Preparation

However the interview is structured, the key to success lies in being prepared. The time to start thinking about the potential employer, your aspirations and questions you may wish to ask is not when you are sitting in reception immediately before the interview.

The methods recommended are appropriate for all levels of industry professionals, whether you are a new graduate looking for your first professional role, are facing redundancy or wish to develop further within your current organisation.

Using my experience of the knowledge management as well as the legal information management industries the following topics are discussed:

• • Interview preparation

• • Image and non verbal communication

• • Understanding what employers are looking for

• • Overview of interview styles

• • Competency based interviews

• • Handling difficult questions

• • Overcoming confidence issues

• • How to manage nerves and stress

At Weekes Gray, when we work on one-to-one coaching, we open the coaching session with a positive brain flow exercise. We ask our candidates to write down their key achievements on some sticky notes, which we then keep and send back to them in a good luck card before their interview.

When commencing your interview preparation, start by taking a piece of paper and writing down those of your achievements which would be appropriate to share in a job interview. Think about your most recent or significant work or academic achievements, or about personal goals in which you have succeeded.

• • Take a few pieces of paper and write down all the positive aspects of your career to date

• • Start anywhere and write anything career focused or relevant that comes into your head

• • Highlight five key achievements, five key challenges and five aspirations

It does not come naturally to everybody to promote or sell themselves, so if you do find this exercise difficult the important part is just to get the mind working. The key to a successful interview is in being prepared and also importantly in being enthusiastic for both our industry and the role in question.

Doing the ground work in advance is essential. Take the time and trouble to prepare your background research, firstly by looking at the company website and making notes of topical or relevant information contained in corporate literature and press releases, as well as downloading reports and reviews. If you are unable to find what you are looking for online you may also request corporate literature direct by phoning the company. Remember to:

• • Prepare your background research online

• • Request corporate literature

• • Search for relevant articles using Google, newspapers etc

• • Research their competitors

• • Write down and remember five key aspects about the organisation

• • Research the interview panel

If you are applying direct to an organisation remember it is appropriate to ask questions prior to the interview. Ask the client to confirm with whom you will be meeting then use Linkedin to research the interview panel, what format or style the interview will take and how long to allow for the process. Find out whether or not you need to prepare anything in advance, such as competency based interview responses, formal presentations or in-tray exercises.

Print out a copy of your CV and study this along with a copy of the job description and person specification. Identify the core competencies of the role and then start to match your relevant skills and experience. It is easier than you think to try to second guess which questions you are likely to be asked, so try to predict some of the more challenging interview questions as well. Write all of these down and then start to work on preparing your responses.

Enlist the help of a friend or family member and role play the question and answer scenario. By practising these responses you will be better prepared to demonstrate your research and interest in the organisation at interview stage. Also think about some questions you would like to ask at the end of the interview. Again this demonstrates your interest in the role and the company, as well as building final rapport with the interviewer and ending the meeting on a positive note. Examples of appropriate questions may include:

How long have you worked for the organisation and what do you most enjoy about the role?

What will the successful candidate contribute to the team?

Classic interview questions

The interviewer will be looking for you to demonstrate and sell your relevant experience to carry out the role, as well as a genuine interest and some knowledge of their organisation.

Expect to be asked:

• Why are you interested in working for our organisation? How do your values and experience match those of the client?

• What do you know about us? Ability to demonstrate your preparation, research and knowledge of the organisation.

• Why are you interested in this role?

  What can you bring to this role? Assessing your soft skills and technical ability

• Why are you planning to pursue a career in this industry? This question may be more relevant if you are a new graduate or planning to move into a new sector

• Why are you planning to move on/did you leave your previous role? Have you left on a positive note?

• Where do you see yourself in five years time? Assessing your commitment or career ambition

• What is your greatest weakness? How do you manage this or react when under pressure

Your image

In many cases it really does make a difference how you dress, so pay attention to the small details and make sure you create the correct impact and image. First impressions do count so:

• • Dress for where you want to be, not where you currently are and use your common sense

• • Gentlemen – business suit and shirt and tie

• • Ladies – business suit or smart trousers/skirt and smart blouse or jumper. Try on your outfit before the interview

• • Support your image as a professional business person

• • Look like somebody who takes the interview process seriously

• • Be the candidate who does make the effort

Final preparation

The evening before the interview: Ensure that you have everything prepared, have a final read through your prepared questions and answers and then RELAX.

The day of the interview: Make sure that you have had breakfast or lunch; unless there is a medical need it is not appropriate to ask for food during the interview.

Travelling to, and arriving at, the interview: Make sure that you know where you are going prior to the interview. Check travelling times on public transport or details of nearby parking if you are driving. Never underestimate the receptionist! Remember that you may be being assessed before you meet the interview panel, so make sure you greet the receptionist with a firm handshake, state your name confidently and confirm whom your appointment is with.

During the interview: Remain calm but confident and remember to breathe! Take time to think about the questions you have been asked and do not be afraid to ask the interviewer to repeat a question or if you need to take time to think about a suitable response.

Concluding the interview: Ask any further questions about the role, or the organisation before you leave. If you are still interested let the interviewer know and say you look forward to hearing from them. Leave on a positive and professional note by shaking hands with each member of the interview panel and thanking them again for their time. Personalise your application and send a thank you letter or e-mail. Even if you are unsuccessful this can leave the door open for future opportunities.

What are employers looking for?

In addition to a great CV and technical ability clients are looking for candidates with the following “soft skills”:

Initiative: Are you a self starter and how have you shown initiative in the work place?

Team Work: How do you work within, and what do you contribute to, a team?

Organisation: Time management, how do you organise your day?

Deadlines: Can you work accurately under pressure?

Prioritising: How do you manage your work schedule, can you delegate?

Dealing with people: Do you have strong communication skills and a team player?

Flexibility: Be the candidate who can attend interview at short notice or travel as part of a role.

Technical ability: Keep your IT skills up to date.

Commitment: What is your long term interest in the role, and in a busier market place would this role still interest you?

Competency based interviews

There are a number of different interview styles, one of the most common being the “Competency interview” which is based on the principle that previous behaviour is the best indicator of how people will behave in the future. It is important to take time to practice structuring your responses to competency questions using the STAR format:

The STAR format is an effective way of organising your thoughts:

Situation: describe a situation or problem you have encountered

Task: outline the task that was required to resolve the issue or problem

Action: describe the action you took to overcome the issue or problem

Result: highlight the outcomes achieved

Competency questions can be split into key competency areas such as communication, managerial, interpersonal, decision making etc. There are some examples below, but remember to structure your answers by outlining the situation, task, action and result:

• • Tell us about a time when you had to deal with a conflict in your team or as part of your role?

• • Describe a situation in which you were a member of a team. What did you do to positively contribute to it?

• • Tell us about the biggest change that you have had to deal with. How did you manage it?

Improve your confidence

It is all in the mind … it is essential to bear in mind how important your energy is and to work on boosting your confidence by working on the following:

Appearance: If you look good you feel good

Ability and performance: Practice being able to sell your skills

Positive self-affirmations: Use and re-read your achievement cards

Visualisation: Work with a professional coach or download an or listen to a CD

Take action and ownership: We create our own state of mind

Stress management: Look after yourself including your diet, take exercise and time to relax