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Material taken from http://www.totaljobs.com/Content/Interviews.html
Expect the unexpected
"Is a Jaffa cake a cake or biscuit?"
Totaljobs.com jobseekers have told us
about all sorts of obscure questions they've been hit with at a
job interview;
from the above cake/biscuit quandary to questions about desert islands and
personal top five favourite film listings. Here's some of the more popular and
recurring themes:
- If you were a fruit or vegetable what would you be and why?
- What three items would you take to a deserted island and why?
- Who do you respect most and who inspires you to strive for more?
The first important rule is not to panic. At times interviewers will throw
slight curve balls at you to see how you react to unexpected
interview questions. They simply want to see how well you can think on your
feet and ideally whether you can stand tall and knock the proverbial ball out of
the park. Here are some tips on how to hold your bat and get maximum swing:
Don't forget to breathe! It may sound obvious, but under the
spotlight you may feel pressured to speak a hundred words a minute. Don't be.
Stay calm, clear headed and allow the words to come out in your normal tone.
If you're really stuck, repeat the question;
"Is a Jaffa cake a cake or biscuit? Hmm, well...". It's a simple, but popular
technique. It will fill the immediate silence and give you an extra few seconds
to think of a suitably witty or erudite answer. And a few extra seconds is
sometimes all it takes for your mind to pull into gear. In comparison, a looming
five second silence although it doesn't sound a great deal, can lead to panic
when a panel of three or five people are staring with eyes fixed upon you. Not
only this but by simply repeating the question, you demonstrate you're
listening; you're confident enough to deliberate and consider the question. You
are not simply someone who will blurt out the first thing that comes into your
head.
Keep your sense of humour and try to remember that no one
expects you to have an answer for everything, but just as importantly you are
not just being interviewed on your ability and formal skills alone. The people
interviewing you want to work with someone they can relate to and get along
with. Sometimes in busy and stressful work environments a sense of humour and
personal skills are vital. Try to remember to be yourself and show not only your
competence and confidence, but your warmth and personality. That's not to say
you should be overly familiar or crack jokes every other answer, but use your
judgement and attempt to sense when it is appropriate to be less rigid and more
friendly/open in your response.
Ultimately, remember to find the right balance of humility and confidence.
You want to communicate your skills, strengths and abilities in an earnest
manner that tells the interviewer that you've achieved a lot both in your career
and personal life and that you plan to achieve more. The balancing act is in
communicating this without sounding like an ego maniac.
One quick and final
interview tip is that your confidence will be greater if you have done your
homework. Make sure you research the company and their competitors. You should
also re-read
your CV.
Take a further look through our Interview section, there are more useful and
in-depth job interview tips that will help focus your mind and give you that
extra boost.
NB - Inconsequentially, cakes go hard when stale and biscuits go soft - as ruled
when the identity of the Jaffa cake was questioned at a tribunal to determine
whether VAT should be paid or not.
Questions, questions,
questions
By Adele Kimber
Just as with decorating, the secret of success in interviews is all in the
preparation. Here are some of the questions you are most likely to face:
“Why do you want this job?”
It’s the natural next step for you and this is the right organisation in which
to further your career. Show off your knowledge about the business – make all
that research worthwhile.
“Where does it fit in with your career plans?”
It’s good to talk about steady progression and cementing your experience. But
ambition can be good too and there is no harm in aspiring to the boss’s job in
five years’ time.
“What are your strengths?”
Ensure that these are relevant to the job. Being a great team player isn’t the
most useful attribute if you’re applying for a job as night watchman.
“What are your weaknesses?”
These should be positive weaknesses – perhaps you have a tendency to work too
hard.
“What’s been your most significant success at work?”
This is about your personal achievements and contribution. Interviewers aren’t
interested in the great team you work with. If you have limited work experience,
you could talk about achievements outside work. But relate them to the job you
are applying for.
“What is the biggest mistake you ever made?”
We all make them, but what’s important is how you dealt with your biggest
mistake and what you learnt from the experience.
“What is the greatest challenge you have ever faced?”
