Interview Guidelines

 

Preparation is essential to a good performance at any job interview, and you should specifically prepare for each

interview you attend, as each one will be different from the last. However, there are some common themes across most interviews; here, Knight Fowler Jenkins offers some tips to help you to succeed in any interview. 

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PLEASE NOTE: Remote or video interviews will require extra preparation,

which you can read about here.

 

LOOK THE PART

 

Professional (or job appropriate) presentation is the easiest and fastest way to impress an interviewer; it not only creates a great first impression but can be seen as evidence that you want to impress. 

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Some simple tips are:

• When in doubt, go corporate; a suit rarely gives the wrong impression

• Be prepared - do not leave it to the morning of the interview to realise your favourite outfit is at the dry cleaners!

• Clean your shoes

• Take an umbrella if there’s any chance of rain

 

KNOW YOURSELF

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One of the most neglected, yet basic forms of interview preparation is to research ‘you’. No-one else knows more about what you can offer to an employer than you do.

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It’s essential that before attending an interview you:

• spend some time to go through your whole CV, including all your employment history. If an interviewer asks you about
  a historical detail that’s caught their eye and you’ve forgotten that you listed it - it will just be awkward!

• think about every task you’ve undertaken and every success you’ve had, no matter how mundane; sometimes, even the dullest experiences can be useful to illustrate an answer.

• think about how you undertook those tasks and precisely what you did to facilitate your achievements 

• think about the difficulties you’ve faced and what you did to overcome them

• revisit/revise any industry jargon/legislation that you know or is relevant to the role 

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By taking time to think about your own work history in detail, you’ll find it easier to provide relevant examples of your skills and experience to back up your answers at the interview. Being able to talk about yourself eloquently and knowledgeably will also not only impress your interviewer but can help make you feel more relaxed. 

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REMEMBER: Never look at your CV during a face-to-face interview. If you don’t know yourself, then an employer will have little faith in you getting to know their business.

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BE READY FOR ANYTHING

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You will rarely know what questions you will face before you go into an interview, and interviewers/companies can have very different approaches to ensure they find out what they need to from the candidates they meet. However, although the approach or line of questioning may be different, there are some common themes. 

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Here are a few tricks to help you be ready to answer ANY interview question. 

• Try to recall as many difficult or challenging situations you’ve faced at work as you can. How did you deal with each challenge? 

• Think of as many achievements, tasks or projects that you’ve completed. How did you achieve your goal? 

• Interviewers will also want to hear how much you know about their company. The more you can offer,  the more interested in the job you’ll appear. Be sure to visit the company website to do some research. Try and find information on the team you are joining and the person to whom you’d report. News articles and industry press can often provide extra details that will show you have done your research well. 

• Know the job for which you are interviewing! Read the job description and think of every past skill or task you have performed that relates to it. Have these ready in your mind to use in your answers when appropriate. 

• If you are asked a negative questions (e.g. “What is your weakness?” or “Can you tell me about a mistake you’ve made at work?”) answer honestly, then end your response with a positive. It shows that you’re a positive person and demonstrates how you are capable of handling difficult situations, people and tasks. 

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TIMING IS EVERYTHING

 

Never be late for an interview. However, it’s also important not to arrive too early! A safe option is to arrive in the vicinity of the interview before the scheduled time to locate where it will take place; then make your way to the reception area or interview location
just five minutes before your appointment. Arriving five minutes early will show you are organised, yet arriving any earlier could inconvenience the interviewer. 

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If there is any chance that you will be running late, let your consultant or the interviewer know immediately.

 

AT THE INTERVIEW

 

• Greet your interviewer in a confident and warm, yet professional way and use their name.

• Demonstrate confidence (or at least fake it!) by looking the interviewer in the eye and smiling as you greet them. 

• If you are offered a drink, say yes. Nerves can give you a dry mouth or a tickly throat; water is always a good option.
  (Burning your mouth with hot, black tea will do nothing to help nerves!)

• Listen! Pay attention to precisely what the interviewer is saying and try to understand why they asked the question and what they really want to know about you. Don’t rush; take a moment to think of the most relevant example to demonstrate your capabilities within the frames of the specific question they are asking.

• Think about what you want to say, breathe naturally and speak slowly. Speaking at a steady pace will not only show you are
  confident in your answers and abilities, but will also help you to maintain focus. 

