Hints and tips

• Think of unique experiences that have had an impact on your life and don’t be afraid to talk about your achievements or area where there is room for improvement.
• Try to avoid the good old school or university project examples – recruiters hear them all the time!
• Companies don’t expect you to know everything about them. However, they do expect you to know enough to show that you’re interested in the role.
• Avoid criticising previous employers or colleagues, focusing on bad feelings or giving excuses about negative experiences – try to focus on the positive things you have taken away from these experiences.
• Be poised. A firm handshake, good eye contact, sitting up straight and avoiding nervous habits such as finger tapping or giggling all help to ensure you come across professionally.
• Stick to the facts. If you’re asked a question and stuck for thoughts, it will become obvious if you don’t tell the truth. If need be, refer back to your resume or some notes you have prepared.
• An interview is an opportunity to confirm whether this is an organization you can see yourself working with. Think about all those questions that you haven’t had an answer to during your preparation, and come armed with one or two which will allow you to leave an interview in a better position to make an informed career decision.
• Remember: most people who are interviewing you have been in your seat at some stage recently, and understand your nerves. Relax, speak clearly and enthusiastically and you will get the best out of this experience.

First impressions can be your recorded message on a mobile phone, or your personal e-mail address that we use to contact you. When you apply, expect to get a call, and prepare for this accordingly.
When an interview is secured, make sure that you have confirmed the right place and the right time – and while you know to allow enough time to get there, don’t announce yourself too early. There is nothing worse for your nerves than having to sit and wait in an uncomfortable office chair for over half an hour before an interview! If you do arrive early, take the time to go for a walk instead, get some fresh air and run through any questions you may want to ask at the end of your interview.

Here are a few things you might want to consider before an interview to ensure that you are well prepared:
What form will the interview take – is it a one-on-one or panel interview? Will there be a test to assess your skills? If so, what do you need to bring with you – like a calculator, for instance. Don’t be afraid to ask further questions about the interview if you need more details.
Who is interviewing you? You won’t always necessarily find out prior to an interview by whom you will be interviewed, but think about the big picture: What does the organisation do? Talk to your family and friends, research the company’s website – try to find as much information as you can. Having a solid understanding of what the firm does and its value propositions helps prepare you for the good old questions: “Why are you interested in this job?”
Brainstorm the competencies that you think are required to perform in that role and think about examples of when you have demonstrated these competencies (you can also find details about the competencies on our career website). Think outside the examples you have already given either in previous interviews or in your resume. We’re trying to find out as much as possible about you, so we don’t want to hear what we have already heard or read.

Preparation is the key to success – but too much preparation can be just as bad as no preparation at all. Anticipating questions, preparing answers and even rehearsing an interview are great ways to ensure that you are ready for a successful interview, but always be prepared to adapt your responses to the question you have been asked. The best way to prepare is to have lots of examples up your sleeve, and be prepared to adapt them to the question appropriately – we want to hear you speak, and not to hear some pre-defined answers that might have been used by other candidates, too.

Before going into the interview, understand what time restrictions there are and try to keep your answers concise. Nevertheless, make sure that you give enough details that sustain what you are trying to say.
For instance, if you are asked to give an example of when you have demonstrated leadership, give us a “STAR” response: a specific Situation or Task, the Action that you took which demonstrated leadership, and the Result of your action.
Remember that it doesn’t matter if the result wasn’t positive – often what you learnt can be equally beneficial. By using the “STAR” technique, you will get straight to the point and allow enough time for the interviewer to probe for more information where it is needed.