Interview Techniques

Interviews are an integral part of your job search. They should not be viewed as an adversarial, one-sided interrogation during which an interviewer mercilessly questions you. Rather, it should be perceived and experienced as a forum that facilitates the exchange of information in an interactive conversational manner.

The following guidelines are provided to help you maximise your performance.

Preparation prior to interview

Organise your clothes for the interview in advance. Remember to dress conservatively - suitable to the culture of the company and the image you wish to project.
Assemble relevant information beforehand (eg. documentation, qualifications)
Understand your remuneration package
Research the company (using published materials and contacts) so that you are able to ask "intelligent" questions
Interviewers often seek practical examples of past behaviour which help demonstrate your competencies. You should be prepared to share these examples of achievement or past behaviours, ensuring you give the situation (in which it occurred), the action you took and the results or outcomes of your action.

Arrival, initial greeting, "small talk"

Be on time. This means not only don’t be late, but don’t be early.
Don’t arrive with your "baggage". If you walk in carrying unnecessary items, you will give the wrong first impression
You get one chance to make a first impression. Make it a good one. Smile. Make eye contact. Have a firm handshake.
If you are sure of the pronunciation, greet the interviewer by his/her surname.
Interviewers frequently use "small talk" to break the ice. Follow the interviewer’s lead of this, but don’t initiate a whole lot of small talk yourself. This could set the wrong tone.

The interview structure

No two styles of interviewing are the same.
Go with the flow, but remember that interviewers value qualities such as:
- warmth
- brevity
- honesty (never lie)
- rapport
- energy
- enthusiasm
- clear communication (not waffly)
Normally, the interviewer gets information from you and tells you about the position. However, this order of doing things varies from one interviewer to the next.

Nervousness during an interview

If you feel your body language is conveying anxiety it is usually best to verbalise it. (For example, "I haven't interviewed in years and I'm a little surprised to find myself nervous").
Verbalising your nervousness often reduces it and interviewers are usually empathetic.

Finishing Off/Indicating Interest

Have a few good questions to ask towards the end, but not too many in the first interview. Some examples of appropriate questions:
New or existing position?
Responsibilities and priorities?
Reporting relationships?
Financial, human resources, equipment and time resources?
Criteria for measuring success?
What are the next steps?
What might the future look like?
Don't initiate any discussion about remuneration at the first interview, however be open and honest if the interviewer asks.
Ask (if you haven't been told) what the process will be after the interviews have been completed.
Have a couple of positive comments to make that "re-cap" some of the positive highlights of the conversation. Reiterate your strengths.
If you are genuinely interested, say so.
Leave the interviewer with a good impression - smile. Firm handshake. Don't blow it by relaxing too soon.

Follow-Up

Immediately after the interview, write a follow up letter - regardless of how you think the interview went. The letter should be brief, relevant and:
express appreciation of time and opportunity
re-cap/emphasise salient points
add points you didn't cover
reiterate/elaborate how you can contribute
express interest in continuing dialogue
If you have been asked to send further information, ensure this is done quickly and efficiently.
Call your consultant at Tanner Menzies and discuss your impression of how the interview went.

Common Traps

Being too friendly.
Being too glib.
Saying "we" instead of referring to your own achievements.
Making very general statements which lack substance
Being over enthusiastic.
Being poorly prepared.
Slouching, mumbling, speaking slowly.
Knowing nothing about the company to whom you are talking.
Making derogatory remarks about your present or former employers.

Some Helpful Comments

Not all positions you are applying for will be right for you - the purpose of the interview is to help you (as well as the company) sort out if the "fit" is right.
Remain positive.
Qualify your referees. Ask them what they believe to be your weaknesses.

The most commonly asked questions at interviews

Tell me about yourself.
What kind of position are you looking for? Why do you want to work in this industry/company?
Why did you leave your last position?
What did you do in your previous position? How was your time allocated? What did you like best/least about it? How many people did you supervise? What was the budget responsibility? What did you accomplish?
Give me some examples of the most difficult problems you encountered in your previous position. How did you resolve them?
How was your performance measured?
How did you get along with your boss? What are the qualities you look for in a manager?
How would you describe your own operating/management style?
What do you consider to be your strongest qualities? What are some of your weaknesses?
What position do you hope to reach in five years?
What are your leisure activities? Your hobbies? Why do you like them?
Tell me something about your personal and family life. What is important to you?

Your Rights

We understand that you may be in contact with a number of recruitment consultancies throughout your job search activities, and you are well within your rights to do so. You should feel comfortable telling us that you are applying for jobs through other consultants and at what stage you are in each application.

Who you choose to speak with depends upon the industry sector in which you work and perhaps your particular job specialisation. Some consultancies operate within a niche market, while others are generalists. If you are planning to choose several generalist consultancies to give yourself the greatest exposure to the market, try to identify those that work with good companies and who also have a good reputation for quality and looking after their candidates. Usually (although not always), the two go together.

We encourage open communication as it will often result in a better outcome for you and it ensures we are managing the expectations of the company to whom you are applying through us.

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