Interview preparation

Last month I ran a poll to find out how much time job seekers are spending on interview preparation.

I can't say I was surprised but I was shocked at the seniority level of people who didn't prepare for an important interview.

57% of job seekers hardly take any time at all to prepare for an interview.

In my opinion if you can't be bothered to prepare for an interview, maybe you don't want the job?!

You're not going on a date, you're having an interview which could dramatically change your future.

By putting in some effort before the interview you are prepared for any awkward questions you may face and how to answer them.

Here's how to prep for your interview...

Research the company.

1. Research the company, their website, LinkedIn profile, their projects and the quality of their work.
2. Research the individual that is interviewing you, what are their hobbies, what projects are they known for, who have they worked with, etc
3. Make notes on what you would like to talk about, any questions you may have about the role, working conditions and what would be expected of you.

Questions you may be asked.

Now that you have researched the company and interviewer, start preparing answers to questions you may be asked:

We have listed some questions that may arise during your interview. Before your interview prepare answers to each one, make sure your answers are in relation to the job description, project experience, skills and expertise they require.

1.    Tell me a little about yourself.

Typically, interviewers will have your CV in front of them, so it’s not necessary to list your entire work history. Instead, provide a summary, infusing your response with passion and additional details which may not be evident from your CV and application.

2.    What can you do for us that some else can’t?

Try not to repeat yourself with these kinds of questions, instead framing your response on the company culture and its values. Interviewers want to see your unique selling points – what can you offer that other candidates can’t?

•     Mention facts, figures, and occasions you excelled.

•     Mention ability to set priorities, identify problems, and use your experience and ability to solve them.

3.    Why should we hire you?

Create your answer by thinking in terms of your ability, your experience, and your energy. It’s easy to generalise and repeat yourself with a question like this, so instead of echoing sentiments about your strengths and character, try to frame your response around the job criteria – which, after adequate pre-interview prep, should be front and centre in your mind.

4.    What do you look for in a job?

Keep you answer oriented toward the vacancy at the company.

•     Talk about desire to perform and be recognized for contributions

•     Orient your answer toward the job rather than personal or family security.

5.    How long would it take you to make a meaningful contribution to our firm?

Be realistic.

•     Say that, while you would expect to meet pressing demands and pull your own weight from the first day, it might take six months to a year before you could expect to know the organization and its needs enough to make a major contribution.

6.    Can you work under pressure and deal with deadlines?

Observe that both are facts of business life.

•     Take examples from your list of accomplishments to show how you have dealt successfully with pressure and deadlines in the past.

7.    In your present (last) position, what problems did you identify that had previously been overlooked?

Be brief and don’t brag. Indicate the positive changes your suggestions or leadership resulting in.

8.    If you could start your career over again what would you do differently?

The best answer is, “Not a thing.”

•     You should try to present yourself as a person who is happy with his or her life.

•     You’ve enjoyed its ups and learned from its downs.

•     You would not, as a result, want to change things that brought you to where you are today.

9.    What career options do you have at this moment?

You should try to identify three areas of interest, one of which includes this company and job.

•     The other two should be in related fields.

10. How would you define success?

Think in terms of a sense of well-being.

•     Consider the job and it’s responsibilities as components of success.

11. What are your strengths?

Many people find it hard to ‘big themselves up’, but interviewers want to see confidence and self-assurance. Think about the feedback you’ve received from previous employers, and tailor your response to the type of role you’re applying for.

12. What motivates you?

A question where it is often prudent to bend the truth somewhat; your motivations may differ from what the interviewer wants to hear (better to not mention salary, for example). Instead, think about the bigger picture – particularly how you see your career unfolding.

13. Describe yourself in five words or less

A tricky question that can prove a real stumbling block. Think about your strengths and the words which encapsulate them; intuitive, creative, efficient are a few good examples to set you apart from other candidates.

14. Could you explain this gap on your CV?

A question you need to prepare for. Explaining gaps in your CV can be tricky, but transparency is the best policy. Be honest and stay positive; you need to show that these setbacks aren’t what define you and your application.

15. Tell us about an achievement you’re proud of

This question may sound relatively straightforward, but it can be a tough nut to crack if you have limited past experience. If you’re applying for a role straight out of education, focus on academic or personal achievements, and hint at how this indirectly supports your application.

16. Why did you leave your previous role? 

Hiring managers want to find out how dependable you are, as well as what would motivate you to leave a position. Again, stay positive here, and avoiding bad-mouthing your previous employer if things ended on bad terms. Hiring staff if very costly to a business so they want to know you’re not going to leave in at least the first 2 years. No one can guarantee anything as circumstances change so maintain positivity with your response

17. What do you know about our business?

Another question that hinges on prep and research; head to the company’s website to find out everything you can about what they offer and how they work. LinkedIn can also be an invaluable resource, giving you an idea of company structure and tone.

