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INTERVIEW – What You Should Know
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Research and Preparations |
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| Before you go for the interview,
take some time out to do some research on the job and the company. Prepare
yourself with the questions and answers that you think the interviewer is
likely to ask. |
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Be Early
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| Nothing turns the interviewer off
than being late for an interview. So try to get there at least 10 minutes
before the appointment time. |
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What does interviewer look for when interviewing? |
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There are four main questions the
interviewer would like to find out from an interview:
? Can you do the job?
? Will you do the job?
? Will you fit in?
? Will you be the best choice?
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| Because an interview takes place
in such a limited period of time, the basic purpose of the interview is to
exchange enough information to make a screening decision to determine whether
the company should talk with the candidate further. |
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| There are three main areas that an
interviewer looked for when attempting to answer the questions listed above:
Abilities and Skills, Performance and Personality Trial; |
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Your ability to communicate is one
of the most important criteria used by the interviewers, as it is a vital
factor for success in the business world (as well as in your interview).
Evidence of written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills can be
found in coursework essays, CV preparation, oral presentations, and a host of
extramural activities which require persuasiveness and self-expression.
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| Interviewers also assess your work
experience, whether be it voluntary or paid, part-time during term or over
vacations. Rather than looking exactly what you did, or specific skills used,
recruiters are interested in factors such as your understanding of the work
ethic, your professionalism, and what you have learnt from your experiences. |
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| Graduate recruiters are searching
for management potential and will therefore look for leadership qualities in an
applicant, which will typically have been gained through your involvement (in
various roles) in campus societies or sports clubs and through group
coursework. Another factor which supports your application is evidence that you
have acquired basic work skills, such as computer literacy, numeracy, attention
to detail, and so on.
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Your performance is a personal
achievement, and is often viewed by recruiters in this light rather than in
comparison with that of other people. It is WHY and HOW you have done, what you
have done rather than WHAT you did that matters. If you have made a change in
the study direction, you will be asked why you changed and what influenced you.
Change is not a negative thing, so don't be ashamed of it. It is how you made
your decision and what you made of the result that is important. Interviewers
are interested in what you have made of opportunities, what you have gained in
life.
Your performance must also have a developmental dimension, that is, there
should be evidence of constant improvement and of an increase in your levels of
achievement. This is important because being able to maintain high standards of
performance under pressure is an important criterion for success in the
workplace.
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Interviewers look at your
academic, extramural and part-time work performance. Your academic performance
assessed in terms of your results, your choice of degree and the practical
elements of your course, particularly where you have had to apply subject
matter learned.
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The other two areas are also of
equal importance. Once again, it is not what you are involved in so much as how
involved you are that counts. With extramural activities, your range of
interests and activities, level of participation and leadership roles will be
probed. To demonstrate how well you did in any vacation or part-time job, try
to think of practical examples of work situations in which you met targets,
performed above the standard required, showed initiative or made effective
decisions.
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For performance factors as well as
the personal qualities discussed below, past behavior patterns and activities
are used as indications of how an applicant is likely to perform in the future.
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Perhaps the most important reason
why the interview was called as the two points mention above can usually be
read from your resume.
Companies look at what you as a unique person can offer them, over and above
what you can do. Successful organizations draw on the personalities of their
people to give the business life and energy. They also want people who will
grow and develop, not just do the job at hand. Your personal attributes are
probably the most difficult to access; they are inferred from what you have
done in your life, and from how you present yourself to the interviewer.
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One of the most important
characteristics which being looked for is self-motivation: do you set goals,
plan effectively, then carry out to achieve them?
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Other important traits include the
ability to take responsibility (for one's own actions, as well as towards
others), initiative and a proactive approach, creativity and problem-solving
skills. Recruiters look for people who will be assertive in the workplace, and
show enthusiasm and energy, which is important for future success on the job.
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An extremely important requirement
is that a future employee can work in a team: can you work co-operatively or
supportively with a range of people, and draw on the resources of others to
produce successful results?
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For a commercial organization an
interest in business is crucial, no matter in which area you wish to
specialize. Versatility and the ability to understand the business at large are
necessary aspects of any position in commerce today.
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At graduate level, recruiters are
looking for qualities which imply that you are trainable (not for somebody who
can already do the job).
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At graduate level, recruiters are
looking for qualities which imply that you are trainable (not for somebody who
can already do the job).
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| Be
Proactive and Courteous |
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| Thank the interviewer for taking
time to see you. Allow a few days and follow up with an email to check the
outcome.
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Courtesy of Jobsnet.asia –
Singapore's interactive jobs website for job seekers and recruiters
To go back to Jobsnet.asia – Singapore’s leading recruitment portal click here |
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