Job Search Part 5: Preparing For The Interview | WiseWolf Talking ...

Are you looking for work? Then you have come to the right place!

This is the fifth post in our series on Job Search.

In the first post at this link http://wisewolftalking.com/2012/07/05/job-searchwhat-kind-of-work-are-you-looking-for/?I said that you have a decision to make! The clearer you are about the kind of work you want, the more likely you are to be successful.

In the second post at this link, http://wisewolftalking.com/2012/07/12/job-search-part-2-where-are-you-looking/ , I set out some options for you in terms of where to look for work

In the third post, you can find it here, http://wisewolftalking.com/2012/07/19/job-search-part-3what-networking-can-do-for-your-job-search/ , I said that networking was the most effective way to look for work and I discussed how to do it well.

The last post at this link http://wisewolftalking.com/2012/07/26/job-search-part-4-writing-that-winning-cv/ set out how to write a CV to help you stand-out from the crowd?

Now we are going to consider how you prepare to be a star at the interview.

So you have caught the recruiter?s eye with your winning CV and now you are through to the next stage in the process.

This can be quite different for each job.

Some employers like to go straight to the interview stage. Others screen candidates by asking them to take tests or to attend an assessment centre.. Sometimes they like to have a telephone discussion before inviting you to a face to face interview. I?m going to cover assessment centres and telephone interviews in the next post. But remember whatever they choose to do, you are over the first hurdle.

Today, I?m going to deal with conventional job interviews.

I am going to look at how you prepare ahead of the interview, what to do on the day and some questions that you could ask.

Preparing for the Interview

This is incredibly important ? this is what can make you successful. And you would be surprised how many people do not take the time to do it properly. Preparing means you understand the organization you are applying to join and you build your confidence.

• Research the organization. Interviewers today expect you to know what the company does in some detail, particularly the part of the organization you wish to join. You need to understand how it is structured and the sector it operates in ? who are the main competitors? You can also use the internet to find out who are the key players in the organization.
• Research the role. ?Make sure you understand the job description thoroughly and how it fits into the organization. Understand what skills they are looking for and think through examples you can use to show that have them.
• Research the interview. The idea is to be as well prepared as possible and to have as few surprises on the day as possible. Make sure you understand what kind of interview you are going for and how it will be carried out. Don?t be worried about asking about this ? it shows real commitment to the process. Find out if there will any tests or exercises and whether they expect you to prepare a presentation, Is there anything they would like you to bring with you??Inquire?about the interviewers themselves ? who they are and what role do they have in the organization?
• Get ready for questions! Make a list of points that you want the panel to know about you, for example, key successes in your previous role. If you can, and it is relevant, include the information in the answers you give at the interview. If you don?t get the opportunity to give the information in answers then you will probably get an opportunity to add it at the end as ?anything else?.

On the day!

Dress for success! Usually this will mean being well-groomed and wearing smart business dress! In some organizations, it will be smart casual. Your research into the organization will give you some clues and you can enquire but always go for smart, with very good grooming. If something happens on your journey or you are going to be late ? let the interviewers know as soon as possible. Again, if you are taken ill, it is much better to say so than go through an interview and leave the panel with a poor impression.

What happens at an interview!

The interviewers will usually;

• Tell you about the organization and the role
• Ask you questions so that they can assess your abilities, your personality and your motivation
• Encourage you to ask any questions you have about the job, the organization or the process.
• Tell you about the next stage of the process and when a final decision will be made.

Remember that the interview is a two-way process. You?re there to find out information about them as much as they are there to find out about you. So take your chance to find out information that isn?t in the job description and this can help you make an informed decision about whether you definitely want the job.

You could ask for example:

• What are the promotion prospects?
• What training opportunities are available?
• Is there a clearly defined career path?

Some interview tips

• Don?t expect the interviewers to remember what you said in your CV, when they ask a question, give them a complete answer.
• Take time to breathe before you answer each question. Think about the question and prepare the answer. Don?t just gush out an incomplete answer
• If you don?t understand the question ask for more information. Not every interviewer is good at asking questions and, in any case, interviewers would prefer you understood what they were asking and gave them a suitable answer.
• Don?t answer any question with a simple ?yes? or ?no? ? always add some detail.
• Remember an interview is the time to show them that you are the right person for the job, so don?t be embarrassed about showing how good you are.
• Be up-beat and don?t moan or complain about anything, if you want the job. Even if you have good reason not to like your present employer this isn?t the time to complain about them ? that will make the interviewer wonder whether you can be a loyal employee.
• Don?t put yourself down with false modesty and don?t make excuses. If they didn?t think you were good they would not have asked you to the interview. Be true to your self and honest but be sensible ? now is not the time to express you secret doubts about any lack of experience.
• Watch your body language, give the interviewers good eye contact, show interest and look attentive. ?Sit and stand confidently and have a good hand shake ready ? practice if necessary. Speak clearly and simply at a level that they can hear. Keep to the point and give concise answers.

The next post in this series will be about other types of job interviews and assessment centres.

Wendy Mason is a career coach working mainly with professional women who want to make that jump to senior level while maintaining a good work/life?balance. Before working as a coach, Wendy had a long career in both the public and private sectors in general management and consultancy as well as spells in HR. ?She now divides her time between face to face coaching, and coaching and blogging on-line. You can contact Wendy at?wendymason@wisewolfcoaching.com?and find out more at?http://wisewolfcoaching.com

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Tags: career, Career Coaching, Career Development, change, coach, CV, Employment, Interview, Interview technique, Job Advertising, Job hunting, job interview, Job Search, Job Search Techniques, Job Search. recruitment, job seeking, Job-Hunt, jobs, Labour economics, leadership, life coaching, Looking for a new job, Management, Personal development

Source: http://wisewolftalking.com/2012/08/09/job-search-part-5-preparing-for-the-interview/

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