/ JOB SEEKERS
Interview Techniques
Preparation advice to help candidates present themselves confidently and land their desired jobs.
Scroll down
Impress Employers
Acing an interview is crucial for landing your dream job. This guide will equip you with the knowledge to impress potential employers. We’ll explore the three key factors they seek in a candidate, along with expert tips on answering common interview questions and making a strong first impression.
The Guide
This guide highlights three key factors employers look for and provides tips on how to answer common interview questions and make a positive impression.
Interview Techniques
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.
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:
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:
- How long have they been with the company?
- What is the style of management?
- What did they like most about the previous employee?
- How can you improve on the performance of the previous employee?
- General questions about the position (don’t get too specific)
Show interest in the position you are applying for.
Smile!
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.
Typical Interview Questions
How did you find the travel today? Did you find it easy to get here?
What do you enjoy most about your current position?
What parts of your current job do you enjoy least?
Tell me one major achievement while in your last position/company?
What attracts you to the position being offered?
What do you hope to achieve in this position and in this company?
What do you see as the next step in your career after this particular position?