Lets face it, interviews are tough. Not only do you need to appear relaxed (when you’re not), make eye contact (without staring), and come through like it was a breeze (when all you want is for the interview to end), you also need to know how to ask and answer questions.

Landing an interview is an indication that your covering letter and CV impressed an employer enough to select you as a possible candidate for employment. Even if you don’t get the job, you should feel encouraged that you were able to practise marketing yourself - and learn from that experience for your next interview. Planning ahead can make the interview process easier. Make first impressions count - come across as the best person for the job.

The interview process is not just showing up for an interview in your finery, answering a few questions and then crossing your fingers and hoping for the best. If you want a good interview, you have to work at it. After all, you want that job don’t you? So do your homework, not only on the position you’re applying for but on yourself as well, and get that job!

This section is divided into different topics. For best results take a look at all of them.

Before the Interview
  Preparing for the Interview
  Self-Preparation Q&A

During the Interview
  Questions for You to Ask
  Possible Interview Questions and Responses
  General Tips and Techniques
   Interview Do's and Dont's

After the Interview
  Interview Assessment Checklist

BEFORE THE INTERVIEW

Research
Find out everything you can about the organisation. Phone and ask for a copy of their publications or speak to someone who can tell you what it does and how it operates.

Organise
Choose and prepare your interview outfit the day before the interview. Make sure everything you plan to wear is clean and pressed so there won't be any surprises just before you head out the door. Go over the documents you will take with you.

  business cards - where appropriate
  several copies of your CV
  reference letters
  a portfolio or samples of your work (depending on your profession and experience)

Rehearse
Review the information you've compiled on the company's products, services and operations. If your interview is in response to an advertisement, review the advert so the key points are fresh in your mind. Practice your answers to the questions you know will be asked. Go over any questions you may have for the interviewer. Run through a "practise interview" with someone you can trust to be honest with you.

A Final Check (day or evening before)
Pack all the documents you plan to take with you.
Make sure you include a notepad and extra pens.
Make sure that somewhere handy you have the name of the person you'll be meeting, address, phone number, directions.
Make sure you have enough money available for the next day's expenses (transportation, pay phones, coffee and other miscellaneous items).
Get a good night's rest.
Make sure your alarm clock is working and set correctly.

Self-Preparation Q&A
Following is a list of questions that you can expect on a job interview. Take the time to answer these questions. The more honest you are with yourself, the more likely you will find employment that you will be happy with. Writing out the answers, or practising them with someone you trust, can give you a head start in answering the questions when they are asked of you at an interview.

Ask yourself . . . .
What are my current short-term career goals in terms of specific occupations?
What are my tentative long-term (five-year) career goals?
What is my educational background?
What skills have I developed, and what training have I received that is relevant to my career goals?
What are my work experiences?
What skills did I use in my previous experiences that are relevant to jobs I wish to pursue now?
What are my personal skills and abilities?
What are specific examples of how I have used these skills?
What accomplishments in my work, school, college or community am I most proud of?

Regarding this possible job and organisation, answer the following questions:
What interested me about the job and organisation?
What are the most important points about my background that I want to communicate in this interview?
What additional information do I want the interviewer to be aware of?
What difficult questions do I anticipate?
What research have I done about this organisation?
What are some questions I want to ask the interviewer?

DURING THE INTERVIEW

Questions For You To Ask
You'll be answering questions, but there are some questions you should ask too. The questions you ask are as critical as those that the employer will ask. It's important to be a good listener and react positively to the answers. Below are a few suggestions of questions you could ask:

About The Job
1. What is the size of the department / branch / section?
2. Do you have a training program? Could you please describe it?
3. What are some of the opportunities for progression?

About The Person You Would Be Working For
1. Who would I report to directly?
2. What is their role within the organisation?

About The Company
1. What is the management philosophy?
2. Does the company have plans for expansion or reduction?
3. How many people are being interviewed for this position?

Possible Interview Questions and Responses
Here is a list of some typical interview questions and possible responses. Study them carefully and prepare well-thought-out answers. This will help you overcome your nervousness.

Question: Tell me something about yourself.
Purpose: This question is aimed at finding out what kind of person you are, not merely about your job skills.
Response: Mention your personal strengths, interests and abilities.

Question: Have you ever done this kind of work before?
Purpose: You should never say "no" to this type of question. Since no two jobs are the same, what the interviewer wants to know is whether you can learn to do a particular job in a reasonable amount of time.
Response: Mention transferable skills and experience you have that make it likely you can quickly learn the duties required. Discuss your education/training in relation to the job, any relevant non-paid experiences, and how quickly you have learned that type of work in the past.

