Interview Tips and Questions - Preparing for the Interview
1. Preparing For The Interview
2. How To Prepare
3. First Impressions
4. During An Interview - Coping With Nerves
5. During An Interview - Projecting The Right Image
6. The Interview
7. The Most Popular Interview Questions
8. The Tough Interview Questions
9. Your Questions For The Interviewer
10. Psychometric Testing
11. Assessment Centers
12. Second Interviews
13. What To Do While Your Waiting To Hear
14. What To Do If You Get The Job
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**Preparing For The Interview:*
Well done. Following your successful job application you have now
been offered an interview for that new job. You have obviously impressed
your future potential employer with your CV and application form to be
offered an interview in the first place. You will have no doubt have
probably beaten a number of other applicants but something in your
application has made you stand out from the other candidates.
An employer isn t looking to employ any old person to fill their job; hence
they have already sifted through all of the applications and compiled a
shortlist which you are now on! All the interviewer needs to do from there
is choose the candidate to fill their job. The only way they are going to do
this is meet each applicant in person. There are many variables in choosing
a new person for a job. What one employer classes as an important quality,
another may not. Some feel experience is an important factor. Others value
qualifications or team management skills or a combination of both. What you
have got to remember is that you will have to make a lasting impression on
the interviewer to get you nearer to securing that new job. Your future
employer is going to have to make a choice from several applicants. This
will inevitably be a hard decision to make. After all, summing up candidates
suitability in a few short hours isn t easy for anybody, so you must make an
impression. It s no easier sitting in an interviewer s shoes than being a
candidate. If you go well prepared then you are able to manipulate an
interview to your advantage and get across your strengths.
Prior To The Interview:
Remember your employer knows all about the job they are looking to fill;
what it entails and what qualities they are looking for in a potential
candidate. They also have a fair amount of information about you; your CV
and application form. It is always a good idea to take a copy of these with
you to the interview. The interviewer will have a checklist of areas they
are looking to satisfy themselves about to ensure you can do the job. These
will encompass some general interview questions and others specifically
about you as a person, such as your interests, hobbies and what you like to
do outside of the workplace.
How Will The Interview Be Structured?
Most interviews follow a fairly similar simple format. Usually you will be
invited into the interview room, offered a drink of tea, coffee or water etc
and then sometimes a bit of casual chat such as How was your journey? Get
the idea! Next, your interviewer will ask some general questions, such as
Tell me about yourself or Are you an organised person? They may then ask
you questions about your CV such as You say you are good at time
management, can you give us an example? Once the interviewer feels that
they have satisfactory answers to all their questions they will then give
you the opportunity to ask any questions you may have about the job, the
company etc.
Convincing Your Interviewer & Offering Them Reassurance:
It is really important at the interview stage that the interviewer feels
happy about all the areas they have covered. They may keep going back to
specific questions if they don t feel they have got the answer they require.
This is often a good sign as it means they are taking your application
seriously and they may just want reassurance on one or two points. If you
can put their mind at rest it will make you a far stronger contender. If you
haven t been asked any questions, you have either done a fantastic job at
clarifying all of their concerns and queries, or you are unlikely to have
got the job. Try and be as open as you can without going on and on. I know
it s not always easy to judge, but if you think there is a subject that the
interviewer has covered and is not comfortable with, try to get your point
across. There are certain areas that can and will cause concern to an
employer, such as lack of experience or missing periods of employment during
your career. These may have simple answers to them, but if the interviewer
doesn t have a good understanding, because they haven t asked you the right
questions, they are going to be wary. If you think something is bothering
them try and give a good explanation. If you are well prepared before the
interview and you think there is something in your career history that might
be of concern you will have a sensible answer ready. You will then avoid
feeling speechless when asked Why is there an 18 month gap in your
employment history?
Being Interviewed For A Job By Your Existing Employer:
An interview is an interview! Should you be applying for promotion or a
change of job in your existing company then your employer will already have
a lot of the current information about you, such as timekeeping or time
management skills, personal details etc, etc. Other than this information
the interview will follow the same structure as any other interview. However
specific questions about your current position may well come into play and
have a more dominant effect on the meeting. It could be that although there
are certain areas they already know about, they may still ask you about
them. Things like How well do you work under pressure and meeting targets?
They are already aware of your capabilities as you work for them but they
want you to answer this question anyway. Just go ahead and give them the
answer they want to hear!
Just because you already work for them don t treat this any differently to
an interview being conducted by a new employer. Yes, the interviewer may
already know you, so they may well be a little less informal in their
greeting but once you get down to business treat the situation the same as
if you were applying for a job outside of your current employer. A good
point of useful information; don t crack jokes about people you work with or
chit chat about Joe in accounts. It isn t perceived professional and it will
do you no favours in your career advancement.
Be Prepared For The Questions That Will Be Asked:
It s almost impossible to know exactly what questions are going to be asked
at the interview but you can expect certain areas that are likely to be
explored. Brief yourself on the skills required for the job, including the
experience that you have to do it. Think about questions that may arise from
the answers you gave on your application form and lastly consider any
questions that may arise regarding your CV. As previously mentioned, breaks
in your career, work experience and so on. If you work in a sales role you
will already understand the importance of preparation prior to meeting a new
customer or trying to close a deal. It is no different when presenting
yourself for an interview to win a new job. You need to Prepare Your
Offensive, Do Your Research, and Prepare for the Meeting. The better
organised you are the more professionally and accurately you will be able to
answer each question. This will put both you and the interviewer at ease.
*
* *How To Prepare*
Prepare Your Offensive:
Now going into an interview is no different from going into battle. The end
result is to come out the winner! The better your offensive, the more chance
you have at winning the interviewer over. Your objective is to succeed. How
are you going to do this? Well you need to know where you are going and how
you are going to get there. You need to know what traps or pitfalls there
are along the way, so the best practice is to plan and be prepared. Simple
isn t it; so what have you got to do? Well you have got to win over the
interviewer. The only way of doing this is by convincing him, or her, that
you are the man, or woman, for the job. You are going to achieve this by
showing the interviewer that you know about their organisation, know about
the job, know how to do the job and would be the best person for the role.
The is done by preparation so you can present yourself as cool, calm,
collected but not too cocky! If you have ever played a new computer game or
purchased a new item of equipment you know that your job is going to be much
easier if you get the instructions our first to work out how to operate it,
rather than rushing in all with guns blazing without doing any research.
Do Some Research About The Employer:
Now I am no easy employer to work for. I have allocated my time for you to
attend an interview and I have also spent some time reading through your CV
and application form. In return I think that after inviting you to come
along and see me, the least I can expect is for you to have spent some of
your time doing a bit of research about my company and what we do. Not every
employer takes this stance but many do. By doing a little research this will
show the interviewer that you have put some effort into trying to get this
job. Besides which, are you really looking to apply to work for a company
you know nothing about? If so, you can t really be that serious about the
interview. It s really simple to do research on a company. Get hold of the
company s sales brochures, reports and accounts. The easiest way to obtain
this information is to ring up the receptionist and ask for a copy. You
could say something like I ve got an interview with your company and I
would like to find out a bit more about your organisation. Please could you
send me some of your literature? This is not so easy if it s only a small
employer. However you can also look at the company s web site if they have
one, research local news items by visiting the local library and searching
the newspaper archives outlining press releases. It s easy to do this. Visit
your local branch and explain what you are after and I am sure they will
help. Remember you get out of life what you put in. Invest time and effort
and you will be rewarded.
Be Prepared For The Interview:
There are several areas that you must be ensure you have covered when
preparing for the interview. The first fundamental one being not to be late!
Before the big day, plan your route. If you are going by car have a trial
run and see how long it takes you to get there. The same rule applies if you
are going by bus or train. When you have determined how long it is likely to
take you, add half an hour to the journey. If you are early, don t worry.
You can always have a drink or read your magazine, but one thing is for sure
you will be calm and more relaxed, whereas if you are running late you will
be on edge; not a good start to an interview. Take a phone with you (or
money to use a phone box) just in case something happens. It is very
discourteous to be late and it really annoys most people, so you aren t
going to get off to a good start on that basis. Just as a pointer it s
always a good idea to take a pen and paper with you or alternatively a
briefcase or handbag with a pen and paper in it.
*Making the Right First Impressions at the Interview* First Impressions
Do First Impressions Count? You Bet They Do!
You would be very surprised at what can be ascertained from the first few
moments in someone s presence. Indeed, it is an accepted fact that a
decision can be made in the first few minutes. An interviewer or employer
will discover a great deal about you in a relatively small amount of time by
use of their experience in body language. It s a bit like when you make new
friends, generally speaking you know within a few moments of meeting a
person for the very first time whether you will like them or not (despite
knowing very little about their background). I personally think it is some
form of basic primate instinct. So your first few seconds are fairly vital
when you walk into that interview room or when you are greeted by your
employer. We all give out different signals and these can be influenced by
the way you dress, to your body language. In my opinion good body language
starts with a firm handshake, (that s firm, don t shake their hand off!) and
being smartly dressed. Don t bathe in perfume or aftershave as strong smells
often give off an overpowering smell and can be very off putting. Not
everyone has the same taste in cologne and there is nothing worse than being
stuck in a room with a smell that makes you feel ill. It s always best to be
clean and neutral!
Prior To Attending Your Job Interview:
It s always a good idea (and I think a courteous one which shows manners and
initiative) to confirm with your prospective interviewer the interview
arrangements by letter once you have been invited to attend the interview.
This doesn t need to be a long winded letter. It can just be brief,
confirming the time and place of the interview. It also gives you the
opportunity to send in any documents that the interviewer may wish to see in
advance or anything you may have omitted to send when you originally
enclosed your CV and job application form.
Dress Code - What Clothes Should You Wear For Your Job Interview?
It s always a tough call when trying to decide what to wear for a job
interview. Traditionally men always wore their smartest suit and tie and the
same could be said for women; either a nice skirt and blouse or a suit.
However things have changed a lot since the old days. For example if you are
going to work for an IT firm or Graphic Designers then the dress code may be
smart but casual. By the same token if you are going to work for a firm of
Solicitors, Accountants or Insurance Brokers then the chances are the dress
code is going to be formal. It can be a hard call to decide what to wear for
your interview. If you are applying for an internal job then this won t
apply to you as you will already know what standard of outfit is or isn t
acceptable at your place of work. There are two fairly simple ways to
ascertain what type of dress code your potential future employer demands and
these are as follows:
1. Drive up to the offices or workplace at a time when the staff will be
arriving or leaving. This will give you a good indication of what types of
clothes the other employees are wearing.
