Interview Tips

A winning job interview could have a critical impact on your life. It is after all, your career you are being interviewed for. It is therefore important that you perform well no matter how good your career record is to date.

The following tips, combined with the guidance provided by our consultants, will equip you with valuable information on how to conduct a winning interview with prospective employers.

Before the interview
Do your research on the company. You will want to know the background of the company and possibly the history of the position before the meeting so that you are better prepared for it.

Professional dressing is a good start to a successful interview. A well presented executive is more likely to be hired by an employer, even if your potential employer has a casual dress code.

Arrive on time. Do not arrive late to an interview. At the same time, do not arrive early to an interview either. In the event of unforeseeable delays, notify the company at the first instance and give the reason and your estimated time of arrival.

During the interview
Shake hands firmly with the interviewer and introduce yourself in an approachable manner.

Be confident and maintain poise at all time. Do not show any signs of nervousness during the meeting as the sign of it can be taken as the inability to handle pressure. Your body language talks a lot about you and as much as possible, maintain eye contacts with the interviewer and do not look down as it will convey a message of uncertainty and a lack of confidence.

Take time to think and answer questions in a well thought out and constructive manner. Keep your answers in the simplest form possible. You will be asked certain anticipated questions and you should have answers prepared to these questions. The inability to answer these questions in a confident manner will give the interviewer a negative impression and unclear of what your goals are.

Ask questions concerning the company or the position for which you are being interviewed for. Intelligent questionings will impress the interviewer and often this is the decisive factor between failure and success.

At the end of the interview, thank the interviewer for his/her time in a positive manner. If you are interested in the position, do ask for the next step. If the position is offered to you during the meeting and you are genuinely interested in the role, accept it on the spot. Any sign of uncertainty could deter the interviewer and the offer be retracted as a result. You can always work on the details later.

After the interview
Call the consultant who referred you to the position immediately after the interview and inform him/her what happened. The consultant will need your input before he/she talks to the client.

Whether you are interested in the position or not, honest and open communication is important as your consultant is your partner in the job searching process and your opinion and feelings will help all parties concerned, including yourself.