– By Surya Patra (LinkedIn)

Before appearing for an interview, whether it is face-to-face or over the phone, it is very important to be prepared. This includes knowing the style of interview beforehand. There are two main types:

• Technical – This style of interview is used to assess the candidate for specialist positions, such as in IT, engineering, and science. The questions will be specific to the role you have applied for, so that the employer can ensure you have the requisite skills.
• Competency – Here, the interview questions will require candidates to provide real-life examples as the basis of their answers. Candidates should explain why they made certain decisions, how they implemented these decisions and why certain outcomes took place.

These will usually be carried out as individual interviews, but it is also possible for there to be a group interview. However, in this scenario, the interviewers are also testing your teamwork skills. In a group interview, the aim is to stand out among the other interviewees. The following points will help with this:

• Listen to others and get engaged.
• Involve the interviewees’ answers to support your answers.
• Don’t be shy and speak up.
• Smile and be confident.

PREPARING FOR AN INTERVIEW

The interviewers are testing your dedication to the role and company. Therefore, you must do some research on the company. Use the internet to your advantage and learn facts about them, such as:

• The skills and experience that the company values.
• Important individuals in the company.
• The company’s latest news and updates.
• Their culture, mission, and values.
• Their clients, products, and services.
• The interviewer.

You will not need to recite it all, just show an understanding.

Know your CV

Don’t spend too much time trying to anticipate exact questions you may be asked but know every detail of your career history. Read every issue, claim, or event you have documented. Carefully and slowly think through each of these events in your mind. Recall every detail of that event and your part in it. By doing so you are refreshing your memory in advance of the interview and so it will be fresh in your mind when you are asked about it. Your response will be immediate, concise, with total recall and most of all, it will be credible

Here are some questions to ask yourself:

• What do you know about the role?
• What are they looking for? 
• What attributes or experiences are most important to them?
• How are your long-term aspirations aligned with what is on offer?
• Why this company?
• What do you like about their culture and what they stand for?
• How can you add value to their organisation?

You need to practice, practice, practice! Ask friends and family to do a mock interview for you.

You must also:

• Dress formally – Even if the company dresses casually, you should wear formal attire to the interview to create an impression.
• Arrive early – Be at least fifteen minutes early to gather yourself before the interview.
• Have questions prepared – Asking questions at the end of the interview shows that you are interested.

You may like to read our other blogs:

• How to craft your CV post Covid-19
• Writing ATS Compliant CV

THE INTERVIEW

The structure is usually something like:

1. Arrival
2. Welcome/Icebreaker
3. Background review
4. Interview questions
5. Your questions for the interviewers

Performing well in an interview

Interviews are stressful every time, and no matter how well prepared you are, there are a few basics that you need to keep in mind:

• It is not a time for modesty; if you don’t outline your skills and abilities, the interviewers will never know. Do not be afraid to tell them what you do, what you have done and your achievements. Saying these facts nicely and supporting them with examples will not be considered bragging. This is what the interview process is all about: deciding if you have the requisite abilities for the job at hand.
• Never assume that all members of the interview panel have read your CV and have a clear idea of your career history. It is more likely your CV will have only been circulated a short while before your interview, and at best, got only a cursory glance.
• Bear in mind that to some of the interviewers, the interview process can be a nuisance, as they may have just been roped into it. They may not attach much importance to the whole affair. They are busy, with hundreds of things to do, meetings to atten,d and suddenly there is a knock on the door, where HR personnel will look in and ask, “Are you ready? The interviews start in five minutes”. And the interviewer will think “Oh no, this is the last thing I need right now”. These are the people you have to appeal to and grab their attention quickly.

Remember that you are the Product!

It is a well-known fact that you must sell yourself before you try to sell any product, and since you are the product, you must first get your mindset right. You are on a selling mission.

You have to be nice, pleasant, friendly, but knowledgeable and very professional. This includes all the obvious things like a nice smile, a firm handshake, and a friendly disposition, etc. And all that needs to be shown in just the first ten seconds.  Have a talkative and open manne,r and so as they say, go in swinging.

Ensure you prepare answers for questions like “What is your biggest weakness?”.  Be honest and look at your “weakness” as a challenge. Talk about the steps you have taken to overcome your weakness; this shows you are proactive and resourceful enough to overcome them.

Always speak well of past employers with a smile.  You will look and come across as a much nicer person. 

10 of the most common interview questions

1. Tell me about yourself; why have you applied for this role?

2. What do you know about our company?

3. Why do you want to work for us?

4. Why should we hire you?

5. What kind of environment do you like working in?

6. Where do you see yourself in 3-5 years?

7. What are your strengths and weaknesses?

8. How would your friends and colleagues describe you?

9. Why are you wanting to leave your current job?

10. If you were offered this role, when could you start?

When answering questions, use the ‘S.T.A.R.’ method, where you address and explain the situation, task, action, and result. This will ensure that your answer has detail, is concise and has a concrete example.

Sometimes some questions will take you by surprise; you had not thought to prepare for that topic, or you have no experience in the said topic. This can be debilitating in an already stressful moment and ruin the momentum you have already built up. You mustn’t let it bring you down; focus on what you know and continue with the interview. Here are some pointers on how to overcome a lack of experience in an interview:

• List your best personal qualities.
• Match your skills to the job requirements.
• Focus on your accomplishments.
• Differentiate yourself from others.
• Exude confidence.
• Try and relate the topic to another instance in your life.

A sample question and answer

Tell me about a time you went above and beyond.

Situation: I work in a garden centre part-time. There was a day last week when my manager asked me to come in on a Saturday and work from 9 am until lunchtime.

Task: Specifically, she asked me to do a stock-take and clean the store as we were behind, since we had had an exceptionally busy week.

Action: I came in to work and ended up finishing everything before noon. As I was in such a productive mood, I decided to stay the full day and took it upon myself to complete tasks that were meant for the following week.

Result: I was praised by my manager for my initiative and awarded Employee of the Month.

YOUR QUESTIONS TO THE INTERVIEWERS

The questions need to be tailored toward the company, role, yourself, etc. Asking questions at the end of an interview shows that you are interested and have researched the company. The type of question also informs the interviewer about how honest you were throughout the interview and how much you want to work there.

Here are some examples of questions to ask in an interview (make sure they are suitable for your role):

• What does a day in this role look like?
• What is your favourite part about working at the company?
• Who will I be working most closely with?
• Is there anything about my background or resume that makes you question whether I am a good fit for this role?
• Where do you think the company will be in the next five years?
• What are the biggest challenges facing the company right now?
• What is the next step?

And finally, always follow up and thank your interviewers.

Also Read:

• Upskilling
• Stand out in the job market
• Enhance your soft skills

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