Career Doctor Articles

With the kind permission of the Career Doctor, jfo is able to bring you a series of articles to help you in your work situation and longer term career management

Winning that interview

So, you have a letter inviting you to attend an interview for that job you really fancy, but how can you be sure that you will be the lucky applicant to get the job offer? Six applicants will attend the interview and five will get a rejection letter, so the odds are statistically set against you being the lucky one. In this article I will give you some pointers that will help strengthen your application and improve your statistical chances.

Having interviewed thousands of people for hundreds of vacancies over a 16 year career in HR, it is my firm belief that most applicants are ill prepared, unrehearsed, and over-confident. “Give me an interview opportunity and I will stroll it, for I can talk for England” seems to be a prevalent attitude amongst many – whilst others are so unaccustomed to attending recruitment interviews or lack self-confidence, that the invitation letter can be a source of additional pressure. So what should you be doing now that your interview invitation has arrived?

THOROUGH PREPARATION

The starting point is to find out as much as you can about the company that wants to interview you – its products / services, reputation, share price performance, market share, number of employees, etc. The internet is an obvious starting point for your research, but also consider talking to users and sellers of the company’s products / services, and any of its employees (if you know someone).

Prepare what you intend to take with you to the interview: sales graphs, a picture of you receiving an award from your present / past boss, and anything that shows you in a good light. Perhaps a portfolio of your designs or photos of the things you’ve built?

Think about the clothes you will wear to that interview. A lurid tie might be amusing or fashionable, but what message does it say about you, the wearer? A low-cut top or tight slacks in a bright colour may make you queen of the dance floor, but will probably cost you the interview (unless being fashionable is a prerequisite of the job you are being interviewed for)

Decide how you will travel to the interview and research train times, or calculate driving time and parking problems. If the company is fairly near to your home, do a dummy run at about the same time as your interview, to see what traffic problems you are likely to encounter.

FIRST THREE MINUTES

It is a widely-held belief that you will win, or lose, an interview in the first three minutes. First impressions and all that. Regrettably there is some truth in that belief, and so however unprofessional or unfair that may be, you would be well advised to remember how important it is to make a good first impression.
The way you walk into the interview room, the way you look, your clothes and hairstyle, your dry and firm handshake, the way you sit in the hot seat, your calm and audible voice, your body language and eye contact are all things that are so very important. Get these right and whatever you say will be evaluated in a positive way; get any of these points wrong, and your answers to their questions will be judged negatively. Unfair? Certainly, but it’s a sad fact of life.

One of the many tips I give my clients is never to accept a drink if offered. A cup of tea is a distraction and a potential disaster if you accidentally spill it down your front – or worse still, over the interviewer! I’ve seen that happen, and that was the end of that interviewee’s chance.

GIVING THE RIGHT ANSWERS

It is impossible to predict every question the interviewer may ask, (but see next section), so rehearsing answers to theoretical questions is fine, but you are most unlikely to remember those model answers under the pressure of a real interview. Instead remember the basics.

Be honest, don’t exaggerate, and never try to be a chameleon (guessing what you think the interviewer will be looking for, and pretending to be that). You are innately an XX but you think they will be wanting a YY so that’s the image you project. If your guess is right, you may bluff your way into the job, but will soon be found out. If you guess wrongly you have projected a false picture, and they might have wanted the real you. So you get a rejection. Sad!

I am a great believer in “publish and be dammed”. Say what you are really like, and what your real beliefs and standards are. You will get a Brownie Point for your honesty, and if you get the job offer, it will not be under a falsehood.

Beware of using clichés “I don’t suffer fools gladly” is a common (and boring) one. Avoid silence in an interview. If you get a question that initially stumps you, do not go quiet whilst you desperately struggle to find an answer. Silence is embarrassing to all parties in a recruitment interview. Instead, stall for time to enable the cogs to catch up. “That’s a good question” could fill that silence.

Unless you are applying for a sales job it is not a good idea to ask if you will be offered the job. Embarrassing for all concerned. However, salespeople are expected to “close”.

PREDICTABLE QUESTIONS

In most recruitment interviews there are a number of predictable questions, so there is no excuse for a weak or unprepared answer. For example: “What do you know about our company?” “Why did you apply for this job?” “Why did you leave that job?” “What are your strengths?” “What are your weaknesses?” “Why should I offer you this job?” “Are there any questions you would like to ask us?”

There is no excuse for a poor response to these type of questions, so rehearse your model answers!

AFTER THE INTERVIEW

If you are lucky you will get a letter or a phone call within a few days giving you their verdict. If you are offered the job, ask for a written offer, to buy time for you to consider whether or not to accept it.

Decide whether you want to accept the salary offered, or whether you want to see if they will increase the offer. Some managers will give you another Brownie Point for your confidence and nerve (could be important factors in this new job) – but some managers will be offended and think that you are being greedy or cheeky. Not a good start. And I’ve known some managers who have taken the attitude “if that’s what he/she is really like, then I’ve made a misjudgement, and want to withdraw that offer” A close call!

If you are not offered the job, it is a good idea to ask the interviewer why, “to help you in future interviews”. From an HR point of view, replying to a request for a reason for rejection can be a bit of a minefield – so you can expect a “plastic” reply, such as “there was a better candidate on the day”. However you might get a constructive answer if you are lucky.

Good luck!

The Career Doctor is Eric Hearn, Chartered MCIPD and Managing Director of Milverton Career Solutions Ltd, Ascot, Berkshire, UK.

Contact details:
Tel: 01344 624383
Email: milvertoncareers@btconnect.com
Website: www.careerdevelopment.co.uk