2. Pick up the phone and ring the interviewer s secretary and ask whether
the company has a dress code.
As a pointer it s always a good idea to Dress above the Rest at an
interview. Remember you are out to make a special impression. Although you
will want to fit in if you get the job, you need to be appointed first! So a
pretty simple rule. If the dress code is casual then you need to be dressed
casually but a little smarter. For example if the other employees are
wearing trousers and open neck shirts then it would be a good idea for you
to wear trousers, a tie and a smart jacket. If the dress code is a suit and
tie then you will need to wear your best suit and tie get the picture.
It s pretty easy for you to judge for yourself. Another good point is when
you are invited into the interview don t ever remove your jacket without be
asked. If the room is hot, well quite frankly that s just a bit of tough
luck. I have to admit I have always kept my jacket on even when my
interviewer has asked me if I would like to remove it. My reason being that
we all perspire during stress and there is nothing worse than seeing
perspiration marks around the arms of your shirt! A manger once recalled a
very funny story about a lady who was interviewed on a hot sunny day. After
the initial greeting the applicant asked It s so hot out there, do you mind
if I take my shoes off? Without waiting for a reply she then proceeded to
do exactly that. The interviewer spent the whole of the time being
distracted by brightly painted red toes wiggly about. Needless to say the
interview was quite short and no time was spent even considering whether to
make a job offer or not. So what type of clothes should you wear at your
interview? Well it s an individual s choice. However I would steer clear of
bright outrageous ties if you are a man as not every interviewer will share
your love of cartoon characters such as the Simpson s. Whether male of
female try and settle on neutral colours. Finally as previously mentioned
it s a bad idea to wear overpowering aftershave or perfume. It can be very
off putting to others.
On Arrival At Your Job Interview:
If you are organised you will have arrived at your interview in good time
and you will have a few moments to compose yourself and utilise the rest
room before your big moment. If there are some bathrooms in the waiting area
(if not just ask someone to direct you to them) go and make a few final
checks on your appearance. You might want to comb your hair, use the
lavatory or adjust your make up. This time will give you the opportunity to
make sure you are ship shape and looking a million dollars. It will also
give you reassurance so that once you are in the interview you don t have to
worry about whether you have done your zips up, your hair looks tidy or your
lipstick is smudged; issues that are important but that you don t want to
have to worry whilst trying to win over the interviewer. It s always a good
idea if you have a briefcase and are wearing a tie to take a spare, just in
case you spill something down it before going into the interview. It s
easily done. I was once attending an interview and on the way I stopped to
drink a can of coke as I had arrived early. To say I was mortified when I
spilt it down my tie is an understatement. I had no spare and apologised
profusely to my interviewer, who was very kind and said it didn t matter.
However I still spent the entire interview worrying about it and my
performance was definitely hindered by it. A lesson learned to say the
least!
When Your Interviewer Comes Out To Take You Into The Interview Or When You
Are Called Into The Interview Room:
OK, in my opinion this is the most stressful time of the interview and when
my heart beats the most! It s when you are entering the unknown; new
surroundings, new people (sometimes as many as four or five) and a strange
room. As I have stated before, you need your maximum concentration at this
point as First Impressions do count. So how do you greet your interviewer?
Firstly look your interviewer in the eyes and smile. Everyone likes a smiley
face. I don t mean beam like a Cheshire cat; just a pleasant friendly smile.
Secondly, offer your hand out to shake. Don t squeeze the interviewers hand
until it turns blue, just a firm professional handshake will suffice. At the
same time give a greeting. Hello very pleased to meet you or something
like that. Your interviewer will then either take you into the interview
room, or you may already be in there as you have been called in, and offer
you a seat. Please do not just sit down when you enter the room. Wait to be
offered a seat. It is good manners.
The interview is going to start along the lines of chit chat. You will
probably be asked how you journey was etc, etc and then offered a drink.
Depending on the type of person you are and how well you cope with nerves,
which we all have, from the person applying for a job flipping burgers to
the Executive applying for a new 250K per year position; it s up to you
whether you decide to accept one. You won t be thought of any less should
you not accept. If you think your hands are going to be shaking like a
coconut tree in a hurricane every time you pick your cup up, it s probably a
good idea to decline. That way you won t chance spilling the liquid all down
your front should you really lose your nerves!
*Coping and Dealing with Nerves at your interview* During An Interview -
Nerves
Nerves Yes love them or hate them we all have them and they apply to
everything we do in life, whether it s a new job, a date, going to the
dentist or being reprimanded. What are nerves? Well they are your bodies
way of dealing with stress usually caused by a fear of the unknown. Your
body puts up a protective barrier to help you deal with this. Symptoms
include; dry mouth, shaky hands, sweating, thumping heart, faintness,
feeling like you need to go to the bathroom. Does this sound familiar?
Everyone is nervous when attending a job interview. After all you are doing
this because you want to get that new job. Your body is releasing chemical
called adrenalin which assists you in focusing your mind completely on the
situation that you are dealing with. The secret is being able to manipulate
and control your frame of mind, use that adrenalin to your advantage and not
let it take over completely.
How Can I Control My Nerves?
The secret to controlling your nerves is to convince your brain that you
have little to worry about. The reality is that we all get ourselves worked
up far too much in the first place. We convince ourselves that we are going
to underperform or embarrass ourselves beyond belief. After all I am sure
you will have been in many situations where you have been a nervous wreck
and once the situation is over, like at the end of an interview or coming
out of the dentist, you get the overwhelming experience of calmness. Yes,
this is caused by your body relaxing and the adrenalin ceasing. So how can
you combat this? Well it's really simple. All you need to do is be prepared
and calm yourself. The nerves, to a degree, will be far less. I am sure you
will have heard of the term Mind Over Matter . Well it s true. The brain
and body are complicated things. You can convince yourself of anything if
you want to and this can have a negative as well as positive outcome. So to
deal with this issue and put your mind at rest, hence reducing your
nervousness, it s always a good idea to try and address the areas you need
to deal with where you feel you will be an absolute failure if things go
badly wrong. So let s just look at the major areas:
1. Drinks - should you or shouldn t you? As I have mentioned before if you
are offered a drink, be it tea, coffee or water and you think you are
suddenly going to have an explosive fit and chuck your cup three foot in the
air, don t accept one. The only exception I can recommend here is Water. The
reason being is that if you have a glass of water, no one is going to notice
if you did or didn t drink it. However if you get stuck for something to say
when asked a difficult question, or you find your mouth is getting irritably
dry, it s a good excuse to take a sip. While it doesn t buy you a great deal
of time it does give you chance to pause and reflect on the question a few
moments before you give an answer.
2. Awkward Questions Well unless you have a crystal ball you are not going
to know what you are going to be asked. However if you know anything about
the job then you can have a good second guess at what is likely to come up
and figure out some answers accordingly. Just remember how it was when you
sat exams at school. You didn t know which questions were going to come up,
so you revised all of them. Again, as previously mentioned, if there is a
discrepancy in your CV and you think it may be an issue, try and think of an
appropriate answer. Don t just ignore it and think to yourself I hope they
don t mention that . Be prepared, it will lessen the worry.
3. Shaky Hands! Well I have to admit I always get shaky hands and I am sure
I am not alone on this issue. There is no real definitive way of dealing
with this. The only thing you can do is keep them under control by placing
one hand on top of the other and keeping them on your lap. As you gain
confidence throughout the interview and your mind drifts away from the
issue, you will find that the shaking will naturally ease and it should no
longer prove a problem.
4. Dropping Or Tripping Over Your Briefcase Or Handbag. Come on, there s
absolutely no need to be clinging onto that briefcase or handbag. Place them
on the floor, under your chair preferably. That way you aren t going to drop
them or fall over them when you get up. If you need a pen and paper (and
it s always good to have them) take them out at the start of the meeting.
5. Fear Of Sneezing or Having a Runny Nose. Again it all comes down to being
prepared. Make sure you take a handkerchief or tissue and have it somewhere
accessible. It s no good locked in your handbag or briefcase. Place it in
your pocket so you can get at it quickly should you need to.
Make Life Easier For Yourself At The Interview:
Now I am not trying to teach my grandmother to suck eggs but the night
before your interview try and get a good night s sleep. Eat your evening
meal earlier than usual and go to bed a bit earlier. Don t go out on the
lash with your mates until 2.00 am in the morning or for a curry or other
meal that gives off a strong smelling after odour. As you will no doubt be
aware, garlic smells dreadful the next day and will ooze out of your pores
for a good 24 hours after eating it. Try and steer clear of meals that
include this. Also alcohol stays in the blood stream for a fair while and
you don t want to be turning up at your new job interview feeling hung over
and tired. If you are worried about your breath smelling then eat a mint
before you go into the interview or use a menthol spray. You can buy little
handy ones from the chemist which will fit in your pocket.
On the morning of the interview, if it s in the morning, try and have some
breakfast, I know it s difficult to eat on a stomach that s turning around
faster that a washing machine on a full spin cycle, but food is for the
brain and it will help you keep your mind on the job. Besides which if you
don t eat and have an empty stomach it is very likely that you will
experience that intensely dreadful sickly feeling. If you have an interview
during the afternoon see if you can catch an early lunch or if the interview
is early evening try and eat a decent breakfast and catch a late lunch.
Ideally you don t want to eat more than two hours before the start of the
interview to give your body the chance to digest your food.
If you are really strung out and feeling uptight just before your job
interview begins then you can always try some breathing exercises. Now I am
no therapist but I always find that breathing deep breaths in through your
nose, holding it in for a few seconds and breathing out through your mouth
helps. My doctor told me to try this when I was a bit younger and had
problems dealing with stress. It seems to work for me and helps me relax.
