Recruitment is my passion and I often get asked about how to nail an interview. If there is one piece of advice I can give my candidates prior to an interview is for them to prepare, prepare, PREPARE! When you’re asked, “Tell me about a time when...” it may ignite a fireball of panic, resulting in absolute bewilderment. But there is a way to remedy that! Read on for a few tips on how to handle even the most difficult question or role play with aplomb and confidence.

Behavioural Questions

Best practice interviewers will use “behavioural questions”, so focus the bulk of your preparation on navigating through these. By asking questions about past situations and how you responded to them, it will paint a clearer picture of you and your capabilities for the job you are interviewing for – the basic premise is that past behaviour predicts future behaviour. Some examples of behavioural questions can include:

• -Tell me when you gave exceptional customer service
• -Describe a time when you had to keep track of a lot of activities
• -Give me an example of a time you had to deal with a difficult customer
• -Describe a situation where you had to go beyond your job description to get a job done.
• -Give me an example of a situation which you took initiative to change a process

Answering these types of detailed questions can fluster many people, however, preparation is the key to opening the doors of success here. Prior to the interview, thoroughly examine the job description (if available) or job advert and understand the core competencies they require. Think about how your previous experiences and situations can illustrate your abilities for each competency.

A good technique to remember is STAR. This acronym stands for Situation or Task – outlining the situation you have been in relating to the question, then discuss the Actions you took in addressing it and finally tell the interviewer the Result. Try not to use the same experience more than once. Take time to practice them out loud to yourself, your recruiter or anyone who will listen. The effort will be worth it! Not only will you feel more confident, but you’ll also be able to iron out any phrases that don’t feel comfortable or don’t sit well with your communication style, so you sound like you, not a well-rehearsed robot!

It’s important for me to emphasise a point here that I come across almost every day when interviewing candidates: you don’t have to answer a question immediately! Giving a rushed response can do more harm than good. It’s OK take a breather, deliberate and ask for a moment to think about the question or even ask to come back to the question.

Assessment Centres

If the thought of attending an assessment centre plunges your nerves into a simmering vat of fear, you are not alone. You may feel exposed and vulnerable, however assessment centres are an amazing opportunity for you get to know the organisation, potential work mates and the environment that you may end up working in. An assessment centre will likely assess your problem-solving skills, verbal communication and interpersonal capacities, assertiveness or your ability to be persuasive. They will often include roleplays, one on one interviews and team activities.

Roleplays can be tough to prepare for but my advice is participate as you would if you were in the job! Take it seriously and use the opportunity to decide if the job / environment/ team is what you are after.

Don’t Forget the Basics

Take the time to cover off the basics and give yourself a really good chance of success. Here are some of my tips:

• Research the company, the role and management. Take time to look at the company website, LinkedIn profiles and the job description if available. Prepare some questions you would like to ask them. Perhaps about the company culture, their vision or current challenges. The interview is not one-sided and open to discourse.
• Plan where you will be going, and where you will park
• Dress appropriately
• One of the biggest complaints I hear from employers are the long-winded answers people offer at interview. Curb the waffle!
• Be aware of any visible signs that accompany your nerves and try to address them. Try to control shaking legs, untethered hands or the urge to twirl your hair!
• If you are going to attend an assessment centre, you are more than likely going to be there for 4 or more hours. Cut distractions and focus all your energies on this time with your potential employer
• Leave your phone in the car. I promise you will survive without it.

Final Thoughts

The New Zealand job market is competitive and it can be hard to differentiate yourself from others when seeking that coveted position. It can be disarming when faced with a spate of behavioural questions or a role play at the interview. The best way to tackle these situations is to arm yourself with all the necessary tools before meeting the employer. Research the business and what the role encompasses. Practice your story at home with solid examples that illustrate the competencies they are after. After all, no one knows you better than you do.

With this arsenal of information and a confident smile, you will be in good stead to land your dream job. And remember – prepare, prepare, PREPARE!

Are you looking for your dream job now? Let me help steer your career in the right direction and get in touch today.