The Interview Is Looming

1 2 3 4 5
Step Three: The Interviews Looming
Clare Jaques 2003, 2004
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otherwise, without the prior permission of the author.
Clare Jaques 2004 1

Step Three: The Interviews Looming
Contents
Whats An Interview For? ........................................................................................................... 5

Why Should I Bother Preparing? ............................................................................................... 6
Preparation Timeline................................................................................................................... 7
Give Yourself A Head Start......................................................................................................... 8
In-Depth: Why & how to research your future employer............................................................ 8
Exercise 1: Background Information .................................................................................... 10
Exercise 2: What Do I Still Want To Know?......................................................................... 16
Exercise 3: How to Mystery Shop...................................................................................... 23
Exercise 4: Research Phone Call: ....................................................................................... 28
Exercise 5: Choosing Questions To Ask In An Interview..................................................... 33
Giving great answers to interview questions ........................................................................... 37
How To Cope With Tough Questions ...................................................................................... 38
Common Interview Questions.................................................................................................. 40
Exercise 6: Practising Answering Tough Questions................................................................ 41
Common interview mistakes.................................................................................................... 54
Interview Techniques................................................................................................................ 57
What to wear............................................................................................................................ 57
Personal hygiene ..................................................................................................................... 58
Dont Forget The Basics .......................................................................................................... 60
Managing Nerves....................................................................................................................... 65
Interview types - know what to expect..................................................................................... 65
No need for nerves .................................................................................................................. 68
Final Checklist ........................................................................................................................... 70
Exercise templates.................................................................................................................... 71
Its up to you whether you work through Step Three in sequence or just pick the exercises that
seem most relevant to you. Bear in mind that some of the exercises build on previous topics, so
you may need to go back and do some background thinking. The instructions make it clear
where this is the case
Clare Jaques 2004 2

Step Three: The Interviews Looming Introduction
Introduction
This is the third step of the five-step process of job-hunting. Weve split things into five separate
chunks, to make it easier for you to find the help you need at whichever stage youre at. Each
step is stand-alone but some exercises build on those from earlier sections. Wherever this is the
case, the instructions will make it clear to you.
Step One Where do I start?
Step Two CV Confidence
Step Three The interviews looming
Step Four After the event
Step Five Ive got a job offer
The Interviews Looming
Whether youve just had the letter and interviews weeks away, or youre biting your nails
because its tomorrow, theres something about job interviews that takes us back to exams at
school.
There may be an initial reaction of panic or excitement?
If there are still weeks to go, then thinking about the interview can be easily put off till
tomorrow until its suddenly there.
The fact is that candidates who prepare for a job interview consistently out-perform those who
dont.
But at the end of the day, its your choice.
So if you choose to maximise your chances of getting the job offer you want, then read on. Well
take you through all you need to know.
Clare Jaques 2004 3

Step Three: The Interviews Looming Introduction
The Interviews Looming takes you through:
Balancing preparation and spontaneity
Some people like to prepare and rehearse, until their responses sound like a robot reciting
a script. Others like to wing it, claiming it gives them the edge.
Neither of these extremes works well in practice.
Well take you through how to get a balance preparing enough so your spontaneity can
shine through.
Preparation Timeline
If youve got weeks to go before the interview, then the amount of preparation you can do
is quite different to if the deadlines only 24 hours away.
This section breaks helps you prioritise your preparation into chunks that are manageable,
no matter how much or little time you have.
Give Yourself A Head Start
So you want to shine in your job interview? Do you want to easily be able to show why
youre the candidate they should offer the job to?
This section takes you through how to maximise your impact and give yourself a head start
over other candidates.
Answering Questions
Most assessment processes are based around answering interview questions at some
point.
How you do this can have a critical impact on your likelihood of getting a job offer.
This section coaches you through how to prepare yourself and which strategies to use to
be able to give compelling answers to even the trickiest of interview questions.
Remember the Basics
Dont rule yourself out of a job offer by forgetting the basics.
Whether its simple interview etiquette, not being sure what to wear or not knowing how to
manage your nerves, make sure you dont fall into the traps that have cost others job
offers.
Clare Jaques 2004 4

Step Three: The Interviews Looming Whats An Interview For?
Whats An Interview For?
Ever wondered why companies run job interviews? Usually while sat outside the interview
office, no doubt!
But what is an interview?
An interview is typically seen by the interviewee as a potential interrogation or even an

examination.
But it doesnt have to be that way.
A good interview should be more of a two-way conversation between the applicant and the
potential future employer.
Its a chance for you to get to know each other and find out whether theres a good fit of skills,
experience and attitude.
Its an opportunity for you to market yourself and let your future employer see the benefits you
could bring to the role.
Imagine it being like a balancing act: both you and the company need to decide whether the job
is the right one for you, so you are entering the interview on an equal footing with the
interviewer.
The more we talk to recruiters, the more we find theyre looking for attitude.
It seems that they will often make allowances for your skills (they can train you) and your
experience (if you can prove you pick things up fast), as long as you have the right attitude.
So whats the right attitude?
Someone who is genuinely interested in the company and who they

think will fit in with the culture and the team.
All the more reason why you should make sure you are natural and relaxed in the job interview.
And thats exactly what this book is designed to help you do. By helping you prepare yourself to
do yourself justice in the interview, youll be able to relax more and show the real you, rather
than the veneered cardboard cut-out that most candidates present. This will give you a spark
that other applicants are missing, meaning you get an advantage thats not to be sniffed at.
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Step Three: The Interviews Looming Error! Reference source not found.
Why Should I Bother Preparing?

Surely Spontaneity Is Better?
Spontaneity is certainly better than formulaic, over-rehearsed recited responses in a job
interview.
However, its a question of finding a balance between preparing for your job interview and
winging it.
If you prepare:
3 Its easier to relax in the interview
3 Youll find it easier to think of answers to tricky questions, because youve trained
your mind to work that way
3 Youll feel more confident and will be more articulate
3 Youll come across as a motivated self-starter
3 Youll be able to prove more convincingly that youre a strong candidate
The main thing is not to over-rehearse, or youll sound like an untalented actor, reciting lines.
If you wing it:
3 Youll be able to prove how well (or not) you think on your feet
3 You might end up being more nervous
3 Winging it might not pay off this time stress might help you perform, but theres a
limit
2 Unless you do the absolute minimum some company research youll come
across as not really being interested
2 You should at least know what you want and why
2 Spontaneity can backfire, particularly if other candidates have prepared
Think about it:
If you were selling a house, youd want to do everything you could to prepare it for viewers, to
maximise your chances of getting a quick sale at the right price.
Dont you owe yourself the same consideration, when looking to change jobs?
At the end of the day, its your decision.
In case youre facing time pressures, the next session covers the bare minimum preparation
guidelines, depending on how soon the interviews looming!
Clare Jaques 2004 6

Step Three: The Interviews Looming Preparation Timeline
Preparation Timeline
1 month to go
Research the employer
Make sure youve covered the sections on what motivates you (see Step One: Where Do I
Start?)
Start your interview question preparation.
2 weeks to go
Concentrate on completing your research
Work on your interview question preparation
Decide what to wear
Get your suit dry-cleaned
Get your hair cut
Get directions & decide how youre going to get to the venue
Start working on minimising your pre-interview nerves
Review how to avoid common interview mistakes
24 hours to go
Have you at least reviewed the companys website? (Even if youve done no other research)
Review your CV and interview question preparation
Double-check the clothes you want to wear
Do any last-minute preparations, such as cleaning shoes, ironing shirt, etc.
Double-check directions and travel times
Its today!
Shower!
Hair!
Clothes!
Leave plenty of time
Take contact details, in case of delay
Review last minute strategies to reduce nerves
Clare Jaques 2004 7

