You have been invited to an interview, so how do you prepare?
Look at what information you have about the role and organization. Gather together the job advert, job specification and go through again, making notes of key elements of the role, cross-reference with your own experience. What information do you have about the organization, do your research, it gives you a better idea of their business and activities.
Always attend on time, suitably dressed, impressions are important. Everyone gets nervous, the recruiters will expect that, however, if you have prepared as much as you can, this will help you settle. The interviewers are looking to see if you are a good match for their requirements, do you have the right and relevant experience, can you do the job, would you bring benefit and add value to their business. Do they see potential in you fitting into their culture and organization?
Be prepared to go into detail!
Be prepared to answer questions about the information you have provided, this may be in-depth questioning around a specific role or skill, this is to test out your knowledge and whether it is appropriate for their needs. It will also test out whether you have over emphasised your involvement or abilities. Be confident in talking about your current or past role, your experiences and what successes you have achieved and how you believe you can add value to their team and organisation.
Demonstrate your interest, ask about the scope of the role, what is required and ultimately does the organisation offer progression opportunities to their people. The interviewer may explain what they enjoy about working there, if not ask what it is that people like, what is the culture like, do they offer in-house training.
Lastly, one thing to never do!
Even when things have not gone well in the past never bad mouth a past employer, or your current company. Be positive, usually, an interviewer will explain an organizations employee benefits and remuneration, our general advice is don’t ask about money, if they are interested and make an offer, that is something that can be discussed at a later stage.
Go prepared, be positive and enjoy the experience.
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