Posted on

Easy to implement ideas that will make a big difference in a job interview

Why are job interviews so tricky?

One of the main reasons why most career professionals struggle in a job interview is because no-one is taught how to act during a recruitment process.

Everyone knows that during a structured job interview the employer will ask a set of industry related questions to check the competencies level of all applicants.

Each answer is then scored on the interview scorecard.

What is an interview scorecard?

An interview scorecard is the document each interviewer has to help them rank the applicants interview answers against the essential criteria for the position being hired.

The interview scorecard, in chronological order, lists all the job interview questions. Beneath each question is a list of the skills, qualities and experiences required for the advertised role, and/or an example answer/pointer for the allocated points.

In the main employer use scoring of 1-4; 1 = weak, 2 = medium, 3 competent, 4 = expert – with each employer having their own scorings system.

A fair interview is created through this analytical process, especially when conducted by a panel interview allowing each interview score(s) to be normed, decreasing the effect of job interview unconscious bias.

An interviewee, to be successful, not only has to gain a higher score than the competition but also needs to achieve enough points to beat the benchmark to be viewed as suitable for the role.

Why is it hard to pass a job interview?

Being a highly skilled and experienced professional should result in a higher than average job interview to job offer ratio.

For many career professionals, their interview identity – how an employer perceives the applicant based on a level of knowledge/experience vs level of confidence formula, results in a less skilled applicant being offered the position they are best suited for.

Even when a candidate’s wealth of sector knowledge is clear on the application form, the lack of self-promotion concludes with an employer’s negative assessment.

To be successful in a job interview requires the interviewer to view the applicant as highly skilled, an expert or someone they cant do without.

So, whats the problem?

The problem that many interviewees face is they simply can’t structure their interview answers (content and delivery) in a way that inspires the interviewer.

This problem has an easy to implement solution: 3 easy to implement ideas that will make your next interviewer want to hire you.

Confident Statement

The first few seconds of a job interview answer are deemed to be very important.

As many career professionals are aware, an initial impression is created by the employer when they first meet the interviewee – hireable or undesirable. This impression affects how the employer views the applicant’s whole job interview.

If a visual impression can have such a huge effect at the interview start, then the opening words of an interview answer can shape how the employers score the question being marker.

  • Unsure
  • Hesitant
  • Confident

Being unsure of what is being asked or blatantly having no idea what a (sector jargon) is, highlights a lack of industry knowledge.

An employer, now aware that the applicant lacks sector experience, is unlikely to hire that candidate. During the Q&A process, they will long for the interview to end, and look forward to the next, hopefully, more suitable interviewee.

Asking for an explanation of a sector terminology, theory, model or working practice creates the interview identity of ‘inexpert’.

Successful interviewees answer questions with a confident statement:

  • I am highly skilled in this area
  • This is something I have had to do in all my previous roles
  • My current managers always come to me with this problem

A confident statement is an opening line, delivered instantly, that simply highlights 1) a level of understanding of the job duties 2) a confident employee 3) sector experience

Employers are reassured when applicants start their answers by confidently confirming they have the required skill being discussed. As a secondary gain, employers are now likely to listen to the whole interview answer, picking up on more of the scoring criteria – scoring high on the interveiw scorecard.

Evidence Equals Expert

A picture is worth a thousand words.

In the main, employers make hiring decisions based on the content of an applicants interview answer. The detail given could possibly be exaggerated, misinterpreted or an out right lie.

Evidence, in the form of a target sheet, references, data sets, media articles or a physical item, is proof of an interviewees expertise.

By using evidence as part of the interview answer backs up any claims of competencies. It also highlights how the applicant is prepared, organised and detailed focus.

Different industry use the ‘evidence’ technique to get a customer to buy. Sweet shops will often hand out free samples; once the quality of the chocolate has been tasted, the customers is now more likely to purchase the product. It is the same in the job interview, the sample evidence is given as proof of ability before the employer buys into the candidate.

To be perceived as being highly skilled, bring evidence to the job interview. Or for virtual job interviews use the share screen function to show online proof of the candidate’s abilities.

Future Focus

Low scoring job applicants when asked a competency based job interview question will often just list skills and duties, other, more high scoring interviewees, gain points by telling stories relating to their past behaviors in the workplace.

But only a few utilise the future projection method.

Employers use the recruitment process to predict the candidates job performance.

What employers really want to know is – what can you do for me?

To end a job interview answer, the successful applicant will take the skill being discussed and explain how they would use their abilities in the employers workplace.

“…once I am employed in your organisation I will use (skill) to (outcome)”

A future focused interview answer allows the employer to visualise how the employee would fit within the company culture and what added value that applicant would bring to the overall team.

The structure of an interview answer.

Using the team work interview question as an example, an applicant using the CEF structure could answer the question by:

Confident statement; “In all my previous roles I have always worked with a team. where I have a reputation of achieving project objectives on time..”