Step Three: The Interviews Looming Giving great answers to interview questions
Give Yourself A Head Start
In-Depth: Why & how to research your future employer
You'd be surprised how many candidates don't bother to find out much about their potential
employer; and how bad an impression that can make.
After all, how often are blind dates a roaring success? Would you buy a car without checking it
out first? Would you go on holiday somewhere, without at least looking through a brochure or
guidebook?
Choosing a job is undoubtedly a big decision. Yet the majority of people find out more about
their next holiday destination than their next employer.
This section covers:
3 why and how to research the company
3 whats expected of you
3 how to use this to give yourself a head start in a job interview
You may already have covered some of this in Step One: Where Do I Start or Step Two: CV
Confidence. Thats perfectly ok and means youll whiz through this.
However, some of you wont have had the chance to do any background research yet.
So weve included everything you need to know about researching your future employer, to
make this section as comprehensive as possible.
Clare Jaques 2004 8

Why Should You Bother to Research a Company?
Whether youre writing your CV or youre already at the interview stage, its vitally important to
research the company that might become your future employer.
Spending a little time finding out more about the company will deliver five main benefits:
1. Help you better understand what the companys ideal employee would be like, so
you can make sure you demonstrate your suitability in your CV and the interview (big
head start!).
2. It can help you decide whether its the right role for you.
Step One: Where Do I Start? contains exercises on working out whats important to you
about a job or company understanding your personal work values and ethics. When
you know your values, you should have a good idea whats important to you about a
working environment.
Its important to check out whether a potential employer will be able to satisfy these
needs, preferably before you apply or at least before you spend time at an interview.
You might not be able to get answers to all your questions, but you can at least check
for any big surprises.
Imagine going through the whole recruitment process and eventually being offered the
job, only to realise you dont want it! That would be a waste of time, effort and money,
which could have been better spent chasing a job you actually want.
Worse still, you might even accept the job and quickly find you werent happy, causing
you to start the job hunting process again and have an awkwardly short job to explain
on your CV.
3. Researching the company can help you decide how much you would like to work
there. This can get you excited about your application and will shine through in any
contact you have with the company. Employers are drawn to recruit candidates who are
enthusiastic about their business.
Competition for jobs can be tough. You need to give yourself a head start. This is a real
opportunity to impress.
4. Understanding more about the company culture can even influence how you handle
the interview and the types of questions you will ask the interviewer.
It also gives you an advantage over other candidates, because you will be able to give
examples that are relevant to the companys market and competitive environment.
Showing an understanding of the companys potential business challenges is one of the

easiest ways to impress in a cover letter or an interview. It shows enthusiasm and
Clare Jaques 2004 9

business insight.
5. If you are applying for a professional position, for which there has been much
competition, the interviewer will expect you to have done your homework. You
can disadvantage your application by claiming to be passionate about the company and
its brand, but not even bothering to look through its website (surprisingly common).
Even the best candidates will struggle to get a job offer, if they havent shown a genuine
interest in the company.
Note: this topic has already been covered briefly in Step Two: CV Confidence. It appears here in
more detail, because its worth spending time finding out more about a company, once youve
had an interview offer.
How Much Do You Know About the Company?
Exercise 1: Background Information
Depending who youre hoping to work for, chances are you already know quite a lot about them.
Maybe they are a household name.
Maybe theyre a local employer and you know people who work there. Whatever your level of
awareness of the company and its market, its worth spending a few minutes brainstorming what
you already know.
The questions below are a starting point. Feel free to add questions of your own.
Dont worry if you cant answer all the questions. The rest of this section covers how to fill in the
gaps. Some of the questions may not be relevant to the industry you work in. Its a good idea to
refer back to this exercise and add to your answers, as you discover more about the company
or industry.
If you still have questions that are important to you, for which you cant find answers,
then they may make good interview questions.
If you dont know much about the company yet, potential research sources are given later in this
workbook.
Its a good idea to make a note of your information sources. This saves time, if you need to
revisit the information. Also, if youre applying to and researching different companies, its easy
to forget where you found your facts.
Clare Jaques 2004 10

Click here for a blank form
What is your current impression of the company? What do you like or dislike about it, based on
your current level of knowledge?
What is the public reputation or image of this company?
What is the main business of the company?
Exercise continues on next page

Do you know anyone who works there who you could talk to about the company? Do you know
anyone who knows anyone who works there? Make the most of your contacts!
What size is the company? (number of employees, turnover, international subsidiaries, etc)
How is the company currently performing? (e.g. market share, profits, other relevant measures,
are there any plans for expansion / takeovers)

Where would the advertised role fit within the companys structure and plans?
What do you know about its culture?
Does the company have a published vision or mission statement?

What do you know about what its like to work there?
What is the likelihood of your top values being satisfied by working there?
(Values are covered in Step One: Where Do I Start?)
How would the company describe its ideal employee? What types of skills and characteristics
would they have?

Are there any buzz words or technical terms that the company or industry uses in its literature.
(You might include these in your CV or interview).
What would be the pros and cons of working for this company?
Question: Do I still want this job?
Yes
No
Not sure
Be honest with yourself!

What Do I Want To Find Out?
Do you want to find out more about the company, before going to the interview?
What did you learn from completing the previous exercise?
Bear in mind that you dont necessarily need to know everything, before applying for a job or
going for an interview. Time is often a constraint, so its important to find a balance between
researching the company, preparing for the next stage of your application and maintaining your
performance in your current job and remembering you have a life outside of work!
Exercise 2: What Do I Still Want To Know?

Go through your answers to Exercise 1 with a highlighter pen. Highlight the questions that
particularly interested you or were important to you.
Do you have adequate answers to all the questions you highlighted?
List below the main areas you still want to research. Categorise them into:
3 essential things you must find out before applying or the job interview
3 important things that would be really useful to know
3 icing on the cake things that would be interesting or a bit different
This will help you maintain focus and make sure your research doesnt turn into too large a
project! That way youll be making sure youll have covered all the essentials before the
interview, with most of the important items and a sprinkling of the icing on the cake items.
Make a commitment to yourself on how long you want to spend on this decide it now. Make
sure your research doesnt become too time-consuming, but that you still allow enough time to
complete it well.

Essential:
Important
Icing on the Cake

Where Can I Find Answers?
With the increased availability of information on the internet, finding out about a company has
never been easier. This section covers some of the sources of information that are readily
accessible. If you dont have internet access at home (and cant surf to research future
employers at work), then it is available at internet cafes and in local libraries.
Research Resources
Contacts who work at the company
Family & friends
Company literature, website and reports
Specialist websites
Newspapers, Magazines and Industry Reports
Mystery shopping (e.g. in-store / telephone / product research)
Telephone the recruiter
All of these topics are covered in more detail in the rest of this workbook.
Contacts Who Work at the Company
Do you know anyone who works at the company?
Do you know anyone who knows anyone who works there?
Its really useful to talk to current employees, to find out what its like to work there. But bear in
mind that their opinions will be based on their experience in their role so they may be more
positive or negative than you would feel, if you worked there.
Even so, its a good way to find out the basics, such as how staff are treated, typical staff perks
and what the politics are like. Remember that everybody usually slates the work canteen , so
dont make any decisions, based on that!

