands the process and has a copy of the advertisement and perhaps your application (depends on your relationship with the person) because being a referee is a lot of work.  Nurture your referees and if you do get a job send them a thank you note and/or a gift.

Job interview preparation

First impressions  – non verbal communication

Remember, many untrained recruitment personnel/employers/managers (even tertiary trained HRM managers) will make a decision based on a range of factors.  They will make value judgements based on body language and the way you communicate.  Employers often say they use their “gut instinct” or “gut feelings”.  What they are doing is processing your body language.

The accepted wisdom is that you have between 5-60 seconds to make an impression in a job interview. Your body language or non-verbal communication forms an impression because it makes up 65% or more (some say a lot more) of our total communication.  Brush up on it.  It is critical to get it right.  You need to show by your body language that you are interested, enthusiastic, want to hear more and that you are a nice person.

Find out how the job interview will conducted

In order to prepare for the interview, you should ring the company and find out how the interviewing process will be conduced.  Usually a company will let you know in a letter. If they don’t you need to find out: -

·         How many interviewers will sit in on the interview?

·         Is the first interview a screening interview? (usually with bulk recruitment)*

·         How is the interview going to be conducted?  You have a right to know and be prepared.  Ask if it is structured and will there be more than one person interviewing you.

·         Who is interviewing you? and what is his/her role/title?  This is important to the preparation for the interview.  For example if you are an Engineer and being interviewed by the Senior Engineer, questions will probably be technical.  If it is a human resource person you need to avoid industry terminology and phrase you answer in a less technical manner.

·         If it is a panel, who are they?  Get their title and their role in the organisation. One person may have technical skills (or have expertise in your area) and the other could be a Human Resource Officer.

·         Is it a group job interview?  These are usually conducted where there has been bulk recruitment. Pro-Active Human Resource Management has tutorials on this process and will advise you on the sort of answers the employer is looking for. Contact us

*Graduates or trainees may go through a series of screening interviews. These need to be treated as first interviews.   

If you can’t find out this information, you need to be prepared for both structured and unstructured interviews.  See Job Interview Techniques

The Job interview

The prospective employer may have already done a reference check even though you did not supply them with a referee.  They may want to test the information in your resume to ensure it is accurate - although, primarily they are now looking at the person – you.

The way in which you conduct yourself, how you look and the image you present at the interview will be important and obvious. The decision will be based primarily on how well you will fit into the organisation.  Despite all the process they will go through it will come down to whether the interviewer/s like you and if they think you will fit in. The first 5 minutes or less of the job interview is all you have to create a good impression.  Sometimes short listed clients will be chosen on the basis of their reference check.  If an interviewer really likes you he/she may not even do a reference check.

There are exceptions. If it is a Government Department (or Non Govt Agency) they must go through a very formal interview process and will have to document everything.  There is usually not much room for bias either way.  However, the Western Australia Public Sector Standards gives each department more control over the employment process and the interview questions may be less structured and more prone to bias.  (See Selection Criteria).

Job interview preparation checklist

Have you researched the organisation thoroughly?

·         Is it a listed company? Is it privately owned and by whom?

·         Is it an Australian organisation? Is it an International Conglomerate or a subsidiary of another company?

·         Have you got an understanding how the organisational; structure is set up? This could relate to the various Departments or Divisions? 

·         Do you know their employment strategies, do they commit to equal opportunity principles?

·         Have they got a community profile – i.e. sponsorship commitments?

·         What services do they provide?

·         Have you thought about your role?  How does it fit into the organisations structure? (Re read your application and their advertisement).

Review your skills and prepare your strategy

The best way to ensure a successful interview is to:-

·         Review your skills, abilities and achievements and decide on the type of information the company may want to know.  What benefits can you offer. Read the advertisement again.

·        You may have special skills and past achievements that can be repeated within the company to get a similar result.  For example, good and proven organisational skills that can free up your time and reduce the workload for others - especially the boss.

·         Be prepared to answer negatives in your work history and make a list of possible questions.  Put yourself in the interviewer’s place.

If you haven’t done an analysis of what you have to offer, you will not convince an employer that you are the best person for the job.

Then you must practice, practice and practice. Try and get someone to role-play with you. 

Job Interview check list - Are you prepared for the day?

·         Have you got a list of keywords for answers and questions to refer to?

·         Have you a list of questions you want to ask the interviewer?

·         Are you dressed appropriately for the position/organisation?

·         Do you have your resume and/or samples of your work?

·         Have you got a strategy for dealing with the aggressive interviewer?

·         Have you got your answers to awkward questions prepared to answer parrot fashion?  I.e. overqualified?  Why you left your last job?

·        Are you prepared to answer question about salary if asked?

·        Are you prepared to change your approach if faced with a scenario different to the one just presented?

Make the most of your entry

It is critical to ensure your hand is free and you are not fumbling to put down your coat, umbrella or anything else you are carrying. Make arrangements to leave these in reception when you arrive. Naturally you have arrived on time.

·       Smile – enter confidently (shown by body language).