18. Why do you want to work for us?

Another question where you may need to bend the truth, particularly if you’re applying for a job out of necessity or convenience. A little ego-baiting can go a long way here, so don’t be afraid to pile on the compliments and frame the company as one you’d be proud to work for.

19. What kind of environment do you enjoy working in?

Here, hiring managers want to see if your character meets the culture of the business. They may be looking for someone who thrives under pressure, or a candidate with a calm, dependable personality that is great at managing others.

20. What are your salary expectations?

An honest, frank approach works best when asked about salary expectations, so don’t hedge, and avoid ambiguity. Hiring managers understand that salary is important, and taking a firm but fair stance demonstrates self-assurance and confidence in your abilities. We recommend disclosing your current salary and posing the question back to the hiring manager to see what they think.

21. What will you do in the first 60 days in the role?

This question requires you to read between the lines of the job spec to understand what the business wants from the position. If you have an experience-led way of doing things, even better; interviewers want to see proactivity and a clear vision for the role.

22. What does success look like in this position?

Tying into the previous question, this is about getting a feel for how you measure success. Make clear your commitment to the role and frame your response around what you’ve learnt about the state of the business from the interviewer.

23. Why do you want this particular role?

There are lots of ways to answer this question. You could talk about how it feels like a natural next step on your career journey, or that you admire how the company works. Just be sure to make your answer as specific to the company and the job criteria as possible.

24. How does this position fit into your desired career path?

Here, businesses are looking to get a feel for where you see your career going over the next few years, and that you’re wholly committed to the role they’re offering. Stay positive and avoid discussing any big plans outside of your career.

25. Where do you see yourself in five years?

“Working here” might seem like the answer interviewers want to hear, but it rarely is. Even if that is your goal, you can frame your answer better by discussing development and progression. And don’t be afraid to say otherwise. If you’re passionate about building your career with multiple businesses, this shows a level of proactivity and self-confidence that hiring managers should admire.

26. What is your dream job?

Similar to our last point, it’s no good trying to kid an interviewer that the position you’re applying for is your dream job, particularly if it’s a junior role. Be honest and transparent, while highlighting that the position you’re interviewing for is a vital first step towards achieving your goals.

27. How would past colleagues describe you?

Another way to highlight your strengths and character; here the interviewer wants to learn how you work with others. Remember, they may have contact with your previous colleagues and managers, so be honest and make your responses feasible and realistic.

28. What do you like to do outside of work?

Your response to this question depends on the tone and formality of the interview, something you’ll have to gauge yourself. Some interviewers are just curious and want to put you at ease, while others want to find out how confident and self-aware you are. Recall your CV and avoid overdoing it on the detail.

29. Do you have any questions for us?

One of the most critical questions at any job interview, and one you absolutely must prepare for. Many candidates fail to realise that an interview is a two-way conversation, and one in which you need to make clear that a company is the right fit for you. Ask questions and start conversations – the longer you’re in the interview room talking, the better.

30. How do you deal with conflict with a co-worker?

Disagreements at work are inevitable—but showing prospective employers how you’re equipped to handle them is crucial.

You want to demonstrate that you have strong listening and communication skills, have compassion and empathy to sit in someone else’s shoes and be understanding, can problem-solve effectively, and can rebuild bridges and restore strong working relationships with others, which is essential to work success.

Questions you may want to ask. 

Prepare some questions you would like to ask while you’re in your interview. Here are some examples for you to amend as you see fit:

1. Can you elaborate on the day-to-day responsibilities this job entails?

This is a good question to ask the hiring manager. The answer will be important for you to take into consideration as you determine whether or not this job is the right fit for you.

2. What are the characteristics of someone who would succeed in this role?

Ask this question to the hiring manager or others on the interview panel who you might work with if you accept the job. Their answers will quickly give you an idea of the qualities they hope to see in the person they hire.

3. What’s the most important thing I could do to help within the first 90 days of employment?

With this question, you’re showcasing your desire and ability to contribute from day one. It’s a good one to ask of the hiring manager.

4. What are some of the challenges you’ve seen people in this role or on this team encounter?

During your interviews, you want to get a clear-eyed view of what this job is like — why it’s hard and rewarding at the same time. Getting your interviewers’ perspectives on potential hurdles will give you a holistic picture.

5. If I were in this job, how would my performance be measured?

In your interview with the hiring manager, ask this question to get more specific about how you can succeed in this job. The answer to this question will be helpful to you even if you don’t get the job — you may be able to use the insights they share to identify new areas of professional development.

6. What does the career path for someone in this role look like?

Another one for the hiring manager. This question can signal your interest in growing at this company.

7. What other functions or departments does this teamwork with most often? What are the characteristics of a successful collaboration?

