WHAT TO DO BEFORE
THE INTERVIEW
When you know the name of the potential
employer
When you attend the first interview for a position
you may know the name of the employer either because
the company has placed the advertisement itself
or the recruitment company has placed its client’s
logo in the advertisement. In this case you need
to research the company on the internet and in
the marketplace (if you have the contacts) and
if it is a public company, through its annual
reports. You should have a clear idea of its products,
ownership, structure (state, national, multinational
or global), markets and customers. However, it
is important not to swamp yourself with detail,
as you won’t have the opportunity in an
initial interview to go into depth.
Just as important is for you to have a clear
idea of what you want to know about the company
and its people by the time you complete the first
interview so that you can make a decision about
whether you want to proceed to the next interview
if you have the opportunity.
When you don’t know the name of
the potential employer
Often your first interview for a position will
be with a recruitment consultant who will be working
to a set procedure. The larger the recruitment
company and the more inexperienced the recruiter,
the more obvious will be the procedure. Generally
the more experienced recruiters offer more information
about companies and markets and industry sectors.
In these circumstances you need to have a clear
picture of the job and company before you leave
the interview. Therefore you need to leave the
interview with the a similar amount of information
as if you had researched the company beforehand.
On rare occasions you may leave the first interview
without knowing the name of the potential employer.
This can occur for one of two reasons, namely:
- The company, for reasons of confidentiality
may not want its name disclosed.
- A position does not exist. While advertising
positions which do not exist is unethical, the
practice does occur. If you are certain this
is the case, we advise that you let the interviewer
know how you feel and not to deal with that
company again.
Personal presentation and grooming
People in the business of recruiting, whether
they are consultants or employers; really want
their interview of you to be successful. They
want to know that potentially they have found
the solution to their position vacancy in you.
Therefore it is important for you not to give
them any reason to knock you out of the process
before the interview starts.
Key points about presentation and personal grooming:
- Make every effort to attend the interview
in full business attire (suit and tie for males
and business suit for females). If you are a
tradesperson or have to wear a corporate uniform,
at the time of arranging the appointment, let
the interviewer know that you will be coming
straight from a production floor, construction
site etc and won’t be able to change clothes.
Wherever possible, make enough time to change
to present yourself at your best.
- Call into the bathroom first to check that
your grooming is at its best.
- Choose an interview time when you will be
most relaxed and able to focus on your preparation.
- Present yourself in a professional and warm
manner to reception. Receptionists can be asked
for their opinion at times. They may give their
opinion unasked for at times if they feel particularly
good about their interaction with you, or if
their interaction was particularly negative.
- Don’t sit while waiting in reception.
Getting out of a chair can look ungainly.
If the weather is cold and your hands are cold,
warm them while you are waiting in reception.
- Ensure your hands are not clammy. This can
be taken as excessive nervousness whether it
is or not the case.
- Shake hands firmly enough. A limp handshake
implies timidity. An excessively firm power
handshake suggests insecurity and/or a desire
to dominate.
- Make eye contact when you meet and shake hands
with the interviewer.
Don’t be late for the interview
If you are not five minutes early, you are late.
If for some reason, you are late, phone ahead
and advise what time you think you will arrive,
ascertain whether your time of arrival is acceptable
and will not further disadvantage you by shortening
the interview. If you believe that you will be
disadvantaged by the limited time remaining for
your interview, reschedule if that is possible.
Don’t be too early for the interview
If you are half an hour early, this may be seen
as excessive anxiety or poor time management.
If you are half an hour early, don’t present
yourself at reception until ten minutes before
the agreed interview time.
a. Preparing
for the interview
b. Typical
interview questions
d. What to
do during the interview
e. What to
do after the interview
|
