BEFORE THE DAY

The key to success is preparation. It is important to reread any interview letters thoroughly to make sure all details are correct. Organizations often send a pack with the letter containing the organization’s background information. Make sure to thoroughly read the details of the job you are going for.

Do some research on the company or organization you are applying to (through the internet libraries or simply visiting the workplace itself).

A good way to prepare is to do a mock interview with an adviser or friend.

Find and arrange any and all documents you may need to take to the interview including your cv.

To avoid unnecessary worrying in the morning of your interview, arrange your clothes and such items the night before

TIMING.

Whatever the time of the interview, make sure to allow plenty of time to get there, allow for rush hour or heavy traffic to avoid delays. Check how long the journey is to get there to avoid any delays. You can ask your prospective employer for directions, bus routes or details on parking.

If you have a disability of any kind, be sure to inform your prospective employer so that any special arrangements can be made ahead of time.

CREATING THE RIGHT IMAGE.

Be clean, neat and tidy in appearance.Do not go over the top with perfume or jewelry, less is more.Any piercings that cannot be taken out or tattoos should be covered with tape.

WHAT TO TAKE WITH YOU

  • Copy of your CV and application form to refer to
  • Records of achievement
  • Any items requested by the employer

Reread the job advert to make sure nothing has been forgotten.

RESEARCH.

Before attending any job interview it is important to familiarize yourself with the company/organization in question via the company/organization’s website or sites like glassdoor. 

This shows initiative and a genuine interest in the company.

A lack of research shows poor or lack of enthusiasm.

You should know the following :

  • Size of the company, number of employees
  • How long have they been operational – do they have any other sites
  • What do they do, make or sell
  • Specifics of the job – Skills and requirements of the positions

THE INTERVIEW

Arrive on time for the interview, hydrate yourself before the interview so you don’t become dehydrated and lose your voice.

Be at ease and cool; if you appear anxious or tense throughout the interview, the interviewer will notice. You don’t need to worry because the interviewer is just like you and will likely experience similar levels of anxiety.

When a question is posed, pause for a moment to gather your thoughts before responding. You want to provide an answer that is clear and easy for the interviewers to grasp.

Try to make eye contact with everyone on the panel if you are being interviewed by a panel or more than one person, as opposed to just one.

Do not try to respond to a question you do not understand; instead, ask the interviewer to repeat and clarify the topic.

Interviewers are looking for candidates who can demonstrate that they have the necessary abilities for the position; they are not looking for entertainers, therefore refrain from acting overly jovial.

Try to come up with some inquiries so that you won’t be at a loss for words when asked if you have any final inquiries at the conclusion of the interview.   A good example of a question is one regarding training possibilities.

Avoid stating anything negative; you don’t need to mention a previous job you didn’t enjoy in the interview if you didn’t like it. Try to avoid using negative language; for instance, if you left a job because you didn’t like it, state that you didn’t like it enough to stay there. 

Don’t be afraid to promote yourself. You may not get another chance to apply for this position, so do not be modest or bashful. Instead, make sure to highlight your qualifications and what you believe you can do to the company.

In many interviews, there is time set up for a test that will be useful for the job (for example if you are going to an admin job you may have a typing test). Despite the fact that exam types might differ from job to job, the following advice can help you be prepared for tests:

  • Before rushing through the test, carefully read the question because you can miss some important details.
  • If you have several questions to do, spread your time evenly rather than spending too much time on one question. 
  • If the test is a written test then write the answers clearly so that whoever is marking can understand your answers. 
  • If your interviewer requires  a presentation, make the most of flip charts and all visual aids provided to you.

BODY LANGUAGE

60%  of the impression you make is through body language and non-verbal cues. To make a lasting first impression you need to :

  • Have a firm handshake with your interviewer and smile. Try to be calm and relaxed, if thirsty ask for a glass of water.
  • Maintain eye contact and if being interviewed by a panel  or more than one person, try to have eye contact with all of the interviewers and not just one.
  • Speak clearly and if you don’t understand a question ask the interviewer to repeat and explain.
  • Don’t fidget.
  • Be honest.

REASONS FOR POOR JOB INTERVIEW PERFORMANCE

  • Lack of interest in the organization
  • Lack of understanding of the job description
  • Poor answers to interview questions
  • Lack of confidence and anxiety
  • Body language and poor impressions
  • Negativity
  • Lacking questions to ask

10 TIPS FOR A GOOD INTERVIEW

  • Assume the interview starts the moment you enter the building
  • LIsten to the question and if you don’t understand ask for clarification
  • Engage all interviewers with eye contact 
  • Always back up what you say with examples from personal experience
  • Avoid taking notes and never read them if you do
  • Always have questions ready at the end
  • Know your application details and be prepared to discuss details
  • If not informed, ask when you will hear about the outcome of your interview
  • Thank the interviewer by name.
  • Smile

EMPLOYERS WISH LIST

3 Things employers look for:

  • Can you do the job? – Do you have knowledge and skills?
  • Do you want to do the job? – Are you motivated to do it?
  • Will you fit in? – Do you have the relevant values and personal qualities?

These are the generic skills that employers look for:

  • Communication skills 
  • Customer service skills 
  • Team workers 
  • Problem solving skills
  • Enthusiasm 
  • Motivation 
  • Commitment 
  • Organizational skills 
  • Initiative 
  • Interpersonal skills 

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

There are three main types of questions that will be asked at an interview: 

  • Motivational.
  • Technical. 
  • Competency. 

Motivational Questions 

These questions are designed to test your motivation for the job and the organization. For example, they may say: 

  • Why do you want to work here?
  • How much do you know about our organization/company? 
  • Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years time? 