Think happy thoughts. Whether they are about your children, your wife,
husband, partner or whatever, try and think of something that makes you
smile. It takes far more muscles to make you frown than it does to make you
smile and using this technique you will automatically begin to feel the
element of wellbeing. It will also temporarily take your mind off the
situation ahead which will ease your stress and worry. When you get into the
interview and are seated, try and relax and get comfortable, I don t mean
slouch in the chair, but try and pick a position where you are not all
screwed up like the hunchback of Notre Dame. Being comfortable will help
relax all of your muscles including your legs, abdomen and chest, ultimately
making your breathing more relaxed. During your interview make sure you
listen to each question posed to you properly. Don t try and think of an
answer while your interviewer is still asking the question.
*Projecting The Right Image during an interview - What does your body
language tell the employer?* During The Interview Projecting the Right
image Selling Yourself
So, I have explained the ins and outs of preparing for your new job
interview and dealing with the stress element leading up to this; and then
entering into the interview environment. You are now well dressed; have
greeted your interviewer (s) correctly; created your comfortable sitting
posture and are now ready to convince your interviewer that you are the man
or woman that they have been searching for to fill that job opening. To some
the actual performance comes easily. For others they have to work at it.
Some people are natural born sales people and know how to sell themselves
others are not so lucky. Generally speaking if you already work in a sales
role, as I do, what I will explain next is really second nature and it is
unlikely that I will be offering you anything that you don t already know.
Sales people are natural born performers whether it is due to their
personality or due to the nature of the work they have previously carried
out. The term life is a stage and you re on it has never spoken truer than
at a job interview. I have been on hundreds of sales courses and read many
sales books over the course of my career such as how to win friends and
influence people but it all comes down to one thing and that is getting a
stranger to believe in you and, or, your product. At an interview you are
the one that needs to put on a good performance. There are many different
qualities the interviewer is going to be looking for in their potential
candidate. These will encompass qualifications, experience, you as a person
and the way that you integrate with others. Also they will consider your
previous employment history, your enthusiasm towards your career, along with
many other factors. So here are a few areas to think about. They are all
really interlinked and if you can employ all of them at interview stage you
are well on your way to getting that new job.
Show Your Interviewer That You Are Enthusiastic:
So what exactly is an employer looking for? Well firstly I would say
enthusiasm. If someone asks you a question and you give a one word answer it
doesn t really look very enthusiastic. So the way to deal with this is to
answer the question as deeply as you can. For example; Interviewer Your
background is in commercial liability underwriting but I see you are now
involved in commercial property underwriting . Don t simply answer with a
Yes or No answer, expand on it. You could answer along the lines of Yes I
was originally trained in liability underwriting, an area I spent several
years working in which I thoroughly enjoyed. However I had the opportunity
to expand my overall underwriting skills to encompass property underwriting
so I jumped at the chance as I felt it would enhance my experience overall
within my team . Obviously you can tailor this to your own circumstances but
you see what I am getting at. Be enthusiastic. Don t just give one word
answers. Make your interviewer interested in you and what you have done.
Show him that you really are passionate about everything you do. To the
interviewer this shows that you will have enthusiasm and dedication to your
new job should they decide to employ you.
Show Your Interviewer You Are A Confident Candidate And That You Know Your
Stuff:
Another area where all sales people are naturals is confidence! I know it s
not always easy when you are under pressure and nervous to ooze confidence,
but this is a really important area. The more confident you are the more
chance you will have of bagging the job. Try and expand on your answers
again in this area. If you are asked a negative question try and respond
with a positive confident answer. For example: Interviewer You don t appear
to have done much cold calling for a while and this job will involve quite a
large amount of self lead generation how do you feel about that? You could
answer along the lines of Yes I haven t been involved in cold calling for 6
months which has been quite disappointing to me as I thoroughly enjoyed it
and felt that it was one of my strong areas. I really have missed this
element of my work because I got the opportunity of speaking to new people
each day. I really got a buzz when I finally closed a deal that I knew I had
generated from start to finish. Cold calling is an area I am keen to get
back into and it s a talent that I feel comes naturally to me .
Show Your Interviewer That You Are Positive:
It s easy to become negative about anything in life, but in work life and a
career environment, a positive person in the workplace can be a real asset
to an employer. Positive people give off positive vibes and those good
vibrations nearly always rub off on other employees. The end result creates
a happy, proactive, enthusiastic work force which ultimately creates a
better working environment and more efficient team. If you can demonstrate
this quality to your interviewer at interview stage you will definitely
impress them.
Watch Your Body Language:
Body language is an area that many interviewers will take seriously. What we
do and how we do it can show underlying areas that can be picked up upon.
Body language is an area that has been analysed for many, many years by
professionals and interviewers alike. It really is amazing what you can
learn from someone just by their mannerisms. As I have stated before I am no
expert, but to give you an example, if you ask a person a question and their
eyes gaze up thoughtfully to the left hand side of their eyeball you know
that the chances of their answer being true are high. If on the other hand
they look up to the right of their eyeball the chances are they are
searching for a made up answer to your question. There are certain
exceptions to the rule but the theory is based upon the fact that the left
side of your brain is where you retrieve data from and the right is the
fictional side of your brain! Interesting isn t it and one to be aware of.
Other areas that give off body language signals, without you knowing about
them, are as follows:
Don t:
1. Cross Your Arms: It makes you look defensive.
2. Sit on the edge of your seat.
3. Mess with your face or play with your jewellery or hair.
4. Rock on the seat.
5. Interrupt when being asked a question.
6. Give one word answers (unless the answer dictates a one word answer).
Do:
1. Smile as frequently as possible (especially when you are asked a question
and respond to the person who has asked the question) but don t overdo it!
2. Keep your hands in your lap; don t wave them around all over the place.
3. Keep eye contact at all times (I don t mean stare out your interviewer).
If there is more than one interviewer, flick from person to person.
4. Be articulate and listen carefully to each question before giving your
answer.
5. Keep calm and don t panic!
*The Day of the Interview - Information to Assist* The Interview
General Interview Guidelines The Do's and The Don't's!
Once your interview gets under way and the list of general questions that
need to be asked by the interviewer are answered; and provided at his point
you haven t managed to throw your tea cup 6 foot into the air because you
have the jitters, you should, if you have taken in what I have already said,
begin to be feeling a little less nervous so you can really get down to
business. Try and answer all of the questions the interviewer throws at you
in a precise and confident manner. If your interviewer is asking a question
and halfway through you wish to make a comment, don t interrupt unless you
really think that it is very, very appropriate. It is bad manners. Ideally
wait for the question to be fully delivered to you and give your answer;
even if it means saying to your interviewer Can I just go back on the point
you made in a previous question? It is really difficult in this instance
where you feel you want to pass comment on something you really feel
passionate about but you have to try and bite your tongue. Nobody likes
being interrupted and in my experience interviewers are all full of self
importance and feel that their question is more important than your answer!
Answering Questions Posed To You By The Interviewer:
Your potential new employer is looking for a candidate that can do the job
and will fit into his or her business. The chances are that the candidate is
undoubtedly going to need to be a team player and a person who can listen
and give enthusiastic and positive input into their job and daily work life.
As the questions start to flow try and remember not to go on and on when
giving your answers.
Try and keep your answers as precise as possible, but not yes and no
answers. If you are asked a specific question that requires you to provide
an example of how you have dealt with a situation or closed a sale then give
an example that makes your achievement stand out. If you have won the
salesman of the year award then give a little background into how you
achieved it. Inevitably there will be times when you run out of steam and
these moments can be quite frustrating, so just sit back and relax and take
a few seconds to compose yourself before you deliver your answer to the
question.
There are some people who think that talking is more important than
listening, but they would be totally wrong. Being able to listen to a
question without interruption is an art especially if you are genuinely
interested in the subject. By showing this quality you will make a good
impression. If you are asked a question, that you do not know the answer to,
do not to be tempted to lie. If you do you had better make sure you keep
your story straight. Answering a question with a lie can get you into big
trouble and really achieves very little. After all, the questions have been
laid down to see if you are the person the interviewer is looking for and if
you can t give a straight answer then the chances are you are not the person
for the job. Don t do it, it will all end in tears!
There are some employers that will ask you what you think of your current
boss. This is a trick question. They are really not in the slightest bit
bothered whether you think they are a complete moron. All they are trying to
ascertain is whether you are a loyal employee and can act in a professional
and neutral manner. After all if they offer you the job they will be your
next boss! You also have to bear in mind that what goes around comes around;
slating your boss won t achieve anything other than making you look petty
and bitter. Save that experience for when you are in the pub with your
mates!
Different Types Of Interview Questions:
An interview will have a structured format and there will be several
different types of interview questions set to enable the interviewer to
gauge your response to technical as well as hypothetical questions. For
example a Technical Question may involve specifics about the way a certain
type of application is dealt with. Let s say you are applying for a job in
the construction industry there may be certain questions set out to see how
you would deal with a particular problem within a mechanical process.
Hypothetical Questions can apply to any type of job role and they are
designed to ascertain how you would deal with a situation or chain of
events. Some less professional interviewers may also throw questions at you
which are deliberately set to get your back up, to judge how you deal with
the situation.
This is fairly rare and in any event to be honest any interviewer who
engages in this type of underhand maneuver I don t think would be a
particularly good employer. Just my opinion!
Types Of Interview:
If you haven t had a lot of experience with attending interviews then you
will not be aware of the different ways that employers are able to conduct
interviews and the way that they are held. Aside from a traditional
interview i.e. one candidate and one interviewer, there are three different
types of interviews and dependent upon the position involved will depend
upon the type of interview you may have.
Firstly there is the Telephone Interview. This involves an interviewer
calling you up and having a chat with you over the phone to judge your
telephone skills. This often happens where the job may entail working in a
call centre and the emphasis is on how well you perform on the telephone.
This method is also used if the interviewer is trying to shortlist a group
of candidates in a quick manner and is often carried out by an external
recruiter such as an agency. You may or may not be told that you will be
having a telephone interview. It depends on the employer. If you have
applied for a job where heavy telephone use is likely to be a major part of
the job, then this may be the option chosen. The interview should be treated
as any other and it s a good idea to make notes as you go along if you can.
If you are successful it may be that you will be asked there and then to
attend a face to face interview, so make sure you have a pen and paper to
hand.
