What do you want to be doing in your career five years from now?
When was your last salary review?
What style of management gets the best from you?
What interests you about our services?
What have you learned from some of the jobs you have held?
Which job did you enjoy the most and why?
What safety training have you had?
Why did you leave your previous employment?
What have you done that demonstrates initiative in your career?
What are your major weaknesses and what are your strengths?
What are your hobbies?
Questions you could ask:
For a detailed description of the position
The reason why the position has became available
About the culture of the company
About their induction and training programs
About the company’s best selling products or services
About the next step of the recruitment process
You must determine whether this company will provide opportunities for the growth and development you seek.
On arrival
Shake hands firmly
Stand tall and look the interviewer in the eyes and smile
Wait to be invited to sit down
Maintain good eye contact, follow the interviewer’s leads
Classic Do’s and Don’ts
Do:
If you do not understand a question, politely ask them to rephrase it, or encourage them to be more specific
Prepare as best you can (ask your Horner Consultant for information about the company culture)
Dress appropriately, adhering to the company’s dress code (ask your Horner Consultant’s opinion if you are unsure)
ALWAYS arrive on time or early for your interview (plan your trip in advance in order to take into consideration transport and/or parking delays)
Have your mobile phone switched to silent or turned off
Listen to the interviewer
Use the interviewer’s name
Observe the interviewer’s reactions
Take brief notes (if you wish)
Answer questions directly and specifically and avoid long pauses
Describe your accomplishments in qualitative terms
Display confidence in your past achievements
Ask questions that reflect preparation and logical thinking
Express interest in the employer’s needs and the job
End negatives with a positive, for example ‘No, but I can learn it quickly’
Don’t:
Smoke just before going into an interview – gum and perfume won’t mask it
Chew gum
Relax too much (lean back in your chair)
Be aggressive, impatient or arrogant
Give only ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answers to questions
Argue
Lose your cool or show nervousness
Criticise past or present employers
Highlight any weaknesses you may have without a positive
Read documents that are on the interviewer’s desk
Answer your mobile phone (which should be switched off anyway)
Remember, the focus for the interview is to communicate what it is in your background that qualifies you to do this job. Your job is to communicate your background’s relevance to this position’s requirements and needs.