Tips For a succesful Interview Oct 2015 - The TRS Guide

Tips for a Successful
Interview
TRS Staffing Solutions
Oct 2015

Tips For A Successful Interview
2 Tips for a Successful Interview
Introduction
An interview is essentially the opportunity for the candidate (you) to meet the potential
employer. It is of paramount importance that you understand it is a two way process to obtain
the greatest amount of information available at what maybe the only opportunity to
successfully obtain your ‘ideal’ job. Set out in this paper are a number of guidelines that will
help improve your interview technique.
Before the interview
90% of interview success is in the preparation: if you are well prepared, you will be less
nervous on the day, and less likely to be thrown by difficult questions. So what preparation do
you need to do?
Tips for preparation
o How formal is the interview likely to be? Be prepared for anything.
o Research what the job is likely to involve.
o Read any literature the company sends to you beforehand - they'll probably ask
questions and you need to ask questions about the company.
o Research the company and its competitors.
o Check where the interview will be held, how long it will take you to get there and if
possible, do a dry run beforehand to check how long the journey takes.
o Try to find out who will be interviewing you. Are they part of the Personnel function,
or will you be seen by your future (you hope) boss?
Tips for attending the interview
If you've got an interview, you know they're happy with your qualifications and experience.
Now, they want to know what sort of person you are.
Time management
Don't just be on time, be early. Providing yourself
enough time prior to your interview not only
reflects on your good time management, but gives
you time to de-stress from the journey and revise
your preparation; questions, presentations etc.
It is advisable to note all relevant contact details so
that if you are running late, you can ring ahead.

Behaviour
The key to a successful interview starts at the first handshake with your interview and co-
interviewers. The knack of a good handshake may influence the results for your next job
interview. Aim for firm but not crushing; make eye-to-eye contact; shake no more than four
times and still hold eye contact with your interviewer.
Presentation is crucial to the interview starting from what you wear to how you physically
present yourself and control your nerves. Regardless to the role or company it is always safest to
be formal as opposed to quirky and casual.
As much as nerves can get the better of you, confidence is the key to success in an interview.
The body language you use for example, using your hands to talk; straight posture and smiling
will prove your confidence. Whereas slouching or crossing your arms may come across as
defensive.
Listen
Listening carefully before, during and after
the interview is very valuable for gathering
information from as little as the interviewers
name as well as any co-interviewers who are
joining. Using their names immediately when
greeting them will help you remember them
throughout.
Remember you are also there to learn about
the job and the company, so listen as
carefully as possible to what is expected from
you in the role and what the company does.
Supporting documents
You may be asked to bring along supporting documents for example, references and certificates.
Ensure that you have these presented in a professional folder and only provide when prompted.
Evidence of achievements would be good to include in here too.
Interview Blunders
No matter how much preparation you put in or how much you pay for your interview outfit,
there are still a number of interview mistakes that you need to avoid:
o Arriving late due to being lost;
o Poor communication or;
o Too much communication;
o Complete wrong dress code;

o Being caught out on lies or unknown facts;
o Bad mouthing previous employers.
Questions
There are many questions the interviewers could ask you, but what they want to know are the
below three factors:
o Why did you apply with them?
o Why do you want the role?
o Why should they employ you?
Answering questions
o Listen carefully, and make sure you
really answer the question and where
possible with examples.
o Don’t rush in with your answer. If a
question has thrown you off balance, ask for time to think
about it and come back to it later if possible.
o Answer as honestly as possible. If you have touched on an unsuccessful experience,
admit it and tell them what you learned from it.
Preparation for the top 10 interview questions
The questions below have been asked by interviewers for decades and are still some of the most
commonly asked questions in interviews, so it is important you are prepared to answer them.
1. What are you weaknesses?
The best way to handle this question is by minimizing your weakness and emphasising your
strengths. Stay away from personal qualities and concentrate on professional traits.
2. Why should we hire you?
Summarise your experiences and skills and how you can develop this into the role. Emphasise
how these experiences can make a difference to the company and even the team you will be
working with.
3. Why do you want to work here?
The interviewer is listening for an answer that indicates you’ve given this some thought and are
not sending out CV’s just because there is a job opening. Familiarise yourself with the company
and its competitors beforehand so you can refer to them here.
4. What are your goals?
This is a good chance to talk about short-term and intermediate goals first and then discuss how
you would like to grow in the position that will determine your long term goal.

