interview preparation tips

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INTERVIEW PREPARATION TIPS

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INTERVIEW PREPARATION TIPS

PREPARING FOR THE INTERVIEW:

ü Diarize the location, time of the interview & the interviewer's full name and designation. ü Research the company and their website. ü Prepare the questions you want to ask. ü Refresh your memory about your previous employment and your work history. ü Think carefully about your achievements and how to describe them. ü Practice your interviewing skills with a friend, relative, or co-worker a day or two before the

interview to sharpen your communication skills.

TYPICAL QUESTIONS YOU COULD PREPARE & ASK THE RECRUITER SENDING YOU ON THE INTERVIEW:

ü A detailed description of the position. ü Why the position is available. ü What is the culture of the company. ü Company growth plans. ü Research on the Company.

BEFORE GOING TO AN INTERVIEW, YOU NEED TO KNOW AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE ABOUT THE COMPANY.

YOU WILL NEED TO KNOW:

ü Where the company’s offices are. ü What their products or services are. ü The growth rate of the company. ü What the potential is for future growth. ü How secure is the company? ü The Culture - Environments vary from company to company. Know what kind of environment

you are looking for. A start-up will have a very different feel from a large, established, corporate company. There are generally longer hours in a start-up and a lot more pressure. While in a larger corporation there are more procedures and red tape but the ‘feel’ is more secure.

ü Never phone the company directly. Call your consultant with any questions that you might have.

INTERVIEW TIPS:

ü Take time with your CV – keep it concise, and don’t “enhance” the facts – you’re asking for trouble.

ü Don’t ever cut and paste your CV into an email – it looks tacky, is hard to read, and more often than not, will simply be deleted. The less confusing your CV is to read, and the nicer it is to look at, the more chance you have of a potential employer taking it seriously.

ü Dress appropriately. Find out if the company you’re interviewing at has a corporate or more relaxed dress code. First impressions count, and you’re going to look really silly if you pitch up in jeans and sneakers when the person interviewing you is wearing a suit (and vice versa).

ü Arrive on Time. ü Introduce yourself in a courteous manner.

INTERVIEW TIPS CONTINUED:

ü Have a firm handshake, and ensure you make eye contact. So many people (especially women) offer me a limp wrist and then avoid looking at me for the duration of the entire interview. It’s excruciating and I instantly assume that they’re not confident in their own abilities – not a good start.

ü It’s difficult to get into the industry but don’t make the mistake of applying for anything and everything at the same company. Rather be selective and ensure that your prospective employer knows how passionate you are about the specific job on offer, or his/her specific title/brand. Passion counts.

ü Don’t come across as arrogant – ensure that they know you’re willing to work long and hard to achieve success.

ü Smile, nod and give non-verbal feedback to the interviewer.

INTERVIEW TIPS CONTINUED:

ü If you don’t understand a question, or aren’t sure of how to answer, don’t be afraid to ask

questions. You have one opportunity to make a good impression, and I’d rather have to clarify a point to someone than listen to a thumb suck answer.

ü Please don’t eat gum at the interview – it’s a total no-no. ü Follow up the interview with a phone call or email 2-3 days later, thanking them for their time

& reiterating your interest in the role. ü Be professional, don’t discuss or badmouth previous employers.

MUST DO’S:

ü Take a copy of your CV with as well as: ü References ü Copies of your qualifications ü Any Psychometric tests you might have the results of ü A copy of your latest pay slip & a copy of your ID ü If you are a Writer or a Creative, always take a digital copy of your portfolio with to showcase

during the interview.