Keep it relevant to the job and be positive. Again, interviewers want to know
how you met the challenge and what you might do differently, with the wisdom of
hindsight, in a similar situation.
“How do you cope with difficult colleagues?”
It’s all about trying to understand a situation from someone else’s perspective
– that’s team work.
“You’ve changed jobs three times in the past five years, why
should I think you are more serious about this one?”
Great opportunities came your way and you would have been foolish to turn them
down. Or, you took a job to achieve a particular goal and, having succeeded
sooner than you expected, it was time to move on.
“What do you do outside work?”
You want to appear active, but not so busy that you could not get to work on
time or stay late occasionally.
“What’s your current salary?”
Include all your perks and bonuses, but tell the truth. The interviewer can
always contact your current employer to check.
We've also asked our jobseekers for their favourite questions to pose an
interviewer. Below are some of the best:
- "What’s the best thing about working at your company?"
- "Why has the position become available?"
- "What can I expect from you in terms of development, support
and motivation?"
- "Has this role been offered internally?"
- "What is the possibility of promotion within the company?"
- "What type of prospects does this role offer?"
- "If I was offered the job, what are the main monitors for
success?"
- "What does the organisation expect from its employees?"
- "What behaviour is desired and rewarded (not financially) in
this position?"
- "What is the turnover of staff like throughout the company?"
- "What elements of the job offer flexibility and variety?"
- "I do like a challenge; does this role involve me being in a
status where I can use my initiative?"
- "What influence will I have over the size of budget and how it
is managed?"
- "What aspirations do you have for me with this department?"
- "Where would you like to see me within the company in five
years?"
- "Where will the job I am applying for fit into the team?"
- "In the department I would be entering, what is the age group?"
- "What do you think would attract me to accept this position,
if I am to be the successful candidate?"
- "Are there any plans to expand the company?"
- "Why did you join the company and what are your long term
goals?"
- "What is your management style like?"
- "Have you seen much growth since you were bought out by XXX?"
Winning interview tips
We thought that you might appreciate some advice on passing job interviews.
They're a necessary jobseeking evil and though there are some that enjoy the
challenge most of us find them nerve racking. We've put together some tips that
should ensure that you breeze rather than blunder through your next interview.
Winning tips from the totaljobs.com jobseeker team.
Be prepared
Make sure you research or mystery shop the company beforehand. For example if
your prospective employer is a retailer, try being a customer. It's advisable to
visit their website and look up the 'About us' section on their site. You'll
learn a lot about the company values from there. You should also check the
'Press Release' or 'News' sections of their site so you can find out what
widgets or latest service initiatives they have. This area of their site will
also give you an insight into how transparent the organisation is about what
they're doing. They may feature employees of the month here or recent promotions
too. In an interview situation all of the above will show the interviewer that
you are thinking about 'how' you would do the job, which is what they want to
hear.
Be punctual
Don't fall at the first hurdle by turning up late. This is the big interview
no-no, and could help you to decide your fate before you've even spoken a word.
'Getting lost' does not sit comfortably with interviewers.
Smarten up!
Make sure you dress smart, plain and simple. There are exceptions depending on
the industry a full suit and tie combo might be too formal for an interview at a
hip new media agency or for the next Cbeebies Presenter job. Also, go easy on
the aftershave or perfume you don't want the interviewer to pass out half way
through!
Don't David Brent them
Remember, this is a job interview. You're there to convince the interviewer
you're the right person for the job. So don't crack jokes or tell funny
anecdotes (they'll almost all be offensive to some one). Remember you want to
appear professional.
After the interview
If you're unsuccessful, use it as an opportunity to improve. Seek feedback from
the interviewer, you're entitled to it, if you were skills or competency tested
ask for the results. This shows initiative and keenness on your part, as well as
boosting your future interview success chances, the interviewer may consider you
for future vacancies at the company.
Coping with tests
Psychometric or aptitude assessments are often used by employers to gain a
better understanding of what candidates can do and how they might fit into an
organisation. They can also help you to identify and develop your own skills to
match the demands of the jobs you are applying for.
