Interview Techniques

1. Telephone Screening
2. Interview Preparation
3. The Interview
4. Interview Follow up

1. Telephone Screening

The first point of contact that an employer or recruiter will have with a potential employee is usually via the telephone. It is crucial to understand the effective ways to sell yourself over the phone to ensure that you are selected for the interview process.

Do’s

• Answer the telephone in a clear speaking voice.
  Sound happy and lively.
• If you receive a telephone message, call back as soon as possible. This shows urgency and follow up.
• Have a pen and paper handy to write down any relevant details.
• Show your interest in the role and give relevant reasons why.
• Sell yourself with your skills and what you believe you can offer to the role.
• If you need to reschedule the call as it is an inconvenient time, make sure you agree to a time that you can call them back so that the caller can expect your call.
• Take down all of their details pertaining to the interview such as address, phone number, parking availability, contact person and title.
• Thank them for their call and tell them that you look forward to meeting them.

Don’t

• Continue the call at the time if you feel unprepared or the timing is not suitable. Take the callers number and call them back as soon as possible when you are better prepared.
• Be too rigid on timing or location of the interview. Be prepared to sacrifice your time and travel as best as you can.
• Be negative in regards to past employers.
• Give yes or no, one worded responses.

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2. Interview Preparation

It is imperative that you prepare effectively for your interview. Below are some key tips to ensure that you are well prepared.

Tips

Research

• Visit the company website.
• Call the Head Office and get information on the company sent to you.
• Visit any stores that the company may have and assess them. Be mindful that you give consructive but diplomatic feedback.

Personal Presentation

• Dress to suit the company image. If in doubt, dress on the conservative side.
• Do not wear heavy overdone makeup.
• Ensure that your nails are clean. No chipped nail polish.
• Tattoos and piercings are a great fashion statement but be mindful that some employers do not view these favourably.

Prepare for questions that may be asked

The following questions are a sample of what may be asked.

• Why did you apply for this position?
• What do you know about our company?
• Why did you leave that position?
• What skills will you bring to this position?
• What are your strengths?
• Where do you need to develop?
• Where do you see yourself in five years time?
• What was the turnover of the business that you managed?
• Tell me about a time when you gave great customer service?
• Tell me about your most difficult staff related issue that you have had to deal with?
• What salary expectation have you got? ( Be careful with this one. It is great to strive for financial reward but be mindful that it needs to be reasonable)

Prepare your questions

The interviewer usually asks if you have any questions.

Make sure that you bring a list with you and look prepared. Here are some ideas on questions you may want to ask.

• Can you describe your company culture?
• What training does the company give their staff?
• How did the position become available? Why did the person leave?
• Who do you see as your main competitors?
• What type of person would be ideal for this role?
• What vision have you got for the company in the future?

Interview location

• Prepare your travelling route to the interview destination.
• Plan to be there at least 15 minutes earlier.
• Investigate parking access. You may need to bring change with you.
• Know the name and title of the person you are seeing.

Materials

• Bring two hard copies of your resume even though the interviewer may already have a copy. Sometimes you may see more than one person at your interview.
• A portfolio of relevant work is a great way to show of your skills and successes. Make sure that your work is relevant to the postion that you are applying for. If it is a Retail Store Manager role, it is great to show of your VM skills but remember that they also will be focused on your customer focus and leadership ability. Don’t let them think that you are too task orientated.

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3. The Interview

The big day has arrived that you will need to sell yourself to your potential employer/ recruiter. Here are some key tips to help you win them over.

• Arrive 15 minutes early.
• Shake hands firmly.
• Greet your interviewer by name and use their name throughout the interview.
• Smile and have eye contact.
• Make sure you get your good points and achievements across.
• Listen to the questions thoroughly.
• Ask questions at relevant times.
• Thank the interviewer for their time.
• Ask when you will be hearing back from them.
• Answer questions with a one worded response. (Yes, no)
• Don't be negative in regards to past employers. Be diplomatic.
• Dont' come across as disinterested if you realize that the role is not suitable for you. There may be another role that the interviewer is considering you for.
• Don't get emotional with answering questions. The interviewer may question whether you can handle difficult situations.
• Don't talk over the interviewer.

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4. Interview Follow up

• If you were referred to an employer by a recruiting consultant, call them straight after the interview to give feedback.
• Send an email or letter to the employer thanking them for their time and stipulate your interest in the role.
• There may be a second interview stage. Continue to research the company culture to determine if the company is right for you.

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