Family & Friends
Why not ask their opinions of the company and its brands, if its a household name?
Make sure you really listen to their answers. If youre genuinely enthusiastic about the job
application, then its easy to dismiss someone elses criticism of the company.
Gather opinions, but make your own decision.
Company Literature, Website and Reports
Product or service brochures
Sales letters
Adverts
Dont underestimate the value of the information you can get from company literature. You
might be surprised how many companies have brochures or even Annual Reports available to
the public.
You can get hold of these either via the companys website or their Press Office, if they have
one. Be aware, though, that printed materials can take time to arrive, so its worth looking at
other sources of information while you wait.
Advertising
If the company advertises (either to the public or to other businesses), it can be useful to get
copies of these adverts. They will tell you a lot about the company, their image and how they
market their products. Good sources for these adverts are either asking direct at the company
or reviewing consumer or trade publications.

Website
Whatever you do, DONT GO TO A JOB INTERVIEW WITHOUT LOOKING AT

THE COMPANYS WEBSITE!!!!!
Most interviewers will find it insulting if you havent even bothered with this - you are
dramatically cutting your chances of getting a job offer.
Most companies have a website thats accessible by the public. It usually gives away a lot of
information about the companys products, size, marketing strategies, geographic location, their
relationship with their customers and even their future plans.
Looking at the website is really the absolute minimum you should do.
We have come across situations where strong candidates were turned down, purely on the
basis that theyd had several weeks notice of a job interview and hadnt bothered to go online. It
can be perceived by recruiters as showing a complete lack of interest in the company.
Company Reports
The country where the company is registered will have a government department where Limited
or PLC companies are required to file their annual accounts. You can contact these
departments and (for a small fee) get access to the companys accounts, to find out more about
their business.
The contact details for the UK are:
www.companieshouse.gov.uk
Note that there is a small charge for this service. However, depending on the role for which you
are replying, Companies House may provide useful information.

Specialist Websites
You can often find Annual Reports and much more on corporate websites, so the companys
own website is often your best initial port of call. Most large companies have a press office,
which will send out relevant background information, if you call them. Bear in mind, however,
that their response may be slow.
More company information can be found:
News websites Business websites
www.bbc.co.uk www.hoovers.com
www.cnn.com www.refdesk.com
www.yahoo.com www.bizjournals.com
Search engines Review sites
Dont forget search engines. They can be a If the company sells directly to the public, you
mine of information on a company, though you may find reviews of its service or products on
may need to trawl through a lot of less useful review sites, for example:
information first.
www.dooyoo.com
www.google.co.uk
www.epinions.com
www.yahoo.co.uk
www.ciao.co.uk
www.askjeeves.co.uk

Newspapers, Magazines and Industry Reports
News items in daily newspapers, particularly the business or finance sections
Industry journals and magazines
Trade journals: these are specialist magazines or newspapers that are read by people
who work in that industry. They may be available at your local newsagent or library.
Industry background / market sector reports, e.g. Mintel, Euromonitor, NPD

Intelect (USA)
Libraries often hold copies of useful information. Some industry magazines are available in
larger newsagents.
In-Store
If the company produces a product that sells direct to the public, you can mystery shop it.
This simply involves going out and experiencing what a buyer of the product would feel like.
Compare the company to its competitors, to gain a better understanding of the challenges that it
might be facing. This is essential for interview preparation.
If possible (and appropriate!), actually use the product. Nothing compares to experiencing the
product or service your potential employer provides. It will give you a much deeper insight than
just reading about it.
There are some easy techniques and guidelines you can employ, to make mystery shopping
easier and more effective.
Exercise 3 guides you through them.

Exercise 3: How to Mystery Shop
1. Decide your objective what do you want to find out from your mystery shopping? How
will it help you with your company research and interview preparation?
2. What is your strategy? Think about this beforehand, or it will bias your results. For
example, will you buy and use the product, or do you just want to window shop and
ask a shop assistant for help? What scenario are you going to use?
e.g. Im just looking / Im looking for a present for my mum and have X to spend /
Im looking for an XYZ and Im not sure how much I want to spend, but I want a good
one.
3. Make sure you separate the attitude of the store staff from your experience of the
product. Although the staff may affect your impression of the brand, its important to be
able to split out these factors. This one can also lead to some great interview questions,
along the lines of:
When I was mystery shopping for your product in XYZ-store, I noticed that the staff
were recommending competitor B instead of you. What steps is the company taking to
educate sales assistants?
4. Make sure you make notes after your visit and, if possible, try several different stores.
5. How did your mystery shopping compare with your overall expectations?
Notes
There are some ethical issues to bear in mind, when mystery shopping:
3 Many store staff supplement their wages with commission. If theyre helping you
mystery shop, theyre potentially losing out with other customers. So keep your
shopping brief.
3 Dont mislead a shop assistant into thinking theyre going to get a big sale from you.
3 Dont try to use mystery shopping as a means to get a discount on a product or

service.
3 Be courteous and natural that way youre more likely to experience what a real
customer would experience.
3 Decide before you shop whether you want to buy or you could end up with lots of
unwanted goods, if you come across a good sales person!

Telephone The Recruiter
For many people this is the least preferred (or most dreaded?) option. Yet it can be the most
valuable, in terms of getting the recruiter to remember you and making a great first impression.
Its perfectly acceptable to phone the recruiter, before applying for a job or going for an
interview. If youve applied through a recruitment agency, they may well have good insight into
the recruiting company. However, if you can, it may be better to talk directly to the prospective
employer.
Before you pick up the phone, take a step back and do some preparation it wont take long
and it makes a big difference. By being prepared, you will feel (and sound) more confident and
are more likely to make a good first impression.
You can either call the contact mentioned in the advert (typically someone in the companys
Human Resources department or a recruitment agency contact), or try to get through to the
manager of the position advertised. This second option has both advantages and
disadvantages:
Your potential future manager may admire your initiative and remember you when your
CV arrives or they meet you in the interview; but they may be difficult and time-
consuming to track down and might not appreciate the interruption.
Many companies prefer their Human Resources team or appointed recruitment agency
to screen applicants before the interview stage. Its up to you who you decide to
contact.
If you get through to someone involved in the recruiting process, its your chance to make a
great first impression. And you only get one shot at that, so it pays to make the most of it.

Before dialling:
Re-read the job advert and make sure you understand it. If you have any
questions about it, write them down to ask during the phone call.
Read through any other literature the company may have sent you, to make sure
you wont accidentally ask questions that the employer has already answered. For
example, its not a great start if you phone up to ask directions, only to find them in
the interview invitation letter!
Write down 3-5 reasons why you are interested in the job and why you think
youre suitable.
You may get asked this during the call and dont want to be put on the spot,
unprepared. Just think how good a first impression you could make with this!
Work out your current salary and benefits package and what range you are
looking for.
Again, you might be asked this during the call. It is a common screening question.
You can be ruled out instantly, if your current salary is above the jobs threshold. If it
is not mentioned, you are free to ask the salary range for the position, as a sanity
check.
It can be embarrassing to spend time on an application for a role whose salary

range could never meet your requirements. If you are happy to take a cut in salary,
be prepared to explain why - convincingly. It also saves potential embarrassment in
the interview.
However, be careful how you handle this topic, so as not to create the impression
that money is driving your application.
Note down any other questions you have and decide your objective(s) for the
call.
Objectives? Think about what your outcome is what do you want to happen at the
end of the call?
Do you just want answers to questions?
Do you want to accept the interview invitation?
Do you want to confirm salary ranges?