5. Why did you leave (or why are you leaving) your current job?
If you’re unemployed, state your reason for leaving in a positive context and then go on to
focusing on what you want to do and what you want from your next job.
6. When were you most satisfied in your job?
The interviewer wants to know what motivates you. If you can relate to an example of a job or
project when you were excited and enthusiastic, the interviewer will get a good idea of your
preferences.
7. What can you do for us that other candidates can’t?
What makes you unique? This will take an assessment of your experiences, skills and traits.
Summarise concisely your skills, abilities and what motivates you to work.
8. What three positive values would your previous employer say about you?
Here you can refer back to previous performance appraisals from your previous role to identify
what you was valued for in your previous role and what will benefit the company in your new
role.
9. What salary are you seeking?
It is to your advantage if the employer tells you the range first. Prepare by knowing the going
rate for your role and industry and your bottom line or walk-away point.
10. If you were an animal, which one would you want to be?
Interviewers use this type of psychological question to see if you can think quickly. What type of
personality would it take to get the job done? What impression do you want to make?
All these questions are easy to answer if you've prepared beforehand therefore compile a list of your
strengths and weaknesses, as well as a list of answers to typical questions.
Telephone and Skype interviews
In today’s global society that we live in, telephone and Skype interviews have become a central
part of an employer’s recruitment process. Prepare for these types of interview just as you
would for a face to face interview. Compile a list of your strengths and weaknesses, as well as
a list of answers to typical questions. Below are some other helpful pointers.
Preparation before the interview
o Keep your resume in clear view;
o Have a short list of your accomplishments available to review;
o Have a pen and paper handy for note taking;
o Turn call-waiting off so your call isn't interrupted;
o Where possible try to use a landline so you have clear reception and don’t drop the call;
o Ensure you are in a quiet room where no one can disturb you;

o If your interview is over Skype ensure you are appropriately dressed and check your
Skype is working in advance. Ensure you have the Skype ID of the person who is
interviewing you just like you would have a location map for an interview you were
attending;
o Talking on the phone is not always easy, If possible practice your interview with family or
a friend and record yourself so you can listen out for your ‘ums’ and ‘uhs’ etc.;
o Do keep a glass of water handy, in case you need to wet your mouth.
During the interview
o Smile. Smiling will project a positive image to the
listener and will change the tone of your
voice;
o Speak slowly and enunciate clearly;
o Use the person’s title (Mr. or Ms. And their
last name). Only use a first name if they ask
you to; Also remember cultural differences for
example generally in the Middle East it is more
common to use Mr. or Ms and their First Name.
o Don’t interrupt the interviewer.
Ending of an interview
At the end of the interview, the interviewer will most likely ask you if you have any questions. If
you tend to go blank at this point, take along a list and consult it. The employer will be
impressed by your forethought and interest in the job. Essential questions could include:
o How could I help your company meet its goals?
o As an employee, how could I exceed your expectations?
o What distinguishes this company from its competitors?
o What do you like most about working for this company?
o How do you evaluate success here?
No one ever does a perfect interview so don’t worry about your mistakes. The people who get the jobs
are generally those who kept their mistakes down to a minimum and are best prepared. Always Ask for
feedback at the end of the interview by asking “What is the next step in the procedure” you will be
surprised how many clients decide not to proceed further with the applicants as they felt the person was
not interested in them or the role.
Don’t forget to thank the interviewer for his/her time at the end, smile and repeat the
professional handshake that you started the interview with.
Good Luck! TRS Staffing Team

About TRS
TRS Staffing Solutions is a world leading recruitment organization, listed in the top 100 staffing
companies in the world; we specialize in the recruitment and supply of professional,
engineering, technical and field talent. TRS Consultants JLT is the HR Consultancy arm of the
group providing HR advice and related solutions.
Since 1984, TRS has been developing resources, skills and specialist expertise to benefit our
clients and candidates. These essential tools are required in sourcing and retaining highly-skilled
teams for projects of all sizes, including some of the world’s most complex multi-billion dollar
mega-projects.
TRS places candidates across six continents on a contract, direct hire or permanent basis.
Clients include industry leaders, global owners and operators, as well as engineering,
procurement and construction (EPC companies), major consultancies and government
departments.
We have the scale to fulfill the most demanding client needs, as well as the local focus to
identify and attract the most capable candidates for technical, professional and engineering
vacancies. With our global footprint, TRS Staffing Solutions is always able to source locally,
giving clients a cost-effective, competitive edge.
TRS is committed to providing 100% customer focus, whether in finding our candidates their
perfect job, meeting a client’s requirement to recruit talented professionals or to provide HR &
Mobility Advice. TRS is the Partner of choice and can be trusted to deliver the right solutions
every time.
TRS Staffing Solutions are at the heart of the Middle East Rail, Infrastructure, and Oil & Gas
Sectors. We use our global footprint, technical resources and expertise to help meet the most
challenging client requirements.
To talk to us about how TRS can specifically tailor staffing and HR Solutions for your organization
please contact our Business Development Manager - MENA Region, Nabeel Ashraf +971
555663667 or email at Nabeel.Ashraf@trsstaffing.com
To learn more about our organisation, please visit our website at www.trsstaffing.com.

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Tips For a succesful Interview Oct 2015 - The TRS Guide

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Tips For a succesful Interview Oct 2015 - The TRS Guide