• When asked about your previous jobs, make sure you stay positive. Every position you have had, whether you enjoyed it or not, has been a learning experience.

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And once again, LISTEN! If you’re genuinely focusing on what the interviewer is saying, then other parts of the interview such as eye contact and a consistent flow in conversation will come naturally. 

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ANSWERING QUESTIONS

 

Interviews often include some ‘behavioural style’ questions, which allow you to give examples to support your answers. Behavioural questions give an interviewer the chance to understand how you will apply your skills, experience and personality traits in the workplace.  

There is a defined method you can use to provide answers to behavioural questions - the STAR method. 

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STAR stands for:

• Situation - a brief explanation of the situation/problem you faced;

• Task - describe your role or responsibility in overcoming the challenge;

• Action -  explain the action taken by you or your team, but with a strong focus on the role you played;

• Result - explain what action was taken by you or your team, although it's essential to focus on the specific role that you played in securing the positive result. 

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Remember, the interviewer is hoping to employ the person who will provide the best outcomes for their team or business. You should use Situations, Tasks, Actions and Results from your own experience that are both relevant to the job and had a positive outcome.

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If you have thoroughly researched both yourself and the opportunity before the interview, you will already have a selection of Situations, Tasks, Actions and Outcomes in the back of your mind to use to back up your answers. 

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TALKING MONEY!

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If Knight Fowler Jenkins arranged your interview, then the interviewer is unlikely to ‘talk money’ with you, as your consultant will have already discussed remuneration beforehand to mitigate any differences in expectations. 

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If you are asked about your salary expectations - be frank and honest. If you don’t want to go into detail, simply say that you’re looking for ‘market rate’ for your skills & experience and that you would expect a salary in line with the demands of the role.

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Alternatively, when Knight Fowler Jenkins is representing you, you can refer the interviewer back to your consultant, who will negotiate salary on your behalf. 

 

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?

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Towards the end of the interview, there is usually an opportunity for you to ask the interviewer questions; you should ideally ask at least two questions and make them relevant and original. 

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One tip for asking useful closing questions is to imagine yourself in the role and think about what you really need to know to make sure the position is right for you. Has the interviewer provided you with a good idea of what your day-to-day role would be? Do you know about the personalities in the team? How would you fit in within the team’s structures? Do the company's ethical values align with your own?

Alternatively, ask about the recruitment process and what happens next or ask for the interviewer’s own opinions on the business. 

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Some other questions you could ask include: 

• What do you most like/dislike about working here?

• What do think will be my most significant learning curve if I’m successful in securing this opportunity?

• What skills and abilities do you personally feel are the most essential for someone to succeed in this role? 

• In terms of the firm’s dynamics and structure, would I fit in well?

• What do you think will be my main challenges in the role, both long-term and short-term?

• How would you describe the firm’s culture? 

• Can you explain a typical day in this role?

• How will my performance be measured? 

• How do you review performance? How often and on what basis are staff reviewed?

• Does the firm have any plans to grow or expand?

• Why is this position available? 

• What did the incumbent employee do that was effective? What did they do that was ineffective? 

• Who will be reviewing my performance and how often are performance reviews held?

• What is your company’s policy on attending seminars, workshops and other training opportunities? 

• What are the firm’s long-term goals?

• What are the firm’s long-term goals for the team I’ll be joining?

• What would you expect from me in the first six months/year? 

• What is the next step in the selection process?  

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If you can’t think of anything that hasn’t already been discussed in the interview, then instead you can just qualify the information
you have been given, just to make it clear that you were listening!

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CLOSING THE INTERVIEW AND FOLLOWING UP

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When you leave the interview, make your exit as smooth as your entrance was; maintain eye contact as you thank them for their time,
use their name and if you’re interested in the role, let them know!

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If you were working with a recruiter to secure the interview, you should contact them as soon as possible after the interview; this will mean the interview is fresh in your mind and, if you have any immediate concerns, your consultant will then be well-prepared to deal with them on your behalf when they speak to the employer. 

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If the interviewer gave you their contact details, then it can be appropriate to follow-up with a thank-you email; just keep it simple
and concise.

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AND FINALLY

 

There are many things that you can do to help ensure your next interview is a success. However, three are essential:

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• Be prepared

• do your research, and 

• listen! 

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