By having clear objectives for the call, it helps you make sure you cover what you
needed to and saves the embarrassment of having to call back again half an hour
later!
Typical objectives for the call include:
Find out more about the role
e.g. more details about the job and how it fits into the companys structure; who
does the position report to?. If you have been invited for interview, but arent sure
whether you want the job, its best to decide that before you spend the time, effort
and money, travelling to the company.
Whet their appetite and make them curious to find out more.
This is particularly useful if you are talking to the person who will be in the interview.
They may be meeting many candidates who can potentially merge into one. It can
be hard for an interviewer to remember who said or did what, after weeks of
interviewing. Being memorable (for the right reasons!) gives you a great head start.
Aim for agreement from the recruiter that you are a good candidate for the
role.
This can be vital. It can give you a great confidence boost, because you know you
have the general skills and experience they are seeking. The key with this objective
is to be subtle youre not aiming for an offer at this stage!
Remember that recruiters are busy and speak to many applicants each day, so thank them for
their time and be polite, but friendly.
Always check whether theyre free to talk for a few minutes. It shows courtesy. Dont assume,
just because theyve answered the phone, that its a good time to talk. Bear in mind that you
may need to arrange a time to call them back.

The chart on the following pages helps you keep track of

how you want the call to run and what information you
want to find out. It also serves as a useful record of the
conversation.
And, when youre ready
Take a deep breath, relax and smile.
It might sound silly, but being tense and nervous really shows on the phone. A
relaxed, friendly smile affects your voice (try this one out!) and makes a better first
impression.

Exercise 4: Research Phone Call:

This exercise gives you a chance to prepare.
Remember to smile!
Click here for a blank form
Name & number to call:
Objective of the call
Do I have any questions about the job or company?
3-5 reasons why I am interested in the job

3-5 reasons why I think I am a suitable candidate
Salary & benefits package: current and what Im looking for
(remember to include bonuses, pension contributions, vacation entitlement, healthcare and other
benefits)
Current Desired

Any specific questions
Notes from the call
Congratulations on completing the research call!

Going The Extra Mile
Check out competitors, too.
Once youve secured an interview, youll need to prepare thoroughly.
The more well-known the company, the more they will expect you to have researched beyond
the obvious everyone knows that information.
Its important not just to look at the company youre applying to, but to be able to show an
understanding of their competitors in the market. After all, whats the point in knowing how good
a companys products are, unless you know how that compares to their competitors?
Plenty of candidates know the basics about their future employer, but few have actually taken
the time to analyse the competitors and market place. It gives you a huge head start.
A common interview question often follows the format of What do you see as the potential
strengths, weaknesses, threats or opportunities in the market?. If you dont have an
understanding of the competitive environment, it will be difficult for you to give a meaningful or
intelligent answer to this question.
We regularly hear about strong candidates who werent successful, principally because they
didnt do their homework when applying to work for a brand that is a household name. As a
rule of thumb, the more famous the company, the more they will expect you to know about
them.
Dont forget that companies have egos, too!
If youve done your homework and show a genuine enthusiasm for working there, then youll
increase your chances of a job offer.

What do I do with the information?
Decide whether you still want to go ahead with your application? Is the company one
you want to work for?
Go through your research notes and pull out any information that you think is not
common knowledge. These facts may be useful in an interview situation, because
they will help you give more relevant replies to questions and show your business
intelligence.
Review your notes and identify any questions you still want to ask (see Exercise 5).
This means the questions you ask the interviewer are likely to be quite different to
those of other candidates and better. It can impress an interviewer if you pre-frame
your question by explaining the background that has led you to the question. However,
its important not to come across as being smug!
Use the information to conduct a SWOT (Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities

Threats) analysis (or similar) of the company or the market. This will help you turn the
information you have researched into insight and will put you head and shoulders above
other candidates.
The next section helps you decide whether you want to ask any questions of the interviewer,
based on what you have found so far.

Exercise 5: Choosing Questions To Ask In An Interview

This exercise gives you a chance to prepare questions that will impress the interviewer.
Return to Exercise 1, where you brainstormed the things you already knew about your potential
future employer.
How many of the gaps have you been able to fill?
What information has particularly interested or intrigued you?
You should always make the most of your opportunity to ask questions of the interviewer, so its
a good idea to have a few (3-6) prepared, before you go in.
Ever had that feeling of your mind going blank, when you get to the end of an interview and they
ask you if you have any questions?
There are few weaker ways to end an interview than saying "err... nope... I don't think there's
anything I want to ask." It can undo all those hours of hard work and impressive answers,
leaving the interviewer with a slight soggy impression of you.
So what can you do?
The key is preparation. Follow the steps below and you can't help but impress. Remember, this
is your chance to make a great final impression!
1. Make your questions relevant, genuine and intelligent.

Dont ask about salary. You should have checked before applying for the job (or at least
before the interview) that the salary range was acceptable to you, so don't let yourself
down by appearing mercenary at the end of the interview. The time to talk money is
after the job offer. (See Step Five: Closing the Deal for tips and strategies).
Other questions to avoid include the issues such as maternity pay, sick leave and
grievance policies. Just put yourself in the interviewers shoes: what assumptions might
they (unfairly) make about you, if you ask about these?
2. What are the three things you most want to know about the job?
About the team?
About the company?

What does your interviewer like most about working there?
What would they change?
This is your chance! Whatever you do, dont turn up without questions it can make
you look unprepared and unenthusiastic.
3. Maybe your company research highlighted some questions about the current
competitive environment or working practices?
Or maybe you want to know what the interviewer thinks about an aspect of a topic you
have already discussed?
Your questions are another chance to impress and show how much thinking you have
done about the company and the position youre applying for.
4. One really important tip is to read your question to yourself before you ask it.
This will make sure you dont re-ask something thats already been covered, which
might make the interviewer think you hadnt been paying attention! Its worth having a
few extra questions, just in case.
5. If the company has arranged for you to have more than one interview in a day (often the
case), then have some extra questions or maybe ask questions about the
interviewers opinions, so you can gather different viewpoints.
6. Theres no need to try to memorise your questions; its perfectly acceptable to write
them down, to take in with you.
This makes it look as though you have prepared thoroughly for the interview and helps
you relax. If you genuinely find all your questions have been answered, then at least it
gives you a list they can see you check through.
7. One interesting question you could consider is to ask them what extra information
they would need, to be able to make a decision on offering you the job.
This can be a great catch-all. It gives them a chance to clear up anything that's not quite
right before you leave the room. Many a candidate has landed the job because they
were able to add valuable extra information at this stage.
8. It's also important to remember that there's no need to wait until the end of the
interview.
In fact, slot your questions in wherever appropriate. Note: this doesn't always work in a
structured interview. But if a golden opportunity arises, use it. It's much more relaxing
for you if you can turn the interview back into a two-way conversation, rather than it
feeling like an interrogation.

