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Interview tips

How to prepare for an interview

Discover our advice on job interview preparation,
polishing your technique and calming your
nerves…

What to expect

There are several different types of interview.

Telephone - Initial employer call that eliminates
candidates based on essential criteria. Successful
applicants are usually invited to the one-to-one stage.

Video - Whether through Skype, FaceTime or
YouTube, this type of interview is increasingly
popular for graduate roles in sales, media and
marketing. They're usually held during the initial
screening process.

One-to-one - Face-to-face encounter with one
interviewer, after the organisation decides that
you've got what it's looking for. They're usually
formal, but can also take place over lunch. You could
also be interviewed by different people at different
times.


Panel - Similar to one-to-one interviews, except two
or more people – often from different parts of the
organisation – will be assessing you at the same time.

Group - Multiple candidates are interviewed
together. They're asked questions in turn, or discuss
certain topics.

Assessment centres - These involve tasks including
presentations, written tests, and group, role-play and
in-tray exercises. They're used to assess a candidate's
performance in a range of situations, and last
between one and three days. You'll appear alongside
several other candidates.

Contact the recruiter if you’re unsure who'll be
interviewing you, what form your interview will take
or what tasks you'll be given.

Before the interview

Interviews require much research and planning.
Generally, you should do the following when
preparing for interview.
anticipate potential questions and prepare answers
accordingly;

consider how you'll explain problematic aspects of
your CV, such as leaving an employer;
contact your references, alerting them that you'll be
interviewing and that they may receive a call;
fully understand the role that you're applying for by
revisiting the job description, identifying what skills,
interests and experiences the employer is looking
for;
prepare questions to ask the interviewer; read the organisation's website, social media profiles
and key literature (e.g. business plan, financial
reports and corporate social responsibility strategy),
ensuring that you're prepared to share your views
and ideas;
research the news, trends, competitors, history and
opportunities of the organisation and its job sector;
review your CV and application form.
Choose your outfit the night before, getting plenty of
sleep and avoiding excessive alcohol consumption.
Plan your journey, aiming to arrive ten minutes
early. Completing a 'dry run', if possible, also
combats nerves. On the day, eat a good, healthy
breakfast and avoid too much caffeine.

To be continued

Alright

Noted!

What to take

Your interview invitation should detail everything
that you need, but generally you should take:

-a bottle of water;

-an A-Z street map, or at least the postcode of the
organisation so that you can search Google Maps on your mobile phone;

-Details of the person that you must ask for upon
arrival;

-exam certificates, examples of your work, and any
further evidence of your past successes;
money;

-pen and notepad;
photo ID (e.g. passport or driving licence);
the job description and person specification;

-your CV, letter of application and interview invitation;

-your mobile phone.

How to make a good impression

Generally, you should:

-answer questions clearly and concisely;

-ask relevant, thought-provoking questions at
appropriate moments, as this can show that you're
genuinely interested in the role and really listening
to the interviewer;

-avoid talking about any personal problems;

-be as enthusiastic as possible;

-be well-mannered with any staff that you meet
before the interview;

-display positive body language, speaking clearly,
smiling frequently and retaining eye-contact;
don't badmouth any previous employers;

-give a firm handshake to your interviewer(s) before and after;

-highlight your best attributes, experiences and
achievements, based around the skills that you've
identified as important to the organisation, and
evidencing them with practical examples;

-inform your interviewer(s) that you're available to
answer any follow-up questions;

-let your personality shine;

-relax and sit naturally, but without slouching in your chair or leaning on the desk;

-show your hands, as this is a sign of honesty;

-wear smart business attire with comfortable,
polished shoes.