Another type of interview is what is known a Panel Interview. These are a
bit more tricky and stressful than a one to one interview. A panel interview
will usually have anything from three to six interviewers sitting in on the
meeting. Basically this is a way of cutting down on time where the decision
for the applicant needs to be discussed by several different members of the
business. It could be that you are applying for a sales post and the
interview needs the Sales Manager, HR Manager, Head of Department and, if
the role involves some form of IT work, one of the IT Managers. It s always
difficult attending these interviews as it can feel like you are one against
many but it s not set up like this for any nasty reason. It s just easier
for the company. If you are faced with a Panel Interview always try and
answer each question posed by each member of the panel back to the
individual who has posed the question, whilst casually glancing at the other
people present. Also when you enter the room you will obviously shake hands
with the head of the panel or the person who has taken you in but whether
you decide to shake all of the panel s hands is a decision you will need to
make at the time. If they all stand and offer their hands your decision will
be made easier.
The final type of interview is a Sequential Interview. This can also be a
tough type of interview leaving you feeling absolutely drained. Basically
how this works is you will be interviewed by a series of different people.
It might be that the HR Manager interviews you first, then the Sales Manager
and then the Local Director. The chances are that each member of staff will
have different questions but there may be some overlap so you might find
yourself answering the same questions twice!
Closing And Leaving The Interview:
Once the interview has finished and this should be fairly obvious as the
interviewer will intimate that it has, you will want to stand, pick up your
briefcase or handbag from under the chair, if that s where you put them; and
then shake hands with the interviewer. Again, in a firm but not grip
wrenching manner. Try and avoid the temptation to wipe your sweaty hands on
your clothes in front of the interviewer. A better tactic is to just clench
your hands together and rub them a couple of times gently to remove any
wetness. Thank the interviewer for the time that they have afforded to you,
say goodbye in a nice smiley manner and leave the room. Some people will
escort you out onto the main floor; others may see you out of the building,
but whichever, try and stay as professional as possible. Remember the job is
not yours until you have signed on the dotted line!
*Some of the Popular answers to Interviewers Questions* Interview Questions
Generally speaking there are going to be certain questions that arise at
your interview that you can pretty much expect to get asked at any interview
you may attend. The great thing about this is the fact that you can rehearse
your answers to these questions and with enough practice they will flow off
your tongue easier than honey sipping down your throat! These questions are
likely to be fired at all candidates applying for the job. So, although they
may sound personal to you and they are to a degree; these are pretty
standard interview questions. So here goes. You have to bear in mind that
these are the responses that I would consider giving. They are obviously not
set in stone and you will need to adapt answers according to your situation:
Tell Me About Yourself
Sounds a bit like the sort of question you get asked on a date! This isn t
as straight forward to answer as at first it might seem. Don t start
rambling on about how much you love watching the Simpsons on the TV.
That* *isn t
what the interviewer is looking to hear. You will probably need to answer
this question with a question. Perhaps you could try saying What would you
like to know about me? This then gives your interviewer the chance to get
you to tell them exactly what information they are looking for. If possible
try and keep this part of the interview to a minimum. If you can, see if you
can build into your response positives which relate to the job you are
applying for. For example; if it s a sales role you could say I am a very
organised person who enjoys finding a new prospect, working with it and
closing the deal, carrying out the completion from start to finish .
Sometimes your interviewer might ask about your hobbies and again you should
pick out points that relate to the job you are applying for whether remote
or not.
What Is the Most Enjoyable Part Of Your Current Job?
*
- *This is a fairly straight forward question but has a bit of a double
meaning. Obviously there are going to be parts of your existing job that you
don t like doing or you wouldn t be applying for this new position would
you? But your job can t be that great either or you wouldn t be applying for
this job! Don t get led down this route. Just answer something along the
lines of I do enjoy my present job so I can t really put my finger on any
part of it that I dislike. I am just looking to further my career and leave
it at that. It is possible to use this question to your benefit but you need
to make sure you pick something that is going to compliment the job you are
applying for.
Tell Us About The Biggest Challenge You ve Ever Faced In Your Career?
*
-
*Oh wow, this is a really great question to help you shine! You are more
than likely to be asked this question and it is a really great opportunity
for you to blow your own trumpet. Pick a challenge where you have been
successful and explain how you overcame it and what the outcome was. This
question can also be used by the interviewer to gauge what you consider to
be a challenge, so this is a bit of a crafty one as well.
Why Do You Want To Leave Your Present Job?
*- *This is a bit of a stupid question really as the chances of the
interviewer getting a straight answer are fairly limited. Let s face it; if
the job you are in doesn t pay very well and you want more money, you are
going to be looking for a new job. It might be that your current boss is a
complete idiot and you don t like him. It could be you can t stand working
with John in accounts. You aren t going to say any of these things are you?
Well hopefully not! I think a standard response along the lines of I feel
that I have outgrown the company I am in and my contribution as part of a
team could be put to better use with a larger or more focused company where
I can expand my skills further. I am really interested in ..but my existing
employer doesn t have the resources to let me advance in this area and
leave it at that. Just try not to be negative about the job you are leaving.
It doesn t look good.
What Is Your Present Boss Like?
*
-
*Another question posed by interviewers to gauge your loyalty and integrity.
It is not a good idea to be critical about any of the employers you have
ever worked for. Realistically very few of us actually like our bosses.
Well, most of us just placate them and tell them what they want to hear.
After all why would you possibly want to be best buddies with a person who
holds your career prospects in their hands? If you get asked this question
the most appropriate reply is I like my boss and get on very well with him
(or her). I respect their experience and they are good at their job . You
really don t need to expand any further on this issue at interview stage.
You have to remember that the person interviewing you may well, at some
point in the near future, become your boss and they are weighing up your
loyalty and integrity.
What Do You Think This Job Entails? *
*Now, when you are applying for a new job the chances are you are going to
know something about what it is all about. For example; if the job is a
secretarial role and you are a secretary, you will know what sort of work
you are going to be involved with. In any case you will have been given a
brief description of the job role and what responsibilities it carries in
either the advertisement about it or in a job description that may have been
sent with the original application form, so you should be able to make a
reasoned reply.
What Do You Know about this Organisation?
*
- *Now if you have taken my earlier advice you will have done your research
and read up about what the company is involved in, its products, its
turnover and its strategy. You will really impress your interviewer if you
are able to show that you have this knowledge. As previously mentioned
people like to think that if you are really eager to work for them. You will
have done some research about what they do and how they do it. So let s say
you are applying for a job with a major high street retailer you could say
something like I notice that you are one of the leading stores who operate
a Fair Trade Policy when purchasing your goods from third world countries.
I have to say that I am very supportive of this and it would be nice to work
for an employer who cares about the impact their business has on people in
the outside world .
What Made You Apply For This Job And Why Do You Want It?
*
-
*This is a bit of a double edged question. Your interviewer isn t
necessarily looking for an answer here that is straight forward. You know
you are applying for the job because you think you would enjoy doing it, the
package is right and you think you would be able to advance your career with
this firm, but the interviewer wants to see if there are some specifics that
really attract you to it (other than the 50,000 per year and company car).
So dependent upon what the role is, you could use an answer such as I am a
very well organised person and this role involves exceptional management
skills. I thrive under pressure and it makes me perform to my full ability
which makes me think that I would really enjoy it . Obviously you can tailor
this answer to whatever role you are applying for.
What Qualities Do You Think You Can Bring To This Job Position?
*
-
*Again, you know that you can do this job and that is why you have applied
for it. Not only do you know that you can do the job, you will do it better
than anyone else, so you will be aware of the qualities you are going to
bring to this business. You will have reviewed the job spec and the key
responsibilities so you will be able to select several areas where you feel
your qualities will stand out. Perhaps you could therefore give an answer
along the lines of I have experience working in the complaints department
where a sympathetic touch is required dealing with disgruntled customers. I
am very tactful and am able to defuse situations using my personal skills .
How Long Would You Expect To Work For Our Organisation?
*
-
*Let s face it no employer wants to go through the hassle and cost of hiring
a new candidate if the candidate only stays with them for 6 months and then
decides to apply to another firm. The recruitment process is a long and
expensive one especially where agencies are used to introduce the candidate.
This could cost your potential employer as much as 30% of your first year s
package! It s probably a good idea therefore to intimate that you would like
to work for this firm for several years minimum and you could provide an
answer along the lines of I like the way your company is continuing to
expand and I would like to be part of that on a long term basis. So I would
like to think that I could continue to work for you for a lengthy period of
time providing my career continues to progress .
What s Your Greatest Strength?
*
-
*Only you can answer this question, but it is a question that will more than
likely be asked. After all, the interviewer wants to know what you are good
at. This question gives you pretty much an open mandate to really show off.
However don t overdue the self praise. When answering this question try and
provide strengths that relate to the role that you are applying for, so if
the job requires the need to be organised and a good team leader provide
these as strengths within your answer.
What Is Your Biggest Weakness?
*
- *Bit of a tricky question this, after all no one wants to show their
weaknesses but we all have them. The most comprehensive way of dealing with
this question is to try and turn it into a positive from a negative . So
you could perhaps say my biggest weakness is buying the kids sweets when
they ask for them in the shop or I really dislike washing the car at the
weekend but once I have done it I always feel a real sense of satisfaction .
Where Do You See Yourself In Five Years Time?
*
-
*Don t say as I have heard so many times sitting in your job! Although I
have a sense of humour, most interviewers do not. The remark often has an
element of truth hanging in the background and you don t want your
interviewer thinking you are potentially a threat to his or her job in the
future. I am sure you will have ideas about where you want to be in a few
years time. Most people, whether they put them down on paper or not, have a
good idea of their long term career objectives. Try and answer the question
positively but not too arrogantly. Perhaps you could give an answer such as
I have always been very career minded and ambitious. I would like to keep
progressing up the career ladder and feel that your organisation will be
able to offer me that opportunity .
What Would Your Work Colleagues Say About You?
*- *This question provides another opportunity for you to demonstrate that
you are easy to get on with, a team player and a generally amenable person
who works well with other people. You could answer this question with a
quote such as I am an organised, approachable, dependable, easy to get on
with team member who is always willing to offer my advice or assistance to
colleagues where needed . Don t go overboard with your answer, making out
you are something you are not. You may get away with stretching the truth,
but if you are not a natural team leader don t say you are!
What Would Your Friends Say About You? *
-
*Obviously this question is similar to the one above. If you are a popular,
kind, caring person who can be counted on and would help a friend out at the
drop of a hat then let your interviewer know.
What Interests Do You Have Outside Of Your Work?