There are a huge number of different tests and assessments but they tend to
fall into two broad categories:
Ability and aptitude tests– these measure specific skill
sets and give employers an idea of your existing ability and potential to learn
skills required for the job.
Personality assessments – often known as psychometric tests,
these assess your motivation, interests and values, as well as your behaviour
and attitudes. They give the employer an insight into how you see yourself that
is not always available through interviews alone. If your preferences for
behaving in certain ways, such as working in a team, match the working culture
of the potential employer, you are likely to feel happier and perform more
effectively in your job.
Graduates and
managers at all levels are likely to come across all sorts of assessments
when applying for jobs. Much of the personality profiling, and verbal and
numerical reasoning traditionally used in
graduate recruitment is moving online. They provide a further means of
screening candidates and employers find it useful to have this information
before candidates come for interview. Some smaller employers use job sites or a
third party to do this for them.
The good news is that psychometric results –especially
personality questionnaires –are never taken in isolation. They
are just one part of the recruitment process. For an idea of what to expect from
these tests, give yourself a
Career Health Check.
Here are some top tips to ensure you’re ready for any test:
- Try to find out what assessments to expect in advance.
- Practise doing things to a time limit.
- Don’t worry if you can’t finish in the allotted time as some tests are
designed that way.
- Tell the organisation if you have any
impairments that might affect your performance, such as dyslexia or poor
hearing, so the process can be adapted to accommodate you.
- Consider what skills and abilities the test assessors and recruiters are
looking for and try to demonstrate them.
Motivation is critical for success in tests, so try to remain positive
throughout. Keep these pointers at the front of your mind:
- Keep calm and read instructions carefully.
- Don’t ‘skim read’ instructions. It is important to be clear about how to
answer the questions.
- Always complete the practice questions at the start of any assessment and
ask your test administrator to clarify anything you don’t understand before
you begin.
- Plan your time effectively by allocating each section a set period.
- Ensure that the question number being completed matches the one on the
answer sheet.
- When assessing difficult multiple-choice questions, start by ruling out
those possible answers that are most unlikely to be correct.
- If you change an answer, make sure it is clear.
- If in doubt, give your best estimate.
- If you finish early, use the remaining time to go back and review your
answers.
After your interview and tests are over, ask the recruiter what feedback you
can expect and when. Employers are obliged to give you your results, even if you
do not get the job.
Useful links
Dress for success
By Helen Beckett
Jobseekers and promotion hunters find that a good CV will gain them access to
an interview room, but from then on it’s important to make sure your image
measures up to your aspirations.
“Think of yourself as a brand,” says Frances Boddington, the president of the
Federation of Image Consultants. “Employers want to see your core values, which
you can show through appearance, behaviour and communication skills.”
Visual, not vocal
Psychologists estimate that just 7% of the impression you make at
interview will be based on what you say. The rest will depend on how you said it
and whether you looked like a convincing candidate. Dress for the job you aspire
to and people will picture you in the role.
Plan of action
When you research the job you want, build the clothes you need to wear
into the equation. “Find out beforehand what the job entails,” says Frances. “If
it involves going out to client meetings, for example, dress as though you could
bring in new business.”
She also advises jobseekers to check out the company dress code, even if it
means standing outside their offices to see what employees wear. If you are
seeking promotion, use the staff restaurant or foyer to monitor the style of key
people.
Upwardly mobile dressers
Never dress down to an interview. “If someone wants a job, I expect
them to have made an effort with their appearance,” says Julie Phillips, HR
director at leading advertising agency Ogilvy Mather.
“Candidates have to show intelligence and a passion to work here. If they
arrive looking scruffy, they have to work even harder in the interview.”
Casual means caution
Don’t assume that the weekend starts early. According to the Vodafone
Working Nation survey, only 25 per cent of companies now offer Dress Down
Fridays.
And if they are sanctioned in your office, handle with care. Even the star of
TV’s TenYears Younger, the style guru Nicky Hambleton-Jones is cautious
about the phenomenon.
