Succeed in Personal Interviews
Interviews are usually stressful to at least some degree, but understanding the key features of an interview should help you to handle it with more awareness and confidence.
The purpose of a well-designed interview is to establish the three broad features listed below. The way you answer the questions will determine your success in the interview. There are dozens of questions you might be asked.
Can you do the job?
Example questions:
- How is your experience relevant?
- What skills have you acquired recently?
- What interests you most about this job?
Will you do the job?
Example questions:
- What was it like working for your last employer?
- How long will it be before you make an impact?
- If we offer you the job, how long will you stay?
Will you fit in to the business?
Example questions:
- How do you go about getting to know new people?
- Describe an organisation you really enjoyed
- How do you cope with changes of environment?
If you shine in a first interview, you will be asked to return for further meetings with your prospective new colleagues.
There are some questions to which you must have answers as part of your essential preparation for an interview. Preparation is key to succeeding in an interview.
What about tricky questions? You need robust replies to questions such as:
- What did you dislike about your last job?
- Why aren’t you earning more at this stage in your career?
- What was your last manager’s greatest weakness?
- Have you ever had financial difficulties?
- Why should we hire you?
Take it from someone who’s experienced redundancies and has had to cope with challenging interviews to find jobs!