how to pass your interview guide

7/26/2019 How to Pass Your Interview Guide

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- Introduction- Preparation- The typical job interview- Interview questions and answers- The common mistakes to avoid

- The follow up letter

INTRO!"TION#$TTIN% T&$ #"$N$'ost employers are seekin( people who are confi dent) reliable) enthusiastic)motivated) hard workin() committed and loyal*+y understandin( what an interview panel are lookin( for in a successfulcandidate you will be increasin( your chances of success dramatically*

,n interview is a tool used by the employer to assess a candidates potential toperform a role*.ust by bein( at the interview you should naturally be enthusiastic about theprospect of workin( for their company* /hy else be there if your heart is not in it0&ow many times have you heard yourself or other people sayin( 1&e2she didntdeserve to (et that job3 or 1I dont know why they (ave it to him2her3* /e all (etcau(ht up in these kind of emotions but they certainly say somethin( about mostinterview processes*/hat we are tryin( to say here is that you dont necessarily have to be the best

person for the job on 4paper) rather more the best person for the job 4on the day*The psycholo(ical element to an interview is very important* Preparin(emotionally for the interview is just as important as researchin( the company*+ein( in the ri(ht mood will help you perform at your best* There are many thin(sthat you can do to ensure you are in the ri(ht frame of mind both immediatelyprior to the interview and in the weeks and days leadin( up to it* #ome of theseinclude5- /,67IN%) R!NNIN%) #/I''IN% OR %$N$R,6 $8$R"I#$- #IN%IN% IN 9O!R ",R ON T&$ /,9 TO 9O!R INT$R:I$/- $,TIN% &$,6T&I69-,:OIIN% ,6"O&O6 OR .!N7 ;OO&ow < become*** INTERVIEW"opyri(ht = >? how


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concentrate on how they come across durin( their interview and also prepare themind mentally for the process*T&$ INT$RN,6 $6$'$NT#These are basically all about 9O! as a person and the thin(s you concentrate onpersonally durin( your preparation*These cover a wide ran(e of topics but basically include e@ercise) healthy eatin()appearance) attitude) motivation and determination to name but a few* These

internal elements are covered later on in the (uide and they are just as importantas the e@ternal elements) which well look at in the ne@t para(raph*T&$ $8T$RN,6 $6$'$NT#These are the most common areas that people concentrate on durin( theirinterview preparation and usually the areas that require the most attention*Research) bein( the main topic) is of utmost important to your success*Networkin( forms a part of research but is a separate topic in itself) whichwill require attention* +asically the e@ternal elements of your preparation areassociated with the particular job you are applyin( for*

&ow < become*** INTERVIEW"opyri(ht = >? how


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9ou walk into the interview room and the fi rst question you (et asked is51o you really want this .ob39ou reply519es) its somethin( that Ive wanted to do for a lon( time now and I believe that Iam the ri(ht person for the job* Im motivated and enthusiastic and believe I wouldbe of (reat benefi t to your team*3Possibly not a bad answer to this question) I would a(ree) but remember that you

are in competition with other people who may well be answerin( this questionalon( the same lines*The other person who you believe is your (reatest competition answers thequestion in a different way*&e2she actually proves that they want this job* They have researched thecompany and can tell the interview panel in depth knowled(e about theircompany* They have come up with possible solutions to increasin( the profi tabilityof the company or helpin( it to run more effi ciently*&ow < become*** INTERVIEW"opyri(ht = >? how? how


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interview panel that you wanted to come and ask some questions about the jobyou are applyin( for) for them to see that you are dedicated*

,nother alternative method is to write them a letter before the interview askin( thesame question* /e would advise that you send the letter to the person who hassi(ned your interview correspondence letter* Take a look at the sample letter onthe followin( pa(e*&ow < become*** INTERVIEW"opyri(ht = >? how? how


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'ake it your (oal today to fi nd somebody who is already doin( the same job youare applyin( for* ,sk them probin( questions about the job and what it entails*

,lso ask them about their interview and what questions they were asked*&ow < become*** INTERVIEW"opyri(ht = >? how


