Why prepare ?
Preparation will:
increase your confidence
Reduce your nerves
Enable you to not have to think on your feet
Allow you to give thorough answers
Increase your likelihood of success
Research your organisation
It’s vital you know as much as possible about:
• The organisation
• The type of work
• The Values of the Organisation
• Some of this information will be in the position description
• You will need to also research online
Tell me about yourself?
Highlight the best parts of your resume
Be concise & put in chronological order
Keep your answer relevant to your current and recent experience
Show enthusiasm
You can use your elevator pitch
Keep it professional
Highlight your transferable skills and achievements relevant to the position description
Highlight relevant education and work experience
Practise the answer to yourself
With a partner practise asking this question of each other and answering it confidently
Remember practising will build your confidence and ability to say this without thinking
What is your greatest weakness?
Make it work related but not an essential skill or responsibility for the role
Needs to be things you can improve on and are not a personality trait
Within a context or situation
Try to tell a story as to how it is no longer a problem or how you are willing to overcome it
State the weakness, what actions your took to overcome it and the results of your actions
Practise the answer to yourself
With a partner practise asking this question of each other and answering it confidently
Remember practising will build your confidence and ability to say this without thinking
What are your strengths?
Try and choose 3 strengths that matches the job description.
Demonstrate where you have used these strengths in the past using the STAR principal
Demonstrate how you could use that strength in the position you are applying for
Practise the answer to yourself
With a partner practise asking this question of each other and answering it confidently
Remember practising will build your confidence and ability to say this without thinking
Why should we hire you over other applicants?
This is an opportunity to really sell yourself and leave a final impression
Look at your position description and highlight key requirements
Put this into a succinct statement that highlights you are the right person and the right fit for the job and company
Speak confidently and enthusiastically when you deliver this
Why should we hire you?
Practise it to yourself
With a partner practise asking this question of each other and answering it confidently
Remember practising will build your confidence and ability to say this without thinking
Questions for the interviewer
Always prepare at least 3 questions for the interviewer
Ensure the questions do not relate to the benefits, leave or anything you could have found in the job description
Stay away from personal questions