This is an important question if the company you’re interviewing with is a large or mid-sized business. Knowing how to collaborate will be a crucial part of your ability to do the job.

8. What does your job look like day-to-day and how would you anticipate working with the person in this role?

This is a good one for your prospective colleagues but can also work for the hiring manager. Their answers will give you a sense of their priorities.

9. What would my first week at work look like?

This is great to gain an insight of what to expect from your first week with your future employer. It also shows how aware they are of their company’s brand and their most important asset… their staff!

10. How does this role contribute to your company’s success?

Before you work for a company you want to understand how you fit into the company and how success is measured. You’ll be able to use this information to ascertain how well you are doing in the job once you start and should give you direction

11. Are there any job shadowing opportunities available for this role?

To climb the corporate ladder, you’ll do well to align yourself with the company’s current star employee so that you can follow in their footsteps. It also indicates to the hiring manager that you are serious.

12. Can you tell me about the team I’d be working with?

We spend the majority of our working week at work, so you want to make sure that it’s enjoyable! Find out their characteristics and whether it’s an environment you’d enjoy working in

13. What do you like best about working here?

This question can be a casual way to engage your interviewer on a personal level while gaining valuable insights into their experience with the company. If appropriate, be sure to respond to their answer with examples of why you believe this type of environment is a great fit for your personality and working style.

14. Who do you see as your biggest competitor and why?

This question can show that you have an interest in the bigger picture of the company and industry. It can also be an opportunity for you to share that you did research on the company by following up the interviewer's response with what you found when you looked into this before the interview.

15. What challenges has this company faced in the last few years? What challenges do you anticipate in the coming years?

This is a great question if you’re interviewing with managers or senior leadership. It shows your interest in the performance of the company and can give you insight into the pain points they experience. If applicable, you can follow up their response by any experience you bring to the table that can help with these pain points/challenges.

16. What changes or innovations in the industry are you most excited about?

This question allows you to see how passionate the interviewer is about this company and industry. It also gives you the opportunity to follow up with what excited you the most about the industry during your research or through your past experience.

17. I noticed on your social media channels that you’ve opened several new offices lately. That kind of growth is exciting to me. It made me wonder what lines of the business are part of that expansion?

Formulating next-level questions by asking about something that stems from what you read about the company in the news or on social media shows the depth of your interest in the company.

18. What is your company’s biggest issue right now?

You may not want to ask this if you are a junior member of staff however if it is appropriate, is relevant to the job you have applied to and you’re of a senior level, it’s pertinent to gain insights of the company from a high level.

19. How frequently do employees make themselves available outside of business hours?

Everyone must work overtime so find out what’s the company norm and if employees get rewarded for it.

20. How are employees recognised for a job well done?

Have a clear understanding of when you are doing well once you have secured the job!

21. Do you have a mentor system in place?

Everyone wants to know what procedures a company has in place to enable career development. Find out what

22. How would you describe the company culture?

This is a great, straightforward question to hear about how the interviewer would describe the company’s culture. Interviewers will often speak to what they like most about the culture, so it’s great to ask this question to multiple people throughout the interview process to get a holistic view of the culture.

23. I came across an interview with your CEO where she touched on several aspects of the company culture. What elements of the culture here do you like best?

Asking about company culture this way shows how you’ve researched the company and its executives. It’s a great way to display a genuine interest in the company and position. This question also shows that you care to understand whether the culture will be a good fit for you and whether you'll be a good fit for the company.

24. What are the most important values of your company?

Companies often have missions or values that drive the decisions, attitudes and goals of the company. Knowing and understanding these values can give you great insight into the type of culture that’s set.

Prepare for interview day.

Once you have done all your interview preparation for your big day, make sure you are set for the day itself.

1. What you are going to wear. Make sure you look professional, you have clean shoes and your clothes are freshly ironed.
2. How long will it take for you to get to the interview? Do a "dry run" of your journey to the interview destination so you know how long it will take you to get there and so that you are not late for your interview. Create a great first impression by being on time
3. What to take with you. Always take copies of your CV with you to present to your interviewer and a portfolio presentation of your design work to show during your interview that is in relation to the vacancy. Stay focused on what is important to the interviewer and the skills they're looking for. This will also help show your understanding of the position and demonstrate your presentation skills.

Conclusion.

As you'll see from the guide above, it would be impossible to prepare for an interview in under 30 minutes. So, give yourself the best possible chance of gaining a job offer by having well thoughout answers to difficult questions.

Other resources to help:

1. Building your personal brand
2. Getting attention during your job search
3. LinkedIn - get the recognition you deserve
4. CV templates

At AE Recruitment we have put together step-by-step guides right through to 1-2-1 personalised support, depending on your needs.

To find out more, please head to our website at www.aerecruitment.ae and for our latest jobs please go to https://aerecruitment.ae/jobs/

Happy job searching Linkies

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