Interview: prepare to be yourself!

Manuelle Malot, Head of EDHEC Career Service -  03/03/2009 11:07:00 - L'Expansion.com 

The recruitment interview is paradoxical: you have to be yourself, as natural and honest as possible, and at the same time you need to be meticulously well prepared.

The interview is an important stage in the relationship between the applicant and a firm, and if you want to do well, you need to prepare for it.

You will definitely up your chances if you are ready to answer all the questions and be ready with the most appropriate examples from your experience at your fingertips.

Although you'll be understandably apprehensive when you go for an interview, remember that it's a two-way process and is more balanced than you might at first think.

·         It enables the interviewers to get a better idea of your competencies and your personality to see if you can be quickly operational in the job and if you match any available career opportunities. 

·         It enables you to learn more about the company, clarify your career choices and helps you to make a decision.

In other words, it's a convergence between two interests: the company wants to choose the right candidate with the best-adapted profile and you want to choose the job that best meets your profile.

Remember when you begin that the interviewers are not there to make your life miserable or to waste their time and that they're as keen for you to be the right person as you are.

A good interviewer will put to you at ease, even if they sometimes up the pressure a little to see how well you can cope with difficult situations.

The recruiters generally lead the interview, kicking it off and ending it. They may conduct the interview in a directive, semi-directive or non-directive manner.

Structured or directive

The interviewer will ask you a number of predefined questions so it may feel a little like an interrogation, with many specific questions on a range of topics, often based on your CV. Your answers should be clear and to the point, without useless detail, and avoiding monosyllables and hesitation.

Semi-directive

This type of interview usually alternates specific questions and freer discussion. It often begins with a presentation of sorts. You need to remain focused, take your time to answer all the questions as precisely as possible, be natural and at the same time express yourself well.

Non structured or non directive

Not very frequent but challenging, this type of interview means that you need to know your CV really well. The recruiter says very little and lets you do the talking: this may lead to some unsettling silences, but try not to be intimidated Get the conversation going again by talking about your experiences in a clear and well-ordered manner, without giving the impression of having learnt it all off by heart. Practice with a webcam or a friend to check the coherence and relevance of your remarks.

Don't be fooled into thinking that a cold or friendly attitude from the recruiter means (s)he is implacable or indulgent. Try to determine which interview style the interviewer has adopted and adapt your behaviour in accordance.

Interviewers from HRD tend to be more attentive to how well you match the house style, and how quickly you can integrate and fit in with the other junior managers. They will try to assess who you are before focusing on what you know or what you can do.

Operational managers tend to focus more on the sector and the job itself. In this case, it's in your interest to be very honest, particularly regarding your technical know-how, but you will not be judged on this as recruiters rarely have any illusions about young graduates' technical knowledge but will instead try to find out if you have the intellectual capacity to assimilate the training provided by the company.

Tips

·         Be ready for every kind of situation: don't be put off by the premises or the layout of the space.

·         Your outward appearance is a sign of courtesy. Dress in accordance with the company you contacted.

·         Prepare a brief presentation (around 3 minutes) which will answer the first traditional question: tell me something about yourself.

·         Listen carefully to the questions, never interrupt, pay attention to how you express yourself: i.e. syntax, appropriate vocabulary, articulation, elocution and flow

·         Use the first person: speak clearly and at natural speed.

·         Prepare: know the contents of your CV, in other words, the different stages of your experience, inside out.

·         Illustrate each argument you put forward about your personal or professional background, with a specific example, if possible backed up with figures: use your experiences to illustrate your competencies. Be concrete: give facts and figures.

·         In the frequent case of a Competency Based Interview, illustrate your answers by presenting your experiences using the CSR method: Conditions: when, where and with whom? The different Stages of the mission, and the Results obtained

·         Include the criteria required for the job when formulating your answers 

·         Only answer the questions you're asked and don't bombard the recruiter with a lot of useless detail. Be concise, and speak in a structured and timely manner.

·         Show that you are curious and proactive. Prepare relevant questions about the company to demonstrate your interest.

·         Look your interlocutor in the eyes and if you need to, take notes, although ask for permission beforehand.

·         Don't try to bluff or you will be less at ease: your interlocutor will soon pick up on your lack of sincerity.

·         When asked difficult questions about your weak points, use the opportunity to highlight the lessons you learnt from your difficulties, rather than the difficulty itself.

·         Smile and be enthusiastic.

·         Conclude with practical matters like what happens after the interview: ask about when you might expect to get an answer.

Ready, steady, go!

The interview usually begins with the traditional invitation: tell me something about yourself. This very broad question provides an opportunity to assess the applicant's summarizing and analytical skills. You need to get to the point, and only speak about what the interviewer might want to know with respect to the job on offer.

Young graduates should speak briefly about their course, highlighting what they did during their study programme and what might be of direct interest to the company depending on the job on offer.

Education

What was your specialisation or major?

Which were your best subjects?

Do you consider yourself to be more of an all-rounder?

If you could begin studying again, would you do the same thing?

Which languages do you speak and what's your level?

Have you ever stayed abroad?

Are you IT literate? Which software can you use?

Experience gained during work placements

Tell me about your work placements/internships.

Tell me exactly what you achieved.

Tell me something about the corporate culture in the company where you did your placement.

 What was the most successful aspect of this experience?

What did you enjoy most? Why?

What lessons did you learn from your placements?

When you describe an experience, highlight your ability to manage, decide, delegate, persuade and negotiate.

Reasons for applying

Why do you think you would enjoy working in this job or this company?

What interested you in the advert?

What do you think you can offer the company?

What do you know our company, our products, our market, our customers and our competitors?

Which job area attracts you the most and why?

If you were completely free to choose your job, which type of job would you like to do?

Which other companies have you contacted?

Have you had any other offers?

What do you expect from your career?

What are your medium-term career objectives?

Your personality

What are your main strengths and weaknesses?

Tell me more about yourself. What would your best friend say about you?

Are you patient?

How important is money for you?

Which experiences (work placements, associations, trips, artistic activities, sports,...) have most shaped your personality?

What did you learn while you were abroad?

Which were the best or most challenging moments in your past?

Can you tell me about something you did that you are particularly proud of?

What have been the greatest responsibilities you have held (budget, people)?

Have you ever led a team?

Are you able to call yourself into question?

How do you work with people who do not have the same educational background or interests as you?

Can you tell me about a time during the last year when you have had to be creative?

Behaviour at work

What is your attitude to the hierarchy?

Do you enjoy working in a group and why? (examples)

How do you work in a team?

How do you organise your work?

In which conditions are you most productive at work?

What's your working style?

Which management system do you prefer?

Conditions

Would you be willing to travel? Are you willing to travel frequently?

Would you agree to move somewhere else for the job?

Do you enjoy social or trendy gatherings?

When will you be available?

Leisure activities

Did you work while you were studying?

What are your hobbies?

What experience would you say you have gained from your leisure activities?

What do you do during your holidays?

And lastly, two favourite recruitment questions.

Do you think you've said everything you want to?

Are there any questions you'd like to ask me?