Interview advice

Your interview technique can play almost as big a part in how successful you are in securing your ideal job as your technical skills and experience. New employees are selected as much for their potential, personality, how well they will fit into an established team etc, as they are for their technical abilities, and our aim is to help you put yourself forward so your personality sparkles as much as your experience. The more effort and preparation you put in before you step through the interviewer's door, the better the results, so take a look through the following for new ideas.

General advice

Put yourself in the interviewer's shoes, think about what they may read into your answers (this is where preparation comes in - see the practice questions below. Interviews are a two way process, especially for more senior candidates, and you are interviewing the employer (in a discreet manner of course!) just as much as they are interviewing you.

Approach the interview positively, and leave it on a positive note, even if you need more time to digest the discussion in order to make decisions. Leave it on a doubtful note and you may not even get the chance to say yes or go back to discuss further.

Preparing for the interview

Allowing plenty of time to reach your destination and find the right entrance/floor always takes longer than anticipated. Far better to arrive 1/2 hour early and relax in a café to gather your thoughts, then report to reception 10 minutes ahead of schedule (shows enthusiasm and good time keeping without making the interviewer feel awkward by arriving too early, and then potentially having to wait that 1/2 hour before he is ready). If you do have to wait, try not to fidget whilst under the beady eye of the receptionist (and never underestimate the receptionist's influence - they are often asked what they think of someone who's been waiting for a while - friendly but not distracting is the balance you want to reach).

Dress smartly and conservatively. Something like the professional smart dark suit, white shirt and not too wacky a tie for the men, and corresponding dress for women is the name of the game. This isn't the time to try out that trendy new suit and shirt that looks best without a tie (yes it has happened). Other real fashion mistakes are white socks, tartan ties with glitter streaks woven into them, leather skirts with pixie boots!. NOTE - smart dress also applies to engineers, even if you may be in jeans once you are working there, a prospective employer will still need to know they can send you to a new client, and project a smart professional image when necessary.

Or a more serious note, you've probably heard about "the interviewer decides if you suit his team in the first 20 seconds". It's true - so all you have to rely on is your appearance, strong handshake and a positive and cheerful greeting.

Find out all you can about the company / job. Be enthusiastic and interested. Remember that the position your prospective employer is talking about is important and he wants someone who is genuinely interested in his company and the job opening. We can often provide a copy of the company brochure and a web site address for you to do more research. One of our most successful candidates ever, who very rarely failed to be offered the job, always visited their local library to research the company and invariably found out some snippet of information which they could drop into the conversation, or ask more about. Nothing impresses a client more, it makes them feel special and shows you really have made an effort!

When you arrive

With the best will in the world interviewers cannot guarantee being able to conduct the interview on time 100% of the time. if an emergency occurs and all the servers go down, delays are going to happen. Try not to get impatient. If delays are excessive and you have to get back to work, explain to the receptionist and give us a call from outside in case we can arrange for someone else to see you, or alternatively arrange a new appointment.

If they ask you to fill in an application form do so neatly and thoroughly. Yes, it may repeat half your CV, but there are often reasons behind the practice, whether it is to confirm details, check out your handwriting and spelling, or just to see how you react to requests from senior management to complete tasks you may not see the point of.

So you've got into the interview!

POSITIVE, POSITIVE, POSITIVE

Never talk against a former employer. State your reasons for leaving calmly, briefly and truthfully (berate your old boss and all the interviewer will think is "what will he be saying about me in a few years time").

Try not to state a specific salary, you don't want to oversell or undersell yourself, after all it is unlikely that salary is the only reason you are looking around. Most people agree that salary is a secondary consideration and the job itself is the most important thing. Ask your consultant for more advice on how to handle the most difficult question of the lot.

Be prepared to answer awkward questions. If necessary take a moment to digest what the interviewer is asking for and prepare your answer. Listen carefully to what is being asked, understand (and do ask for clarification if necessary), then answer precisely and to the point.

Reach that happy medium without waffling or being abrupt: If they ask you to describe yourself in 3 words, use 3 words, not 3000, but if they ask why they should consider you for their job don't leave it at "I've got all the skills you are looking for", be elaborate, giving examples of relevant projects etc.

Bearing in mind all the above advice, plan how you would answer the following questions. These have been compiled from those which have let down candidates in the past.

Why do you want to leave your present job?

What is wrong with your present company?

How long do you plan to stay with us?

What has been your greatest accomplishment in your present job?

What do you look for in a job?

What interests you most about the position we have?

Why do you want to work for us?

What do you know about our company?

What position do you expect to have in five years?

What would you consider to be your great strength, and weakness?

Leaving the interview

When you leave the interview the impression you leave the interviewer with is the one that will stay in his mind. This is almost as important as the first 20 seconds / greeting. Ensure you thank the interviewer for his time and courtesy, and if you are interested in the job, say so. This is very important, frequently we hear from clients that they like the candidate but are unsure how they feel - and in situations where it is a close fought battle with another candidate, it often ends up being offered to the one who has shown the most enthusiasm for the position and company.

Finally, it is vital that you contact your consultant directly after the interview so that they can continue to act in your best interests. The sooner we hear from you the more effective we can be, whether by demonstrating your enthusiasm to the interviewer, or seeking other roles if this wasn't the one for you.