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Interview Advice for Contractos:

The short time you spend at a job interview could have a dramatic effect on your career and your ambitions. This advice combined with the guidance provided by our Consultants will equip you with valuable information on how to conduct yourself at interviews with prospective employers.

Remember that the interviewer is trying to fill a vacancy. They are not there to knock you out of the process, in fact they are hoping that you will be perfect for the job. They will want to ascertain your skill set in detail but they also want to know how well you will fit in with the existing team.

Preparation:

The advantages of advance preparation for interviews are numerous. Naturally, if you know what you want to say ahead of time you can usually articulate it more effectively.

The first step in your preparation is to identify your skills, interests, and career goals before you arrive at the interview. This will help you answer the interviewers questions about your desired direction within that organisation.

The next step is to study your prospective employer. The purpose of research is to show an employer that you have a genuine interest in the company and have made an effort to learn about their industry and their products or services. There may be things of specific interest to you, such as the number of employees, their financial situation, competitors, problems, the management style or employee benefits. This research may also raise questions of your own to address at the interview.

Impressions are often formed during the first two to six minutes of the interview, therefore what you wear can affect your chances. Dress should be appropriate for the organisation with which you are interviewing. You should aim to convey an image of professionalism, authority, and competence.

You may wish to carry a briefcase or a professional-looking notebook with your questions written in advance. It is often helpful to take a portfolio to a job interview, generally including an additional CV and letters of reference.

Always allow ample travel time in order to be punctual. You should arrive 10 to 15 minutes before the interview. After you have informed the receptionist of your arrival, select a chair that will allow you to sit upright and alert. While you are waiting read any organisational literature that is available or notes that you have taken along.

During the Interview:

Expect to be nervous at the outset. Interviews most often begin with what is called an "open-ended icebreaker" - the interviewer's invitation to "tell me about yourself." If you anticipate a lead-in opener you will have ready answers and should find yourself beginning to relax.

First interviews normally take about an hour, during which time your CV and accomplishments will be reviewed. Under the best circumstances you should leave the interviewer with the impression that you can do the job. Often however, you won't know whether you want the job until you've met with the company representative for the second interview.

To build a good rapport you should speak clearly, listen closely, and show by gestures and facial expressions that you are receptive to the interviewers thoughts and questions. In answering questions pause to give yourself time to compose an answer that is concise and thoughtful. If you feel that you haven't communicated your reply clearly, try again until you are sure that your message has been received correctly.

Feel free to refer to your notes in answering questions. Listening to the interviewer is as essential as speaking honestly and forthrightly about your abilities, as it will help you formulate your responses and obtain a better understanding of the organisations views and work environment.

The interviewer may give you the first sign that the interview is coming to a close when he or she asks if you have any further questions. At this point, you should ask questions that will reflect both the insight you've gained from the interview and your professional values. Be careful not to ask something the interviewer answered earlier, although this is the perfect time to ask for clarification on anything you're not sure you understood.

You might choose to bring up one or two additional strengths or skills that further match you to the organisation - again, brief statements only.

What Are Your Weaknesses:

This is a commonly asked question and seems to prove a stumbling block for many interviewees. It’s not the place to admit your biggest flaws or crack jokes, but it's similarly not the time to pretend you don't have any areas for improvement, as it would either make you look conceited or unrealistic about your own performance.

So What Can You Do:

• Think about your strengths. This will give you a solid foundation before you think about "weaknesses" and means you'll avoid the temptation to beat yourself up about not being perfect.
• Think about your last appraisal or what your current colleagues would say about you.  You can even ask your friends what they would say. What are some areas you can improve upon? Where do you excel?
• As for weaknesses, it's often better to think of them as "areas for development" rather than "faults". Be honest with yourself. The employer is looking for proof that you can identify areas for improvement and then do something about them.
• It's usually a good idea to make the "weakness" something small. Avoid major topics such as "organisational skills" or "time management“, and choose a development area that doesn't affect your ability to do the job for which you are being interviewed.

So you'll need to admit that you're not perfect, whilst showing that you are already working on the issues and giving examples of the progress you have made. Have you been on any training courses? Or maybe you've taken on a project at work to increase your skills?

The key to a good answer to most interview questions is to give examples that back up what you're saying. Don't expect them to take your word for it. If possible, demonstrate how you're already improving your "weak spot". It's also a good idea to turn your "weaknesses" around, to have a positive slant.

For example:

"Some people call me impatient. That's because I have drive and enthusiasm to get the job done, but I still make sure I plan and don't miss anything."

Make sure your answer is appropriate to the company and role. The example above would work well for a high-pressured, deadline-driven role, but less so for a job that required someone to studiously follow through the same project for five years.

General Interview Advice:

• Be articulate
• Maintain good eye contact
• Demonstrate confidence
• Avoid "yes" or "no" responses
• Show enthusiasm
• Respond to nonverbal cues such as nodding and smiling
• Avoid excessive mannerisms and fidgeting
• Avoid bringing up negative information about past job experiences, co-workers, or former employers
• Always present the best of your background or qualifications

Interview Mistakes:

• Lying
• Negativity towards past employers
• Being Rude/ Overfamiliar
• Complaining
• Talking about people you don't get on with at work
• Appearing to be too nervous, or too confident
• Not being prepared
• Not having researched the company

Closing the interview:

Do not accept or decline the position on the spot. You need time to think about and consider the implications and options. Thank the interviewer for their time and ask what the next stage will be, expressing your interest in the role if genuine.

Follow Up:

As soon as you have finished write down the key issues uncovered in the interview. Think of what will qualify you for the position and match your strengths to them and conversely, think of the potential concerns the employer had and how you would overcome them.

Finally get in touch with your Merit Consultant! Our follow up now is critical.