9. Prioritise your questions.

Interviews often over-run and its the time for the candidates questions that often gets
cut. If youve got an important question, or one you think will impress, ask it first.
10. What to do if all your questions have already been covered?

Make sure you at least get credit for your enthusiasm and preparation. If you get to the
end of the interview and all your questions have genuinely been answered, consider
saying something like:
I wanted to ask about .
(list your question topics)
and I think weve covered those

areas sufficiently. Would you mind if I contact
you if anything else comes to mind?
Above all, the questions should be something that genuinely interest you - rather than
something you read in a book or article. This is your chance to find out more about whether you
want to work for the company. We invite you to make the most of it.
So, which questions do you want to ask the interviewer?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

And Finally
Researching the company you want to work for is easier than ever before. It doesnt have to be
in great detail, prior to applying, but it is useful to complete properly, if you are offered an
interview.
By learning more about the company and the market, it enables you to subtly include the right
buzz words or technical in your interactions with the company and you can show a greater
understanding of the contribution you could make. It gives you an advantage over candidates
who havent bothered to find out about the company.
Researching a company (and subtly showing your knowledge) demonstrates that you are a
motivated self-starter with plenty of initiative: characteristics valued by the majority of
employers.
Small companies are well worth researching too, as you are likely to know less about them and
will want to decide whether you really want to work for them. So much less is publicly known
about them that few other candidates will be able to show the knowledge you will accumulate.
This will count positively for you in your CV and at an interview.
A little preparation can help you clearly prove your suitability for a job. By taking the time to see
things from the recruiters point of view, it makes it easier for you to provide examples of why
youre the ideal candidate.
By taking the simple steps outlined in this section, youll already be doing more than the vast
majority of candidates, giving yourself an advantage and increasing your confidence, as you
walk into the interview.

Giving great answers to interview questions
Answering questions is just one part of the interview process, yet it's often the part that gets us
most stressed.
This section includes top advice on How To Handle Any Question that's thrown at you. You'll get
help on how to Answer Ten Common Interview Questions, how to deal with super-tough
questions and even how to handle the questions an interviewer shouldnt really ask you.
The one thing you WONT find here is scripted answers.
Why? Because interviewers see straight through them. The key to giving good answers to
interview questions is preparation and learning to interpret the question.
Most of us are "selective" about what we tell the interviewer (you don't want a bill-board poster
of your weaknesses!). And that's ok. The key is to think about what would happen if you get the
job. If you've stretched the truth too much, they'll find out.
Preparation and honesty will make sure you can give a compelling answer to any question that
arises.
If you tell the truth, you never have to remember anything. Mark Twain
No matter how tempting, our top tip for giving great answers to interview questions is to be as
honest as possible. They will catch you out: if not in the interview, then later.
Fibbing and stretching the truth is usually easy for a good interviewer to spot youll give off
enough signals at a subconscious level that they wont need to use a lie detector test!
So to make sure you still maximise your chances of getting the job, whilst maintaining your
integrity, check out the rest of this book, for preparation exercises that help you make the most
of your talents. Then you wont need to tell porkies.

How To Cope With Tough Questions
Isn't that the part of a job interview that we all dread the most? That one question that
completely throws you?
The question hits you and you have two choices:
panic and give one of those "regret-it-later" answers
or
employ the "tough question strategy" and give your best answer
So what's the Tough Question Strategy?
1. Keep your cool
It's easy to get flustered and that makes it almost impossible to think straight.
How do you keep your cool?
Focus on your breathing. Take a deep breath in and breathe it out gently and quietly, to
help yourself relax. It makes a big difference.
2. Listen!
Do you understand the question?
Don't be afraid to ask for clarification. There are few things more irritating for an interviewer
than a candidate waffling the answer to a different question. If there's something about the
question that's unclear - ask!
Then interpret the question: what does it really mean? What are they looking for? That
should guide you towards your answer.
3. It's ok to ask for time to think.
A few moments to think helps you come back with a great answer, rather than a "regret-it-
later" response. Many interview questions are designed to make the candidate think for
potentially obscure examples from their past, so you need time to think. In fact, sometimes it
can count against you if you answer too quickly, because the interviewer thinks you're
making it up or reciting well-rehearsed responses.

4. Emergency tactic:
"Could I come back to that later?"
This isn't a preferred option, but it's better than giving a poor answer. Tell them you'd like
time to think of a really relevant example.
Bear in mind that a non-work example might be acceptable.
5. Preparation
Spend time before the interview reviewing your career and extra-curricular activities, to
make sure those answers to tricky questions are already in the back of your mind. Review
the section on Getting The Most From Your Hobbies in Step Two: CV Confidence for more
advice.
With this 5-step strategy, answering even the toughest questions becomes easier.

Common Interview Questions
With all job interview questions, the key is to think before you answer... This may sound
obvious, but youd be surprised how easy it is to open your mouth without thinking and let words
flow out; accidentally answering the wrong question or drowning in a sea of "um..." and "err..."!
With a little practice, its actually quite simple to read between the lines of the question, to
identify what they want to find out. This dramatically increases your chances of giving a
compelling answer.
We havent supplied scripted answers, because interviewers see straight through these and
your answer wouldnt reflect your unique experience. Do you really want to risk giving an
identical answer to the next candidate?
Instead, we have given you some tips for how to translate the questions and develop great
answers of your own.
Top 10 Questions
1. Why do you want to work for us?
2. Give us an example of a situation where you didnt meet your goals or objectives?
3. Give us an example of a situation where you faced conflict or difficult

communication problems.
4. Where do you see yourself in 3 / 5 / 10 years?
5. What would you current manager say are your strengths?
6. What would your current manager say are your weaknesses?
7. Why should we give you this job?
8. Give us an example of where you have worked to an unreasonable deadline.
9. Do you prefer working in a team or on your own?
10. What is the first thing you would change, if you were to start work here?
Flick through the next few pages for strategies to develop your answers to these questions.
Completing Exercise 6 will help you clarify your thinking.

Exercise 6: Practising Answering Tough Questions
The following strategies work. They can be applied to any type of interview question. The best
way to use them for interview preparation is to write down your answers.
Why bother? you might well ask. Well, writing down forces you to actually consider your
answer. It stops you thinking Ill come up with something for that at the time.
It helps you practise the strategy and, by the end of ten questions, it will be starting to become
more natural. So youll not only give better answers, but youll be able to relax more in the
interview.
1. Why do you want to work for us?
Its rare for an interview not to include this question.
The good news is that its an easy one to prepare for.
Most companies want to recruit people who are enthusiastic about the company and its
products. They dont want people on the team who ended up there by accident. So this is
your chance to show why working for the company is important to you and why you think
you will fit in.
They will be looking for evidence that you can make a contribution and will be able to grow
into the role they are recruiting. This question is designed to screen out candidates who
arent serious about the company or may be using it as a stop-gap, while they look for
something better.
Its also your chance to make the most of the company research you have done and the
preparation you did in Step One: Where Do I Start? You can use this opportunity to add
comments that show you understand the companys position in the market place; the role of
its competitors and any challenges it may be facing.
My potential answer to this question:

2. Give us an example of a situation where you didnt meet your goals or objectives.
What they're looking for with this one is an example of where objectives weren't met and
what you did to rectify the situation.
Better still, provide an example of where things almost went wrong and what you did to
prevent it.
Beware: a common trap to fall into is to give one of the following two answers:
"I can't think of such a situation." This makes you either seem unbelievably
perfect (i.e. arrogant) or completely nave and unable to spot and avoid
potential disaster.
Give an example of a situation that went wrong, but not realise until you're half
way through the story that it doesn't have a happy ending!
Try to make the examples relevant to the job for which you are applying.
However, it's generally acceptable to offer non-work related examples, if these are good
illustrations of transferable skills required for the job.