*- *This will be a definite question (in my opinion) and is posed by your
interviewer to try and ascertain what you are like outside of your working
environment. If you don t like football or snooker don t say that you do.
Just provide honest answers. There is nothing worse than saying you follow a
sport and then it turning out that the interviewer is mad about the subject
and starts asking you questions you can t answer. You will look a fool and
your honesty will be under scrutiny!
What Type Of Books Or Publications Do You Like? *
- *This question needs an honest answer. Just because you think the
interviewer is looking to hear you tell them that you have just finished
Marketing Skills Made Easy and that it was the best read of your life, it
isn t a good idea to make it up. If you have genuinely read David Jason s
autobiography or Stephen King s latest book then tell the employer what you
enjoyed about it. Of course if you work within certain industries; read the
trade publications and have recently read an interesting article about the
latest blue widget release then by all means use this as an example.
*Some of the toughest and most difficult questions an Interviewer may ask
you - be prepared*
Tough Interview questions
We know all interview questions are tough but these are the real hard ones.
Generally these questions aren t asked to make your life difficult or to
make you squirm. They are simply asked so that the interviewer can find out
what he wants to know in the best possible way. When you are posed with a
difficult question which you find awkward to answer, it puts you under
pressure. Therefore there may be certain questions that are delivered to you
to see how well you cope. It not unreasonable if the new job you are
applying for is likely to carry an element of pressure. Just remember there
is no need to get worked up or frightened. As I keep saying, if you have
done your research and prepared properly for the interview these questions
won t be half as difficult as you think. When a question is posed to you try
and keep calm. Think about the question for a few moments and deliver your
answer accordingly. So here we go!
Are You A Good Leader?
*
- *Your interviewer is looking to ascertain whether you can manage or lead
well in your job and how you deal with the people who work under you.
Perhaps you could answer this question along the lines of I feel that my
team leading qualities are exceptional. I am always firm but fair with the
people who work for me and find that I get a good deal of respect by
operating in this manner .
How Do You Feel About Taking Direction From Your Superiors? *
-
*This is a very valid question from any potential employer. If you have a
boss who is delegating work to you they will want to know that you are able
to deal with their requests and execute them in the manner dictated. You
will therefore want to be answering this question along the lines of I take
direction from my superiors well. After all no team can work properly unless
they are able to accept instructions from their superior .
How Do You Feel About Carrying Out Mundane or Repetitive Work?
*
-
*Nearly every job carries an element of routine to it so this could well be
a frequently asked difficult question. The answer could be something like
I understand all jobs have some element of repetitiveness but I take all
aspects of my job seriously regardless of whether they are mundane or not. I
always give 100% to my job .
Are You A Natural Born Leader?
*
-
*Some of us are natural born leaders and they are usually the people heading
up teams or managing departments. Natural born leaders are chosen for the
role of management or leadership because of their ability to guide and deal
with people. They are people who possess enthusiasm, confidence and good
leadership qualities. Try and build something into your answer that shows
these qualities. It hasn t necessarily got to include areas of your work
life however it s better if it does. You could use an example of something
in your personal life such as being head of the local under 16 s football
team or head of your local cricket team but whatever you choose try and
say something that makes your leadership qualities stand out.
How Well Do You Handle Criticism? *
-
*Everyone gets criticised in the job they do at some point in their career.
Whether you feel that the criticism is right or wrong there are always two
sides to every situation. An ideal answer to this question might be We all
at some point make mistakes and I am more than happy to take on board any
constructive criticism that is given to me as it helps me understand and
learn from the situation .
How Well Do You Work Within A Team Environment?
* *
*
- *
**Teamwork is very important to an employer. A properly functioning team
will create a happy workplace and smooth, efficient production regardless of
the product or service involved. Everyone has a different approach to how
they deal with their colleagues so you will need to tailor the answer to
this question to your own approach. Perhaps you could offer an answer like
I really enjoy working as a member of a team. There is a feeling of
comradeship in that we are all working towards the same goal. When we meet
our objective we all benefit from the feeling of success .
What Motivates You?
*
-
*Your interviewer is not looking for an answer along the lines of 100,000
per year and a yacht . Let s face it that s what we would all like! Try and
give a constructive answer such as I get a real kick out of completing a
project. This drives me along the way and I get satisfaction at each stage
knowing that I will have made a contribution to the end result .
Are You Good At Getting The Best Out Of Your Team?
*
-
*An interviewer asking this question is looking for an answer that shows how
you manage and run your team in order to achieve the best performance from
them. Your answer should include areas that show your leadership qualities
and how they benefit the people that work for you, such as communication
skills and praise.
You Have Only Been With Your Employer A Very Short Time - Why? *
-
*As I have mentioned before the recruitment process is a long and expensive
one. Where recruitment agencies are used to source candidates, their fee may
be as much as 30% of your first years annual package, let alone the costs
associated with any additional training you may need. The last thing an
employer wants to do is employ a candidate who is only going to work for
them for five minutes and then look for another job! If you have been with
previous employer for a short period of time then you need to find an answer
that is going to reassure the interviewer s doubts and put his mind at rest.
It is possible in this situation that you could use a line such as Yes I
have only been with my existing employer a relatively short period of time
but have found that I have to move to gain more experience and enhance my
career. I think that this can be achieved within your organisation and I
feel that I am ready to settle down in a position I am comfortable with for
a long period of time .
How Do You Deal With Interpersonal Problems Within Your Team?
*
-
*Nothing runs smoothly all the while and from time to time there will be
disputes amongst members of your team. Obviously your answer will probably
come from your own experience here, but areas such as being fair by hearing
both sides of the dispute, dealing with the problem in private, not causing
embarrassment in front of others and looking for a compromise between the
individuals may all come into play.
How Would Your Current Boss Describe You?
*
-
* You re useless and should look for another job before I fire you!! Just
kidding (or maybe not in some cases). Remember at some point in the future
the man or woman sitting in the chair opposite you could well be your future
employer. When you answer this question provide an answer in a way that you
think you would like your boss to actually think of you. So perhaps you can
say something like I get on very well with my boss and we have an excellent
working relationship. I think that the reason is due to the fact that we
have mutual respect for each other. My boss considers me as a hard working,
loyal and efficient employee who is able to work well using my own
initiative. He can trust me to carry out the work given to me without having
to bother him . It s not a terribly good idea to blatantly lie about your
relationship with your boss. If it s horrendous it may come out in
references that are taken later. However, under employment law past
employers have to be very careful how they word references and are not
allowed to tear your personality apart!
What Part Of Your Job Do You Dislike The Most?*
-
*Well the answer to this can t be I am completely happy with my job and I
enjoy every aspect of it. It fills my daily working hours with joy and
happiness. I just wish I could do it 24 hours a day 365 days a year . Why
not? Because you wouldn t be applying for this job if that was the truth
would you? Don t give answers that are purely motivated by money and
benefits, even if that is the case. You might genuinely love your job but
the money is no good. That isn t what the interviewer wants to hear. Perhaps
you could use a line like I really do enjoy my current job and quite
frankly there aren t really any areas that I can say I dislike. However, the
company I work for is small and I don t get much chance to deal with new
business very often. This is an area I find exciting and feel that this job
would be able to offer me that opportunity . Of course there may be an area
you do dislike in your job but if you decide to bring it up then try and
create a positive out of it. For example I used to find doing my filing at
the end of the day a bit time consuming as I would always get distracted by
more important issues to deal with. Then I decided that I would come in a
bit earlier each morning to deal with this enabling me to start the day
fresh and be left with a bit of spare time at the end of each day should
something really important come up .
If You Were Starting Out Again In Your Career Are There Any Decisions You
Would Make Differently?
*
*This is a nonsense question really. No one can turn back the clock so it s
completely irrelevant, but one some interviewers like to pose. The only
answer I can think of giving is I wouldn t change anything. I have been
more than happy with all of the decisions I have made in my career and don t
feel that I would gain any benefit out of looking back and analysing
something I cannot change .
You Have Been With Your Employer A Long Time - Why?*
-
*To be honest I think this question is a bit unfair. There could be many
reasons why you have shown loyalty to your existing employer for a lengthy
period of time. It might be that you just liked your job and the people you
have worked for but circumstances have changed or, that you have had a wide
and varied career working in different parts of the company doing different
job roles. You may have worked overseas for the same company. People don t
generally stay with the same employer in this day and age predominantly
because it isn t always easy to get promoted internally. This could look to
an interviewer like you have been unable to get another job. Of course this
probably isn t the case so build your answer around the facts.
Do You Feel That Your Career Has Been A Success To Date?*
-
*Again, another no brainer question that really has no bearing on whether
you are capable of doing the job you are applying for or whether you are
even the right person for it. Success can only really be measured by the
person who it applies to. What one person thinks is successful another may
not. I genuinely feel that very few people actually think their career has
been a failure. The only way to address this question is to say I feel that
I have been successful to date and I am more than happy with my career
progression. I have always put emphasis on enjoying the job I do and not how
much it pays or what benefits I can gain from it. So far I have found that
this strategy has worked well for me .
We Think You Might Be Overqualified For This Job! *
-
*If you were overqualified for this job would you be applying for it? Well I
guess in an interviewers mind it could be that you are desperate, or it may
be that you are desperate! A future employer doesn t want to think he is
going to take you on if you are going to get bored in five minutes because
the job is too easy and then start looking elsewhere again. This is a
difficult question to answer but you could intimate that you have a very low
boredom threshold and that everything you do, you do to the best of your
ability.
If You Were Appointed To This Position How Long Would It Be Before You Would
Expect To Be Promoted?*
*Let s face it; most of us want promotion as soon as possible. Promotion
usually leads to more money and better employment benefits (of course it
also usually entails more work and stress) but you should consider your
answer to this question carefully. If you answer I d expect promotion
within 12 months of being appointed you allocate a timescale which may not
be acceptable to your future employer. They may not be looking to promote
you for a good few years and may feel that you would become despondent and
leave if you didn t achieve your goal. In all honesty the right kind of
answer to this question is going to be something like I couldn t give a
time by which I would expect to be promoted. I would need to prove myself to
the company in terms of my ability, leadership skills and the experience
that I would bring to the business. I feel that promotion is a reward, not a
right and as with all rewards I am a great believer in that you have to earn
them .
How Have You Managed To Attend This Interview In Works Time?
