Candidates > Your Career > The Interview Process

The Interview Process

The first stage, as discussed in full in the earlier section is preparing a CV; please refer to our preparing your CV section for further details.

The first thing to consider is the research that you undertake before arriving at the interview.

You should conduct detailed research of the firm you are meeting to understand their business as well as any recent events that have affected the firm – there would be nothing worse than being asked your opinion on ‘yesterdays news’ by the interviewer and have no idea.

It is also vital to read your own CV before you attend, many times we have seen candidates fail on the basis of a piece of information on their CV which they cannot back up in the interview. If you claim an expertise on a certain subject or that you played a key role in a specific project you should expect to be able to discuss this in detail with your interviewer.

Your should also be prepared for questions that relate to the role you are trying to secure.

Competency Based Questions are now a key element of most recruitment processes. Whilst there is a good level of advice and input available on these type of scenarios its important to remember some key tips;

• The interviewer is looking for specific examples from your work experience that demonstrate you have a desired competency which could include leadership, dealing with conflict or teamwork.
• You need to have a number of examples pre-prepared to ensure you are able to address these types of questions.
• Always consider what the key competencies are for a new position might be when preparing for interview.

Overall you need to approach each job interview as a business meeting where you are presenting yourself to someone who is interested in meeting you and keen to understand you and your skill set. Many people fail due to nerves and lack or preparation so having a positive attitude and, where, possible trying to enjoy the process can often be the difference between success and failure.

If you would like more detailed information on preparing for an interview, please Download the Goodman Masson Interview Guide.