3. Give us an example of a situation where you faced conflict or difficult communication

problems.
This is not the time to tell the interviewer how much you hate your current boss or
colleagues!
Its also not the point to launch into a tirade about how difficult people in your office are to
work with and how many arguments you have.
So what are they looking for? Theyre looking for someone who can rise above conflict and
diffuse the emotions, finding a win-win solution.
Basically, recruiters want to employ people who will get on well enough with others to
deliver the companys objectives.
This type of question is your chance to demonstrate your interpersonal and team-working
skills.
The interviewer will be looking for maturity and the ability to be able to keep your calm,
whilst others around you are losing theirs. Dont feel you have to provide an answer that
gives you full credit for the solution it can often be more powerful (if its true) to
demonstrate how you worked with others to find a fix.
Practise your answer to this question. It can have many guises, but is almost guaranteed to
be asked in some form.

4. Where do you see yourself in 3 / 5/ 10 years?
Errr Not a good response.
So what might an employer be looking for with this question:
Are you serious about the company?
Is the company part of your long-term plan?
Or are they just a stepping stone towards something youd rather be doing?
Are you serious (maybe too serious) about your career?
Do you know where you want to go? (See Step One: Where Do I Start for tips)
How does this job help you get there?
Are you ambitious? This can be positive or negative.
How does this job fit within your longer-term plans? If the job is part of your
strategy, how likely are you to want to be promoted?
Do you have any longer-term plans? They may use this to judge how far you
would plan ahead in your new role.
This question is a good opportunity to show your commitment to the role and knowledge of
the companys structure and vision.
Beware of seeming to threaten your future manager, if theyre interviewing you. A humorous
answer we have often heard to this question is doing your job. This may be true and may
even get a laugh, but some managers are quite insecure and may not want to hire someone
who they fear would undermine them.

5. What would your current manager say are your strengths?
We often find it hard to tell people what were good at.
Selling yourself, without appearing arrogant, is one of the most common interview worries.
Many people simply dont sell themselves, for fear of seeming big-headed. But others can
be good at this, so you could miss out, even if youre a stronger candidate.
Do you know what your strengths are? Youd be surprised how few do.
One place to start is your recent performance appraisals. What did they highlight as your
strengths? Can you supply evidence (provide examples)? Can you relate the strengths to
the position youre being interviewed for?
Still stuck for answers to this question?
You could try asking someone. Ask a trusted friend or work colleague. Make sure they give
you examples of where you have demonstrated the strengths, so you can quickly use these,
if asked.
Its also worth revisiting the job information, to look for which competencies they are looking
for. You will make a more favourable impression if you can cover some of these in your
answer.
If youre still stuck, we recommend some mind-stretching thinking! It will help you look at
both your work and home life, to pull out things you do well. See Step Two: CV
Confidence.

What would your current manager say are your weaknesses?
Im easily bored, a bit sloppy and you wouldnt like to meet me on a

morning before Ive had a coffee Im an ogre!
This is not the place to admit your biggest flaws or crack jokes.
Its also not the time to pretend you dont have any development areas it would make you
look either conceited or as though you cant evaluate your own performance.
So how should you handle this type of question?
The main thing is to admit that you have areas to develop, whilst showing that you are
already working on them and giving examples of the progress you have made. If possible,
choose a development area that doesnt affect your ability to do the job for which you are
being interviewed.
Some say Im easily bored, but I believe that makes me ideal for
working in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment. I like to get things
done.
As with question 5, referring back to performance appraisals is a good place to start.
Its usually a good idea to make the weakness something small. Avoid major topics such
as organisational skills or time management! Be ready to turn it into a positive.
What happens if one of your development areas is one of the key strengths required for the
role?
Make sure you can demonstrate why it wont be a problem.

6. Why should we give you this job?
This is the time to give them your USP Unique Selling Proposition or what makes you
different from all the other applicants. (See Step Two: CV Confidence).
Its really worth working out and practising your answer to this before the interview.
Some businesses use the phrase 30 second elevator speech.
Imagine you have just bumped into the CEO of the company you want to work for, getting
into a lift. He or she asks you Why should we give you the job?. You have the time it takes
for the lift to reach its destination (about 30 seconds) to give a compelling answer.
The key is to highlight your strengths and the benefits you can bring to the company.
With any product, what people want to buy are the benefits, rather than the features. So
rather than listing your qualifications and experience (your features), ask yourself Whats In
It For Them? to pull out the benefit to the recruiting company.
e.g. you get Feature X, which means Benefit Y
My Masters Degree in mechanical engineering means I have an

practical, analytical mind, which I suspect would be ideal in this
problem-solving role.
Please make sure you avoid sounding desperate
As preparation, you should refer back to the job advert and also listen carefully during the
interview, to make sure your answer meets the needs of the buyer (the interviewer).
You are giving your answer from the perspective of the buyers needs, rather than your
own.

7. Give us an example of when you have worked to an unreasonable deadline or been

faced with a huge challenge.
What is an interviewer looking for with this question? Most interviews will contain a question
like this, to see how you cope under stress.
They may also be checking for integrity one of the most highly-valued skills for a recruiter.
This is a really useful question to prepare some examples for, before an interview.
Its good to find examples that show how you went the extra mile, but didnt do anything
illegal, immoral or unethical.
The interviewer will want to see how you rise to a challenge and how you react when put
under pressure.
Think about the positive things you did, to achieve the unachievable.
Depending on your career history, this is another question where its acceptable to use an
example from outside work, as long as the skills are clearly transferable to your new role.
You might not have had the experience in your career so far, so most interviewers will
accept an extra-curricular illustration that shows how you would add value to their company.

8. Do you prefer working in a team or on your own?
Think about this one before you answer.
Think about the position for which you are applying. It is likely to require flexibility of working
styles, but will probably fall into one of the following 3 categories:
a. Group /Team: you dont have personal responsibility for the outcome, but are part of a
group that achieves it. Often everyone has the same role, e.g. in a call centre.
b. Team & Solo: most professional roles require a mixture: you have a defined role and
responsibilities, but tend to do much of your work in a team environment.
c. Mainly Solo: you are responsible for your own outcomes and may be required to spend
a considerable amount of time working independently. You will probably still work as
part of a team.
The best bet with this question is to try to tailor your answer to the companys needs, whilst
remaining honest. If you say you are a great team player, theyll soon spot youre not, once
you start the job

9. What is the first thing you would change, if you were to start work here?
Your answer to this depends on how much you know about the job.
Why are they recruiting?
Are they looking for an agent of change or someone to maintain stability? Would you be in
a position to change anything?
A good strategy for this question is to precede your answer with a brief explanation of how
you would get to know the business, the people, the challenges and your role, before you
considered changing anything.
Unless youve been specifically recruited to make fast, radical change, few people will
appreciate a bull in a China shop approach.
Its important that you illustrate empathy for change that will be acceptable within the
corporate culture. However, for management positions, you may be required to make
changes that will be unpopular.
It is perfectly acceptable to answer this question with a question; asking them what they
would expect from you.
This is quite a sensitive topic and you may find an interview coaching session useful, if
you'd like to practise answering it.

