Job Interviews -Top 5 tips

Want to know what to focus on when preparing for an interview? Read this fantastic blog by the folks over at Graduate Career Tips or click on the link below to read more from the GCT team.

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Job Interviews: What questions are asked in an interview? Top 5 tips

Job interviews are nothing to be afraid of! The key part to the job interview is the exchange of information between you and the employers which will decide, firstly, if you have the credentials, skills and achievements to join the company and secondly, if you have thought appropriately enough about what you want to challenge and understand about the company before joining them.

A lot of people think a job interview is all one way and about the interviewee being grilled for and hour and a half and it certainly isn't. At Graduate Career Tips, we have had 'interviews' which have been an informal conversation about industry related aspects and not focussing solely on our capabilities and achievements. So ensure that you focus on both the answers you are going to give to their interview questions and try to pre-empt that by preparing answers to possible interview questions but also on the probing questions you are going to ask the employers.

Top 5 tips - Interview Questions:

It is best to sit down for a couple of hours and draft out a list of possible job interview questions that you want to be prepared for. There are a multitude of questions asked in an interview and interview questions will vary across companies and sectors or the level of role the applicant is applying for. However, many employers will use the following popular job interview questions:

  1. Think about what they might start by asking to break the ice. A very common interview question is 'tell me about yourself'. This question lets them see how confident you are in talking about yourself. Think about the context and prepare a response that is relevant to the job you are applying for but maybe throw in a few personal aspects also to show your human side. Don't give them anything that you don't want them to know about.

  2. They are bound to ask 'why do want to join us?'. and have a succint answer of three reasons why you want to join them. Powerful messaging comes in threes! Research the corporate website and get a feel for the company, their values, their outlook on Corporate Social Responsibility, their strategy and growth vision, their position in the top employers lists etc.

  3. The interviewers will want to focus on your vulnerabilities and often want to know 'what are your strengths and weaknesses?' so take some time to think about that prior to the interview. Be honest and have a rounded appraisal of yourself to answer this. Don't say you don't have any weaknesses or that your weakness is that you work too hard as this is cheesey and disingenuous. Focus on a development area that you would like to take forward with them if you join the company but not one that would stop you doing a good job from day 1.

  4. If they are thinking about your fit in the company they may ask 'tell me, what would you do on your first day, in your first week and your first month at the company?' and be prepared to be humble and say that you would want to learn and absorb as much knowledge as you can by surrounding yourself with experts and experienced colleagues. building your network is a key focus and understanding who your stakeholders and customers are. And then also focus on what you would start delivering in that timeframe and how. But do not say you are going to change the company in that timeframe or give some unrealistic expectations or they won't take you seriously. The question is about strategy and methodology and they want to make sure you have a structured logical approach.

  5. Finally, they might end by asking 'why should we hire you for the job over someone else?' and this is your elevator pitch and your chance to shine. This is the final hurdle and no time to stumble or fluff your lines. They want you to put yourself up their in bright shining lights and tell them what you can offer. It is a time to list your skills, accomplishments, your energy and determination and your passion for wanting to work for their company.
This is by no means an exhaustive list of questions and most interviews these days will focus on competency based interview questions but this is a good starter for preparation. Other questions to think about include:
Remember, put yourself in the interviewers shoes and think about that they would want to find out about you and come up with some more questions but also use the resources out there to help you prepare. But remember to have some questions for them also!

This is a guest post from Adam Ellis at Graduate Career Tips. Click below if you want to see more of their advice for graduates on interviews, CVs, impressing in new jobs and professional development.

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