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$ven once the interview is underway) there are still techniques you can use tohelp you rela@5- Take a deep breath while the interviewer is askin( you a question* The moretense we (et the more our ribs and chest lock up* +y releasin( them with a deep)chest e@pandin( breath) you ease the tension so it cant build up* This requires noconcentration) so you can still focus on what the interviewer is askin( you*&ow < become*** INTERVIEW"opyri(ht = >? how? how


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me the fi rst time3) but I always say that this kind of approach is counterproductive*If someone is callin( you to (ive you bad news they are e@pectin( you to bedisappointed and on some occasions annoyed*If they hear that you are positive and still upbeat in your response then they willremember youBB&ow < become*** INTERVIEW"opyri(ht = >? how


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TOP TIP, positive attitude can have an amaLin( effect on an otherwise mediocreinterview*!se the followin( titles to focus your preparation5Research fully the company back(round*Research fully the the role applied for*

,cknowled(ement letter sent to the company*

Request meetin( with company prior to interview*"arry out Networkin(*&ow < become*** INTERVIEW"opyri(ht = >? how


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etiquette are key to your success and you need to prepare for these as much asyou do the interview questions themselves*'ost interviews will follow the followin( format5INTRO!"TION ,N I"$ +R$,7$RThe interviewer should (ive you a brief overview of the interview and possibly therole that you are applyin( for*ependant on the interviewer) you will be (iven the opportunity to tell the panel

about yourself* 9our response should be prepared beforehand and you can usethis as an opportunity to sell yourself* 9ou should cover brief topics relatin( toyour e@perience) qualifi cations) outside interests and ambitions* If you tell thepanel that in your spare time you are workin( towards a qualifi cation that canrelate to the role you are applyin( for then this can only be a (ood thin(* Try tokeep your introduction as brief as possible and dont (o over < minutes in len(th*T&$ INT$R:I$/This is the area in which you are asked a series of questions relatin( to yourapplication form and the post that you have applied for* This is where you should

do most of the talkin( and if you have prepared well enou(h you will be able toanswer most questions) althou(h it is not unusual to fi nd yourself stru((lin( toanswer one or two* In this situation it is always best not to waffl e* If you reallydont know the answer to a particular question then just say so*&ow < become*** INTERVIEW"opyri(ht = >? how


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up* Introduce yourself and wait to be invited to sit down*7NO/6$%$$mployers are lookin( for people who have knowled(e* urin( your preparationyou will have learnt the basics about the company and hopefully the role thatyou are applyin( for* If they have a website you will have visited it and not onlyunderstand what they are doin() but more importantly where they are (oin(*9ou may have also had the opportunity to visit the company before the interview

to ask questions about them or the role2position*&ow < become*** INTERVIEW"opyri(ht = >? how? how


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see if you are capable of contributin( useful ideas or solutions* ;or e@ample youmay be asked to offer a solution to a problem the company already has within thedepartment you are e@pected to operate within* This will test your ability to thinkon your feet* 9ou should) if you have researched correctly) be able to answer thistype of question in brief*9ou will not usually be e@pected to come up with comple@ solutions to answersunless it is a hi(hly technical post you are applyin( for*

R$#PON#I+6$,re you a responsible person0If you are applyin( for a mana(ement position then you will be e@pected todemonstrate a level of responsibility*"an you be trusted0/ithin your post you may be privy to sensitive information or have theresponsibility for a bud(et) in which case the panel will want to see that you area responsible and reliable person* This kind of information is usually availablethrou(h lookin( back at your previous jobs or e@periences*

They may ask you questions where you are required to demonstrate that youhave held a position of responsibility* Try to think of occasions both in yourpersonal life and work life where you have held responsibility* This will be easy ifyou have held a mana(ement position responsible for a number of people*It may also be a (ood idea to look at the .ob #pecifi cation required for theposition that you are applyin( for and see which areas state 4responsible for*If you can match these with previous e@periences then this would beadvanta(eous*&ow < become*** INTERVIEW"opyri(ht = >? how


