Your First Job Interview
– What to Expect?
There are few experiences that cause more anxiety and stress than a first job interview, especially when you are fresh out of school. Scary thoughts such as “What if I don’t get any job offers?,” “What if I don’t get the job I want?,” or “What if I am offered a starting pay less than my friends?” can plague you, causing headaches and many sleepless nights. Here are some pointers on what to expect for your first job interview, and how to prepare for it.
Regardless of the type of job interview, there are two main styles of interviewing used by companies today to judge your suitability for the job – the traditional job interview and the behavioural job interview. Firstly, this is done by questioning and evaluating the things about you and your experience (traditional job interview) based on what you tell the interviewer through questions such as, “Why do you want to work for this company?” and “tell me about your strengths and weaknesses”. The behavioural job interview, however, observes you on how you handle the interview. Such an interview style uses questions that probe specific past behaviour, such as, “tell me about a time where you confronted an unexpected problem,” or “tell me about an experience when you failed to achieve a goal”. Recent graduates with little work experience should focus on class projects, extra-curricular activities and group situations that might lend themselves to these types of questions. Hobbies and volunteer work might also provide examples you could use.
By CINDY LIM
After sending out countless of resumes and cover letters, you have finally landed that job interview! Do not blow your chances of getting employed by arriving unprepared for the interview. Interviewees are often scared and stressed by interviews simply because of the fear of the unknown or what they can expect. The best way to prepare is to know what may be coming. The key to reducing your anxiety is in being wellprepared for the interview.
TYPES OF JOB INTERVIEWS
There are several types of job interviews typically carried out, but according to Lim Der Shing, Director (Business Development) of JobsFactory, the most popular types carried out in Singapore are one-on-one interviews and panel/board interviews. “Panel interviews are common with civil service organisations and large MNC companies when recruiting executive level positions,” says Martin Ross, Managing Consultant of Worklife Asia Pte Ltd, a career management and development services firm in Asia. As for one-on-one interviews, only one person interviews each candidate and makes the hiring decision. The interviewer will often have a series of prepared questions, and they hold majority decision making power for the choice of the final candidate. Panel/Board interviews are where job seekers are interviewed by two or more individuals, who come to a consensus as to who is the best person for the position. Government, nonprofit, and many high tech organisations commonly use this type of interview.
HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE JOB INTERVIEW
A candidate is successful in a job interview if he can convince the interviewer that he is more capable of doing the job than any other candidates. Unless a candidate has established personal networks with the company, a job is usually offered based on the assessment of the candidate’s performance during the interview. Successful candidates often manage to select key items from their own experiences to show that they can do the job, and will do it better than any of the other candidates. They are the ones who project themselves into the job by asking the right questions, knowing the problems faced in that position, and even offering the solutions to such problems.
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Before your job interview, you should:• Learn all you can about the company or organisation. Learn as much as you can so that your questions are sophisticated and knowledgeable during the interview. Employers expect you to arrive knowing background information about the organisation. If you don’t, you look like you’re not really interested in the job. Research also helps you formulate intelligent and appropriate questions to ask in your interview. • Be prepared to answer and ask questions. “Prepare to answer standard interview questions such as ‘What are your strengths and weaknesses,’ ‘Tell me about yourself’, ‘What is your greatest achievement’ etc.” advises Der Shing. • Ensure that your attire is presentable for your interview. Make sure your clothes are business-like, clean, pressed and conservative; make sure your hair and nails are trimmed and clean and that you do not smell of cigarette smoke. Your attire should be noticed as appropriate and well-fitting, but it should not take center stage. When in doubt, always dress more professionally than casually. • Prepare the necessary documentation for your interview. Bring extra copies of your resume, job reference lists, reference letters, a notepad for taking notes, and any other information that you may wish to have with you.
• What will be the greatest challenge in the job? • What would you expect me to accomplish in this job? • What is your management style? • Can you describe a typical day for someone in this position? • If I am offered the position, how soon will you need my response? Even though everyone knows that salary is important, you do not want to give the impression that it is the only consideration. The interviewer needs to see that you are interested in the other aspects of the job like the potential for growth, learning or the challenge of the position. “Leave administrative questions like salary, leave, benefits, working hours only when a job offer is made to you, sometimes on a second interview or when the subject is brought up by the interviewer,” cautions Martin. In addition, “Do ask about how the interview went or if the interviewer wants to know anything else about you. Do ask the interviewer what advice they would give to someone who joins the company. These are questions that allow you to learn something from the interviewer, and which can allow you to “repair” any damage done during the interview,” adds Der Shing.
