Interview tips

Your interview is the most important part of your search process. It is through the interview that you will have the opportunity to sell your skills and background to a potential employer and to get to know more about that employer. The most important part of an interview is your preparation. By preparing for the interview, you can maximise your chances for success.

There are four key areas of preparation:

1 – Know Yourself

To effectively sell your qualifications to an employer, you must first know what they are. Review all aspects of your resume. Know why you chose your major and your university. Know what classes you liked and disliked. Know what skills and accomplishments you have developed through your coursework, your work experiences, your activities, and your life experiences. Know your strengths and weaknesses. Be able to talk about yourself and your personal characteristics.

Know what you want to do and how your career goals relate to the organization with which you are interviewing.

2 – Know the Organization

There are several sources of information about organizations on the Internet. Visit the website of the company and learn more about their mission, vision, culture, etc.

3 – Know the Details

Part of your interview preparation is to know the day, date, time, and location of your interview. Do not assume. Check to be sure that you have the right information. Be certain there have been no last-minute changes.

TAC Recruitment will send you a document with all this information.

4 – Practice

Athletes who excel in their sport share one common characteristic—they practice, practice, practice until they get better. The same is true with interviewing. Practice will help you get better. There are several ways to practice for an interview.

Practice through a mock interview. A mock interview can help you become better at providing spontaneous, logical responses to questions and assist you to feel better prepared and calm in the actual interview. The mock interview will also assist you in identifying fatal mistakes and strengthen your communication skills.

Another way to practice is to anticipate questions. Take an employer’s perspective and think about what questions you might be asked based on skills needed for that organization or position. Become familiar with and develop specific examples to talk about for all aspects of your background. This is called the S.T.A.R. interviewing technique. Specific questions about your background will be asked. You will need to relay the situation, the task, the actions, and the results of your experiences. Your answer should be focused on the actions—what you did. Your answers to these questions help the interviewer understand what skills you can offer the organisation.

You are ready to interview

Arrive early so you can relax and collect your thoughts before the interview. There are four basic components to an initial employment interview.

1 – The Introduction

Although brief, the introduction is a crucial part of the interview. Demonstrate good posture, offer a firm handshake, and maintain steady eye contact to create a strong first impression. Expect some light conversation on informal topics, intended to gauge your spontaneity and personal interests.

2 – Questions by the Interviewer

Your preparation and practice will pay off during this portion of the interview, which will be the longest part. Most interviewers will ask good, open-ended questions that will let you give information about your background. This is the time to present those specific answers that were talked about in the practice section. General answers, such as “I am hard working and motivated,” don’t mean anything to an interviewer until you tell them why you say that. What past experiences have you had that make you say that about yourself? If you do not understand a question, be sure to ask questions that will help you focus your answer.

3 – Questions by the Interviewee

This is another opportunity for your preparation to pay off. Come to the interview with a list of thoughtful questions prepared in advance. Avoid asking anything that has already been covered in the interview or is readily available on the company’s website, as this may indicate a lack of research. Do not ask about salary in your first interview. Your consultant will discuss the salary information. If asked, say you are negotiable. Do not price yourself out of the market with stating too high salary expectations.

4 – Closing

Express your appreciation for the opportunity to interview and leave with a smile and a handshake.

Four Final Tips for a Successful Interview