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- o you need a con(estion char(e ticket if in 6ondon0These are all obvious questions but important nonetheless*

,(ain it is all down to preparation* Remember to take a contact number with youjust in case you are (oin( to be late for the interview* Then you can call them wellin advance to tell them you will be late due to a breakdown or traffi c con(estion* Iftravellin( in your car dont wear your jacket* &an( it up on a coat han(er so that itis not creased when you arrive for the interview*&ow < become*** INTERVIEW"opyri(ht = >? how


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- /here are they located) who is their "hief $@ecutive and who are their#hareholders0- /hat are their short) medium and lon( term (oals0- /hat are their values and policies0- /hat are their products0&ow < become*** INTERVIEW"opyri(ht = >? how


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arran(e a 4mock interview with a friend or relative* Practice your responses)makin( sure you (ive e@amples where appropriate*&ow < become*** INTERVIEW"opyri(ht = >? how


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whilst workin( for my current employer I was successful in achievin( my annualappraisal sales tar(et with months to spare*I like to ensure that I maintain a healthy balance between my personal andprofessional life* This helps me to maintain a hi(h level of performance at work*I recently embarked on a iploma course) which I am now half way throu(h* Ienjoy new challen(es and like to take care of my own self development*I am an active person and enjoy visitin( the (ym times a week* #ome of my

other hobbies include art) walkin( and cookin(*I am a carin( person and when I have the spare time I try to (et involved incommunity events in my local town* I recently ran a half marathon raisin( C> fora local charity*Overall I would say that I am a reliable) self conscious and hard workin( personwho always looks for ways to improve*3TOP TIP9ou may have some literature or evidence that you can take alon( with you to theinterview to prove to the panel that you are (enuine*

&ow < become*** INTERVIEW"opyri(ht = >? how? how


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9ou may be able to (ive an answer alon( the followin( lines51One of my stren(ths is that I have the ability to implement chan(e in diffi cultcircumstances* ;or e@ample whilst workin( for my previous employer Iimplemented 89 under diffi cult and adverse conditions* The team were nothappy with the chan(es that were bein( implemented but I mana(ed to motivatethem byEE3This type of answer demonstrates to the panel that you are able to prove your

stren(ths as opposed to just sayin( that you have them*,nyone can say that they are motivated) enthusiastic) dedicated or reliable butprovin( that you have those stren(ths is a different matter*+ein( able to demonstrate that you have stren(ths will (ive you hi(her scores*&ow < become*** INTERVIEW"opyri(ht = >? how


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The answer to this type of question all depends on the type of job you areapplyin( for* If you are applyin( for a team role then obviously you need toanswer this in a manner that shows you are a team player*"onversely if you are applyin( for a position that involves a lot of 4lone workin(then it is a (ood idea to say that you feel comfortable workin( on your own*Possibly the best answer for this type of question is to state that you areadaptable and can work in any environment*

,(ain) if you can (ive e@amples of situations where you have been an effectiveteam member or achieved results independently then this is far better*#,'P6$ R$#PON#$1In a previous role I was required to work as part of a M> stron( sales team*I really enjoyed the atmosphere within that team and mana(ed to learn somuch from other members* 9es I do enjoy workin( in a team environment butconversely my adaptability allows me to work in any environment* I would say thatI can work either as a team or individual dependin( on the requirements of therole*3

&ow < become*** INTERVIEW"opyri(ht = >? how minutes of your workin( day you plan the followin( days activities and


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tasks in order of priority*9ou make sure that you keep a list of important objectives and tasks and crossthem off when they are completed*If you are chairin( meetin(s then you keep irrelevant discussion to an absoluteminimum and you always ensure you fi nish on time* 9ou are acutely awareof others valuable time as well as your own and make certain that time is notwasted unnecessarily*

The companys objectives are key to your time mana(ement*The above information (ives you a number of time mana(ement tools to usewhen constructin( your answer* It is also important to remember to emphasisethat you are fl e@ible with your time where need be and that you reor(aniseappointments) meetin(s or tasks in order to meet specifi c important deadlines*&ow < become*** INTERVIEW"opyri(ht = >? how? how