DURING THE INTERVIEW
Have a few questions prepared to ask the interviewer. This not only helps you gather important information about the company you may be working for, but also demonstrates your interest and enthusiasm. Avoid asking questions that are clearly answered on the employer’s web site or in any materials provided by the employer to you in advance. This would simply reveal that you did not prepare for the interview, and you are wasting the employer’s time by asking these questions. Remember that an interview has two purposes: One, to sell yourself, and two, to evaluate the position. After asking questions, the interviewer usually invites you to ask questions. This is an excellent opportunity for you to gain knowledge about the potential employer, and also to make a good impression. Examples of questions you can ask during the interview:• Who will I report to? How will my leadership responsibilities and performance be measured? And by whom? How often? • Would there be opportunities for advancement, and if so, how long would it be before I might be considered for one? • How is this department perceived within the organisation? • What would be the goals of the department in the coming year? • What problems or difficulties are present in the department now?
OTHER IMPORTANT INTERVIEW TIPS
• If you arrive about fifteen minutes before the scheduled interview time, you will have time to collect your thoughts, wipe the perspiration from your hands, and scan the lobby for current company information. • Don’t take cell phone calls during an interview. If you carry a cell phone, turn it off during the interview to be sure it doesn’t ring. • Don’t ever interrupt the interviewer, even if you are anxious or enthusiastic about answering the question. • Be aware of your body language - sit straight, smile as often as you can, maintain eye contact but don’t stare the interviewer down. Lean forward but not in the way of invading the interviewer’s space. Sit still in your seat and avoid fidgeting and slouching. Avoid nervous mannerisms such as tapping your fingers, feet, playing with pens, etc. • For panel/board interviews, direct the beginning and end of your response to the person who asked you the question, while in between looking at each member of the panel in turn. If you can link your response to one that you have previously given, do so. If at all possible, get the panel members talking among themselves about your responses. Obtain the names of the interviewers prior to starting and use them during the conversation. • Don’t exaggerate or lie. You might be tempted to embellish your achievements in the interview, but it will come back to haunt you in the future!
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AFTER THE INTERVIEW:
While it may seem like fake or “currying favour” behaviour to some, it is important to follow-up at the end of each interview by writing a simple thank you note or email to each person who interviewed you. It is good to keep the letter short but to also reiterate your interest in the position and your confidence in your qualifications. You should also:• Make notes right away so you don’t forget critical details. • If you are working with a job agency or recruiter, call him or her immediately while the facts of the interview are fresh on your mind. The recruiter will want to know what you thought went well and what you may have concerns about. If your first interview is not successful, do not fret or be discouraged. Rome was not built in a day. Continue sending out resumes, cover letters and researching on your potential employers. Just remember - Be Yourself! You do not want to get hired on the basis of something you are not. You want to be hired for who you are!
FREQUENTLY ASKED INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
In most interviews, knowing what the interviewer is looking for means you have won half of the battle. The other half of the battle is to be prepared to show your knowledge about the organisation, ask tactful questions about the job, and give a good impression that you can do it better than others, if you are offered the job.
Source - Martin Ross, Managing Consultant, Worklife Asia Pte Ltd
EXAMPLES OF POTENTIAL INTERVIEW QUESTIONS Apart from personal details and qualifications, questions which may be asked by an interviewer to facilitate the process of selection include:-
Q. Tell me about yourself. A. This is the classic, open-ended interview question
and likely to be among the first. It’s your chance to introduce your qualifications, good work habits, etc. Keep it mostly work and career related.
Q. What are your strengths? A. Point out your positive attributes related to the job. Q. What are your weaknesses? A. Everybody has weaknesses, but don’t spend too
much time on this one and keep it work related. Along with a minor weakness or two, try to point out a couple of weaknesses that the interviewer might see as strengths, such as sometimes being a little too meticulous about the quality of your work. (Avoid saying “I work too hard.” It’s a predictable, common answer). For every weakness, offer a strength that compensates for it.
Other questions include:• What are your career objectives? • What courses did you take up and why? • What do you want to be doing in five years’ time? • How will you benefit from this job? • Are there any people you find difficulty working with? • Why should the company hire you? • Can you motivate yourself and work on your own initiative? • Do you set yourself goals and achievements? • Can you get things done even when faced with difficulties? • Do you have long term career objectives? • Are you a person who can deliver on time and meet deadlines? • Do you have initiative to finish work? • Do you pay attention to detail? • Do you perform well when the going gets tough? • Are you good at problem solving? “There is no standard way of replying interview questions and there is no correct or wrong answer. However, there are answers that can reflect your maturity and thinking and which can help you market yourself better. The thing to remember when answering interview questions is to always remember that the interviewer is trying to learn about you and you want to market yourself to them. So use concrete examples to reinforce your point,” advises Lim Der Shing.
Q. What do you know about our company? A. To answer this one, research on the company before
you interview.
Q. Why do you want to work for us? A. Same as the above. Research the company before
your interview. Avoid the predictable, such as, “Because it’s a great company.” Say why you think it’s a great company.
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