Your recruitment advisor is the best person to discuss interview techniques with you – after all, they’re the expert. Gel Group suggests that you may like to practice answers to possible questions and develop these to ensure your answers appear to be spontaneous and natural, not contrived and false.

Typically, questions will be based around a predetermined set of performance criteria and knowing how to highlight your skills takes practice. Perhaps the best advice is to present well and express answers honestly and well throughout.

Interview Techniques – preparation and research

With the selection process for career vacancies becoming more exhaustive and rigorous, it is important to ensure you take the time to prepare for an interview. If you are prepared, you will have no reason to not be relaxed and give the interviewer the opportunity to see your confidence shine through.

The key to success is – Research and Preparation. 

Research what you can about the company you wish to work for. The internet, annual reports, industry specific publications and professional industry specific websites are great sources of information. Depending on the profile of the company, the Business Review Weekly, Financial Review and the business pages of daily newspapers are also worthy of investigation.

Your interviewer will view any research you have done as a sign of your commitment and an indication and measure of your interest level.

Prepare some responses to what are considered typical interview questions, such as why you would like to work for that particular company and why you are seeking to leave your current employment. By preparing for the interview, you will be able to avoid slow, unstructured answers and keep within the golden rule of limiting all responses to five minutes.

Also, prepare some key questions to ask your prospective employer. Remember, it is your interview also. Listed below is a list of acceptable questions to ask:

• Do you have a detailed job description?
• Why is the position available and what kind of person are you hoping will fill it?
• What kind of training or induction will be given to the successful applicant?
• What prospects are there for personal and professional development?
• What are the companys plans for the future?
• Within what timeframe can I expect to hear from you?

Note that all the sample questions listed above are open ended, encouraging the interviewer to engage in conversation, rather than provide simple, one syllable responses.

Preparation for the interview should also include checking out the location of the building where you will be interviewed in advance, it is important that you are on time to an interview. However, always have with you the telephone number and name of the person due to interview you so if you are unavoidably delayed, you can ring ahead and inform them. Also, avoid being more than ten minutes early.

If you are still apprehensive about the interview, speak to your Gel Group recruitment advisor and they can help you through the process.

Presentation

You never have a second chance at making a good first impression.

If you are already working in the industry you are seeking employment in, you will already know the acceptable dress code. If not, ask you recruitment advisor or play it safe - dress conservatively rather than casually.

Although an emerging trend among many businesses is to adopt a “casual” dress policy, do not assume that means you can attend the interview in such attire. Remember – you must have made an impression on the potential employer if you have been granted an interview.  You have put too much effort into selling yourself and getting to this point - it would be a shame to undo that by creating a less than positive visual image.

During the Interview

Body language and other forms of non-verbal communication are important during an interview. Try to appear relaxed and natural. Sit straight up, lean forward slightly and always maintain good eye contact with the interviewer or panel.

After the Interview

Show enthusiasm – at the end of the interview if you are still interested, let them know as it will leave them with a positive impression.

It is also very helpful to know what kind of impression you made. Therefore, if you don’t get an offer after the interview, find out why from your Gel Group recruitment advisor. That way you can learn from that experience for your next interview.