Where your CV is the key to the interview door, if you don’t perform well at the interview, it does not matter how good your CV looks. This article is all about the interview and will look at preparation and hints and tips to ensure it passes smoothly.

As mentioned in my last article, when applying for a new job it is imperative that your CV is tailored to the role by fully researching the company and vacancy. This research is doubly important when preparing for an interview.

Visiting the company’s website should give you a clear understanding of the company background and it’s products and help you answer questions such as “what can you bring to this role? Why do you want to work here?” etc. If you are not clear on the company and the products it provides, how can you convince the interviewer that it is the right position for you?

Other aspects of research include finding out in advance exactly where the interview is, and how to get there. Double-check the address and directions including times of bus, underground or rail connections. We once had a candidate who was attending an interview in Central London to whom we provided full directions. Unfortunately he turned right instead of left out of the underground station and proceeded into the heart of London’s West End. He got so lost that he arrived over 2 hours late to the interview. We ended up having to ask the client to send out a search party to find him. After all of this they offered him the job partly due to his perseverance.

Job interviews are nerve-wracking enough without tricky questions to trip you up. It’s important to remember what the interviewing process is about, to evaluate your ability to do the job. Challenging questions will allow the interviewer to see how you can think on your feet and cope with stress.

· When faced with a difficult question, there is nothing wrong with a brief contemplative pause before answering.

· Seek the opportunity to turn the question around and sell yourself, focusing on the company’s needs and your abilities.

· Ask the interviewer to repeat the question if you don’t understand it – try to determine what the interviewer is looking to find out.

· Remember the interview is a two-way process, you are there to demonstrate you ability not only to speak out but also to listen.

· Try not to stray from the point, offer relevant information to the question.

· Be positive. Never run down past employers or colleagues. Stress your strengths and successes and don’t dwell on any failures you may have had.

Once you have arrived at the interview, be prepared to answer questions about everything on your CV – education, work history, hobbies etc. A good interview will be more of a chat than an interrogation. Think about the following questions, they usually come up.

Why do you want this position, or why do you want to work for this company?
What motivates you? What are your strengths and weaknesses?
What are your short term and long term goals?
What has been your greatest achievement to date and your greatest regret?
Do you have any questions? (Always make sure you can ask at least one!)

Examples of Tough Interview Questions

Why do you want to work here?

To answer this question, you must have researched the company and be clear on their job requirements. Explain how your skills and experiences will fit the company’s needs and that you wish to join the right company to build a long term career.

What is the most difficult situation you have faced?

You must have a story ready for this one in which the situation was tough and allowed you to show yourself in a good light, e.g. a customer who came in to make a complaint and ended up becoming your best customer.

What can you do for us that someone else cannot do?

This question will come only after a full explanation of the job has been given. Think about your unique selling points that match the company needs, i.e. a Latin America operator would be very interested to hear that you have travelled extensively throughout the region and speak fluent Spanish and Portuguese.

Tell me about yourself

This is a good chance to impress an employer. The employer is really interested in how you would fit into the company, so keep your answers as pertinent to the company and its work as possible.

Where do you see yourself in five years time?

Never say “in your job”. Funny is not hired. It would be better to say that you would like to make a career within the company and would be open to any future possibilities.

What is your current salary and how much are you expecting?

You could try putting the onus on the interviewer to make the first suggestion by asking how much they are prepared to pay the best candidate. You then have a negotiating point. You could also say that you are prepared to consider any offers! This way you do not drop your potential salary.

There are many possible scenarios that may arise in an interview and the only way to deal with them all is to do your homework on the vacancy and the company.

Questions to ask:

The interviewer will give you the opportunity to ask questions. It is always worth having some questions prepared. Questions to ask include:

· Questions about the sales targets
· Questions about the commission structure
· Questions about the team and environment
· Questions about any training schemes and induction programmes
· Questions about any additional benefits (Pension, Health Care, Discounted holidays, etc)

The most important thing to remember for any interview is to be yourself. 70% of companies employ the person that they like the best so let your personality shine.

And don’t forget, at the end of the interview, if you are genuinely interested in the position, say so.

For more interview hints and tip visit http://www.newfrontiers.co.uk/travel/career-advice/

Related posts:

1. CV writing: why you should emphasise your ‘hot’ skills

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