*
-
*Another naughty question often posed by interviewers but at the same time
it does bear some relevance. If you are attending an interview when you
would normally expect to be in work then your potential employer wants to
know what type of excuse you have come up with to your existing employer.
Really this is a question of honesty and the reality is that you won t have
asked your existing boss for time off to attend an interview for another
job. It may well be that you have taken the time off by telling your boss
that you have had to take your pet anaconda to the vets or you might have
thrown a sicky but that isn t what your future employer wants to hear. One
straight forward answer to this question is I have taken some holiday to
take part in this interview . If you are feeling really clever and you want
to impress your interviewer you could say Unfortunately I didn t have any
holiday left so I asked my employer if I could take a day of unpaid leave
because I had a personal issue I needed to deal with. I preferred to take
that action as I don t feel it fair on my existing employer to attend this
interview whilst he was paying me. I do not think it s right to cheat .
You Have Read The Job Description And A Summary Of The Job Role So What
Areas Of This Job Appeal To You The Least?*
-
*Hmm .It s a nasty one this isn t it! At this point in your interview you
don t want to go and start making out that there is anything at all that you
don t fancy doing in this new job. I am not one for one sentence answers but
if you get this one dropped on you I think it s good to get off the subject
as quickly as possible and use the damage limitation technique. I think a
simple Having reviewed the job summary and description I have to say that I
can t find anything that doesn t appeal to me in this job at all . If you do
find something about the job that looks less than appealing make sure it
isn t a major part of role and if you can t find any way of turning the duty
from a negative to a positive leave it well alone.
What Sort Of People Do You Find It Difficult To Work With? *
-
*There s always someone in the office that doesn t work with the team and
the rest end up carrying them, but that s life at the end of the day. It s
up to your boss to sort that problem out. This often causes bad feeling
amongst the team and irritates the other members. However, when you are
attending an interview you really don t want to be seen to be moaning about
individuals in your current organisation. The easiest way to deal with this
question is to give your answer based on the fact that although you are very
amenable and easy to get on with, you are very much a team player so the
most difficult people you find to work with are the ones that do not carry
the same high standards in their work as you do.
Have You Attended Other Interviews As Well As This One?
*
-
*This is a great question and one that you can manipulate to your advantage.
If the interviewer thinks that one of their competitors is after you it
makes you a much better catch to them. You have to remember many, but not
all, employers are like sheep and the bigger the company the more likely it
will be that they are after a stereotypical candidate. One that s just a
little bit better than the last. If you give the impression that you are
talking to other firms as well and that you have made the last batch of
interviews with them, you are going to be a far more attractive prospect. So
whether you are or are not talking to other companies make sure you give the
impression that you are in demand.
What Do You Think About The Conflict In Iraq, The Credit Crunch, Barack
Obama (or something that has a social political bearing)
*
-
*The idea behind this question is for your interviewer to see if you take an
interest in what goes on in the world, current affairs and so on and to show
that your interest in the world doesn t stop when you shut your front door
at night. Your answer is likely to give your interviewer an insight into
your values whether they be moral or otherwise and how you address life
itself. Politically correct answers aren t always the right ones. What you
need to do is show the interviewer that you have the ability to see and
recognise all sides of a debate. That you don t see things simply in black
and white and that you have the ability to debate a subject properly, At the
same time you need to show that you are open minded enough to form your own
opinion on a subject. What you don t want to do is jump on your high horse
and fire off your own political views. This type of question can be
particularly relevant to certain industries. For example, if you are
applying to work for an oil company you may be asked your opinion on global
warming and whether the work green peace does is right or wrong.
Alternatively if you are applying for a job working for a company that
manufactures make up you may be asked for your views on whether the work
that animal rights campaigners carry out is justified: you get the picture?
What Sort Of Decisions Do You Find The Most Difficult To Make?
*
-
* Should I have prawn or beef sandwiches for lunch! or Should I buy the 28
or 32 inch flat screen TV . Most of us at some point have had to make
difficult decisions whether in our personal or work lives. If you have ever
had to fire someone or make them redundant it s not a nice decision to make,
or job to carry out for that matter. This is not from the point of view that
you don t really like the person, but most people have a conscience and
realise that if they take away a person s job it will have a direct impact
on their whole life. This is therefore a good example to use as an answer to
this question.
What Is Your Current Bosses Biggest Weakness?
*
-
*Wouldn t you just love to say it; Lunchtime Binge Drinking . You must
remember regardless of what an idiot you think your boss is; the person that
is sitting in front of you may one day be the same boss you are criticizing.
Anyway it wouldn t achieve anything and would only make you look cheap. So
if you get this one thrown at you why not try something like My boss is
great really and we get on very well. He is good at his job, one which he
wouldn t have got in the first place if he wasn t. I respect him for that. I
am sure he may have weaknesses but I have to say that if he has I haven t
picked up on them .
What Do You Think Of Your Existing Company?
*
-
*Now you might think that your existing company is a cheap skate, runs old
machinery, never wants to invest in the plant or the future of the business,
use every spare amount of cash they have to improve the cars parked in the
Directors car park and so on. However that just isn t the right answer! Your
standard response to a question such as this should be that you have really
enjoyed working for your current company and that you are thankful for the
opportunities, training and career progression that they have afforded you
to date.
What Is Your Current Salary? *
-
*It s a bit of a cheeky question this one and you want to give a non
committal answer. You must try and remember that all companies want to save
as much money on salaries as they can and if you are offered the job the
chances are they are going to indicate a package either similar or slightly
more than the one you re on. If you go straight in with I earn 23,000.00
plus expenses plus a car and free weekend tickets to the Manchester United
games you are setting a bench mark that you may find difficult to negotiate
around. Therefore an appropriate answer to this interview question might be
it s not really the salary that is important to me it s the whole package
that I would be more interested in . By saying this you are being non
committal and it will make negotiating an acceptable package far easier
What Salary Would You Be Expecting For This Position?
*
-
*Again another cheeky one which, ideally, you don t want to be too committal
over. If you commit to a salary at this stage you won t be able to negotiate
later on and if you ask for too much they will think they can t afford you.
If you don t know what level of salary a position pays you can do some
research on the internet. There are several sites that collect data about
average industry and job role remunerations. So you could ask the
interviewer a question in response to his question such as What level of
salary would you be expecting to pay for this position? If the interviewer
doesn t want to divulge this then it s not unreasonable for you to decline
to answer too. If your interviewer quotes you a salary of say 19,000 then
try and come back with something like Well I was looking for a salary in
the region of 22,000 to 24,000 . Your employer will always start with
their bottom figure first so by asking for a little more it sets you a
slightly higher bench mark. It may be that your interviewer can only go to
the level he quotes but it s fairly unlikely.
I have A Pen Here Sell It Me!*
-
*I ve been on loads of sales courses and this has always been a question
posed to me to see how good I am at selling the benefits of a product, not
just the product itself. This is an interesting question and some employers
will ask you to do this even if you aren t applying for a job that involves
selling. As I have said the reason behind this is to see if you can sell the
benefits of the pen rather than the object itself. For example as a pen
itself: it is just a biro with a roller ball and plastic coating. However,
its benefits would be: it s a biro and the roller ball is really smooth and
gives excellent presentation. It is leak proof and slim and sits discretely
in your pocket. This is all about the bigger picture. If you are able to
outline the benefits of the pen you will impress your interviewer. Obviously
if you are applying for a sales role the chances are your interviewer will
definitely ask you this question. However, it might not necessarily be a
pen. It could be something else sitting on your interviewer s desk.
How Well Do You Work In A Stressful Environment?*
-
*Most jobs carry an element of stress whether it s working to very tight
deadlines or handling lots of different projects and having to manage your
time effectively. Your answer to this question should encompass examples of
situations where you have operated well under stress and also point out that
you get a buzz out of a working in stressful environment as it keeps you
mind focused and it assists you in your performance.
*Some questions you Could ask the Interviewer*
Want to know what to ask?
At some stage of the interview you are going to be asked if you have any
questions to put to the interviewer. Now is the chance for you to show your
interest in the company and the position. Try to prepare some questions in
advance that could demonstrate your experience for the role. Other questions
could be about the company which would give you more information about the
organisation. This could be crucial to you deciding to accept any offer that
may subsequently be made to you. Not asking any questions at all should not
be an option as an interviewer will take this as a sign of disinterest.
However you can blow the interview completely by asking the wrong type of
question. It is never a good idea to rush straight in and ask about holiday
entitlement, length of tea breaks, lunch breaks etc. This will give the
employer the sign of your priorities in the workplace and it won t be a good
one. I would go so far as to say that second to not asking anything at all,
questions such as these could seal your fate completely.
Below are some ideas. You can adapt them to suit the type of vacancy you are
applying for. For example if you are applying for a managerial position it
is almost inevitable that you will have some staff reporting to you. However
if you are an assistant administrator you will be unlikely to be in that
position. Remember only you know the job you have applied for and the
answers to some of these questions would be obvious. If that is the case
don t ask them.
Will I be working in a department or in an area on my own?
Who else is in the department and what do they do?
What training will I need and how will I be given this?
Do you train in house or use external courses?
To whom am I responsible?
Which members of staff are responsible to me and what are their roles?
Is this a new position and if so why has it been created?
If it is an existing position, why has the previous person left the post?
What are the opportunities for promotion?
When would you be looking for the successful candidate to start?
Are you interviewing many people for this position?
When will you let me know if I am to be offered the post?
*The use of Psychometric Testing for Candidates*
Psychometric Testing
Oh No; I hear you cry help! Well you shouldn t. Psychometric testing is
becoming more and more popular now to vet potential candidates and you can
use these in your favour. If you ve never taken one before it can be a
little bit worrying. It s a bit like going back to school and sitting an
exam doing those multiple choice questions with puzzles. These needn t be a
worry and they are not, once you understand what they re for, how they work
and what they are set out to achieve. In my experience it is really no
surprise why companies have taken to using these tests to gauge applicants.
Nowadays there are some very well qualified applicants for each job. If you
were to interview them all you would be there until doomsday. These tests
are a good way to assess which candidates are most likely to be the best for
the job. If you are the right person for the position then it will just give
reassurance to the interviewer and you will be in a good position. On the
basis that you have never sat a psychometric test, or heard of one for that
matter, I will give you some brief information about them.