Technical Questions 

These questions relate to your ability to use the technology you have learnt from any work experience. For example, they may say: 

  • What systems and software are you competent in? 
  • What experience do you have of using it? 

Competency Questions 

These are questions based on the general competencies all employers expect from workers (team skills, communication skills, problem solving etc). The STAR model can be used to answer competency questions. 

S–Situation 

Briefly outline where you were and what your job was. 

T–Task 

Explain the task you did, what had to be done? 

A – Action 

What specific actions did you take to overcome the difficulty? 

R– Result 

What were the results and what did you learn? 

You could answer a competency question in the following way:

“At Anyshop during the busiest season. To fulfill the branch sales goals set by the central office, I collaborated with my store’s other employees. Despite the business being extremely busy, it was crucial that every team member stayed upbeat and enthusiastic. I gave back by achieving all of my own goals and assisting my coworkers in closing transactions. I discovered that increasing productivity and creating a more positive work atmosphere can be achieved by assisting our team members rather than just concentrating on my own objectives.”

QUESTIONS YOU MAY BE ASKED.

Why do you want this job? 

Think about this question carefully. Don’t bring up the drawbacks of your current employment or the position in question; instead, focus on the positives that drew you to apply for it.

What qualities do you think will be required for this job? 

You might get some guidance from their job advertisement, but you should also consider any additional qualifications that might be needed. These could include things like problem-solving abilities, interpersonal skills, problem-solving abilities, and leadership abilities.

What can you contribute? 

Tell them about your accomplishments in the position(s) you held in the past that were pertinent to the new job you are applying for. Your opportunity to shine is now.

Tell me about yourself 

Your CV’s introduction is a good place to begin. Keep it to a few minutes and concentrate on your strengths. You should provide a brief summary of your background and future goals.

What do you know about this company? 

You have the opportunity to wow the interviewer by demonstrating your familiarity with the business. Give them an overview of your company’s goods and services, sales numbers, recent news, financial standing, clientele, etc.

What can we (the new company) offer that your previous company cannot offer? 

Again do not mention money. Stress opportunities for personal growth, new challenges, etc.

Why should we employ you? 

The response to this query will be based on your prior accomplishments and experience that are relevant to the business. You might also ask the interviewer for their opinion and mention that you believe you and the position are a good fit.

Why did you join your previous company? Why are you leaving now? 

Always be upbeat while discussing your intentions to join or leave a company. Make sure you exercise extreme caution when discussing your current employer. If you do, the new business will be curious about your opinion of them after you depart. You might try to emphasize that you’re searching for a new challenge and that the organization you’re interviewing with seems like the right fit.

What interests do you have outside work? 

Your interests and hobbies might reveal a lot about you to potential employers. Consider what pursuits will best represent you in light of the position you’re pursuing, taking into account your social or solitary tendencies and your capacity for “leadership” responsibilities.

Why do you want to work here? 

Mention the company’s good reputation as well as any other favorable information you may know about them (such as their history of training or their equal opportunity policy), as well as the fact that the employment will allow you to pursue your interests in a particular field.

Why did you leave your last job? 

Be upbeat. Don’t take this as a chance to admonish your old employer. If you had to leave due to illness, mention that you can now perform all of your job’s responsibilities. If you were fired, explain that you accept responsibility for your mistakes and that you have grown as a result of the situation.

Have you done this kind of work before? 

If you have, describe your qualifications for the position, including your experience and skill set. Describe any additional work experience you may have, if any, that is related to this position or will facilitate your swift learning of it. Your excitement and desire in learning should be emphasized.

What did you do in your last job? 

Describe your tasks, how you worked with others, whether or not you interacted with customers, how long you were there, whether you were promoted, and any extra duties you volunteered to take on. Include any skills and responsibilities that are relevant to the current job.

Why have you had so many jobs? 

You could claim that you intended to get experience in a variety of occupations or companies, that many of the positions were temporary, or that you preferred to be employed than unemployed.

What makes a good team member? 

Describe the necessary skills, such as effective communication techniques, adaptability to change, the capacity for teamwork, a sense of humor, and so forth. Give instances from your past professional or personal life where you demonstrated these.

What are your strengths and weaknesses? 

  • Strengths: The employer should already be aware of some of them from your resume or application, but you might want to highlight certain abilities by providing instances that are pertinent to the position.
  • Weaknesses: Begin by outlining the aspects of your previous employment that you found challenging, then explain how you overcome these challenges, or be succinct but honest.

How often were you absent from your last job? 

If you were hardly ever off work, say so. If sick leave has been a problem, explain why and reassure the employer that you have sorted out the problem. If you have had time off because of a disability, discuss this openly, including possible solutions. Remember to be positive. 

Do you have any questions? 

This question must be prepared for because it is typically asked during an interview. It can demonstrate your curiosity to ask a few, but not too many, questions. Do you provide continuing training and development? Could be one or two of the following.

  • What job will I have first?
  • When will I find out the outcome of my interview?

Additionally, you may utilize Glassdoor to get a true impression of the organization, including information on its history, employee comments, and even potential interview questions.

Short interview tapes for various firms and professions are available on YouTube 

specific inquiries from the sector:

Care:

  • Do you have any Criminal Record? 
  • Can you handle manual labor?
  • What should you do if you discover your patient unconscious on the ground?

Catering/Hospitality:

  • Do you possess a certificate for food and hygiene?
  • Do you know what the ideal temperature is for refrigerating raw chicken? How can cross contamination be avoided?

Retail/Client Services:

  • Can I use the till?
  • How would you go about providing first-rate customer service? 
  • How would you respond to a displeased customer?
  • In your store, how would you assist a blind customer?

Administrator:

  • How many words can you type in a minute?
  • What software options do you have?
  • Describe GDPR.
  • Can you transfer calls?
  • Can you do charts on Excel?