The interview is a necessary part of the recruitment process and at some stage we all must do it. It can be nerve racking, and for some the intense pressure of being judged is almost too much to bear, but remember that it is a two way process and that although you may not have the power to make the hiring decision, you do ultimately get to decide whether or not to accept an offer. So perhaps we need to change our frame of reference and view the interview process for what it really is – an opportunity to get to know one another. Remember this is your chance to find out whether the job fits your needs and if the company is somewhere you would like to work. Although there are many different interview styles and the types of questions you could potentially be asked is infinite, your best approach is thorough preparation. Your first step should always be to understand your needs and desires. What do you want from the job, what income level to you require to sustain your lifestyle or does it even matter, perhaps the type of work more important. Secondly, you need to understand your areas of strength and weakness, if you have not defined these areas for yourself you will not be able to answer questions about them during your interview. Spend time contemplating examples from your work history that may serve to answer many interview questions. For example, it is highly likely that you will be asked to describe a time when you dealt with a difficult customer or colleague, to give an example of your problem solving ability, or your communication style. If you have generated answers to these types of questions in advance you will avoid the inevitable struggle of finding relevant examples during the interview. Ensure that the role you have applied for is suited to your skill level, and thoroughly interests you. Research the job, the company, the industry as comprehensively as you can. This research should assist you to formula intelligent questions to ask at the end of the interview process and hopefully leave a lasting impression of your interest and desire to succeed in the position. It is important to understand that interviewing is a skill, and like it or not, skills are developed through practise. So every interview you attend should be considered a developmental opportunity. You should walk away considering your performance, what did you do well, what could you have done better? And work to formulate strategies to enhance your performance at your next interview.
Posted on: Thu, 06 Jun 2013 04:17:05 +0000