Be prepared before the interview

When you go to interview in the UK it is imperative to research the organisation that you are interviewing with.  This will show the prospective employer that you not only understand their business, but also that you are enthusiastic about the opportunity and willing to go the extra mile.

Both the Internet and the given company’s website should be able to give you the kind of information you will need.  The most useful information to research includes the type of product or service they provide, their vision/mission statement, the company history and their competitors.

Find out if possible what format the interview will take; eg. is it formatted as a “behavioural” or “competency” based interview or an informal chat.  Also find out the name(s) and title(s) off all that will be attending.

During the interview – listen and show enthusiasm!

• Ensure you are dressed to impress!  First impressions really do count, so ensure you look the part in a smart suit.
• Arriving early for the interview is always advised, however not too early.  Arriving 5-10 minutes early is optimum.
• Always ensure you know exactly who to ask for at reception and you are aware of who will be interviewing you (name and job title).
• Good body language is vital to making a good impression.  Greet you interviewer standing with a strong handshake, a friendly smile and by looking them in the eye.
• An enthusiastic, friendly and positive attitude will make a great impression – so keep thinking happy thoughts!
• The interview will generally start with an introductory chat, and then move onto more formal questions, concluding with the opportunity for you to ask any remaining questions.
• Ensure you are familiar with your CV.  You will be expected to talk through it; paying particular attention to the experience you have that lends itself well to the role on offer.
• Listen carefully to the questions that the interviewer asks.  Ensure you give relevant answers and use examples rather than one-word answers.
• Show enthusiasm for the role and company.  If they have gone to the trouble of interviewing you they most likely already think you can do the job – now is your chance to reassure the interviewer that you will be an asset to the organisation!
  
  

Commonly asked interview questions

Question: "Tell me about yourself"

This is an open-ended question often asked to help break the ice in an interview.  This question may be used to assess your personality, preparation, communication skills and ability to think on your feet.  The important thing to remember is to keep the answer job-related.

Question: "Why did you leave your last job?"

Respond positively — “to extend my career through international experience" or “increased responsibility and greater variety of work"...

Question: "Why do you want to do this job / work for this company?"

This will show the employer that you have done your homework.  Demonstrate your knowledge of the company and emphasise your suitability for the position.

Question: "What do you think you have to offer this company?"

This is a chance to sing your own praises and express interest in the role and organisation.  You should concentrate on the skills you currently possess, which are required for the position.

Question: "What do you think this position involves?"

This question is designed to reveal that you have thought about the position, done some research, listened to the interviewer, and can summarise all of this information clearly.

Question: "What do you know about the company?"

Demonstrate your interest in the job, and your understanding of the organisation and industry.  Talk about the research you have done into the company's key areas of interest, its size, its main customers, making reference to your source of information.

Question: "Do you have any questions you would like to ask?"

Prepare some questions to ask the interviewer.  By asking questions, you again show interest in the job.  Ask about the position, request clarification of general information about the company, or summarise your understanding and request confirmation.

Question: "What do you believe are your key strengths?"

This is the time to describe the skills you have identified that will most effectively market you as an employee.  Prepare responses that give specific examples of your strengths at previous positions that will support your job application.

Question: "What do you believe are your weaknesses?"

No one readily admits real weaknesses in an interview situation.  It is general knowledge that this is an opportunity to turn the question into a positive.  Think of something that relates to your experience of work that is plausible as a weakness but is not really a negative point.  For example "I put a lot of pressure on myself to meet deadlines" or "I become very focussed on the projects I am involved in".  Alternatively you can turn your weakness into a positive by showing how you overcame the weakness.  "In the past, it has been difficult for me to accept criticism from my colleagues.  However, I have learned to value constructive criticism as I find it helps improve my job performance."

Question: "What do you enjoy most about your current / last job?"

The trick with this question is to list the aspects of your role you have enjoyed, and which strongly relate to the key competencies of the position in question, and mention that you are looking forward to expanding your experience and skill-base in these areas.

Question: "Where do you see yourself in five years time?"

This is an assessment of the extent of your ambition and career planning.  You should demonstrate that your long-term goals are appropriate for the position being discussed.

Question: "What do you consider the most noteworthy accomplishment in your last job?"

Give examples of ways in which you saved the company time or money or developed a strategy or procedure that improved efficiency.

Question: "Do you work well under pressure?"

Answer with a "yes", and give a specific example of a time when you were under pressure and how you rose to the challenge.

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