INTERVIEW PREPARATION

Preparation Before The Interview

Do your Research

With modern technology such as the internet, there are no excuses for not being able to find relevant information on your prospective employer. If one of the interview questions was "Why do you want to come and work with us?" the only way you will be to evaluate this is to know more about the company, it's culture, it's market and it's business areas/products, services, news and reviews, corporate vision and company trends.

If you are interviewing for a role through Kelta HR our consultants will provide you with the specific context to the job role to compliment the job and person spec.

Make sure you review job and person spec and start to formulate evidence to answer the questions that could be asked to measure your experience and exposure to these skills and experience.

The Competency Based Interview Questions Toolkit can help with this: Compentency based interview questions "CBI"

It is also advisable to think about the following aspects:

• Financials - current to historical status, stock value and trending, recent or predicted expansions, mergers and acquisitions.
• Industry - competitors, industry analyses and trends, comparative reviews of the company, its markets and products and industry associations.

Appearance and Final Preparations

Appearance does matter so a great rule of thumb is to dress one level above the job you are being interviewed for. Naturally attention to personal grooming is a must as conclusions can be drawn about personal qualities such as attention to detail, pride in your work and professionalism. Finally ensure you know exactly where you are going, who you are meeting and allow enough time to get there and factor in time to get lost. Don't be late!

Call to Action

Remember to give immediate feedback to your consultant after the interview. This needs to include any areas you felt may have let you down. Perhaps you didn't answer a question as well as you could have done or forgot to press home about a certain skill. Your consultant can cover this for you in their call to the employer.

During The Interview

No matter how qualified you are for a job, your personality and personal presentation will count greatly at interview. Whatever your confidence levels, develop and work on the skills required to make the interview process more rewarding.

• Be aware of your body language - especially a firm handshake at the beginning of the interview and eye contact.
• Take a copy of your CV with you
• Listen to the questions - wait for the question to be asked in full
• Don't speak too fast (we all do this when we are nervous)
• Don't badmouth a former employer or colleague - it is unprofessional and speaks volumes about your blame culture, judgement and negativity
• Don't forget to switch off your mobile!
• Always use "I" when answering questions - it is your skills and experience the interviewer is measuring
• Be factual and honest in your answers - weaknesses are areas of development not things to be overlooked or swept under the carpet.
• Interviews are a 2 way dialogue - prepare questions in advance, ensuring these are relevant and knowledgeable
• Do not ask about the salary, benefits or holiday - These are usually discussed at the second stage interview and your consultant will liaise with you.