What's it all about?

Never forget that an interview is a two-way process – it’s not just about an employer selecting you – you are also selecting your new employer.

Decide on the key information you want to impart and on the impression you want to create. Focus on the answers rather than the questions. Interviewers often ask open-ended questions and if you are well prepared for your interview there is no reason why you shouldn’t be able to nudge it in your preferred direction. Use examples from your own experience to illustrate your points and show what you've learnt, and never lie – you’ll probably be caught or found out.

Your interviewer will be looking to find out about your skills and achievements and how these can relate to the job; what kind of person you are and how you can contribute to the company; how you will fit in with the company’s culture; and lastly, your monetary expectations.

Question types

Some questions are designed to:

• give you the opportunity to describe situations which provide evidence of your skills, abilities and experience;
• take you outside your knowledge and experience – your answer will give evidence of your comprehension, analysis and evaluation;
• challenge your ideas and opinions to test your reactions and ability to maintain your own position – such questions don’t necessarily mean that the interviewer disagrees with you;
• catch you off guard and make you think on your feet to test your intellectual depth and judgement.

Questions often come framed in two or more parts. Whether you answer all parts and in which order demonstrates your ability to distinguish and adequately address all parts.

Answer all questions positively – especially if they are phrased in a negative manner.

Your objectives

• to get a job offer or a further interview
• to find out more about the job and the company

Ask questions

Asking questions throughout the interview will allow you to take control of the way it progresses. An intelligent and pertinent question added to the end of a reply should enable you to emphasise your strengths rather than expose any weaknesses you might have, and elicit from the interviewer an answer pertaining to the company’s needs. You can then offer yourself as the solution. This is a better approach than simply telling them how wonderful you are where you risk appearing like a know-it-all.

Toward the end of the interview the interviewer will usually ask if you have any questions. You should be ready to ask one or two questions; if you don’t, he/she may think you are not interested in the company or just badly prepared. Use your questions to demonstrate your knowledge of and interest in the organisation and the industry.

Find out about the people you’ll be working with, the organisational hierarchy, how many people are being interviewed for the position… The interviewer will be expecting you to be interested in things like:

• more detailed information about the position;
• why is the position available?
• induction, training and career development opportunities;
• company products and services; 
• company policies and benefits;
• the working environment and operating procedures;
• strategic plans for the company’s future, growth plans;
• what criteria are being used to select the successful individual?
• what do the most successful people in the same position earn after three years?

But don’t let your questions become an interrogation. Two or three thoughtful questions should be sufficient.

Do you have any interview experiences to share or comments on our website?
We welcome your feedback.