Interview with Confidence

If you make it to the interview stage, congratulations! You are one of the top candidates. The employer is very interested in you and your work. Now, they need to meet you in person and get a sense of your personality and see if you fit into the organization.

This your opportunity to sell yourself in person, to convince the employer of your value. It’s normal to feel nervous. You will be put on the spot and required to show what a wonderful employee you are, so even the most experienced professionals feel anxious.

The best way to deal with pre-interview nervousness is to prepare thoroughly. And remember, you probably feel more nervous than you look. The worst part is the waiting. Once you are at the interview you will probably feel fine.

Prepare yourself

First of all, start with a positive attitude. You have been selected from many other applicants, so you should feel confident. And you’re not being asked to give a speech about Advanced Physics or Abstract Geometry. You’re simply going to have a conversation about things you know well: Yourself and your work.

Here are some things you can do to help you feel more confident and relaxed – so you will make a great impression.

Confirm the exact time and place of the interview. Make sure you know the way to the interview site and give yourself extra time for delays. You don’t want to arrive feeling stressed out by getting there!
Make sure you know the interviewer’s name and correct pronunciation.
Do your research. Learning about the company will demonstrate your initiative and motivation to the interviewer. Read their company brochure, visit their website, speak to other employees if you can, and read press reports specific to their industry.
Think about the company’s size, its history, products and services, issues affecting the industry, and competitors. How can you help the company succeed?
Prepare questions about the company – questions that will demonstrate your knowledge and allow you to talk about how you can help them deal with their issues.
Know your CV thoroughly. You want to be able to answer any questions about your experience, and you may be asked about any gaps in your employment. You will certainly be asked to explain why you are leaving your current position.
Put yourself in the interviewers shoes. If you were in their position, why would you hire you? What are your strengths and weaknesses? Do you need to improve your skill set? Think about your answers and you will have a better idea of what to focus on, and what to avoid, during the interview.

Experts estimate that seventy percent of a first impression is based on appearance and body language. Make sure that yours is saying exactly what you want it to say.

Interview tips

You’ve done your homework, your clothes are nice and neat, you’ve arrived on time, and you’re feeling confident. It’s time to meet your future employers and talk with them in person.

Here are some tips to help you succeed in the interview:

Be confident: A firm handshake and a broad smile speak volumes
Sit up straight and show you are interested
Do not smoke or chew gum
Maintain eye contact
Be positive: Avoid negative comments about past employers
Be yourself: Let your personality come through. The interviewer wants to know if they could work with you on a daily basis.
Be a good listener: Do not interrupt the interviewer when they are speaking.
Encourage the interviewer to share more information about the company
Do not go into details that are irrelevant. Avoid giving too much personal information. Be honest, but professional.
Avoid being the first to bring up the subject of salary. Asking for too much or too little could keep you from getting a job offer. If you are asked directly about your salary expectations, say that at this point you are more interested in the opportunity.
Always keep in mind that everything you say should ultimately answer the question “why should we hire you?”
Always attempt to give evidence for your answers and avoid answering with just a yes or no.
If you feel that the interview is not going as well as you had hoped, try hard not to let your discouragement show.
Always thank the interviewers for their time. Smile and shake their hands when leaving.
Remember, an interviewer is not trying to make you fail. They are simply trying to find out if you suit their needs.

Good luck. We’re sure you will do great!

You should ask questions, too

It’s easy to forget this, but an interview isn’t only about trying to convince a company to hire you. You’re interviewing the company, too. Is it a good place to work? Are they fair to their employees? Do they reward hard work and talent? Do you like their management style? These are all legitimate questions.

So although it’s natural to be eager to find a job, you want to make sure that the employer is the right match for your talents, interests, and personality. You don’t want to waste your time at a company that doesn’t appreciate you or doesn’t fit your style.

That’s why you should treat the interview as a conversation, a back and forth between you and the interviewer in order to see if you and the company are a good match for each other.

So part of your interview preparation should be to think of the questions you want to ask. Here are a few examples of the type of questions you may want to ask the interviewer:

Why is this position open?
What are the short term and long term objectives of this role?
What sort of support is given to the position?
What will I be expected to accomplish in this role?
What is your management style?
Are there opportunities for advancement?
How is success measured in the company?
How is performance measured and rewarded?
What are the future plans of the department and company?
Are there regular performance evaluations?
Do you provide training and further education?

These are general questions. You should prepare more, based on the company and the job requirements. Doing so will help you make sure you are offered a job you like – a job which is good for your career.

Be prepared to answer these common questions

Here are some common interview questions you should be prepared to answer. The key thing is to keep your answers brief and to the point. If you are faced with a difficult question, make sure you stay calm, avoid getting defensive, and take a moment to think about your response before you answer.

Remember, the answers below are only suggestions. You should answer them in your own way.

Question: Tell me about yourself.

Answer: Identify some of your main attributes and memorize them. Describe your qualifications, career history, and range of skills, emphasizing those skills relevant to the job.

Question: What are your major achievements?

Answer: Select an achievement that is work-related and fairly recent. Identify the skills you used in the achievement and quantify the benefit it had to the company, if you can. Perhaps a client loved your work so much that it led to further work for your company, or your product design increase sales, or you won an award. Whatever shows that your work had positive benefits.

Question: Are you happy with your career-to-date?

Answer: This question is really about your self-esteem, confidence, and career aspirations. The answer must be “yes,” followed by a brief explanation about why. If you have hit a career plateau, or you feel you are moving too slowly, then you might want to indicate that this is why you are so interested in a new position.

Question: What is the most difficult situation you have had to face and how did you tackle it?

Answer: The purpose of this question is to find out how you solve problems. In order to show yourself in a positive light, select a difficult work situation which was not caused by you and which can be quickly explained in a few sentences. Explain how you defined the problem, what the options were, why you selected the one you did, and what the outcome was. Always end on a positive note.

Question: What do you like about your present job?

Answer: This is a straightforward question. All you have to do is make sure that your “likes” correspond to the skills required for the job you’re interviewing for. Be enthusiastic; Describe your job as interesting and diverse, but don’t overdo it — after all, you are looking to leave.

Question: What do you dislike about your present job?

Answer: Be cautious here. Don’t be too specific, since you may draw attention to weaknesses that will leave you open to further problems. One approach is to choose a characteristic of your present company, such as its size or slow decision-making processes. Give your answer with the attitude of someone who takes problems and frustrations in your stride, as part of the job.

Question: What are your strengths?

Answer: This is one question that you know you are going to get so there is no excuse for being unprepared. Concentrate on discussing your main strengths. List three or four, like your ability to learn quickly, determination to succeed, positive attitude, your ability to relate to people and achieve a common goal. You may be asked to give examples of the above, so be prepared.

Question: What is your greatest weakness?

Answer: A common question, that can be hard to answer – but you should be prepared to answer it well. There are two standard ways of replying: 1) Use a common weakness that is not important for the job – a lack of experience, maybe. 2) Describe a personal or professional weakness that could also be considered a strength. You’re a perfectionist, perhaps, or you demand too much from your staff.

Question: Why do you want to leave your current employer?

Answer: State that you are looking for a new challenge, more responsibility and experience, or new design challenges and opportunities. Don’t be negative towards your current or previous employer, and cite salary as a reason for leaving.

Question: Why did you apply for this job?

Answer: The employer is looking for evidence that the job suits you, fits in with your general aptitudes, coincides with your long-term goals, and involves doing things you enjoy. Make sure you have a good understanding of the role and the organization, and describe the attributes of the organization that interest you most.

Find Work