Question: Why do you want to work here?
Purpose: The aim is to learn whether you will be satisfied with your job and likely to stay. It is also a way to see if you have done any research on the company and know it enough to really want to work there, rather than just wanting to work anywhere.
Response: To reassure the interviewer, mention as many positive features about the job, company or organisation as you can.

Question: Why did you leave your last job?
Purpose: When interviewers ask why you left your last job or why you want to leave your present job, they are trying to determine whether you had difficulties that may also arise with them. In describing your last job, say as many positive things as you can, even if it had many undesirable features - all jobs do.
Response: Try not to say anything negative about the company or the supervisor, only that your needs did not fit with the job. Be evasive, if possible; if you criticise the organisation or employer, interviewers will assume you'll do the same to them. On the other hand, they will regard you as appreciative and pleasant if they hear you speaking in a positive way about your former employer and will feel that you are likely to be appreciative and pleasant in their organisation.

Question: What kind of salary are you expecting?
Purpose: When you are asked about your salary requirements, the interviewer is attempting to determine whether your expectations are too high for them.
Response: Of course, you want as much as the company is willing to pay. However, by naming a salary at this stage of the hiring process, you can only harm yourself. The wisest course is to avoid naming a specific figure until you have been offered a position.

Question: Why should we hire you instead of someone else?
Purpose: The interviewer is asking you, in a sense, to make their decision for them.
Response: If you have to hesitate or can think of only one or two reasons, then they will feel that the reasons are not clear or not sufficient You should quickly list your skills and positive characteristics.

Question: When are you available for work?
Purpose: The interviewer wants to know your availability.
Response: Try to answer ‘as soon as possible'. However, if you are contractually obligated to give notice with an existing employer, you should state this now to avoid difficulties for all parties should you get hired.

Question: What are your greatest strengths/weaknesses?
Purpose: The interviewer wants to see how you see yourself.
Response: Try to highlight your most positive attributes (i.e., skill, reliability, experience, enthusiasm...) Make sure to use examples to illustrate your positive qualities and how they apply to work. Do not describe any weaknesses but mention developments and improvements you have made.

Question: What are your long-term goals?
Purpose: The interviewer is trying to find out whether this position fits in with your longer term plans.
Response: Stress that you like the company/organisation, you hope to become a valuable employee, and that you hope to be in a role that challenges you and enables you to make an effective contribution to the organisation. Even if you know that there are opportunities for advancement with the organisation, be cautious about making statements concerning your desire for promotion. Excessive enthusiasm for advancement can be misinterpreted as dissatisfaction with the job you are starting in or as a future problem employee.

Question: What kind of machines/software can you operate?
Purpose: If the interviewer asks this question, then, obviously, skill in this area is very important, and you should outline your experience and capability.
Response: Be as specific as possible about your expertise - it provides evidence of your familiarity. If the interviewer asks about equipment you haven't had experience with, describe what types of similar packages/machines you have worked with, and convey your confidence that you can learn quickly.

Question: Can you work under pressure or tight deadlines?
Purpose: This question indicates that your job will involve working under pressure and deadlines, so reassure the interviewer by giving examples of paid or unpaid activities that involved deadlines/pressure.
Response: Mention several examples, stressing how capable you were in rising to the occasion, that you did not mind the stress, and possibly even enjoyed it!

Question: What would you do in this situation...?
Purpose: Whether the question is hypothetical or technical, the interviewer is trying to gauge your ability to function under pressure, and to analyse and solve problems using sound judgement.
Response: Take the time required to answer the question carefully, and ask for further details or explanations where necessary. Keep in mind the general steps of problem solving:
  Collect information
  Analyse the information
  Prioritise it by order of importance
  Get expert advice or opinion on the subject
  Reach a decision
  Communicate the decision
  Implement the decision
If given a technical question, keep your cool, think carefully about the question and you may find you have the necessary background to answer.

Question: What do you think of working in a group?
Purpose: In this question, you are being asked to demonstrate your ability to get along well with others.
Response: Speak of the advantages of working in a group. For example, you might explain how the various individuals in the group complement one another in carrying out certain tasks. Give concrete examples of personal experience in a group.

Question: Would you be willing to work as a temp or on a fixed-term contract?
Purpose: Consider this a viable alternative to permanent employment. Temporary or contract work will get your foot in the door, give you a chance to prove yourself, give you new current experiences and additional references.
Response: Think hard before turning down this useful opportunity.