·       Shake hands – firm grip and not too close and not too far away.  Smile – enter

     confidently (shown by body language).

·      Introduce yourself – or respond to introductions “pleased to meet you” - or as the

    Queen of England  would prefer, " How do you do". Pleased to meet you is

    "somewhat common"!!  Of course other cultures may have a different greeting!

·    Respond to small talk; use this brief time to build rapport. Small talk is only

   aimed at putting you at ease.

·    Ensure your answers are not too personal and know that it is only small talk.

    Keep it that way.

·    Make sure your vocal tone is even, friendly and warm. Put a smile in your eyes

    and voice.

Some don’ts for the interview.

·         Don’t bring up salary if the employer hasn’t. This will come with the job offer when you are in a better position to negotiate. Know your market value.

·         Don’t be boastful - be confident and assertive.

·         Don’t speak in a detrimental way about past employers even if you are encouraged.

·         Don’t go into the interview smelling of cigarette smoke.

·         Don’t be overfriendly and get into conversation about personal issues. This is another common and very dirty trick used by interviewers. Remain approachable, and professional.

·         Don’t wear perfume/cologne/after shave – your interviewer may have allergies.

·         Don’t wear more than the minimum of a lot of jewellery. No more than watch and wedding ring for men. Earrings, watch and a small broach or necklace for women.

Older worker's job interview checklist

Older workers tend to make excuses or draw attention to their age.  Some don’ts: -

·         Mention grandchildren.

·        Draw attention to your age, make reference to your age or make excuses for your age, i.e. "well when you get to be my age..."

·         Age yourself by your language.

·         Dress too young or too conservative.

·         Be negative – remain positive.

·         Think old.

·         Wear a wig. If you are nearly bald consider having your head shaved completely.  It is trendy.

·         Colour your hair too dark (men and women). If you feel you want to “touch up” your hair ensure it is several shades lighter than your natural colour, and have it done professionally.  Ensure roots are not showing through.

·         Make assumptions that all females are secretaries or receptionists. Making this assumption has lost many jobs. The female you may meet or speak to over the phone may be the boss.  Dear Sir, has been the downfall in written applications.

·         Don’t think that you do not need to prepare for the interview.

 Some additional job interview tips.

There are many more tips, some are very basic and yet they are still ignored.

·         Keep full records of companies researched and the results of each interview.

·         Watch your personal hygiene. If going for two interviews take a deodorant. No don't say this is irrelevant. Some people do perspire in interview who normally wouldn't. They produce a very distinct "fear" odour.

·         Don’t be overbearing or opinionated.

 Dress Hints

These tips are not generally discussed in Job Search.  It is worth a go to follow them.

Dress to the organisation.  There are two ways of looking at this and one is the style of the organisation and the job.  i.e. Store person. – Not too formal

The other is to dress by workplace association.  For example, if an organisation wears a blue uniform, dress in blue.  If you want to work in a hospital for example, dress in white.  Waiters should wear black trousers and white shirt if being interviewed for a formal restaurant etc. Females can add another colour.  Psychologically the interviewer may see you as fitting in the organisation. Never, never  wear black to an interview in any other circumstance.  It is too powerful and some find black depressing.

Colours do make a difference

Sales people should wear sales colours, i.e. red tie.  Women in sales should avoid pastels and also dress in sales oriented colours such as red. Counsellors, for example, should wear softer colours, i.e. blue.

If you feel as though you may be overqualified for the position don’t wear strong power colours.  Dark colours are generally associated with respect and authority.  Be careful. In more recent years politicians have started to wear black. This colour used to be reserved for "addressing the nation."  Light colours establish a person as likeable; however they may not be seen as having the appropriate authority. 

If an organization has a uniform and you have an outfit in the same colours then chose this over any other interview outfit.

For further reading see John T. Molloy's New Dress for Success and New Woman's Dress for Success 

After the job interview

• Thank the interviewer for his/her time.

• Make your you have expressed an interest in the job.

• Ensure that you leave the interview with a firm date and time when to ring (if appropriate).

• Don’t let the deadline pass.  Ring the employer. When you speak to the  interviewer try and say something that will jog the interviewer’s memory to  remind him/her who you are.

Some employers have said to me that none of the applicants rang back and they always took the applicant who made the effort to follow up. It showed they were keen. 

  Follow up with a thank you letter.

Your thank you letter should remind the interviewer that you expect to hear from   him/her on the date set by him/her.  Ensure you get it off immediately or it will have no impact.  example of a thank you letter

Follow up

If you are not successful you need to find out why. This is a step many people hate. You really should ring the employer and get feedback on how you performed and try and do it better next time.

Do your own self - assessment.  Prepare a list of questions about your performance.  You should then measure yourself against your own list. Then write a list of things you will do better next time.

Stay Motivated

Most employers are looking for commitment and enthusiasm.  It is important to try and stay motivated during your job search.  A negative attitude shows, especially in your body language.

http://www.proactivehrm.com/JobSearch/Job_Interview_Techniques.html

© Copyright Pro-Active Human Resource Management 1992-2008