“I think dressing too casually doesn’t endear you to your boss or peers,” she
says. Nicky advises just making small changes at the end of the week such as a
less formal shirt or jacket. She warns that jeans are another career minefield.
“If you must wear them, the safest way is to mix them with a tailored jacket,”
she says.
Serious style
Be known for your skills, not eccentricities. The fashion advice team
at John Lewis Oxford Street says it is wise to take a low-key approach to
looking individual at work. Its style guide for jobseekers advises candidates
simply to add one interesting accessory (a brooch for women, for example, or a
bright tie for men) to well-tailored clothes if they want to stand out from the
crowd.
Here are some top tips from the image experts:
For the girls...
- It pays to make-up: women who wear subtle make-up earn
23% more than sisters who go without according to the Hamermesh-Biddle
project. Make-up emphasises eyes and mouth (the primary means of
communication), but beware to avoid the rock-chick look.
- Don't reveal flesh: according to the Azziz Corporation,
88% of people feel that it is unacceptable to display a bare midriff in the
workplace, making it less acceptable than visible tattoos (77%), body
piercings (69%) and low cut tops (64%).
- Suits you: women have so many choices that they often shy
away from the more formal suit and so come over as less powerful than their
male colleagues.
For the boys...
- Beard blunders: facial hair is not taboo anymore - one in
three bosses now view stubble as acceptable in business, says Azziz. But
concealing lips and mouth is still a barrier to communication. If you're going
for beard or stubble, you'll need to spend more, not less, time on grooming.
- Don't be a schoolboy: badly fitting clothes generally
look like hand-me-downs.
- And all the rest: don't think you can get away with a
stain on your tie, lunch in your teeth or smelling of cigarettes.
Body language
By Helen Beckett
From the moment an interviewer meets you, they form an impression about what
sort of person you are and what kind of employee you would make. Even when we
are not speaking, we are still communicating.
The way we move, our gestures and what we wear all say something about who we
are, so how can you appear more confident even if your knees are trembling?
Make an entrance
Traditionally a daunting place, the interview room represents hostile territory
and we tend to walk more slowly when we enter an unknown area. But slowing down
can suggest reluctance or a lack of confidence. Rather than entering the room at
full speed, or dawdling, make a point of pausing momentarily at the door before
entering at your normal pace.
Iron grip
When it comes to shaking hands, ‘firm but friendly’ is the best way. Nobody
likes a limp handshake, which can suggest a weak character. But also avoid
snapping the interviewer’s hand off at the wrist, which would denote
over-confidence or even arrogance.
Look into my eyes...
Eye contact is vital, but don’t overdo it – you’re not taking part in a staring
contest! A quick look away to your CV or application form will give you a few
seconds. You should take care to address everyone in the room if you are in a
panel interview situation.
Smile to succeed
Don’t forget to smile. It helps you to relax and makes you appear personable and
approachable. Smiling also makes it easier to put expression into your voice,
which suggests knowledge and enthusiasm.
Posture
Slouching and tipping back on the chair should be left to schoolchildren.
Remember to sit up as it makes you look attentive, and leaning forward a little
makes you look as if you are taking an active interest. Avoid crossing your arms
or legs as this creates a defensive barrier.
Gestures
Your physical gestures should be open and expansive – you want to try to involve
the interviewer in what you are saying. Keep palms up and open to suggest
honesty, and avoid pointing or banging fists on the table to emphasise a point.
Be careful though to keep your gestures to a minimum, you don’t want to look as
though you’re dancing!
Read the signs
Finally, don’t forget an interview is a two-way process. Remember to read your
interviewer’s body language. As you launch into your well-rehearsed speech on
“How I would motivate staff”, beware if the interviewer folds his or her arms.
Avoiding Interview Gaffes
As proven by the impromptu appearance of
Guy Goma on BBC News 24, job interviewers can be as prone to making mistakes
as interviewees. It's difficult enough to reach the interview stage for some
roles, so below are some top tips to help you avoid making a mess of it once
you're there.
