Recruitment Zone  

Interview Advice

Effective presentation is fundamental to a successful interview. Finding out about the company and its activities not only helps you to present a good impression at interview, it also helps you decide whether you want to work for that organisation.

Follow the pointers on this page to give yourself the best possible chance at your interview.
 

Prepare properly for the interview
One of Recruitment Zone's Consultants will contact you prior to attending the interview to ensure that you are fully aware of the arrangements. If a consultant hasn't contacted you then please ensure that you contact the office prior to attending the interview.

Obtain a detailed specification of the position that you are being interviewed for.

Profile the company through their website, internet, trade journals and company literature and familiarise yourself with the client's products and services. Remember you are being interviewed because you 'want to work for them' not because 'you just want a job'!
 

Present the right image
Good personal presentation is the absolute key to success. The phrase “First impressions count” is never so true as in an interview situation. It has been said that many interviewers will form an impression of you within the first 30 seconds. Unless our consultant tells you otherwise then dress code is formal (shirt and tie etc).

Remember the following important points about body language:
Strong handshake – conveys confidence
Smile – shows you are relaxed
Avoid fiddling with pens, jewellery etc
Good eye contact – conveys honesty as well as confidence
 

General Points
Make sure that you leave enough time to get parked (if driving) and make sure that you know exactly how to get to the client site.

Take the Recruitment Zone phone number with you so that you can call them to notify the client if you are likely to be delayed.

Even if you are unsure about taking the position that you are being interviewed for always go to the interview in a positive frame of mind and try and get to the offer stage. You want to get an offer because then you will have a choice. Stay Positive and try and get an Offer!

Do not get involved in salary negotiation at the interview. Always convey an easy going and open minded approach. Remember the most important aspect is the job content and not the salary. Recruitment Zone have strong client relationships and it is our job to negotiate the package on your behalf.

Remember many of the large employers keep interview records on file for several years so be very careful about turning up, particularly at large client's sites, with a 'half hearted' attitude. There are many candidates out there who have made this mistake in the past and it can take a long time and a great deal of persuasion to get you back in.

Don't be over-confident about your market value. A great deal of damage can be done to a candidate's reputation by over-valuing their worth. It is far better to be cool, calm and composed at an interview.
 

Closing the Interview
The final and most important part of the interview is the closing of it. This is your chance to prove how keen you are to get the job and get some instant feedback.

Remember, no matter what skills you have, a prospective employer cannot buy keenness and it will always give you that extra edge.

Good closing questions to be said at the end are;

  • Have you any reservations about me?
  • Do you think I will fit in with the team?
  • When can I start? (said with a smile!)
  • When will I know the outcome?

The first two are good because they will give you the chance to iron out any misconceptions or objections they may have and therefore give you a second chance.




Most frequently asked questions

Tell me about yourself
Use this as an opportunity to briefly outline your main skills and attributes

Why do you want this job?
Concentrate on matching your skills and qualities to the job requirement

What are your major strengths?
Identify a strength and link to an achievement; e.g. “I am very good at organizing people to get things done - I recently organised….”

What are your weaknesses?
Make any weaknesses a positive; e.g. "I like to get things done quickly and this sometimes makes me impatient"

What do you know about our organisation / this job?
You will have done your research, so reflect this in your response; e.g. "I'm very interested in the plans to..…."

What things do you most enjoy doing in your current job?
Focus on things you are good at and which directly relate to the target job.

What frustrates you most about your current job?
Frustrations are a normal part of any job. Relate something non-controversial which has caused you problems (avoid personality conflicts etc.) and most importantly, describe how you overcame the problem.

 

 

 

What interviewers are really looking for

Can you do the job?
Will you do the job?
Will you fit in?
Structuring your planning around these three areas will help you to cover the most crucial issues likely to be covered during the interview, and give you the chance to prepare your key statements and responses to market yourself most effectively.

Why do you want to work for this organisation?
Find out as much as you can about the organisation and reflect this back at the interviewer in your reasons for why you want to work for the company. The interviewer will appreciate your seriousness in doing your research.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
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