Workplace

Preparation is crucial for a successful interview, so it is important that you consider which qualities will improve your chances of getting the position you want and what the employer will be looking for in its ideal candidate. What skills do you have that could benefit the company you are applying to? It could be, for example, your ability to plan and implement long-term projects, research complicated issues or manage a team.

Interview preparation is not just for the young, inexperienced jobseeker. At mid-level, you can draw on your experiences of presentations, where careful planning is non-negotiable, and at senior level you must bear in mind that although you may feel confident in your abilities, lack of research about the company you have applied to can render all previous experience meaningless.

The importance of researching the company cannot be overemphasised; reading its website, brochures, press releases and reports will increase your understanding of its mission and principles. Speaking to existing staff is another excellent way to find out more.

Preparation essentials

The interviewer will be looking for evidence that you possess key competencies for the role you are applying for. For mid-level and senior technical and engineering positions, questions will be designed to find out about your interpersonal, leadership, communication and problem-solving skills, as well as your ability to think analytically and your technical know-how, so consider how to answer in a way that best demonstrates that you have the skills. Examples of questions include:

• How have you made easier the work of those who report to you?
• The sharing of knowledge is crucial to keeping up to date with technical and engineering industry developments. Describe a time that you were the source of information for improving the skills of others.
• Tell me about a specific project during which it was necessary for you to interact with a wide range of people over a long period of time.
• Describe a time that you gave a customer bad news. What was the end result?
• Give an example of when you solved a problem for which initially no answer could be seen.
• It is a good idea to prepare some questions yourself to ask when prompted, such as:
• What plans does the firm have for the future?
• What are the objectives of the position?
• What training could I receive in this role?
• How would you describe the culture of the company?

Your recruitment consultants will have an understanding of the employer’s requirements and interview style, and so can help you to prepare. They can give tips on how to manage the interview successfully and will talk you through an in-depth job description, discussing the relevance of your skills and experience.

Recruitment consultants who have formed strong relationships with their clients will be able to conduct mock interviews with you as part of your preparation and can predict the kind of questions that the employer may ask when your interview takes place. Remember that it is in their best interests to ensure that you are fully prepared, as they will want to put forward the best possible candidates for the position.