Don't be a rabbit
With an aggressive style some interviewers attempt to provoke a reaction, often
causing candidates to get into an argument with the interviewer or becoming the
proverbial bunny in the headlights.
The good news is that you can avoid being caught out by doing a little
preparation. This will boost your confidence on the day and put you in a better
frame of mind to deal with any unpleasantness or trick questions.
Hard hat time
It's unusual for an interviewer to be downright rude but do expect them to lob a
few 'trick' questions your way. Some of the common ones include:
- 'What are your weaknesses?'
- 'Describe a situation when your work was criticised'
Remember, it's more about not getting flustered and thinking on your feet
than having the right answer. Above all be honest - and give reasons for your
past behaviour or responses. Companies want to hire humans, not automatons.
Preparation makes perfect
Aside from good manners, the secret to a good interview is sound preparation:
"It may sound like common sense but so many people, especially first-jobbers,
make the fatal mistake of not doing their homework before walking into an
interview" confirms Phil Sheridan, District Director of Robert Half Finance and
Accounting. Any fans of The Apprentice will cringe at the memory of Paul Tulip's
bluffed description of what
Amstrad do.
You've got minutes to impress
According to fresh research from Office Team, part of Robert Half, it takes the
vast majority of recruiters just ten minutes to make their mind up about a
candidate. And a quarter of interviewers make a judgement about an individual
after just five minutes.
So how do you go about making a good impression in those crucial first few
moments? Avoiding the following gaffes will do a lot to help your cause:
- Do not arrive late
- Do not be rude or 'personal' about current or previous
employers
- Do switch off your mobile before you step into the room
One interviewer reports the following encounter. "He interrupted the
interview to answer his mobile phone, at which point he slouched back in his
chair, put his feet on the table and began tapping away on his laptop."
Have your questions ready
Just spending half an hour on a company's website can give you a definite
advantage - look for recent press releases, new launch products or services,
career biographies, awards & achievements. "Ask an intelligent question towards
the beginning of your interview to demonstrate that you've done your homework"
advises Office Team, eg: "How are your Model 3 Widget sales going?"..
Helen Beckett
Winning interview tips
We thought that you might appreciate some advice on passing job interviews.
They're a necessary jobseeking evil and though there are some that enjoy the
challenge most of us find them nerve racking. We've put together some tips that
should ensure that you breeze rather than blunder through your next interview.
Winning tips from the totaljobs.com jobseeker team.
Be prepared
Make sure you research or mystery shop the company beforehand. For example if
your prospective employer is a retailer, try being a customer. It's advisable to
visit their website and look up the 'About us' section on their site. You'll
learn a lot about the company values from there. You should also check the
'Press Release' or 'News' sections of their site so you can find out what
widgets or latest service initiatives they have. This area of their site will
also give you an insight into how transparent the organisation is about what
they're doing. They may feature employees of the month here or recent promotions
too. In an interview situation all of the above will show the interviewer that
you are thinking about 'how' you would do the job, which is what they want to
hear.
Be punctual
Don't fall at the first hurdle by turning up late. This is the big interview
no-no, and could help you to decide your fate before you've even spoken a word.
'Getting lost' does not sit comfortably with interviewers.
Smarten up!
Make sure you dress smart, plain and simple. There are exceptions depending on
the industry a full suit and tie combo might be too formal for an interview at a
hip new media agency or for the next Cbeebies Presenter job. Also, go easy on
the aftershave or perfume you don't want the interviewer to pass out half way
through!
Don't David Brent them
Remember, this is a job interview. You're there to convince the interviewer
you're the right person for the job. So don't crack jokes or tell funny
anecdotes (they'll almost all be offensive to some one). Remember you want to
appear professional.
After the interview
If you're unsuccessful, use it as an opportunity to improve. Seek feedback from
the interviewer, you're entitled to it, if you were skills or competency tested
ask for the results. This shows initiative and keenness on your part, as well as
boosting your future interview success chances, the interviewer may consider you
for future vacancies at the company.
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