Tips for controlling your nerves

Nerves can make you forget to do things as simple as listen. This can result in you being thought of as
unfriendly or inattentive. Some ideas for combating nerves include:

-being aware of the interview's structure, and the fact that they often begin with easier questions such as tell us about your time at university';

-exercising before your interview, as this burns off
negative energy and creates feelings of wellbeing;

-pausing before answering a difficult question to give yourself thinking time, or asking for clarification if, at
first, you're unsure what the question means;

-putting everything into perspective, reminding
yourself that the worst thing that can happen is you not getting the job;

-taking a toilet break before the interview;

-taking deep breaths and not speaking too quickly;
taking notes with you, writing down cues to highlight examples that you want to draw upon;

-thinking about positive and happy experiences before the interview starts, and visualising yourself in complete control during the interview.

What to take

Your interview invitation should detail everything
that you need, but generally you should take:

-a bottle of water;

-an A-Z street map, or at least the postcode of the
organisation so that you can search Google Maps on your mobile phone;

-Details of the person that you must ask for upon
arrival;

-exam certificates, examples of your work, and any
further evidence of your past successes;
money;

-pen and notepad;
photo ID (e.g. passport or driving licence);
the job description and person specification;

-your CV, letter of application and interview invitation;

-your mobile phone.

How to make a good impression

Generally, you should:

-answer questions clearly and concisely;

-ask relevant, thought-provoking questions at
appropriate moments, as this can show that you're
genuinely interested in the role and really listening
to the interviewer;

-avoid talking about any personal problems;

-be as enthusiastic as possible;

-be well-mannered with any staff that you meet
before the interview;

-display positive body language, speaking clearly,
smiling frequently and retaining eye-contact;
don't badmouth any previous employers;

-give a firm handshake to your interviewer(s) before and after;

-highlight your best attributes, experiences and
achievements, based around the skills that you've
identified as important to the organisation, and
evidencing them with practical examples;

-inform your interviewer(s) that you're available to
answer any follow-up questions;

-let your personality shine;

-relax and sit naturally, but without slouching in your chair or leaning on the desk;

-show your hands, as this is a sign of honesty;

-wear smart business attire with comfortable,
polished shoes.

Tips for controlling your nerves

Nerves can make you forget to do things as simple as listen. This can result in you being thought of as
unfriendly or inattentive. Some ideas for combating nerves include:

-being aware of the interview's structure, and the fact that they often begin with easier questions such as tell us about your time at university';

-exercising before your interview, as this burns off
negative energy and creates feelings of wellbeing;

-pausing before answering a difficult question to give yourself thinking time, or asking for clarification if, at
first, you're unsure what the question means;

-putting everything into perspective, reminding
yourself that the worst thing that can happen is you not getting the job;

-taking a toilet break before the interview;

-taking deep breaths and not speaking too quickly;
taking notes with you, writing down cues to highlight examples that you want to draw upon;

-thinking about positive and happy experiences before the interview starts, and visualising yourself in complete control during the interview.


Continues...

Practice job interviews

Your university careers and employability service is likely to provide practice job interview sessions.

Alternatively, you could:

ask for advice and feedback after unsuccessful
interviews;

practise and monitor your skills by treating
interview-like scenarios such as discussions with your tutor as genuine interviews;

record yourself in a mock interview, playing it back to check how you did;

review the different types of possible questions,
writing down your responses, taking notes and
creating flash cards;

script and practise answers to anticipated questions with someone that you trust.


Continues

Phone interviews

These are usually used for cost-efficient preliminary screening before the first one-to-one interview.

They're often recorded and vary in length, but
average around 20-30 minutes. You should prepare for a phone interview just as you would for a regular interview and generally should:

-direct the interviewer to your web portfolio or
LinkedIn profile if possible, to demonstrate your
work in practice;

-find a quiet place for the interview where you'll be undisturbed;

-fully charge your mobile before the interview, and turn call waiting off;

-get your main messages across quickly, by writing
down your key attributes and having these at hand
during the call;

-have a glass of water available;

-have a pen and notepad within reach;
have internet access;

-keep your CV, application and job description in clear view;

Do not interrupt the interviewer;

Do not smoke, chew gum or eat;

-smile, as this projects a positive image and changes your tone of voice;

-speak slowly and clearly;
-take time to collect your thoughts, and give
relatively short answers.

