Job Interview Tips Given to You by a Corporate Interviewer and Recruitment Manager

Do you want job interview tips that tell you what anattempt to present as much quantity as possible, they
employer is looking for when they interview jobthen tell me about all their experiences related to the
candidates? Imagine the advantage you would have ifquestion. The result is a list of examples and
you knew how the interviewer wanted you to presentexperience with no real detail on how the candidate
your attributes and experience. You couldcan fulfill the competencies related to the question.
communicate with confidence because you wouldChoose your one best example of your experience,
know how to prepare for the job interviews, what toand present it in detail and with confidence. Structure
say, and how to present what you can offer ayour answer to communicate, in easy to follow steps,
potential employer.how you have successfully gained the experience the
I've been interviewing job candidates, and managinginterviewer is looking for. In most cases the interviewer
recruitment and assessment, days for over 20 years.will be making notes on the interview and recalling the
I'm not going to waste your time with the obvious. Youdetails later when making their decision. Make it easy
will know what to wear, and that appearance isfor them. Present one good piece of evidence slowly
important. These job interview tips are based on theand clearly.
things you probably don't know. The things that stand4. Let them finish the question
out to interviewers, like me, but candidates aren'tThe interview is important to you and you want to
aware of them. Here you are getting inside informationmake the best impression. There may be a time limit
from the other side of the interview desk.on the interview and you want to cram in lots of good
1. Prepare for an interview that could change your lifeinformation about you. But no matter how pressurised
What I don't want to see in an interview is a candidateyou feel there is one thing you must not do; never
struggling to answer basic questions that they shouldinterrupt or cut short the interviewer. Let them finish
have expected and prepared for. You will not knowspeaking.
the exact wording of the interview questions you willI've seen usually calm and well mannered people turn
be asked. But you can predict 90% of the topics theinto speed freaks at interview. They hear the first half
questions will be about. Study the job description andof a sentence or interview question and assume the
other information you have about the vacancy.rest of it. Then they launch into presenting their reply. It
Prepare how you will present your evidence thatreminds me of contestants on quiz shows that are
shows you can meet the requirements of the role.racing against the clock to answer questions.
Match your skills and experience to those in the jobTake this interview advice. The interviewer is
description. Choose strong examples that prove yourassessing your capabilities using the answers you give
experience and capability for each of the key jobto their interview questions. They are also assessing
requirements. Put yourself in the interviewers position. Ifyou, and how you will fit in as an employee. If you
you were asking the interview questions, what wouldinterrupt, talk over them, or cut them short in
they be? Note the questions and then select your bestmid-sentence, they could see you as rude, arrogant, or
answers.lacking in respect for others.
2. Take a breath before you answer5. Stand out from the other candidates
You're nervous, you want to appear eager to get theThe decision on which candidate gets the job is usually
job, and you're focused on the interviewer and theirmade some time after the interview. After a full day
questions. The interviewer asks you a question andof interviewing, candidates can start to blur into one
you blurt out the first answer you think of almostanother. The interviewer then depends on the notes
before the interviewer has finished the question. I seethey have made and how those notes help them recall
this happen regularly in the interviews I hold. As soonthe candidate. Make sure they can remember you.
as I have finished the question the candidate instantlyLeave something with the interviewer that will make it
replies.easy for them to recall you, and your interview.
Take a breath and allow at least 3 seconds to passA good example of this would be a carefully prepared
before you answer. Use the time to consider if you'refolder containing your information. I recently interviewed
presenting the best possible answer to the interviewer.a young woman for a sales vacancy. As we
The interviewer will see you considering the questiondiscussed her achievements and sales track record,
and putting thought into the answer. You will beshe passed me an information file bound in a folder. It
perceived as confident and in control. This jobcontained her C.V. and contact details. A brief
interview tip will have a big positive impact on thesummary of her achievements. Copies of letters from
image you project at interview.customers praising her customer service skills. Copies
3. Choose one good example to presentof her pay slips supporting her sales track record with
When the interviewer asks you a question that is bestcommission payments, and on the front was a small
answered by an example of your previousphotograph of her. This was a fantastic way of helping
experience, choose one good example to present.me to remember her, and her interview. It also showed
Too often I ask a question and the candidate gives meme how organized she was, and left me with a very
a weak example with little detail. As they are doing thispositive impression of her as a candidate that stood
they think of another example and present it. In anout from the rest.