Nail that job!

You have got an interview call. Are you prepared enough to face all the queries, and ask a few questions yourself? David Wilson lists the finer points of handling a job interview effectively

Everyone has succumbed to fatal interview answers at one stage or another of their career. There are no guarantees to success at interviews, but following some rules will dramatically increase your chances, or at least be a valuable learning process, knowing you have tried your best.

Résumés open doors

First impressions always count. A résumé should be two-to-three pages long to whet the appetite of a potential recruiter, giving them enough information to make an informed decision on whether to meet you, but not too much to deter them from actually reading it. Ensure all information is factual, accurate and presented in a positive manner. And for easy reading, use bullet points where possible. Finally, always spell-check your document.

It is a common mistake to send the same résumé to all the positions you are applying for. It is crucial to emphasise areas that you feel will be priority to each specific organisation, as simply highlighting them in a cover letter is not sufficient. The section in your résumé on your career history is your opportunity to illustrate the breadth of experience you have gained throughout your career. Having said that, avoid repetition and be concise.

Give the nature of the business and size of companies (employees and turnover) worked for. If possible, give dates of employment to the nearest month, and job titles in full. Provide details of responsibilities, including specific achievements at the end of each position, and quantify where possible.

Chase that dream job

Be realistic when considering your capabilities and options. The best way to identify what job to apply for, is to create a ‘dream job’ and ‘dream employer’, to identify the specific characteristics you seek in an organisation and job.

Consider using a search firm. Search firms can be a wealth of knowledge, therefore, seek their guidance on résumé and interview techniques and other areas that you feel you are weak in.

When choosing one, work on the premise of quality, not quantity. Identify just two or three agents, meet the consultants, and discuss opportunities and a plan to market yourself. Ensure they are committed to your objective, and have mutual understanding of time scales involved. Also discuss salary expectations.

When job-seeking on the Web, apply directly if possible, and not through the Web registration tools provided. In most cases, the résumé generated is untidy and information can be read out of context.

Interview preparation

So, you got called for an interview. Great! What next? Nervousness tends to take its toll during the interview, yet in most cases, this does not come down to a failure in character, but a failure to prepare. Visualise the interview, the interviewer and the surroundings, and anticipate obvious questions and the structure in which the interview will follow. Visit the corporate website for background.

Questions you should know the answers to before the interview include:

• What does the company do? How has it evolved? Who owns it? Is it part of a larger group or does it have subsidiaries? Turnover and profitability? Future plans?
• Who are the ‘need-to-know’ people there? Who are the interviewers?
• Why do you want that job? Why do you want to work for that company rather than its competitors? What is the work environment and culture like?

Make a mental note of your own or ex-employer’s justifications for parting company. Behavioural questions are generally the downfall of most candidates, i.e. how do you handle pressure? What are your main weaknesses? Give an example of when you failed and how you have learnt from the mistakes.

To answer these types of questions, you need to soul search, and even ask friends and family how they perceive your personal traits. Try to reverse market your weaknesses. For example, say, “Some people find me impatient, but I feel this is because I am eager to succeed and have a high sense of urgency”.

Research the location of the interview before the day, to avoid arriving late and flustered. Dress smartly; if in doubt, always dress up, not down.

Aceing the interview

Apart from smiling, shaking hands firmly and having strong eye contact...relax. Think of the meeting more as a consultative session—simply a “duration of time” to explain to the interviewer who you are and why you are there.

Always be mindful of your body language. A trained interviewer can, for example, sense if a candidate is hiding information, say, by avoiding eye contact. Listen carefully and answer clearly and concisely; do not waffle or over-sell. If you are unsure of what is being asked, clarify with the interviewer.

On closing, be armed with intelligent and appropriate questions, such as:

• How has the position become vacant?
• How will my performance be assessed?
• What are the longer-term opportunities for promotion?
• Is encouragement given to undertake further training?
• How does the department integrate with the rest of the organisation?

Do not discuss salary issues unless asked, and always thank the interviewer for their time.

Learn from experience

Always give time to review the interview, and more importantly, your own performance. Document new questions that come up, and, at the appropriate or agreed time, ask them when you are requesting feedback from the company on your performance.

Whether your interview was successful or not, always take the criticism graciously. Not only is this information vital to building experience, but, who knows, the company may also re-visit your application for other positions.

This article first appeared in Asia Computer Weekly