Video interviews are increasingly common, especially if you're applying for overseas jobs. Remember to dress as you would for a face-to-face interview, and check your background before the interview begins.

Finally, ensure that your body language is positive;
look directly into the camera and make eye contact, as this 'll make you appear calm and confident.

Continues...

Tanx


Following

Interesting.

Good job, may God bless you for this info.

Impressive. However, if a video interview was required and you don't have access to good network reception/ doesn't have the required facility(ies) what can one do?

Second interviews

A second interview means that you've made it
through the initial screening and the interviewer is
now looking for evidence of: your value to the
organisation; your fit in the role, existing team and organisation; what separates you from other
candidates; and what you can do for them. Generally,
you should:


-ask the company for any feedback beforehand,
reviewing your performance from the first interview
by noting and addressing any questions or situations
that caused you difficulty;

-find out as much as possible about the organisation's
challenges, priorities, markets and competitors,
researching the company in even more detail than
for the first interview;

-find out what the agenda will be and whom you'll
interview with;

-find ways to demonstrate enthusiasm for the
organisation's goals;

-give answers that are consistent with what the
recruiter has previously heard;

-prepare examples of how your achievements can
apply to the organisation;

-talk with industry insiders and ensure that you're up
to date with recent developments by reviewing trade
publications.


Continues.....

phranseeqz:
Impressive. However, if a video interview was required and you don't have access to good network reception/ doesn't have the required facility(ies) what can one do?

Where do you reside?

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

Employers use interviews to assess how well you
match the requirements of the job; they also
allow you to ensure that the organisation is a
good fit.

They'll already have an indication of your qualities from your application, but you must confirm in person that you've the skills and experience to successfully perform in the role. This makes
preparing interview answers in advance especially
important.

Here are our top ten interview questions.


-Tell me about yourself

This question, usually the opener, tops the list of
common interview questions. It's incredibly
important, as you can provide the interviewer with a
great first impression. Preparation is key, but your
answer must not sound rehearsed. Focus on your
skills, characteristics and successes, and how they
make you a strong candidate in terms of the job
description.

Keep your answer to below five minutes. Generally,
you should begin with an overview of your highest
qualification and greatest achievements, before
running through your work experience and giving
examples of the skills that you've developed. If
you've little work history, focus on the areas of
academia that you've most enjoyed and how this
relates to the job.

-Why do you want this job?

Demonstrate that you've researched the role by
discussing the skills and interests that led you to
apply. Draw upon what you enjoy; use examples
from your academic, professional or extra-curricular life that suggest you're strongly motivated for the role and can relate closely to the organisation. Tell
the interviewer what particular aspect of the job
advertisement enticed you.

Similar questions that you may be asked include:

What do you know about the company?
What motivates you?



-What are your strengths?

Pick three or four attributes desired by the employer in the person specification; teamwork, leadership,
initiative and lateral thinking are common examples.
Whichever strengths you pick, ensure that you can
evidence them with examples.

Similar questions that you may be asked include:

How would a friend describe you?
How would you describe your personality?
What are three positive things your last boss would
say about you?


-What are your weaknesses?

You can positively frame your answer by picking
characteristics that you've taken steps to improve.
For example, self-confidence issues could have
previously led to difficulty accepting criticism; but tell
the interviewer that you've learned to embrace
constructive feedback as it allows self-improvement.
Alternatively, discuss how you overcame a potential
downside of your greatest strength; for example, you
might have had to learn how to cope with conflict if
you're a great team worker.

Never say that you have no weaknesses, that you're a
perfectionist, or that you work too hard. These are
clichéd responses that portray you as arrogant,
dishonest or lacking in self-awareness.

Similar questions that you may be asked include:

How do you respond to criticism?
How would your worst enemy describe you?


-If you were an animal, what would you be?

