Researching the Interview

If possible, make a practice journey to the interview location. Knowing exactly where you're going on the day will help you to feel more confident.

2. The Interview Format

As we saw in the previous section, the style of the interview can take many forms. One company may combine a presentation with a panel interview, whilst another may carry out an initial telephone screening followed by a series of tests at an assessment centre. It is essential to know the format your interview will follow so that you can plan your preparations appropriately.

3. Who Will Interview You

Knowing who will be interviewing you and their position in the organisation is a useful tool in the interview process. Interviewers will feel flattered and impressed that you have taken the time to find out (and remember) their names and this will able you to establish a rapport more easily. In addition, knowing where the interviewer (or interviewers) fit into the organisational structure will allow you to anticipate the types of questions they may ask, and will help you to prepare appropriate responses. The following list shows some examples of the skills and abilities that different interviewers may be interested in:

Human Resources

• Education
• Working background
• Career patterns
• Training and development requirements
• Salary
• Benefits
• Start date

Managing Director

• Ability to meet targets
• Adaptability
• Aspirations
• Contribution to growth and profitability

Functional Head

• Experience
• Qualifications
• Ability to perform tasks
• Understanding the job
• Understanding technical terms
• Match with management style
• Fit in with organisation culture
• Transferable skills

Peers

• Team skills
• Experience
• Personality
• Communication

Junior Staff

• Approachability
• Openness
• Management style

Click here to read more from InterJobs.co.uk