Interview Tips

Preparation for the Interview	Get off to a Good Start and 'Impress'	Be prepared to answer questions like
Avoid making one of these 'Classic Mistakes'	A good interview can fall flat....	Closing the Interview
After the Interview

The short time you spend at a job interview could have a dramatic effect on YOUR career prospects. It is therefore important that you perform well because no matter how good your career record is to date, the employment interview remains an important step towards fulfillment of your ambitions. These hints, combined with the guidance provided by our consultants, will equip you with valuable information on how to conduct yourself during interviews with prospective employers.

Preparation for the Interview

Preparation is the first essential step towards a successful interview. Company interviewers are continually amazed at the number of applicants who drift into their offices without any apparent preparation and only the vaguest idea of what they are going to say. Thus, it is important to:

Get off to a Good Start and 'Impress'

You are being interviewed because the interviewer wants to hire somebody - not because he/she wants to trip you up or embarrass you. Through the interaction which will take place during the interview, he/she will be searching out your strong and weak points, evaluating you on your qualifications, skills and intellectual qualities and he/she will probably probe deeply to determine your attitudes, aptitudes, stability, motivation and maturity.

1.	Dress conservatively and preferably in darker colours, pay attention to all facets of your dress and grooming.
2.	Stand when the interviewer enters the room.
3.	Shake hands firmly while greeting the interviewer by his/her name. The first 30 seconds are critical.
4.	Smile, relax.
5.	Maintain eye contact with the interviewer while you talk with him/her.
6.	Be confident, look alert and interested at all times. Be a good listener as well as a good talker. Show some enthusiasm!
7.	Follow the interviewer's leads and relate your background and skills to the position.
8.	Make sure that your good points get across to the interviewer. Keep in mind that you alone can sell yourself to an interviewer. Make him/her realise the need for you in the organisation.
9.	Ensure that by the end of the interview you have gained a fair understanding of all facets of the job and the company, so that you are clear in your mind about everything.
10.	Research the company - their history and growth, where their facilities are located, what their products and services are, their philosophy and culture. Make them aware you have done your homework.
11.	Refresh your memory on the facts and figures of your present and former employers. You will be expected to know about a company that you have previously worked for.

Be prepared to answer questions like

1.	How much do you know about our company?
2.	Why would you like to work for us?
3.	What style of management gets the best from you?
4.	What would previous employers say about you?
5.	Which of your previous jobs did you enjoy the most? Why?
6.	What is your major weakness? What have you done about it?
7.	Other than your career, what other facets of your life are your main priorities?
8.	What has been the most difficult time in your career (life) and how did you handle it?
9.	What are you looking for in a role?
10.	What do you really want to do with your life?
11.	What are your strengths? What are you really good at? (Examples)
12.	Why did you choose this particular vocation?

Avoid making one of these 'Classic Mistakes'

During the course of an interview, the employer will be evaluating any negative factors as well as your positive attributes. Listed below are negative factors frequently evaluated during the course of an interview and those which most often lead to rejection.

	Late arrival, or arriving in the nick of time so that you are rushed and flustered.
	Smoking before an interview. Smoking during the interview.
	Overdressing. Underdressing. The job interview is not a date and it is not a casual outing - it is business.
	Overbearing / aggressive / conceited / "superiority complex" / "know -it-all"/ "What can you do for me?" attitude.
	Derogatory remarks about your present or former employers.
	Placing undue emphasis on money. Raising the subject of money too early in the interview. (It is best to leave it to the interviewer to broach the subject of salary.)
	Company interviewers are continually amazed at the number of applicants who drift into their office without any apparent preparation and have only the vaguest idea of what they are going to say. You must prepare.

A good interview can fall flat if you are given an opportunity to but don't ask any questions about the job / company. Here are some suggested questions to ask:

1.	Can you give me a detailed job description?
2.	What will be my major focus in the first three months?
3.	To help me focus on my most relevant experience, can you please describe the main thrust of the role and the attributes you are looking for in candidates?
4.	Why has the position become available?
5.	How would you describe the culture of the company?
6.	Please describe the induction and training program.
7.	What sort of people have done well?
8.	What advanced training programs are available for those who demonstrate outstanding ability?
9.	What are the earnings of successful people in their third to fifth year?
10.	What are the company growth plans and how might I fit into them?
11.	What are your best-selling products or services?
12.	What is the next step?

Closing the Interview

If you are interested in the position, ask for it. Ask for the next interview if the situation demands. If he/she offers the position to you, and you want it, accept on the spot. If you wish some time to think it over, be courteous and tactful in asking for that time. Set a definite date when you can provide an answer. Don't be too discouraged if no definite offer is made or specific salary discussed. The interviewer will probably want to communicate with his/her office first or interview more applicants before making a decision. If you get the impression that the interview is not going well and that you have already been rejected, don't let your discouragement show. Once in a while an interviewer who is genuinely interested in your possibilities may seem to discourage you in order to test your reaction. Thank the interviewer for his/her time and consideration of you. If you have answered the two questions uppermost in his/her mind:

	Why are you interested in the job and the company?
	What can you offer and can you do the job?
	You have done all you can. Smile - Relax - Enjoy the experience.

After the Interview

Last, and most important, call the consultant who referred you to the position immediately after the interview and explain what happened. He/she will want to talk with you before the interviewer calls him/her back. If you are interested in progressing further it will assist if your feelings towards the position are known, together with your perception of what the client's reaction is likely to be.