Interview Tips

• Always ensure that you have researched the company and the job - this includes company size, competitors, areas for expansion etc. The more senior the role the more research you must do. Factors to consider are what are the company trying to achieve, what are the most demanding aspects of the role and what are your particular strengths that you can bring to it.
  
  
• Ensure that you have a good firm dry handshake and good eye contact and body language. Remember BE POSITIVE.
  
  
• Get as much information as possible about the interview process.
  
  
• Always be positive about previous organisations that you have worked for - nobody wants to hear negative comments about your employer - they will take it as sign of how you would reflect them if they employed you. Additionally you never know who knows who!
  
  
• This is very important!!! Give examples but always be concise - think about the question the client has asked - DON'T WAFFLE.
  
  
• Make sure you have at least two good questions to ask the client. "Me" questions are not good.
  Eg. "How much does it pay?" "What training will I get?"
  
  The kind of questions that you need to ask are things like:
  
  (a) "How has the current economic situation impacted on your business model?"
  
  (b) "From looking at your web site I noticed that you are doing…How have the developments within 'X' competitor affected your ability to succeed?"
  
  The main objective of you asking questions is to show the interviewer that you are intelligent, are thinking about and have understood the role. You are not so much setting out to determine the answers to the questions but to impress the interviewer with the content of the questions that you ask.
  
  
• Always remember to turn negatives into positives. Eg. "No I do not have experience of SAP however before I started at 'X' company I had no experience of...and I picked that up really quickly and eventually achieved …"Think about why they are asking you each particular question in relation to the job you have applied for and therefore the answer they are expecting. Always give examples: Eg. "Yes I am good on Excel, when I worked at 'X' I was responsible for developing a business model to..."
  
  
• On the money side, it is recommended to leave this wherever possible to the consultant (ALWAYS ON THE TEMPORARY SIDE). The reason we recommend this is that it is easy to either talk yourself out of a role by asking for too much money or to undersell yourself and not ask for enough. It is in our interest to always secure the best possible for you.
  
  
• ALWAYS CLOSE THE CLIENT. Eg. "From what you have told me about the role I really like the sound of it. I am very impressed with the company...and after meeting with yourselves I really feel I would like to work here. Do you think I would have any difficulty fitting into the role or the company?"
  
  This is effectively saying to the client - you like the job and the company and want the job. This is important because interviewers are more likely to decide in your favour if they feel confident that you are positive about them.
  
  Additionally this gives them a last minute opportunity to ask you any further questions concerning any doubt that may be niggling in the back of their mind but they feel awkward to suddenly come out with the question. This can make all the difference!
  
  
• Finally as they show you out please ensure that you finish with a handshake and a thank you for having interviewed you.
  
  
• THEN PHONE CIRCLE SQUARE CONSULTING WITH YOUR FEEDBACK as soon as you can after the interview (before you get on the tube).