Be prepared for questions which ask you to relate a particular incident from past experience: Describe a time when you... How did you go about... Give us an example of... These types of questions require some thought on your part. Try to be comfortable with the silence rather than blurt out "I can't think of anything; I don't know."

General Tips and Techniques
It's important to make a good first impression at your interview. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

1. Arrive no more than ten minutes ahead of time. Take a few minutes to relax and review your notes or job-related material.

2. Be friendly and business-like with everyone.

3. Greet the interviewer and introduce yourself. Shake an offered hand. Follow the lead of the interviewer, stay on topic and ask for clarification where necessary.

4. Be attentive, enthusiastic and maintain eye contact.

5. When asked if you have any questions, briefly ask any suitable questions. State your interest in the position and the organisation with enthusiasm.

6. Let the interviewers know that you appreciate this opportunity, and thank them for their time.

7. Confirm a time when they will let you know of their decision. If it is not definite, arrange to call them.

Do's and Dont's
Promote yourself without bragging. Keep control of yourself and the interview. Keep things moving; but most of all, keep the talk geared to what you can do for the organisation. Don't exaggerate or compare yourself to others.

Shut the door on your troubles. Avoid discussions about personal matters. Think about what you can do for the employer.

Think before you answer. It is quite acceptable to pause before responding in order to organise your thoughts..

Don't give "yes" or "no" answers. One-liners are conversation stoppers. Elaborate briefly on your experience, your skills, and background.

Be a good listener; but if you are asked a question you don't understand, ask for clarification.

Eye contact and body language are as important in the interview as good answers. Look at the interviewer. Avoid raising barriers. Do not cross your arms. Do not place objects such as a briefcase on the desk between you and the interviewer. Avoid appearing withdrawn from the interviewer.

Be calm and poised. Be aware of your nervous habits, and try to keep them under control.

Watch your speech. Avoid "er" and "ah", or any other annoying speech habits. Pay attention to voice level: not too soft or too loud. Use the interviewer as your model - how are they speaking?

Don't use flattery. Don't be a "yes" person. At the same time, don't argue.

Don't criticise your old job or boss. The idea is to get a job, not sympathy.

Don't discuss politics, religion, or controversial subjects.

When asking specific questions which you have prepared ahead of time, be careful about the order in which you bring them up. Don't ask about the salary or fringe benefits first.

Leave as soon as the interview is over.

AFTER THE INTERVIEW

Some general tips:
Take notes immediately after the interview. You will want to remember the person's name, title, address, and important information that may help you to prepare for a second interview with the organisation. Recap your skills. If you don't hear from the interviewer after a reasonable interval, follow up with a phone call. If you're notified that you have not received the position, ask why you were not successful. If you were not qualified, ask if there are positions with the organisation for which you are qualified. Try to keep communication with the organisation open to better your chances for future positions.

Use the Interview Assessment Checklist to record your impressions of the interview. Look at where you did well and where you could improve in the future. Remember, the more honest you are with yourself, the better you will do in future interviews.

Interview Assessment Checklist
This worksheet can be useful in helping you review your job interview - where you think you did well and where you could improve. You should complete it while the interview is still fresh in your mind. It's also useful to keep it as part of your preparation for future interviews.

Did I have the necessary materials with me?
  Writing materials
  Personal information package containing CV, documents, portfolio or work samples, reference letters, or lists of referees

Did I arrive on time?

Was I courteous to everyone?

Did I know the interviewer's name?

Did I give positive signals about my interest in the post?

Did I show interest and enthusiasm in my body language?

Was my tone of voice pleasant and easy for the interviewer to hear?

Did I look at the interviewer, when speaking and when being spoken to?

Did I show that I was listening by answering the questions?

Did I control my annoyance when dealing with irrelevant questions or interruptions?

Did I answer all the questions adequately?

Did I demonstrate my qualifications in the areas of:
  Education
  Work experience
  Accomplishments
  Career plans and goals
  Knowledge of the organisation
  Knowledge of the job in question

Did I answer all the questions honestly?

Did I convince the employer that I was qualified?

Did I ask relevant questions when given the opportunity to do so?

Did the interviewer do a good job working with me? If no, what went wrong?

Which questions did I have the most trouble answering adequately?

What were my greatest strengths in the interview? What were my greatest weaknesses?

How could I have improved this interview?

How would I assess my overall performance?
  Poor
  Adequate
  Good
  Excellent