Interview Techniques

The Interview

The ability to improve your career prospects and salary potential lies within your ability to present yourself effectively at interviews.

At Precruitment, we strive to give above ordinary commitment to our clients and candidates alike. We would like you to call us prior to any interview and discuss issues and concerns you may have. It is important that you are feeling confident that you deserve the position for which you are being interviewed.

We are here to help you feel comfortable and confident throughout the interview process.

The Key

In an interview the potential employer will be looking for three key factors:

Can You Do the Job? The potential employer will be seeking from you an estimate of your ability to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position.

Will You Fit In? How well or otherwise will you interact with the potential employer’s existing management and staff? Are you of a similar culture to theirs?

Will You Stay? The match of your ambitions and the career plans that the potential employer has for the new employee.

All the questions that you will be asked during the interview should be guided toward one of these three factors.

Good morning Rona and Lori Thank you both for your assistance – always friendly, helpful and supportive.  It has been a pleasure dealing with Precruitment and although I do hope I will not need your services in the future, should my situation change Precruitment will always be my preferred employment agency.
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Your Interview Preparation

First, carefully think about all your past positions and write down all the positive achievements and learning experiences that you enjoyed.

Second, analyse the reasons you left your previous roles and ask yourself would you be satisfied with these reasons if you were the potential employer.

Third, carefully consider each of the typical interview questions shown below and work out positive responses to all of them.

Use these tips to help you prepare and show your best self:

MAR – The Interview

Your Personal Presentation

Employers expect that you will present yourself for the interview dressed as well as you ever will be. Make sure you dress conservatively. Our advice is:

Ladies. Dark suit or dark, skirt and a light blouse, definitely not a mini skirt or slacks. Conservative neckline. Clean, good condition footwear. Minimal and tasteful jewellery. Conservative make-up. Well-groomed professional hair. Clean well-groomed hands and nails.

Gentlemen. Dark suit, white shirt and a tie that is bright. Clean, good condition footwear. Well-groomed hair. Minimal jewellery. Clean well-groomed hands and nails.

Note. In tropical Queensland suits for both females and males are not the norm. As a general guide jackets can be omitted.

In the Interview – Things to do.

Be positive about everything.

Ask questions about your supervisor and the department in general:

  1. How long have they been with the company?
  2. What is the style of management?
  3. What did they like most about the previous employee?
  4. How can you improve on the performance of the previous        employee?
  5. General questions about the position (don’t get too specific)

Show interest in the position you are applying for.

Smile!

In the Interview – Things to avoid.

Do not to speak negatively about previous employers or managers.

Do not be specific about money. Prior to interview your consultant will give you an indication of the potential employers expectation. In any case we would not send you to interviews with employers who were not going to match your remuneration expectation.

Please avoid absolutes. Do not demand anything. Speak in generalities with phrases like “I was hoping to improve on my current salary package” etc.

Some Typical Interview Questions...

  • How did you find the travel today? Did you find it easy to get here?
  • What are your greatest strengths?
  • What do you enjoy most about your current position?
  • What parts of your current job do you enjoy least?
  • What do you find most challenging in your current position?
  • Why are you looking to move on from your current employer (you will probably need to discuss all career moves).
  • Tell me one major achievement while in your last position/company?
    What attracts you to the position being offered?
  • Do you set goals for yourself? Tell me about one and how you plan to achieve it.
  • Where would you like to be in five years?
  • What attracts you to our company?
  • What do you hope to achieve in this position and in this company?
  • What style of environment do you prefer to work in?
  • How do you feel you would suit the position?
  • What do you see as the next step in your career after this particular position?