Job Interviews
An interview can be a very nerve racking process no matter the level of experience you have and position you are going for. This is particularly because the criteria for interviews differs from company to company and the secrets for winning over your interviewers can also be as varied as the colours in the rainbow.
Interviews are all about preparation, preparation & preparation.
How to prepare for a job interview
The first thing you must realize about employment or a job is that it is an agreement between two parties. "YOU" and "THE COMPANY" you want to work for. You provide a service and the company pays you for that service regardless of the type of job. You need the company to make a living and the company needs you for it to operate smoothly.
INTERVIEW TIPS.
THE DO'S & DONT'S
Most employers usually just look for potential in a candidate, enthusiasm and the ability to learn and develop especially for entry level jobs. However, some companies will be more demanding in their criteria for a candidate the more senior a position becomes.
Some companies will place more emphasis on your qualifications and practical experience. Their main area of interested in this case will be to see how qualified you are for the job through a proven track record of academic and work achievements so their line of questioning will usually focus on this side of your C.V.
They will normally ask you very technical questions and in the case of chefs, interviewers will most likely ask questions which involve explaining how some particular dishes are prepared in order to understand your level of knowledge and skills.
In some cases be prepared to spend the whole day at an interview especially for Head Chef and Executive Chef positions as some companies will often request that you prepare a three course meal as part of the interview.
This is fast becoming the standard format of interview in many countries because its the only way a chef can be assessed fully.
Other companies will focus more on your personality and character. They will often look at how well you present yourself, your attitude, confidence levels, communication skills, leadership and most importantly the willingness learn.
In this case, they are more interested to find out how you will fit in their organization and how well you will interact with fellow members of staff and customers. Their line of questioning will normally focus on this side of your background and personality.
They will often pose questions which involve challenging scenarios at work and ask you how you would deal with them in order to work out how you think and how you would likely react under pressure.
Then there are those who will be interested in the full package of academics, work achievements together with character and personality. These tend to be the most challenging of interviews as the criteria will usually be very complicated and demanding.
Do not despair, although an interview can seem like a huge mountain to climb, there are a few things you can do to prepare yourself for the big day.
However it goes on the day of interview, the main rules are not to be late. Arrive at least 15 minutes early. Don't lie or bluff, don't try and suck up to your interviewers or give them false flattery with a yes! Yes! attitude. Employers look for someone who can challenge the status quo sometimes and show initiative.
Congratulations! So you've managed to bag an interview with the company of your dreams. This means that your C.V and cover letter impressed HR. Now they want to see the candidate behind all these impressive credentials in person. You have just passed the first hurdle. Now you must impress them even more with your great personality and a much more in depth discussion about yourself & your skills.
The first thing is that it is important to know who you are dealing with. So, a bit of research on the company you are going to have an interview with would be a prudent move. Your prospective employer will be more impressed that you have a good understanding of their business. You need to have a basic understanding of the following:
1. The company history
2. The company annual revenue
3. Their main competitors
4. New company developments
Having a bit more knowledge about the business will show your prospective employer that you are not just interested in a job, you are interested in the company and how its doing.
We would also advise you to go on a reconnaissance mission to see for yourself how the company operates buy posing as customers or just pretend you are asking for directions or something if its a place you can get access to. This will give you a good picture about:
1. The establishment
(Is it a good building with good facilities)
2. The staff
(Are they well dressed and friendly)
3. The Service
(Is it as good as you expect, more or less)
Make sure you are prepared. Days before the interview, You will have already calculated how long it takes to get to the interview location when you went undercover. This will ensure you are not late on the day. Prepare your best professional outfit. Wear a suit with a white shirt and tie if possible. No jeans, No t-shirts No sneakers. If you are female, avoid wearing tops which reveal your cleavage, anything slightly see-through or too figure hugging. This might be taken the wrong way and can cause an unwanted attention or distraction.
Finally, revise your notes, go through your C.V so the you don't have to look at it during your interview. This gives the impression that you know what you are talking about and not just making it up. Get a list of all the possible questions the interviewers might ask. The internet provides a lot of good example. They might or might not appear on your interviewers list of questions but it's best to be prepared.
Revise the questions and answers but make them relevant to the job you are seeking. Practice in the mirror if you have to or get a friend or relative to pose as the interviewer and ask you the questions. This can be surprisingly effective.
Prepare your own relevant questions about the job/company and remember them. Your interviewer will inevitably ask if you have any questions at some point during the interview. You want to make sure you fire back with a few constructive questions rather than just sit there with a blank face. "No I don't have any questions" is not good enough reply.
One of the questions which will be asked guaranteed without a shadow of doubt is MONEY! If the company didn't put the salary in the advert which they rarely do these days, then they will ask how much you are expecting during the interview. KNOW YOUR WORTH! Do not beat around the bush. Have a figure in mind and be prepared to negotiate if necessary. If you are not sure, ask around and find out how much other people are getting who are in similar position.
Finally, the best interviews should feel like a conversation not a question and answer interrogation. The more you can talk to the interviewer (s) the more relaxed and comfortable you will all feel. The trick is to turn their questions into points of conversation.
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