INTERVIEW TECHNIQUES
When attending a job interview, you want to impress your prospective
employers by projecting a professional image of yourself. Much of this
is achieved by anticipating questions that will be asked and preparing
appropriate answers. The following tips might be useful to you in
preparing for an interview.
BEFORE THE INTERVIEW
ª Whilst meeting or speaking with your consultant, make sure you
have a full understanding of all duties and skills required within the
role.
ª Try to do as much background 'homework' on the company as you can. It
will really impress the interviewer if you know a little bit about the
company, what business they are in, how big they are, who their
competitors are, etc. This can be achieved by calling up and asking for
information or try searching for them on the Internet! Wherever
possible, your ADS consultant will give you as much information as
they can.
ª It's always advisable a day or two before the interview to find out
exactly where your interview will take place. Make sure you have an
accurate map, find out where you will need to park and if you need any
money for the car park. Be doubly sure by doing a trial run the day
before to check how long it will take you to get there. (Be mindful of
travelling within rush-hours if appropriate as this can double your
travel time).
ª Ensure that you know the name (s) of the person or people who will be
interviewing you and if there will be any assessments taking place (your
consultant should know the answers to these questions).
DRESSING FOR AN INTERVIEW
Whilst recruitment decisions are made taking into account many
different factors, it is worth remembering that first impressions do
count! With this in mind it is advisable to adopt the following code of
dress:
ª For ladies: business suits - trousers or skirt. Plain blouse or
shirt, crisply ironed. Keep jewellery and perfume to a minimum. Clean shoes. Try to wear tights/stockings even in summer.
ª For gentlemen: business suit, shirt and tie is always advisable. Clean shoes. Keep aftershave and jewellery to a minimum.
WHAT TO TAKE WITH YOU TO THE INTERVIEW
ª Always take a copy of your CV with you. This may be useful as a
reference document for you whilst in the interview.
ª Take along any company information you have found as this will look
impressive and clearly demonstrate that you have done your homework!
ª Take a note pad and pencil/pen to make any notes if necessary.
THE WAITING ROOM
ª Always be polite and friendly to the reception staff. Try to make
conversation if appropriate.
ª If offered a drink - try to only trouble them for water.
ª Give your interviewer a firm handshake when you enter the room.
ª SMILE!
ª Maintain good eye contact - look at the people who are interviewing
you. Nod occasionally to demonstrate your interest and understanding of
what is being said.
LISTENING TO AND ANSWERING QUESTIONS
ª You need to concentrate and listen very carefully to the
questions. Make sure you understand the question before offering any
answer. Allow the interviewer to finish asking the question before
offering an answer.
ª If you miss the question or are not sure about it, rephrase the
key words and ask the interviewer to clarify. Do not attempt to
answer without fully understanding the question.
ª If you do not anticipate a question and have not prepared an
answer for it, pause and think before offering one. It is better to
think carefully for an appropriate answer than to offer an answer in
a hurry. Make sure you do not spend too much time thinking.
ª You need to take the initiative in providing useful information
for the interviewer in order to evaluate your suitability for the
position. Do not give Yes/No answers only. Give your answer directly
and support it with relevant evidence from past experience because
interviewers do not have time to listen to your long and
comprehensive replies.
ª Although you should prepare your answers for interview questions
beforehand, you should not recite them directly from your memory in
front of the interviewer. You should memorize the main ideas and
offer the answers in a natural and spontaneous way.
ª You should attempt to offer positive responses to every question in the interview. Even when your answer is negative, you should stress your present situation and discuss your future plans or inclinations. Offer clear and positive explanations of why some of your accomplishments are less than satisfactory. Do not try to put blame on others or offer an excuse for yourself. Be honest and sincere about your weakness or shortcoming, and turn it into something positive.
LANGUAGE USE ª If you cannot hear the question, do not ask the interviewer to
repeat directly using ª Be careful in using expressions such as ª Be careful in using expressions such as ª When
you cannot avoid a negative answer, you should soften the tone of the
reply first, then offer affirmation to reassure the interviewer of your
ability and eagerness for the job. For example, ª End your answers promptly when you have offered all necessary
details. Do not end by saying
They make the interviewer feel that you have not been paying attention.
Use key words the interviewer has used and rephrase the question to ask
for clarification. You can use, for example,
They make the interviewer feel you are conceited and arrogant. Offer
answers that are factual and modest. You can rephrase your answer in
other equally positive ways, for example,
They imply that you have not been honest in answering previous
questions. You should only use these expressions when you want to turn
something negative into something potentially positive, for example,
negotiating salary and terms of employment or discussing your
weaknesses.
You can indicate the end of your reply by nodding your head lightly to
assure your interviewer.
BODY LANGUAGE ª Handshake Shaking hands with your interviewer is good practice although it is
not common in Hong Kong, even in the business field. It helps you create
a friendly and professional image. Make sure your handshake is prompt
and firm.
ª Posture You can place your portfolio or briefcase on the side of your chair
or on your lap. Make sure you feel comfortable with your posture. You
may sit upright or perhaps lean forward a little to project an eager and
confident image. You should not fidget. Make sure you are seated
properly in your interview suit and that it is not creased.
ª Eye Contact You should look at all interviewers when answering questions. Don't
just maintain eye contact with the interviewer who asked you the
question you are answering. Make sure you look sincere and honest.
ª Facial Expressions You can keep a friendly smile on your face to show your enthusiasm.
Be careful not to look too eager for the job or so relaxed that you
don't seem to care. Try to project a serious and professional image on
your interviewers.
ª Voice You should speak clearly and relatively slowly. You can pause when
you are thinking of appropriate replies before answering questions. Make
sure you do not pause for too long. Be careful not to pause too often in
the middle of your answers or fill your pause with too many fillers such
as
They make it difficult for your interviewers to follow what you are
saying.
HUMOUR ª You can use humour appropriately in an interview to lighten up a
tense atmosphere in the interview room. You can demonstrate your
leadership quality by showing that you are a confident person who is
relaxed and capable of controlling a tough situation. ª Be careful not to be overly humorous. Your interviewers may feel
that you are not serious enough for the job.