BE PREPARED!!

 

Find out about the employer and the job. You should ask the employer if they have a website.

 

• It's helpful to find out the following things about the employer:
• What do they make, or sell?
• Who are their customers?
• What sort of organization are they?
• What is the job likely to involve?
• How will your skills fit with the job?

 

Plan for the interview

• Find out what the interview will involve, you will want to be prepared.
• Think about who will be interviewing you. Is it the person who will be your supervisor? If so, the interview may be more detailed. If it is the personnel manager, the interview may be less detailed.
• Find out how many people will be interviewing you and what their positions are. This will help you prepare for the kinds of questions they may ask.
• Find out how long the interview is likely to last. This will give you an idea of how detailed it will be.
• Find out whether you will have to take a test or make a presentation.

 

Plan your journey

 

Consider driving to your interview the day before to check how long the journey will take. If necessary, ask the employer for directions, bus routes, or details of where you can park your car. Plan another route in case something unexpected happens (such as an accident blocking the road). Decide what to wear and get your clothes ready the day before. Have a neat, clean, and tidy appearance, if you look good it will help you feel good. Take a copy of your resume, CV, or application form to refer to. Bring items the employer has asked for example: references, certificates, driver's license.

 

Refresh your memory

 

Make sure you have not missed anything.

• Here are a few questions you can expect. Remember, employers value people who can admit their mistakes rather than blaming their failures on others. Be positive and honest.
• Why do you want to work here?
• Why did you leave your last job? (Don't use this as an opportunity to criticize your previous employer.)
• Have you done this kind of work before?
• What did you do in your last job?
• What kinds of equipment can you use?
• How long have you been out of work, and how do you spend your time?
• Why are you the right person for this job?
• Why have you had so many jobs?
• Why have you had only one job?
• Why should you be hired?
• Are you over qualified for this job?
• How well do you get along with other people?
• How do you cope with pressure?
• What are your strengths, weaknesses?
• Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
• What is your salary expectations?
• How often were you absent from your last job?
• When would you be available to start?
• Do you have any questions?

 

Remember, most employers like people who:

• Listen
• Answer questions with examples
• Are brief and keep to the point
• Come prepared
• Appear confident

 

OTHER TYPES OF INTERVIEWS

 

Competency based Interviews

 

Competency based interviews are designed to allow you to show your skills and experience in the main areas of the job. You may be asked to discuss examples of your previous work and achievements. The examples you give should expand on or be different from those on your original application form. Before the interview, you will need to list the skills and experience needed for the job and think about what you have done that you could use as an example for each one.

 

Group Interviews

 

You may be invited to be assessed as part of a group. This is to test how you might work as part of a team. Be prepared to take an active part in the discussion or task and put forward your ideas. Be confident but not aggressive.

 

Telephone Interviews

 

Some employers may carry out a first interview over the phone. Be prepared for this when phoning employers by having your CV handy and reading through the sample questions in this fact sheet.

 

Skills Tests

 

These tests are designed to measure the level of your knowledge or understanding of the job. A typing test would be a good example. Find out what the test will involve and try to practice before the interview.

 

Personality Tests

 

You could be asked questions about your thoughts, feelings, and behavior in certain situations. There is no such thing as a right or wrong answer. The end result is a personality rating used to see if the person fits the job advertised. Analyzing these tests is a highly skilled process and larger organizations may use these tests as part of the interview process.

 

Aptitude Tests

 

Aptitude tests are designed to predict how well you might do certain tasks. They test abilities such as reasoning with words, numbers, diagrams, problem solving, or following directions. These are usually set as a test paper which you have to complete in a set amount of time. You may want to do practice tests to improve your ability. Always be prepared and appear confident