Dont worry about memorising your answers or examples. If youve written them down in
Exercise 6, then theyll come back to you when you need them in the interview.
Now youve developed answers to the typical ten questions, it will be much easier for you to
spontaneously come up with a great answer to any question you are asked.
What you have been practising is a question answering strategy.
Keep your cool, decode the question and think before you answer.
Youre much more likely to be yourself and show your unique spark.
Surely thats so much more useful than trying to memorise someone elses answers from a text
book?

Handling dodgy questions
Sometimes you find yourself in a position where youve been asked a question thats a bit
dodgy.
These questions may seem slightly offensive or even morally or ethically inappropriate, but
theyre usually well-intentioned and often form part of the small-talk, at the start of the interview.
The interviewer usually just intended them as conversational ice-breakers, but the effect can be
quite different. Its a grey area.
Examples of this kind of question include:
So, do you have children?
Your names quite unusual; where does it come from?
What are your views on starting a family?
How would your wife feel about you having a 3-month secondment to Japan?
Before you do anything to respond to questions that you think are inappropriate:
Stay calm
Dont react
Choose whether or not to answer
Make sure you avoid the, perhaps, instinctive response of snapping how is that relevant?
If you do choose to answer, do it in your natural style.
Youre perfectly within your rights to refuse. If this is the option you choose, then pause before
you respond, to let any emotion die down.
Im sorry, Id rather not discuss XYZ, if thats ok with you.
If lots of inappropriate or dodgy questions arrive, first take a step back and ask yourself whether
its a company-wide attitude, or just your interviewer. If you think its company-wide, then its
worth considering whether you really want to work for them.

If you believe the answers you gave were used to discriminate against you, then you can put in
a complaint, after the interview, but you should take expert advice, before doing this.
Bear in mind that these questions may be a test, to see how you react under stress or see how
much integrity you have. Or they may be important to the company, for example, seeing how
you feel about extended foreign travel or long working hours.
Trust your instincts on whether a question is unreasonable. If you think it is, then make sure
your response is professional.
If you feel you want to take things further, then make sure youve checked out your rights first.
Rest assured, it rarely gets that far. The vast majority of dodgy questions are asked innocently
(and perhaps naively), so the most useful response is to smile your way through and put it
behind you. Whatever you do, dont let a single bad question spoil the rest of your interview
performance youre worth more than that.

Step Three: The Interviews Looming Common interview mistakes
Common interview mistakes
The best way to avoid the most common and dangerous interview mistakes is to think ahead
and decide not to make them... But what can you do if you're already there?
Read on for a whistle-stop tour of the top ten interview clangers!
1. Lying
Yes, we know its tempting and there are even people out there recommending it as a
strategy, but it doesnt work.
By all means gloss over things that arent flattering.
But out-right fibbing NEVER pays.
Mark Twain said: "If you tell the truth, you never have to remember anything."
Think about it.
They will catch you out later.
2. Slating your current company or boss
So youre fed up with your current job and would give anything to leave. Or maybe theyve
treated you badly?
Your job interview is NOT the time to seek revenge.
Bear in mind that the interviewer will be listening to your answers and thinking about what it
would be like to work with you.
Ask yourself: do you like working with people who constantly criticise others? Isn't it a bit
wearing?
The trouble is that the interviewer draws massive conclusions from your answers. So your
throw-away comment about your boss or employer may be interpreted to be your "standard"
way of thinking. It makes you look bad, not your employer.
3. Being Rude
If you find you were accidentally rude, then apologise calmly and genuinely. Then leave it
behind you and get on with the rest of the interview. If you dwell on it, it will affect your
performance.
What's "rude"? Well, that depends on your audience. As a rule of thumb, avoid cracking
jokes about potentially sensitive topics and beware of being too "pally" with the interviewer:
polite and friendly is enough. After all, you're not in the pub with them. So stay professional.
Also bear in mind that everyone you meet could be involved in the selection process. So
blanking the receptionist or talking down to the junior members of staff could cost you the
job.

4. Complaining
Ok, so your train journey might have been a nightmare and maybe you thought the tube
would never arrive - or the tailbacks on the motorway were endless. But your interviewer
doesn't want to know that!
Complaining, even in jest, is not a recommended ice breaker. It may be completely

harmless, or it might simply make the interviewer switch off. Don't let complaining set the
tone for the interview!
5. Talking about people you dont get on with at work
These days, it's common to be asked how you deal with conflict. Companies realise the
importance of inter-personal relationships in the working environment.
So if they ask you about difficult people or situations, make sure you hold back from
character assassination and blaming others for problems!
It won't do you any favours...
If you accidentally do "break" this rule, apologise and explain what you "really" meant.
6. Not being prepared
Basics here: re-read the relevant version of your CV and the job advert, just before the
interview. Youd be surprised how many people cant remember what they wrote on their
CV. And if you remember what type of person the job advert was looking for, its easier to
demonstrate that you have those qualities.
Make sure you've brought with you anything you were asked for.
It's fine to bring a note-pad and pen, but make sure they're tidy. Its even ok to bring notes
with you; particularly if you have any questions you want to ask. It shows youre taking the
job application seriously.
Ill-prepared candidates rarely get job offers.
7. Appearing to be too nervous, or too confident
Too nervous and they'll think you're not confident enough to do the job.
Too confident and they'll think you won't fit into the team.
If interview nerves are an issue for you, its worth getting practical help from a professional,
such as an interview coach, or check out Managing Nerves, later in this book.
8. Making a weak first impression
Unfortunately, no matter how hard the interviewer tries, a lot of "don't want to hire them"
decisions are made in the first few minutes of contact. If you make a strong first impression,

the interviewer will be more inclined to overlook imperfections in your answers.
Check out What To Wear and Dont Forget The Basics for advice on making a great first
impression.
9. Not having researched the company
Example from a real interview in a major food brand:
Candidate: "Hello Mr. Interviewer. Yes, I'd love to work for your company. I think your brand
is great and I really believe I could make a contribution to your marketing strategy."
Interviewer: "So what do you think about the current merchandising, compared to our
competition?"
Candidate: "Oh... Errr.... Well, I haven't had time to check it out, really."
Likelihood of getting the job?
Low.
As a general rule, the more famous the brand, the more they will expect you to have done
your homework. Researching the company shows youre serious about the job.
10. Putting your foot in it and not noticing
Yes, we know, you didn't mean to put your foot in it.
But it doesn't really matter what you intended. What counts is how the other person reacts.
So what can you do?
Be prepared to simply say "sorry, that's not what I meant!"
This requires you to actually be paying attention to the interviewer, rather than your own
thoughts and feelings.
Once you've apologised, leave it there, take a deep breath to help you relax and move on
with the job interview.
So you know the top 10 clangers to avoid, all you need to do is a little preparation and use your
common sense.

