Career Planning

Interviews
The Most Important Sales Interview of Your Life

Preparation
Research - Company, Position and You
Resources
Appearance
Body Language
Questions
Theirs & Yours and Awkward Questions

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The Inside Story

Career Management Skills “Companies are looking to hire not to reject”

¾ If called for interview - you’ve got the job or

place - it’s up to you to keep it.

¾ Employers/Course Directors want to offer you

the job/place - employers - have a problem they
what you to solve.

¾ Two way process - not an interrogation -

area of mutual concern.

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Preparation Research

¾ Research:
¾ Company/Organisation:
‰ Company/Organisation ‰ Company/organisation will send information

‰ Position ‰ ILAC Library Dublin

• Business Information Centre

‰ Yourself and your suitability

‰ Trade/Business magazines and journals

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Research Research
¾ Company/Organisation:
• Links to databases of Irish employers
• Links to Irish Employers Recruitment pages
¾ Position
• Skills – evidence that you have them (how yu acquired them) or
evidence of your ability to learn quickly

¾ Yourself and your suitability

• Do you really want the job?
• Are you convinced that you are capable of doing it?

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Recommended Reading

Skills Portofolio
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Dress and Grooming

¾ Prepare a list of all the most important points

¾ Only one chance to make a first impression
you want to make that will convince the
interviewer that you are the best person for ‰ Style consistent with the type of position
the job • Err on the conservative side - (exceptions: advertising, PR,
teaching, youth & community work)
¾ Strengths:
‰ objectively measured ‰ Convey professionalism and competence
‰ others will need to be illustrated with examples ‰ Co-ordinate your outfit
• Not enough to simply asssure them that you are good • Suit, jacket/trousers/skirt, plain shoes
• Accessories: bag, briefcase???

‰ Be comfortable

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As much as 70% of employee turnover is due

to staff not fitting in with the corporate culture.

Dress Code:
dress a notch or two
above regular
employee of same
level

If they wear …. You wear ....

Casual Smart casual
Smart casual Casual suit
Casual suit Casual suit,
(shirtsleevs no tie) jacket & tie
Smart suit Smart suit
X
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Dress and Grooming

Avoid boots
X X No Casual
Shoes or
Trainers

Business
Casual

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http://www.businesscasualdress.com/illustrations.htm http://www.marksandspencer.com
Workware

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Top Tips Avoid Trendy Clothes and Colours

¾ Do not let your appearance overpower your

personality
¾ Avoid extremes of fashion
• Ageless - classic lines - fashionable without being trendy!

¾ Avoid strong perfume/aftershave

¾ Avoid large patterns
¾ Dark colours lend you more authority than
light/pale ones

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The Interview Begins: the moment you are

Dress and Grooming at risk of meeting anyone from the company or institution

‰ Personal Hygiene
¾ Be early
‰ (10-15 mins)
• No garlic/spicy food /alcohol/ smoking
‰ check travel arrangements
• Hair - well groomed • exact location - dry run
• Fresh out of the shower look! • Bring letter of invitation with you – directions/phone etc.

‰ Jewellery and other accessories

¾ Let reception know you have arrived
• Keep to a minimum

‰ Leave coat/umbrella at reception

¾ Ask to use washroom
‰ freshen up - check the mirror

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The Interview Begins: Essential Qualities

¾ Be prepared to shake hands (if offered) ¾ Be responsive

‰ Do’s & Don’ts - extension of normal social
behaviour

¾ Introduced to Interviewer(s) ¾ Be confident

‰ Get names and use if possible/appropraite
‰ Say “Good Morning……….” rather than
“Pleased to meet you”
¾ Be energetic
¾ Wait to be asked to be seated

¾ General Chat ¾ Be enthusiastic

‰ How was the journey?
• Do not give a blow by blow account

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Body Language: Words tell a story but Body Language: the body speaks louder than words
your body tells the whole story!
¾ POSTURE
‰ Do not perch on the edge of your seat
‰ Sit well back but lean slightly forward. Interested people always pay attention and lean
forward. Leaning backwards demonstrates aloofness or rejection.
‰ Keep arms, legs, and feet relaxed and uncrossed.
‰ If wearing a jacket, open it up. It gives the message... I am open and honest with you.
‰ Do not fidget, play with hair, jewellery etc. or perform imaginary grooming but OK to
use some hand gestures.
‰ Keep hands out of pockets.

¾ MIRRORING

¾ SMILE

‰ Adopt friendly co-operative approach

¾ HANDSHAKE (only if offered)

‰ Not too hard and not too soft.

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Eye contact Body Language: the body speaks louder than words
“Face is the index of mind” - eyes are 50% of it.

¾ Concentrate on the person asking question - Glance at others

from time to time. ¾ Adopt similar tone to theirs
¾ By looking directly at the other person you send a sign of trust. ‰ Be wary of injecting humour but OK to laugh as long as you are
sharing a joke
¾ By looking directly at people you are also in control of the
conversation.
¾ Looking directly at somebody or looking away actually serves as ¾ Voice - practise
the dots and commas in our spoken sentences. ‰ Pause to gather thoughts
¾ Direct eye contact is a compliment to most people and builds ‰ Speak clearly
trust in you. But be aware of the customs of people from other ‰ Volunteer information
countries. It may be a sign of disrespect. ‰ Do not waffle

¾ Ask for clarification of question

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Questions:Recommended Reading Questions Types

¾ Factual
¾ Behavioural
¾ Hypothetical
¾ Technical
¾ Stress

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Questions Sell Yourself

¾ Tell me about yourself/course (2 minutes) ¾ Personal Qualities:

¾ What do you know about our organisation? ‰ Energy
‰ Commitment
¾ What do you look for in a job?
‰ Enthusiasm
¾ Why do you want to work for us?
‰ Time Management
¾ Where do you see yourself in two years? ‰ Flexibility
¾ What aspects of your degree/diploma are most relevant to this ‰ Quick Learner
job? ‰ Ability to say I do not know
¾ Why do you think you are suited to a career in…?
¾ Sell yourself - What makes you different?