Evidence; “…An example of this was when I worked on X project. During this project, my team was tasked with completing X. The barrier here was (state a problem you had to overcome). As a team we (state solution to the problem) I personally was responsible for (explain actions and steps you took) which resulted in (add positive outcome). The team was able to achieve this outcome because of (add reason IE being well organised used gannt charts and work packages) I actually have a copy of the project plan and gannt charts with me (show evidence)..”

Future focus; “…if I was offered a role working in your company, it would be my organisational and detailed approach that would allow to us collaborate successfully together to achieve project deadlines while ensuring the quality of the project.”

CEF Structure

The CEF structure is highly successful as the employer, through the initial statement, feels confident in the applicants attitude, as only industry experts or highly experienced professionals, would answer so confidently.

Stating you have a skill/experience isn’t enough, and even strong answers can be an exaggeration, so the producing of evidence, literally, shows the employer why you were initially so comfortable in the answering of the interview question.

And by making the answer relevant to the employers company, not only shows a deep understanding of the position being advertised, it can create a positive association between the vision and the applicant.

Job Interview Advice

Posted on

What You Should Expect From The Job Interview

What You Should Expect in a Job Interview

To pass the job interview you need preparation.

The only way to prepare for a job interview is to know what to expect in the job interview, as well as being able to deal with the unexpected.

Often interviewees worry about the forthcoming job interview, which creates anxiety, as they don’t know how to predict the interview process or interview questions.

This article will teach you what you should expect from the job interview, helping you to prepare. With preparation, you can practice, practice and practice – which is the key to your job interview success.

The Interview Structure

This article will concentrate on the traditional face to face job interview. Many companies are now delivering a two-part job interview; the traditional interview as we will discuss today and then an assessment type interview. This could be a presentation, group work assignment or examination.

In the traditional job interview, you will be interviewed by 1-3 interviewers. When interviewed by more than one interviewer, the interveiwers will take it, in turn, to ask questions, while all the interviewers will record your answers.

Interviewers will score each answer on a scale of 1-10 the scores are then totaled and the interviewee with the most points will be offered the position.

Interview Beginning

At the interview start, you will first be introduced to the interview panel.

The lead interviewer will go on to explain the position, why the role is being advertised and the benefits of working for their organisation.

You will then be asked some generic interview questions, designed to get you talking more openly and confidently. The interview questions will then progress into skill and experienced-based interview questions where you will have to give examples of your skills and experiences.

Interview End

Finally, at the interview end, you have the opportunity to ask your own questions before the lead interviewer explains when they will contact you with the outcome from all the interviews.

Interview Questions

There are several generic interview questions that are asked in one form or another at all job interviews.

Interview Start Questions

  • Tell me a bit about yourself?
  • Why have you applied for this position?
  • What is your experience in this sector?

Skill and Experience Questions 

  • Give me an example of X?
  • How would you deal with Y?
  • What is your approach to X?

Interview End Questions

  • How do you see yourself fitting in with our team?
  • What can you bring to our organisation ?
  • Do you have any questions for us?

Access over 50 interview questions and answers.

You can predict other interview questions by reading the job specification.

Often each essential criterion on the job spec will be re-worded into an interview question. To answer these questions think about a time you have successfully complete the criteria and use this example as part of your interview answer.

When answering the interview questions you should always start by stating confidently how you have “criteria” before backing this up with a real-life work-related example.

When required explain how this experience/skill can be used to benefit the company for who you are being interviewed.

Posted on

Interview Preparation: The Structure of the Job Interview

 The Structured Interview and How to Prepare For It

The myth that job interviewers are evil, that employers are always trying to catch you out just isn’t true.

From the employer’s perspective, the job interview is the final assessment to see if you will be a good fit with the businesses.

The employer has spent a large amount of money and used various resources to advertise the job.

They have read the CVs, application forms, linked-in profile, and watched the video CVs.

From this, they have picked a number of candidates that they are interested in and checked your social media and online presence to see how you act out of work.

The employer is interested in all 6 candidates and will use the interview to find out more about your past duties, work ethic, skills and experiences before offering the lucky interviewee a contract of employment.

The interview is set out into 3 stages and by knowing how to act in each stage will give you an advantage during the interview process.

workpalce extrovert

Stage 1 The Welcome

The interviewer knows that most candidates are nervous, which is why they ask questions like “tell me about yourself.” These opening questions are designed to get you talking and to help you relax.

To answer this question, first give an overview “I have over X years experience in Y…” and then highlight 3 key achievements and skills “My 3 key achievements are…” and then end with the reason you are applying for this role.

Prior to this, the interviewer will often start by discussing the business, why they are hiring and where they see the company progressing to over the next few years.

Remember the interviewer likes you, they have checked your experience and qualifications and they feel you and the other 5 applicants have what it takes – they want you, which is why the interviewer often starts by selling the company to you.

Use this initial opener to ask more questions about the business. Hopefully, through pre-interview research, you already know about plans for expansion. Knowing that the interviewer will discuss their business and future plans, prepare questions to ask them.