This behavioral interview question, and its many
variants, tests your initiative. Consider what type of
personality the job requires based on the job
description and person specification, and use that as
the starting point. If you answer 'wolf', for example,
you may be seen as tenacious yet aggressive; which
could be an advantage or disadvantage depending on
the organisation.

A similar question that you may be asked is 'if you
were a biscuit, what would you be?'


-Can you give an example of a time when
you had to cope with a difficult situation?

This question is one of the most popular
performance-based interview questions. It allows the
employer to assess how calm and reliable you are
under pressure. Outline an instance where you've
coped with an unexpected problem, discussing how
you reorganised and managed your time. Think about
times where you've had to meet tight deadlines or
handle difficult people.

Similar questions that you may be asked include:

Give an example of a time when you had to cope
under pressure.
Give an example of a time when you've handled a
major crisis.
How do you manage your time and prioritise tasks?
How do you respond to stress and pressure?


-What has been your greatest achievement?

Ideally, your answer should evidence skills relevant
to the job; teamwork, initiative, communication,
determination and organisation, for example. For
inspiration, think about a time when you've received
an award, organised an event, learned something
new or overcome a major fear. Always prepare
several examples.

Avoid the achievement of graduating from university;
this won't distinguish you, unless you've had to deal
with major difficulties such as illness or personal
problems.

A similar question that you may be asked is

what are
you most proud of in your working life?'



Continues...

-Have you ever had a bad experience with an
employer?

Tough interview questions like this test your ability to think quickly. Avoid attacking any previous employers; perhaps simply describe a tricky situation that you've experienced, but one that won't be an issue in the interviewing organisation. Emphasise the
eventual positives, not the negatives.

Similar questions that you may be asked include:
What did you like the least about your last job?
Why did you leave your previous job?

-What are your goals?

This is your chance to show the recruiter that you're highly ambitious and professionally determined. Talk enthusiastically about your realistic short- and long-term targets, basing your answers on the employer, the industry, and your skills and experiences.

Outline the various steps to your ideal job, but only in relation to the position that you're applying for and the company's career development offering; it's vital that you explain how your goals make you valuable to the organisation. You could even mention your knowledge of relevant professional bodies and qualifications, or reveal that you've researched the career paths followed by other graduates. A similar question that you may be asked is 'What do
you expect to be doing in five years' time?'

-Why should we hire you?

This question, often the closer, allows you to
demonstrate your unique selling point and other
major strengths, outlining how your skills, interests and experiences fit the job. Ensure that you're positive and perhaps even re-emphasize your greatest achievements - but don't boast.

Similar questions that you may be asked include:
How would you improve our product or service?
What can you bring to the team?
What can you do for us that other candidates can't?
Why do you think you'll be successful in this job?


-Do you have any questions?

Anything that you ask should cover the work itself or career development. Prepare questions in advance; if all your queries have been answered, mention that the interviewer has covered everything you need to
know. Remember to ask questions if the moment
naturally arises during the actual interview.

Good interview questions to ask the
employer include:

How could I impress you in the first three months?

How often is a graduate's performance appraised?

Is there anything that you would like to improve in
your department?

What are the travel requirements of this job?

What development plans does the organisation have?

What is a typical career path in this job?

What training and development is provided?

What's the proposed start date for the role?

What's your personal experience of working for this organisation?

nunogomez:

Where do you reside?

Currently running a program in a part of Nassarawa with poor network reception. So?

How can u ansa..wot will u contribute to this company?

ambassadorgozie:
How can u ansa..wot will u contribute to this company?

Demonstrate your unique selling point and other
major strengths, outlining how your skills, interests and experiences. Ensure that you're
positive and perhaps even re-emphasize your
greatest achievements - but don't boast.

nunogomez:



Demonstrate your unique selling point and other
major strengths, outlining how your skills, interests and experiences. Ensure that you're
positive and perhaps even re-emphasize your
greatest achievements - but don't boast.

Tanx

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