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Awkward Questions Pearls of Wisdom

Q. Your work experience/course is not really ¾ If you are asked a question to which you do not
relevant, is it? know the answer, you have two choices:
Q. Has your degree contained anything vocational?
‰ a) Say you don’t know
A. ‘I understand why you might think that but….’
A. ‘I would consider many aspects of my course to be ‰ b) Prove you don’t know
vocational…
I’ve had the chance to develop good communication
skills, to use information technology, research and
process data and to work as a member of a team.
These are very relevant skills for your company
training programme.’

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The Toughest Questions you’ll ever be asked The Twenty Toughest Questions you’ll ever be asked

¾ Tell me about yourself.

¾ Why did you apply for the job?
¾ Tell me what you do in your spare time/to relax?
¾ When have you been involved in teams?
¾ What are your main strengths and weaknesses?
¾ Why should we employ you?
¾ What has been your biggest achievement?
¾ What have you learned from your past work experiences?
¾ When did you last work under pressure or deal with conflict - how
did you cope?
¾ What is the biggest problem/dilemma you have ever faced?
¾ Where would you like to be in five or ten years time?

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The Twenty Toughest Questions you’ll ever be asked Interview Questions

¾ What other career opportunities are you looking at?
¾ Where would you like to be in five or ten years time? ¾ Tell me about yourself.

¾ When have you had to…..? ‰ Employers are looking for a quick snapshot of you (both your background
and your personality) and how well you sell yourself and your capabilities.
¾ What would you do in …..situation?
¾ Sell me this product.
‰ Don't ramble on - be concise but make sure you get the main points in.
¾ What salary do you expect?
¾ How competent are you at….?
¾ Are you married, pregnant ……..etc.?
¾ You haven’t been much of a success so far, have you?
¾ Do you have any questions?

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Interview Questions Interview Questions

¾ Why did you apply for the job? ¾ Where would you like to be in five or ten years time?
‰ This looks at your levels of motivation and commitment. ‰ Again, if you have a clear idea, it will show your commitment and vision.
‰ Make sure you research thoroughly what the job entails. ‰ If you do have some insight into where you are heading, think of some of

‰ State the benefits you can offer them, and then what they can provide for the functions and responsibilities you would hope to have.

you.

‰ Say why you want this job - not why you are leaving your present one.

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Interview Questions
¾ Tell me what you do in your spare time
‰ This has a double purpose. To make sure you have a rounded
lifestyle - and to ensure your interests won't interfere with your
job.
‰ Go over your outside interests quickly, highlighting any job
relevance and outlining the skills you have developed through
them.
‰ The employer will be trying to establish whether the type of
satisfaction these activities give you can be provided by some
elements of the job - thus ensuring job motivation.
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Interview Questions
¾ When have you had to ………..?
‰ Employers want real-Iife evidence that clearly demonstrates
you have particular skills.
‰ Draw up a list of key skills required for the position (found by
dissecting the job ad, job description and person specification)
and highlight at least two situations or achievements that prove
you have each skill.
‰ Practise talking through each example and present a concise,
hard hitting case.
‰ Avoid waffle and keep it sharp.
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Interview Questions: Yours
¾ How has the vacancy arisen?
‰ Allows you to find out more about any organisational changes
and the people you may be working with.
¾ Who will I be working closely with?
‰ You get a better idea of team dynamics and potentially the size
and range of teams in the company/organisation.
¾ What are the key things I would be doing within
the first six months?
‰ Again you will show an interest in the range of projects that will
be your responsibility. It also can give an indication of your
awareness of project management and prioritising.
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Interview Questions
¾ What other career opportunities are you looking at?
‰ This will illustrate how well you have researched, planned and
thought through your chosen career area.
‰ It will also show an employer how much you really want the job.
‰ If you just list a long series of unrelated career options, it will cast
doubt on your motivation. If you're doing nothing it indicates a
narrow perspective and lack of forward thinking.
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Questions for You to Ask
¾ The Organisation
‰ expansion plans, new services, branches, products
¾ The Work and training
‰ formal training programme, duration, reporting structure
¾ Location
‰ travel/mobility required
¾ Related to topics raised during the interview
‰ demonstrates you were listening
¾ Chance to tell what has not been questioned
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Interview Questions: Yours
¾ What would my future career prospects be like?
‰ Showing commitment towards staying with the company and
an interest in the potential of furthering your career and
personal development with the company.
¾ What training could I expect to get?
‰ Showing interest in training and development again displays
enthusiasm for the position and how you could further develop
in that role.
¾ What happens next?
‰ When will you be able to let me know your decision? It is
important for you to know when you will be notified.
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Pitfalls

Over-formalised and stop expressing the

genuine enthusiasm that they feel!

Successful Applicant
Be positive
Be enthusiastic
Be informed
Be normal

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