How to prepare for an Interview..?

Preparation is the key to a great interview. Researching the company, practicing common interview questions and knowing what you should bring to an interview will help give you the confidence that you need. You will be able to walk in with a great attitude, a fresh smile and a firm handshake.

What They Will be Looking For at an Interview

These are some of the things they will be looking for in an interview:

• Do I like this person? Will they fit into the culture with the organisation?
  
• Is this person a nice person to get on with or do I think they are arrogant with a self inflated ego and delusions of grandeur?
  
• Is this person going to make me look stupid, or help me to look good?
  
• Are they presentable? Do they suffer from personal hygiene problems?
  
• Can they communicate with other human beings?
  
• Do they perhaps know a little bit more which could help give an edge?
  
• Do they understand my problems and what would be required of them?
  
• Do they give an indication of laziness or are they prepared to get stuck in?
  
• Do I feel they are trying to solve my problems or just trying to get a job regardless?
  
• Are they a positive person or a merchant of doom?
  
• Are they a good listener?
  
• Are they more focused on telling me how great they are or on filling my needs?
  
• Are they commercially aware of have no understand of cost versus benefit and business goals?
  
• Do I feel they have a good grasp of their subject matter?
  
• Do they follow the industry and keep up with the latest advancements?
  
• Can this person work on their own and use their initiative?

Step 1: Find Out Why They Need You

Spending too much money and feel that by spending more money on you will make things more efficient.
Someone else has left the job and they need to be replaced.
They need you to do a bespoke piece of work due to legislation they need to adhere to.
They need you to train some of their staff with the niche skills you offer.

Step 2: Learn About The Company

How many employees
When it was formed. Who started it .
The company mission statement and unique selling proposition (USP).
Which countries has offices in.
Expansion rate of the company.
Annual turnover.
Current share price, and how it has done over time
Recent press statements

Step 3: Write Down the Skills Required in the Job

Visual Basic - since version 3. 5 years experience.
Replace an existing team member - so some maintenance involved. Wonder why they are leaving?
Good communication skills since I will be speaking to end users.
Probably want some requirements extraction experience.
Small project so should have done deployments, maintenance, testing etc. Whole life cycle.
Can work on my own. So, probably need to be commercially aware. Cost versus benefits etc.

Step 4: Your List of Questions

Your list of questions need to follow these guidelines:

The questions you ask must promote discussion about topics which you can demonstrate you have all the skills required for the job.
Your questions must address all of the aspects the interviewer is looking for.
Your questions should also demonstrate that you know just that little bit more than is required. Sort of bonus features if they take you on.

Step 5: Day of The Interview

Before you leave the house, do a quick search on Google to get latest share prices, and any mention of the company in Google news. Having fresh up to the date information on the company will give you extra points when they ask the inevitable first question.

Step 6: Waiting in reception

Get your notes out. Brush up on the company facts. Try and commit your questions to memory.

Step 7: Your Opening Conversation

You meet, shake hands and then you are led to the room where the interview is being taken place. Chances are you are probably met by the person who is interviewing you. It is a good idea to have an opening conversation prepared for the walk between reception and the room. It removes the awkward silence and gets you off to a good start. Some examples might include:

“So, tell me Bob how long have you been working for XYZ Ltd?”

“I noticed you had an award for XYZ. You must be proud of that?”

You will tend to find the interviewer will ask the inevitable ‘Did you have any trouble getting here?’ Always answer ‘No problem. So, tell me Bob… how did you come to work for XYZ Ltd’. Don’t start going into how you got here, which route you took etc etc. It is boring and they really don’t care. Switch it round and get the conversation talking about them. Take an interest from the start.

Closing Comments

The key to making an interview a success is demonstrating that you understand the needs of the client and that you have the ability to help them and can perhaps provide just that little bit more. Doing your homework in preparation for what is essentially a mini sales pitch makes all the difference.

In a further article I'll drill down into the interview itself and explain how to ensure the interview itself goes smoothly.

Good luck in your job search...!!!