Tips for Candidates

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How to improve your performance at interviews

The short time you spend at a job interview could have a dramatic effect on YOUR career prospects. It is therefore important that you perform well because no matter how good your career record is to date, the employment interview remains an important step towards fulfillment of your ambitions.

These hints, combined with the guidance provided by our consultants, will equip you with valuable information on how to conduct yourself during interviews with prospective employers.

Be prepared to answer questions like:

1. Why did you choose this particular vocation? What do you really want to do in life?
2. Why would you like to work for our company?
3. What do you want to be doing in your career in five years from now? Ten years from now.
4. What was the size of your last salary review?
5. What style of management gets the best from you?
6. What interests you about our product or service?
7. Can you get recommendations from previous employers?
8. What have you learned from some of the jobs you have held? Which did you enjoy the most?
9. What have you done which shows initiative in your career
10.  What is your major weakness or area you may need more training in?
11. What do you think determines a person′s progress in a good company?
12. Are you willing to relocate?
13. How do you spend your spare time? What are your hobbies?
14. What does teamwork mean to you?
15. Have you saved any money? What entrepreneurial activities have you been engaged in?
16. What type of books do you read? How many books per year?

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Negative factors to watch for:

During the course of an interview, the employer will be evaluating your negative factors as well as your positive attributes. Listed below are negative factors frequently evaluated during the course of the interview and those which most often lead to rejection.

1. Poor personal appearance.
2. Overbearing – over aggressive – conceited "superiority complex" – "knows it all"
3. Inability to express thoughts clearly – poor poise, diction or grammar.
4. Lack of planning for career – no purpose goals.
5. Lack of interest and enthusiasm – passive and indifferent.
6. Lack of confidence – nervousness.
7. Over–emphasis on money – interested only in remuneration.
8. Evasive – makes excuses for unfavourable factors in record.
9. Lack of tact/maturity/courtesy.
10. Condemnation of past employers.
11. Failure to look interviewer in the eye.
12. Lack of appreciation of the value of experience.
13. Failure to ask questions about the job.
14. Persistent attitude of "what can you do for me?"
15. Lack of preparation – failure to get information about the company, resulting in inability to ask intelligent questions.

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The interview: some "do’s" and "don’ts".

1. DO plan to arrive on time or a few minutes early. Late arrival for a job interview is never excusable.
2. If presented with an application, DO fill it out neatly and completely.
3. DO greet the interviewer by his/her surname if you are sure of the pronunciation. If you are not, ask him/her to repeat his name.
4. DO shake hands firmly.
5. DO wait until you are offered a chair before sitting. Sit upright in your chair, be alert and interested at all times. Be a good listener as well as a good talker. Smile.
6. DON'T smoke even if the interviewer smokes and offers you a cigarette.
7. DO look a prospective employer in the eye while you talk to him/her.
8. DO follow the interviewer’s leads, but try to get the interviewer to describe the position and the duties to you early in the interview so that you can relate your background and skills to the position.
9. DON'T answer questions with a simple "yes" or "no". Explain whenever possible. Tell those things about yourself which relate to the position.
10. DO make sure that your good points get across to the interviewer in a factual, sincere manner. Keep in mind that you alone can sell yourself to an interviewer. Make him/her realise the need for you in his/her organisation.
11. DON'T lie. Answer questions truthfully, frankly and as "to the point" as possible.
12. DON'T ever make derogatory remarks about your present or former employers or companies.
13. DON'T "over answer" questions. The interviewer may steer the conversation into politics or economics. Since this is ticklish, it is best to answer the questions honestly, trying not to say more than is necessary.
14. DON'T enquire about salary, holidays, bonuses, retirement etc at the initial interview unless you are positive the employer is interested in hiring you. However, you should know your market value and be prepared to specify your required salary or range.
15. DO always conduct yourself as if you are determined to get the job you are discussing. Never close the door on opportunity. It is better to be in the position where you can choose from a number of jobs – rather than only one.
16. Closing the interview: Thank the interviewer for his/her time and consideration of you. If you have answered two questions uppermost in his/her mind (Why are you interested in the job and the company? What can you offer and can you do the job?), then you have done all you can.