The advantage to this is twofold; first, by asking questions your confidence will grow, rather than having to answer a verbally long question at the interview start.

Second, this shows interest, highlights your sector knowledge and builds rapport – people like it when they are asked questions as it shows interest and likability.

 

Stage 2 – The Fit

You will be questioned on your experience and skills, which means you need to prepare answers that highlight your experience relevant to the job specification. Use stories and quotes figures throughout your interview as this allows the interviewer to see the value of employing you.

Your experience alone is never enough.

Throughout the body of the job interview, you need to ensure your work ethic and attitude is highlighted.

Relate your answers to key aspects of your personality by discussing how you went above and beyond, how you worked late to meet the deadline for a project that was dropped on you last minute.

Discuss how you turn around an underperforming team by implementing X procedure.

You need to detail all these little aspects of your personality that makes you a great employee.

Remember everyone being interviewed will have similar experience and qualifications; you need to use your attitude towards work and the industry to stand out.

Step 3 – The Close

At the interview end, you will be given the chance to ask the interviewer additional questions. (you already questioned the interviewer at the interview start) Use this last section as another chance to sell yourself.

Most interviewees ask 3 simple questions, as this is what we are taught before getting out of the room as fast as we can.  Rather than this prepare your interview questions so you can respond to the interviewer’s answer by referencing key selling points.

As an example “you talked about entering a new niche, what problems do you envisage along the way?” The interviewer will reply with a general answer, which is where you add your key selling point “When I lead the X project that we discussed a minute ago, we came across the same problem. What I did to solve it was…..”

Set the interviewer up so you can add a new selling point (I’m also good at this) or to highlight of the key points discussed throughout the job interview.

Posted on

Structuring Your Interview Answers

Once you receive your Interview Invitation, you still have work to do, the first being to practice answering tricky interview questions. T

o do this you need to know what type of interview questions you will be asked, you can read 101 Interview Questions and I would add what is even more important  then knowing the interview questions is knowing how to structure your interview answer.

To gain an insight into the specific question you will be asked, re-read the job specification that came with your job application pack.

All the Essential Skills, Knowledge and Experiences on the job specification will be turn into interview questions this is because the employer feels that their new employee needs the required knowledge or experiences to fit in at the level the company is operating at.

The key to passing job interviews is Communication, the employer needs to understand what you are trying to communicate to them; communication is not about what you are saying, it’s about what the other person interprets what you are saying which means you need to structure you interview answer in such a way that employer has no doubt you can do the specific part of the job that the interview question related to.

Answering Interview Questions

You may be asked direct interview questions; what, where, why, who or competency-based questions; give me an example, describe a time when you, summaries your previous role and duties

It’s not about the type of question you are asked it’s about how you structure your answer which means you need to know how to answer interview questions.

I would add you need your answer to come across loud and clear by delivering 3 key pieces of information per answer, any more then this can confuse the interviewers mind, as the brain can find it hard to remember a large amount of information in one go.

Start by answering the question in the first sentence                      

Q: Are you a good team player?

A: Yes I am a good team player, in my last position I worked in team environment throughout the project…

Q: What is your knowledge of diversity and equal opportunities regulations?

A: I possess a deep understanding of diversity and equal opportunity regulations; I find it really important to keep unto date with changes to regulations…

Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 years’ time?

A: I am really keen to turn this position into a career, in 5 years time I will have a full understanding of the job sector and will be applying for a promotion within this organisation.

Q: Describe a situation where you dealt with an angry customer.

A: In my last position I would work on the complaints department every Monday and would often come across “angry” customers; I was always able to quickly calm customers down and resolve their issues by…

Next, add a little more detail – this should intrigue the employer and hit several of the job specifications essential criteria

  • Give an overview of the situation – In many cases this is done when you answer the question in your first sentence.
  • Explain any “problems” or “barriers” you had to face and overcome “the company had never had a contract like this before” “sales had started to drop, so the manger asked me to join the team..”
  • Explain what YOU did “I was responsible for..” “I took initiative..” “it was my idea to…”
  • Explain the positive outcome from your actions; where possible quote figures and percentages or give third-person feedback “this led to an increase in sales by 35%” “the team manager fed back that this resulted in an increase in company shares”

Finally, summaries by referring back to the question (this can also come across as you thinking of your answer on the spot, not using a prepared answer)

  • “Does that example highlight the team player skills you are looking for?”
  • “I have a wide range of knowledge of diversity and equal opportunity regulations, would you like me to quote any more?”
  • “Overall I am happy to stay in this company and work my way up the career ladder”
  • “To summaries, I have come across a wide range of angry customers, but once you know how to calm and resolve their issues you increase your customer retention”

As you can see from the 4 examples above, some of the summaries end with a question; this is a great additional trick to check if you have hit the interviewer’s required points to their question.

If you have you often hear “Yes that was a nice answer” or “I think we have covered everything” if you haven’t you will often be told “I was looking for an example when you X” you can then give a new example covering X or the interviewer may ask you a second but more specific question.