A psychometric test isn t really a test. This is because you cannot really
fail one. It is called a test because, well in all honesty, how else can you
categorise something where you are asked to carry out a task which you will
then be assessed on. What these do is ascertain how you think and whether
you think in the same format as the company you are applying to. These tests
don t tend to be used on their own in the interview and selection process.
Basically psychometric tests are split into four areas and can include one
or all of the following; An Ability Test, A Personality Test, An Aptitude
Test and Motivational Test. Each test speaks for itself really. The ability
test is looking to assess your overall general ability, the personality test
is assessing what type of personality you have, the aptitude test is carried
out to test the skills you have that are specific to areas of the job that
you are applying for and the motivational test is set to find out what
motivates you. If you are on your way to an interview and you suddenly get a
thought go through your head like oh no I wonder if I will be asked to sit
a psychometric test at this interview don t panic. It is very unlikely, if
you haven t been informed this test will form part of the interview, it will
be sprung on you. After all, that would be a bit of a dirty trick to play on
an unsuspecting candidate. These tests are often carried out on the same day
as the interview but generally speaking you will be given advance warning if
this is going to form part of the day.
Should you be asked to sit a test as part of the interview then the chances
are your interviewer or the HR manager will brief you beforehand as to what
the test is about, what you need to do to complete the test and which type
of test you will be asked to complete. If they do not brief you, which is
fairly unlikely, then you might want to ask them a few questions about the
test. Things like; how will the test be taken? What type of test will it be
and what will the information be used for? There is plenty of information
readily available about psychometric tests on the internet, so if you want
examples or more information on this subject just go to Google and search
for psychometric tests . If you know you are going to be taking a test then
make sure you have everything you need before attending otherwise it will be
just like going into an exam without a pen or your glasses. Make sure you
are prepared. You don t want to add to your worries by leaving something
important at home that s going to hinder you. You should use the same type
of formula when taking the test as you would if you were taking an exam. For
those of you have been left school or University for a while and forgotten
then here are a couple of pointers:
1. Sit down, keep your cool and follow all of the instructions given on the
paper. Read them thoroughly and take them in. If you rush you may
misunderstand the way in which the test is being set and end up answering
questions incorrectly.
2. If at the start of the test there is an area that you are unsure of or do
not fully comprehend then ask the assessor for help.
3. As with any exam you need to answer as many questions as possible
correctly so be careful of the time spent on each question. If you are not
sure of the answer or don t understand the question, don t get flustered,
leave it and move on.
4. Finally, when you have reached the end of the questions and there remain
some unanswered ones go back and have another go. If you still don t know
the answer just guess, you might come out lucky!
I will now try and give you some insight into what you can expect from the
different types of tests and how to answer them. I am no expert at the end
of the day so I can only go off past experience and information I have read
up on the subject.
Ability/Aptitude Tests:
Ability and aptitude tests are set to assess your specific skills. You will
sit the test and the result you get will indicate to your future employer
your overall level of ability. The content of the test may be general
questions set to see how you think, how you deal with specific circumstances
and what type of logic you are using to come up with your answer. These
tests are frequently designed using multiple choice questions, or what we
called multiple guess questions in my day at school! Sometimes these tests
will be set using far more questions than can possibly be answered in the
allotted time but it is quality not quantity the examiner will be looking
for as your overall score will be a percentage of the right questions
answered, not how many questions have been answered. It is fairly easy to do
some preparation for aptitude tests. Most of these tests are based around
logical thinking. This is something we all do in everyday life. If you
really want to try and increase your logical thinking you could try the
doing the daily crossword in your newspaper, Sudoku which you can get from
most local shops, or even play it on the internet for free. You could try
buying one of those puzzle magazines from the newsagents. What I am getting
at here is that you need to get your mind working in a logical thinking way.
By carrying out exercises that involve mathematical puzzles and problem
solving you will give yourself a good start. Remember the more practice you
get the better you will become at doing these tests.
Motivation Tests/Personality Tests:
Motivation questionnaires are set to specifically analyse what motivates
or drives you as a person and how you are likely to integrate that into
your work. Also how much stamina you have or how much enthusiasm you
dedicate to a project. These tests are set using a question, followed by
several possible answers. Personality tests are very similar to Motivation
Tests and are designed to assess what type of person you are, unlike
Aptitude tests which are created to analyse what type of logic you use to
address problem solving. There is no right or wrong answer for Personality
tests because everybody thinks differently. These tests are designed to see
if you will fit in with the company s way of thinking or into the type of
job you will be doing. Generally speaking there will be no time limit set at
a personality test so they are not as pressurised as aptitude tests. It is
not possible to analyse what sort of information the employer is looking for
when you take a personality test as different employers will be looking for
different qualities and they may be aimed at how well you are going to fit
in with their team and company. However, the general type of areas your
employer may be looking to quantify are what your attitude is to your work
life and personal life, how well you communicate with others, what drives
you and how you deal with sorting out and solving problems.
*Candidate Short listing and Assessment Centre Use*
Assessment Centres
There are many different ways for an interviewer to shortlist candidates. I
have looked at general interviews, telephone interview, psychometric testing
and so on. Another area that potential employers use to assess potential
candidates capabilities are what are known as assessment centres. Again
these are not generally used in isolation. They will form part of the whole
selection process. An assessment centre is a place where you will take a
test that will probably involve some form of practical work.
Some jobs, by their nature alone, are going to be dependent upon a fully
interactive well oiled team. It may be very, very important to the employer
that the candidate who is offered the job is able to thoroughly interact
with his colleagues to ensure that each project carried out runs smoothly
and efficiently. For example you may be put with a group with other
candidates and given a project to do. It could be something fairly simple
like giving you a model bridge to build as a team, but with a deliberate
problem built into the job. What will happen is you will work together to
solve the problem and complete the project whilst you are being observed by
the assessors or interviewer. What they will do is make notes about each
candidate and the chances are they will be looking out for certain aspects,
such as who takes the lead of the team, how well you interact with each
other etc, etc.
It is often the case that you will get two or more people with the same type
of leadership skills on one of these projects, hence possibly causing a
clash of personalities. Your assessor will be looking at how well you can
communicate with the other people. If you are a true team player or a
natural leader then this type of test is a real opportunity to show your
skills off and far less imposing than some of the other tests. If you enjoy
being creative and interacting with others these assessments can be quite
enjoyable. Aside from carrying out little projects you may also have to get
involved with group discussions. There could be tasks where you are given a
situation that has to be resolved with role play. Some tests may involve
physical exercises which take you away for a couple of days and involve
getting from one destination to another via an assault course to evaluate
your team and leadership skills etc, etc.
Remember that you are under scrutiny by your assessors for each and
everything you do whilst you are carrying out your tasks. Don t try and
pretend you are a different person or something you are not These tests can
take anything from several hours to several days to complete and trying to
make out that you are a natural born leader, when you are not, will show
through and your assessor will spot it a mile off.
Finally one thing I would add is that even if you are not a natural born
leader you must contribute and get involved. If you just sit there and have
no input or say nothing, it won t look good at all. Remember not to get into
arguments with your team mates. Try and discuss any issues calmly. As I have
mentioned it s always easy to start getting frustrated if you find yourself
clashing with another team member and it is an issue that is fairly likely
to raise its ugly head. If you get involved stay cool headed and
professional. Try and enjoy the experience. It is a great way to enhance
your interview skills and even in some cases make new friends!
*Interview Information for that Second Visit to Secure the Job*
Second Interviews
If you have been invited back for a second interview then things are looking
good. You have obviously managed to impress your interviewer in the first
place or else you wouldn t have been invited back for another go. Don t get
complacent though. It s just as important to do your preparation prior to
the second interview as it was for your first. Your interviewer has either
invited you back to get a little more information about you or it may be a
more senior member of staff wants to meet you to ask some questions. It
could be that the interviewer has decided that you are the best candidate
but needs his superior to concur his decision. Many employers use
recruitment agencies to carry out the first set of interviews on their
behalf to save them time and get a pre-qualified shortlist of candidates.
They will have briefed the agency as to what type of candidate they are
looking for, qualifications, interpersonal skills etc, etc so this interview
may be the first opportunity you have actually had to meet your potential
new boss. If you have not already sat a psychometric test or aptitude test
then it may be that this will be a requirement at the second interview
although, again, if this is to be the case then the chances are that you
will have been briefed about it before you attend. Occasionally time may
have been against an interviewer at the first meeting and there may have
been more questions that needed to be asked. This could be another reason
you have been invited back, to clarify any outstanding points that your
interviewer didn t ascertain previously. Remember that as the second
interview shortlist may have several other candidates on it, your
interviewer may want to explore your experience or interpersonal skills in
more depth. One thing is for sure though, if you have got this far things
are looking positive, so you will want to give this next meeting your very
best.
Your second interview therefore is unlikely to follow the same format as the
first. If another more senior member of staff is attending then the chances
are that the interviewer will have already briefed them as to your
background and shared any thoughts or concerns with them. However there may
be one or two questions asked that you answered at the first interview. It
could be that there are certain specific areas of concern that your
interviewer has and it may well be that they will address these questions in
a straight manner. There are going to be specific questions your interviewer
is looking to find answers to, or clarification of. They are likely to be
aimed at your ability to do the job should they offer it you. They could be
based around your past performance with your present or previous employers.
So it s a fair assumption that some of the questions will be along the lines
of give me an example of a project you have undertaken to increase your
sales turnover or tell me how you managed to increase your weekly output
from x to x . The questions are likely to be aimed at specifics.
It is fair to say that most second interviews usually follow a more informal
approach than the first interview. In addition, the chances are you will
already have met your interviewer once and you therefore may feel a little
less nervous than on the first occasion. If you didn t accept a beverage
when it was offered the first time, because you were worried you would throw
the cup 6 foot up in the air whenever you were asked a question, you may
feel confident to accept one in a less informal environment. Sometimes your
interviewer may decide to conduct the second interview outside of the office
in either a pub or restaurant. This can be done for a couple of reasons. It
may be that the interviewer feels if you are in a more relaxed environment
you will let your guard down and that any questions he asks you may attract
answers that are more truthful. Secondly, it could be that your interviewer
wants to assess your interpersonal and communication skills outside of an
office environment. This is something that may be relevant to the
interviewer if the job role is going to entail entertaining clients
socially. Whatever happens, do not get lured into a false sense of security.