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9ou could state that you were the one who initiated the resolution by talkin( tothem to try to clear the air* This is a (ood opportunity to demonstrate you have(ood communication skills and are prepared to listen to what others have to say*'aybe you took the collea(ues comments on board and a(reed a way forward0It is a (ood idea to show that you are able to resolve issues with other collea(ueswithout involvin( senior or line mana(ers*&owever) if the dispute was in contravention to the companys policies on bullyin(

or harassment then you would feel it was important to report the incident to yourline mana(er*&ow < become*** INTERVIEW"opyri(ht = >? how


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the or(anisation*3&ow < become*** INTERVIEW"opyri(ht = >? how


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H!$#TION - /&9 ,R$ 9O! 6OO7IN% TO 6$,:$ 9O!R "!RR$NT$'P6O9'$NT0Obviously not a (ood idea to state that you are leavin( because of differenceswith a mana(er or member of the team* It is far better to say that you are lookin(for new and fresh challen(es and feel that you achieved all that you can at thecompany* 'ost people want a hi(her salary but it is not a (ood idea to use thise@ample as the sole reason for your intention to move or(anisations* +y statin(

you would like a new challen(e you will demonstrate drive and enthusiasm*#,'P6$ R$#PON#$1,lthou(h I enjoy my current job I am now ready for a new challen(e* I haveworked hard for my previous employer and they have been (ood to me in return*I have learnt an awful lot durin( my time with them but I am now in a positionwhere I want to embark on new and fresh challen(es* I will be leavin( my currentcompany with fond memories but I know the time is ri(ht for me to move on*&avin( looked into your company and the role that Im applyin( for I feel that Ihave so much to offer in terms of my e@perience) drive and enthusiasm and know

that I would be a valuable asset to the team*3&ow < become*** INTERVIEW"opyri(ht = >? how


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Try to adapt the followin( response to your own individual attributes51+ecause I (enuinely believe that Im the best person for the job* I understandthat there are other people who have the ability to do this job and are hi(hlycapable* +ut I know that I also have that ability* ,lon( with that I brin( additionalqualities that make me the very best person for the job* 'y attitude andcommitment towards achievin( e@cellence for e@ample* In my previous role Iachieved e@cellence time and time a(ain* ;or e@ample) EEEEE*

I also constantly look for ways to improve myself* To that end I have embarked onan educational course to improve my skills in 89*If I am successful today I promise I will impress you and will not let you down* If Iam not successful then I will be applyin( for the ne@t vacancy as I would love towork for your company*3&ow < become*** INTERVIEW"opyri(ht = >? how


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will be like as a mana(er* Obviously mana(ers are required to lead and be (reatrole models for the or(anisation* &ave a look at the followin( response and use itto structure your own answer*1The key quality should be leadership and the ability to look ahead towards thehoriLon*The mana(er needs to be ten steps ahead and already makin( plans for thefuture*

They also should be (ood role models and lead by e@ample* ,pproachable) fairand enthusiastic are other important qualities but above all a successful mana(erneeds to lead when thin(s arent (oin( as planned* It is his or her responsibilityto lift a team out of a diffi cult period and motivate people to achieve the vision ofthe or(anisation* The hi(hest callin( of a true leader is inspirin( others to reachthe hi(hest of their abilities* The companys aims) objectives and vision are whatthe mana(er should work towards and have at the forefront of his2her mind at alltimes*3&ow < become*** INTERVIEW"opyri(ht = >? how


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to 4waffl e or talk about subjects they have no knowled(e of* #it calmly and listencarefully) answerin( questions thou(htfully*&ow < become*** INTERVIEW"opyri(ht = >? how


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differently ne@t time*Never be ne(ative about your previous employer) even if they treated you poorly*TOP TIPTry) as hard it may be) to be positive about your previous employer* Rememberthe interviewer wants to hear (ood thin(s about your current or previousemployer*&ow < become*** INTERVIEW"opyri(ht = >? how


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'r R 'c'unn&ow < become*** INTERVIEW"opyri(ht = >? how

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