Interview Tips

  • Big Tip: Use the interviewer’s name in conversation occasionally. That single act will endear you more than you can imagine!

    Interviews Tips – for Interviewees
    Do as much research as you can about the company in question – products, services, markets, competitors, press cuttings, current activities, priorities.
    Assemble hard evidence (make sure it’s clear and concise) of how what you’ve achieved in the past – you need proof, this will put you ahead of those who merely talk about it.

  • Make sure your CV is up to date, looking very good and even if already supplied to the interviewer take three with you (one for the interviewer, one for you and a spare in case the interviewer brings a colleague in to the meeting).
    Review your personal goals and be able to speak openly about them and how you plan to achieve them.
    Ensure you have 2/3 really good reputable and relevant references, and check they’d each be happy to be contacted.
    Make sure you’re in an enthusiastic, alert, positive mind-set.

Interview questions

When dealing with questions that put pressure on you or create stress, be confident, credible and constructive (always stress the positives) in your answers. And make sure you prepare.

  • Why should we hire YOU?
  • Why are you interested in this job?
  • What sort of company would you like to work for?
  • Where do you want to live? Are you willing to relocate?
  • Describe your current job and responsibilities.
  • What are your salary demands?
  • What experience do you have?
  • How do your skills and experience relate to this job?
  • What technologies and projects have you worked on?
  • What are your achievements in your current job?
  • Who has had the greatest impact on your life? Describe your past mentors.
  • What do you really want to do in your next career move?
  • Why would you like to work for our organisation?
  • What do you want to be doing in your career, five years from now?
  • What was your last salary and bonus?
  • What style of management gets the best from you?
  • What interests you about our products and services?
  • What would your previous employers say about you?
  • What have you learnt most from the jobs you have had? Which did you most enjoy?
  • What have you done that’s shown initiative?
  • What are your strengths?
  • What is your major weakness?
  • What are you doing about this?
  • What do you think determines a person’s progress in a good company?
  • How do you spend your spare time?
  • What are your hobbies?
  • What can you contribute to the company? What can you bring to this role?
  • Can you work under pressure?
  • Why do you want to change jobs?
  • How do you work in a team?
  • What will the job entail from day one?
  • Who will I be reporting to?
  • What sort of training programme is available?
  • What are the training opportunities?
  • How many other people will be working on my project / in my department?
  • Why has the position become available?
  • What is the culture of the company like?
  • What are the company’s plans for future development?
  • Please outline the competitive environment in which the organisation operates.
  • What are the executive management styles?
  • What resources are available/needed to do the job?
  • What are the major challenges facing the company?
  • How have the organisation’s goals changed over the past years?
  • What are the main overall objectives and responsibilities of the position?
  • What obstacles are commonly encountered in reaching these objectives?
  • Tell me a bit about yourself and the rest of the team.
  • Could you see me fitting into the role/company?
  • What would you say is the best thing about working for this company/your role?
  • Why should we hire YOU?
  • Why are you interested in this job?
  • What sort of company would you like to work for?
  • Where do you want to live? Are you willing to relocate?
  • Describe your current job and responsibilities.
  • What are your salary demands?
  • What experience do you have?
  • How do your skills and experience relate to this job?
  • What technologies and projects have you worked on?
  • What are your achievements in your current job?
  • Who has had the greatest impact on your life? Describe your past mentors.
  • What do you really want to do in your next career move?
  • Why would you like to work for our organisation?
  • What do you want to be doing in your career, five years from now?
  • What was your last salary and bonus?
  • What style of management gets the best from you?
  • What interests you about our products and services?
  • What would your previous employers say about you?
  • What have you learnt most from the jobs you have had? Which did you most enjoy?
  • What have you done that’s shown initiative?
  • What are your strengths?
  • What is your major weakness?
  • What are you doing about this?
  • What do you think determines a person’s progress in a good company?
  • How do you spend your spare time?
  • What are your hobbies?
  • What can you contribute to the company? What can you bring to this role?
  • Can you work under pressure?
  • Why do you want to change jobs?
  • How do you work in a team?
  • What will the job entail from day one?
  • Who will I be reporting to?
  • What sort of training programme is available?
  • What are the training opportunities?
  • How many other people will be working on my project / in my department?
  • Why has the position become available?
  • What is the culture of the company like?
  • What are the company’s plans for future development?
  • Please outline the competitive environment in which the organisation operates.
  • What are the executive management styles?
  • What resources are available/needed to do the job?
  • What are the major challenges facing the company?
  • How have the organisation’s goals changed over the past years?
  • What are the main overall objectives and responsibilities of the position?
  • What obstacles are commonly encountered in reaching these objectives?
  • Tell me a bit about yourself and the rest of the team.
  • Could you see me fitting into the role/company?
  • What would you say is the best thing about working for this company/your role?

Most Important

This is a huge decision for you and may shape your life for years to come. Be confident in your ability and ensure you sell yourself focusing on both your skills in relation to the role and your personality fit for the company. You need to ask as many questions as possible to ensure you are happy to work within the organization for the coming years. Remember you must base your decision on facts instead of making potentially costly assumptions.

The Recruit First IT team are here to help and should you require any more information, please feel free to call or mail us. No question is too big or small so don’t hesitate, call us today and allow us help you through the interview and drive your career forward to that next step.