Keep professionalism at the forefront of your mind and only say something
you would be prepared to say if the interview was being conducted back at
the office. If you are offered an alcoholic drink, by all means accept one
if you think the circumstances are right. Obviously if you don t drink you
can say so. However try and keep it to one. Alcohol is a natural relaxant
and if you do drink too much you may let your guard down and you end up
saying something you regret, like telling a joke that was perhaps not really
suitable for the occasion!
*
**What to do next whilst you wait for the News*
So whats Next?
Thank God for that I hear you say when you get home and sit down with a
cup of tea; the feeling of overwhelming stress starts to drift from your
body and a warm feeling of relief enters your soul. However, there is still
one more job to do before you sit back and wait for the post to drop on your
door mat with the job offer and that is write a letter to your interviewer
offering your thanks for the time afforded to you. You need to do it
immediately prior to a decision being made about the job. After all it is
only courteous and professional to thank someone for the time they have
given you. A short letter of thanks to the interviewer is going to give the
impression that you have manners; that you really have appreciated the time
given to you; that you are a professional person who has good and upstanding
morals and that you want to stand out from the crowd to prove that the job
really is important to you. It sounds old fashioned but for most employers
these are all qualities that an interviewer will be looking for in their
ideal candidate and if the decision in close between you and a competitor it
could tip the scales in your favour. There is another purpose to writing a
thank you letter and that is that you will be one of the few that will
bother to put any effort into doing so. What will this achieve? Well, when
it comes to selection time, if you are the only person to have written a
thank you letter that will be a plus point above everyone else. In turn you
will stand out from the crowd and your name will undoubtedly leave a lasting
impression in the interviewer s mind. I am not saying that this is going to
swing the job in your favour, as there are going to be many factors involved
when the interviewer is making his or her decision, but it could do.
What does the letter need to say? Only you can decide what to write but it
could be something along the lines of Thank you for giving me the
opportunity of meeting with you this afternoon. I very much appreciate the
time you have afforded to me. I would like to say that I am very interested
in the job and should there be anything further you would like me to clarify
please contact me on my mobile number provided on the top of my CV. I look
forward to hearing from you in due course . It might be that there was
something you forgot to tell them about yourself at the interview and you
could add this but keep it brief and only add it if it really is relevant.
The idea is for the interviewer to read and remember the letter not have to
spend fifteen minutes wading through it.
Once you have finished your letter and rushed down to the post box to get it
off first class, it s probably a good idea to go back and reflect for a
short time on how the interview went. There might have been areas where you
felt you said the wrong thing or there were things you wished you had said,
but had forgotten. You may have made comments that your interviewer appeared
impressed by; points that you may undoubtedly wish to use in future
interviews should you not get this job. By the same token there may have
been questions you didn t feel you gave good answers to. Try and analyse the
whole interview as best as you can and jot down any plus points you can come
up with or ways in which you can improve your general technique for the
future. If you don t jot them down within a day or so you will have
forgotten them, so even if you only have a scrap piece of paper write them
on it; you never know when they may come in useful.
*If You Get The Job*
Whats Next if you get offered the Job?
Thump! The post has arrived. You open your letter and YES, you have been
offered the job! However, it might be that you have decided that you don t
want this job after all and that you couldn t stand the interviewer or the
company. If that is the case then you should let the employer know politely
and as soon as possible; after all there may be someone out there that
really does want the job. Turn them down in a professional manner. It is
always prudent to remember that you never know when, or if, you and your
interviewer s paths might cross again. The last thing you want is to find
you ve happily settled into your new job and six months down the line your
new manager happens to be the interviewer who has now joined your company! A
lot happens in industry. Takeovers, mergers, reverse takeovers, you name it,
and most industries are very incestuous. So it s not a good idea to tell
them to shove their job where the sun doesn t shine or anything else along
these lines. If you have changed your mind and don t fancy the job anymore
just decline it professionally and you then don t have to worry about what
goes around comes around .
Life is never simple. If it were we would all be living in mud huts, feeding
our children by living off the land and never worrying about a thing: no
complications, decisions to make or anything else. But that isn t the case.
The problem you may have is if you have applied for several jobs and
attended several interviews and then you get offered one, it may not be your
preferred choice. It could be that you are still waiting for an answer from
another company, which is the job you would really like, but have not yet
had a reply from them. You don t want to accept the first job and then find
out a couple of days later that you ve been offered the second one. It would
be a disaster. Well, there s a couple of ways you can play this. The first
thing you need to do in this position would be to try and create yourself
some breathing space; buy a bit of time. You could contact the employer and
say to them that you re really pleased that they have chosen to offer you
the job you d just like a day to make your mind up for certain or discuss it
with your wife. After all changing jobs is a big decision; one that you are
not going to make lightly. This isn t an unreasonable request and as long as
you keep the time extension short they won t think anything of it. However
if you start asking for a week to think about it then your potential new
employer is going to start getting suspicious and you could be risking the
offer. Don t forget they ve been around the block a few times and know their
job. No one wants to play second best and if they think you re looking for a
better offer with another company, you could blow your chances once and for
all.
Now you really are in the driving seat! You have a job offer on the table
for a job that you really wouldn t mind doing at all because you know you
could do it well. You have little to lose providing you play your cards
right. So what do you do next? A good idea would be to contact the company
whose decision you are waiting on and explain the situation. Chances are
they will be glad to hear that they are your first choice and it always
looks good if other organisations want to employ you. However it s fairly
unlikely that they will give you an answer there and then. It may be that
they will get back to you the following day with their decision. It really
doesn t matter if it s no, because all of your doors are still open. It
isn t a good idea to play this game if you haven t been offered another job,
although it may seem tempting, because the end result could be disastrous.
You don t want to lose the chances of getting this job by being overzealous.
Negotiating Your Salary & Benefits Package:
Now comes the really important part. It s always wise to leave discussing
salary and any benefits package until you ve been offered the job. The
reason being, once your future employer has decided that you re the employee
for them, you are in a better position to negotiate a mutually acceptable
deal. This is not just about money and benefits. It s about your whole
contract which includes salary, benefits, holiday entitlement, and working
hours plus of course those free season tickets to your favourite football
team or use of the corporate hospitality box!! By negotiating it will give
the perception that you know what you are actually worth. This might not be
exactly what your employer wants to offer, on the basis that you are asking
for more than they really want to pay, but it will show that you have good
negotiating qualities, a strong personality and good negotiation skills.
This will have a good bearing should you be entering a sales orientated
role. It s a good quality to have. However, there is little point in trying
to squeeze them like a lemon with unrealistic sums. At the end of the day
they can only pay you what they can afford and you might end up losing the
job at the last minute; something you won t want to do due to greed.
So the big question here is how are you going to determine how much they
value you and what are they willing to pay you? Well in all honesty it s no
good just plucking a figure out of the air. When you applied for the
position the chances are that there would have been an indication of the
salary on offer, whether that was a Salary In The Region Of X or Basic
Salary In The Region Of X With On Target Earnings Of X or Salary Between X
and X Subject To Experience . Aim for the top end of the scale or if you are
really cheeky you could try and squeeze them for 5% 15% more than the
quoted figure. They can only say no and the chances are you will end up
getting more than they would have offered you in the first place. Remember
that if you can prove to your future employer that you are better than the
average Joe you will have a far better chance of negotiating your way to
the higher level of the salary bracket. So how do you prove this? Well your
qualifications are always a good start. If you have more qualifications than
were originally advertised for the position then that s a plus point. You
will definitely need to prepare some justifications for asking for the top
dollar rate but you could say something like I m not only ACII qualified
but am four parts FCII qualified and you were originally looking for
candidates who were working towards completing their FCII or The
advertisement for the job stated that the candidate must have two years
sales experience for the position whereas I have five years including 12
months experience in pure new business lead generation .
At the end of the day you have been offered the job based on your experience
along with other attributes and because you were an overall better candidate
than the other applicants. All you really need to do is point out these
qualities and use them in your negotiation techniques.
Additional Employment Benefits:
There are other benefits that may apply that are not necessarily salary
orientated. They are things such as holiday entitlement, luncheon vouchers
or expenses, performance related bonuses, commission, overtime, profit
sharing, private health insurance, share options, childcare contribution,
sports / gym facilities, company car, mobile phone, rail or travel ticket
and non contributory pension. This list is not exhaustive and it would be
unrealistic to ask for all of these benefits. The best thing to do is choose
maybe two or three and see how you get on. It may be that your employer
doesn t want to provide a company car but he may be prepared to finance your
travel to and from work. Compromise is as always the golden rule.
Now let s face it, some hard ball managers, whether they be HR Managers or
Heads of Department, are going to try and get you as cheaply as possible, so
there could be some dirty tactics at play at negotiation stage. You can just
bet your bottom dollar that they will be holding a card up their sleeve to
try and get you to agree to a lesser package or make you take on more
responsibilities that the job role originally stated. Generally speaking
this is a little bit Un British and ruthless and the chances are they will
pull this one out of the hat just when you have almost struck your salary
deal. A good example of this is where your employer tells you his right hand
man is off sick and is likely to be off for at least six months and would
you therefore mind taking over his work. It s not that you don t want to
demonstrate what a hard working person you are or that you can t do the job
but you ve basically agreed on a salary that was acceptable and now you re
finding out the job is twice as involved. It s now much harder to go back
and negotiate and your employer knows this! All is not lost however. You can
prevent this situation happening by you both laying down your cards at the
start. All you might say is We need to talk about my salary, benefits
package and holiday entitlement. Are there any other areas or issues
concerning the job role or workload that you feel we should discuss whilst
we talk about this? You have now made it extremely difficult for your
employer not to mention the fact that his right hand man is off sick and you
will be required to do his job as well as your own for the next six months.
You can use this in your salary negotiation.
Confirmation Of Your Employer s Job Offer:
When you have agreed everything with your employer, salary and benefits
package, working hours, holiday entitlement etc, etc and both you and your
employer have agreed on the final points of the deal then your employer
should issue you with a letter of confirmation of the offer. This should
encompass all of the agreed areas. Once you receive this and are satisfied
that everything is correct you should formally respond to your new employer
agreeing the terms and conditions outlined in the offer letter.
You are now ready to start you new job Good Luck
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