Our Advice

The interview is the critical factor that can make or break your career. The following offers a few interview tips and suggestions on ways to improve your interview technique.

Preparation

Research

Do some research into the organisation concerned. Some good sources include:

Campus career service

Internet

Library

Professional body

Recruitment consultancy

Family and Friends

Prepare a list of questions you want to ask about the organisation and the position – think ahead! Such questions might include:

Presentation

Look professional, act professionally and dress professionally. You will never have a second chance at making a good first impression. Dress conservatively rather than casually or radically, for example, a dark suit and tie, or a skirt and jacket as a general rule.

Needless to say, your presentation at an interview is extremely important. Not all of us are naturally stylish, so please be prepared to get advice on how to look your best, maybe splash out on a new corporate look that may just give you an edge on the day. As a rule, you should expect the environment to be conservative and corporate and dress accordingly.
You have put too much effort into selling yourself and getting to this point – it would be a shame to undo that by creating a less than positive visual impression.

The Interview

First impressions are critical. Research has shown that an interviewer has made an impression within the first eight seconds of meeting the person. The remainder of the interview is spent confirming this opinion, or turning this opinion around.

Needless to say, your presentation at an interview is extremely important. Not all of us are naturally stylish, so please be prepared to get advice on how to look your best, maybe splash out on a new corporate look that may just give you an edge on the day. As a rule, you should expect the environment to be conservative and corporate and dress accordingly.
You have put too much effort into selling yourself and getting to this point – it would be a shame to undo that by creating a less than positive visual impression.

During the Interview

Body language and other forms of non-verbal communication are important elements in the way an interviewee performs. Appearing relaxed and trying to act naturally is easier said than done but good appearance is mostly a matter of assuming a position that you are comfortable with. Sit up straight, lean forward slightly and always maintain good eye contact with the interviewer or panel. Looking disinterested will limit your options. Never smoke during an interview, even if invited.

Treat the interview as a two way discussion and answer questions honestly, directly and keep to the point. Everyone present will be focusing their attention on you, so clouding your answer with jargon or evading the issue will be more obvious than you think. If you are not certain about a particular question, do not be afraid to ask if it can be rephrased. Listen, never interrupt and answer only what is asked.

There are common questions which arise in most job interviews, and while you should be prepared, try not to rehearse answers that are too precise. A better approach is to work on broad subject areas that are likely to come up during the interview. Some of these areas include:

General Background

Often the first question is a request for a summary of your background. People applying for their first job should focus on extra curricular activities, education, and qualifications. It is quite acceptable to repeat major points you have outlined in your resume or letter of application.

Qualifications

A specific question often asked is “Why do you think you are qualified for this position?” Qualifications, in this context, mean all qualifications which could make you suitable for the position including educational, employment-related and personal. In most cases, this may be the question that will win or lose you the job, so your answer needs to be clear and memorable.

Experience

Here is where your research pays off. Your answer should include details about relevant employment, community or educational experience and a discussion of the nature of the industry, the organisation and the position itself.

Reasons for applying

If you are applying for your first, or one of your first jobs, your answer should describe what you find appealing about the position, how you prepared yourself for a career in the organisation and how you believe your present job equips you for the position in question.

Career Objectives

Be ready to discuss your long-term aspirations. Your best approach is one that indicates you have thought about your career in these terms and have taken some action towards realising your ambitions.

Qualifications

In some organisations, employers give candidates questions designed to test their ability in situations or crises. You should try to find out the most common type of dilemma for employees in the job you are seeking and formulate an intelligent response.

Towards the end of the interview, you will usually be asked if you have any questions of your own. Try to prepare at least one or two intelligent questions before the interview. Be confident when asking your questions and use them to score additional points in your favour. For instance, you could ask about the company’s plans for the future and the sort of support the organisation might provide if you wanted further training. interview(s), should an offer of employment be made at the conclusion of any interview you attend, ask whether the offer will be confirmed in writing. Also, it is not unreasonable to request a short period of time to consider the offer before formally accepting.

Sample interview questions