Step Three: The Interviews Looming Interview Techniques
Interview Techniques
What to wear
How many interview invitations come with a dress code? Very few.
Yet how we dress for a job interview can dramatically impact how comfortable or awkward we
feel.
So what should you do?
The keys are to look smart and pay attention to personal hygiene.
Job Interview Clothes

Most companies will give you information about their dress code, if you phone their reception.
Even if they say they have a casual dress policy, its still a good idea to dress slightly smarter: to
show youve made the effort. If you dress casually, they may assume youre being overly
confident and laid back about getting the job.
If in doubt, dress slightly smarter than you usually would for work. Make it professional, rather
than fashionable, unless thats the nature of your future employers business.
After all, its unlikely youll lose a job offer for looking too smart, but you might for looking too
scruffy.
Think about the activities you may be undertaking, during the interview or assessment centre.
Be aware that you may do things youre not expecting:
For example, you might be applying for a job in the finance team of a
manufacturing company; but they may take you on a factory tour.
For women, the important considerations are length of skirt, comfort of shoes and plunge of
neckline (do you really want to feel self-conscious, in case you flash more cleavage or leg than
you intended?). Trousers are usually acceptable in most companies.
For men, the important considerations are quality and fit of suit (its all too easy to look like a
sack of potatoes in the wrong suit) and confidence level of your tie (by all means make a
statement, but make it a professional one).
To jacket or not to jacket?
Good question. Its hard to tell until you get to the interview. If in doubt, take your jacket with you
you dont have to wear it.
Bags
If you want to carry things (e.g. your phone, wallet, keys, note pad, pen, directions, copy of your
CV, umbrella, lucky charm etc), then take a professional-looking bag or briefcase.

We have seen candidates turn up with piles of personal belongings under their arms, only to
scatter them far and wide when they shake your hand. Weve also seen them arrive with
supermarket carrier bags or pockets so bulging, they couldnt sit down.
Your bag is part of your first impression. Make sure its as smart as your shoes.
Beg or borrow one from friends, if you dont already own one. Its worth the extra effort.
Final Preparation
Its a really good idea to try out your interview clothes a few days before hand, to make sure
theyre still comfortable.
And always remember to get suits dry-cleaned in good time its easy to forget!
(Dragging out the suit you last wore at your cousins wedding may bring back memories for you,
but do you really want to share them with the interviewer?!)
Personal hygiene
You only get one chance to make a first impression. No matter how beautiful your clothes, your
personal hygiene could let you down.
We know this is an awkward topic to discuss, but wouldnt you rather think about it now, than
leave it till its too late?
The problem is, if you do have any issues with personal hygiene, friends, family and colleagues
are likely to be too embarrassed to tell you. So maybe youd like to cover all the top tips below
just to make sure?
Top Tips To Remember:
Iron your clothes. And check how wrinkled they might look after 2 hours in a car or
train. If necessary, take a spare shirt to travel in.
Make sure your hair is clean and tidy. Get it cut well in advance of the job interview,
so youre comfortable with the style. Pick a style thats professional and will last the full
day you dont want to worry about hair maintenance, half way through your interview.
Dandruff. Its not always easy to fix, but you can manage it for a day. If youre wearing
a dark jacket or shirt, it could show on your shoulders. Check before the interview and
brush it off it doesnt make a great impression.
Clean, tidy fingernails. This doesnt mean a full manicure, it just means youll feel
more confident shaking hands with the interviewer if youve got presentable hands.
Polished shoes. Many a great outfit is let down by dirty or scruffy shoes.
Allow yourself time to shower. Make sure youve left plenty of time on the day of the

interview for a bath or shower. If youve had to skip this, you will know and it will impact
your confidence.
Perfumes and deodorants. Its great to smell nice, but make sure your favourite scent
doesnt knock out the interviewer; some people have reactions to strong perfumes and
aftershaves. If in doubt, ask a trusted friend.
Not too much coffee. Or anything else that leads to less-than-fresh breath. It can be
really unappealing for the interviewer. Enough said? If in doubt, take mints with you to
suck while youre waiting.
Spinach in your teeth. It sounds silly, but check your smile in the washroom mirror
before your interview. No one will tell you the spinach is there, but it may be their lasting
memory of you!
Take a hankie or tissue. Blowing your nose is considerably more appealing than
constant sniffing.
Clammy hands. This is normal for a nerve-wracking situation. Some people say that
washing and thoroughly drying your hands is more effective than wiping your palms on
your trousers.
You only get one chance to make a first impression and you will feel more relaxed if you know
you are looking your best.

Dont Forget The Basics

Yes, some of these interview techniques might seem obvious, but youd be surprised how easy
it can be to forget the basics. So here they are!
1. Remember the obvious
Turn up on time not more than 15 minutes early or youll either be inconveniencing
someone, or sitting in reception for a long time. Any less than 5 minutes early and your
interviewer may think youre late.
Turn up in the right place if youre nervous about this, you could even do a trial run!
If in doubt, ask for directions.
Look smart (see What To Wear)
Make sure you are presentable (see Personal Hygiene)
2. Handshake
You may feel a little odd doing this, but its worth practising your handshake with a friend or
relative, before the interview.
Its hard for us to evaluate our own handshake objectively. Yet this is one of the most
important parts of a first impression.
A limp, slightly clammy handshake with no eye contact doesnt create the impression of a
self-assured, capable candidate.
A firm (but not vice-like!) handshake, good eye contact and a relaxed smile gives you a
confident start.
3. Re-read your notes before the interview
Read the job advert and your working notes, the night before the interview.
Do this just before going to bed. Why? Because this will help refresh your memory and
make it easier to retrieve those blow them away answers to awkward interview questions.
Doing it just before you go to bed helps the information sink in at a below-conscious level,
making it easier to remember answers the next day.
The exercises in this series of books will have helped you work out why youre a suitable
candidate for the job, leaving you more confident and relaxed, so you get a better nights
sleep.
Re-read your CV on the morning of the interview and take a copy with you.
Youd be surprised how many candidates cant remember what they wrote in their CV. It
looks unprofessional and will count against you. Its great to be able to quickly recall exactly
what you were doing, for which company and when. Its not so great if you cant remember,
when asked, what you wrote as your responsibilities in your last role

4. Check that you know how to get to the interview at least a day beforehand
This one may sound silly, but the last thing you want on the morning of the interview is to
realise youre not quite sure where to go, but no one is at the company to ask, when you set
off.
Make sure you leave plenty of time, so theres no chance of you being late. This will save
stress and embarrassment. Its much less nerve-wracking to have to go to a local caf and
wait, than it is to be stuck in a traffic jam or train delay with the clock ticking. Take contact
details with you so you have someone you can call, if you cant avoid being held up.
If youre travelling by public transport, then make sure you have checked out how to get
from the train or bus station to the interview. Its not always obvious and you need to factor
in time for this.
If youre driving, its useful to ask for directions with significant landmarks. Even if youre a
good navigator, it can be reassuring to spot the expected pubs and petrol stations en route,
so you know youre going in the right direction. This helps you arrive relaxed and ready to
give your best.
5. Prepare at least 3 questions to ask the interviewer
Make them relevant, genuine and intelligent. Dont ask about salary (see below).
See Exercise 5 for more tips on developing good questions to ask.
What are the three things you most want to know about the job? About the team? About the
company? This is your chance! Whatever you do, dont turn up without questions it can
make you look unprepared and unenthusiastic.
One really important tip is to read your question to yourself before you ask it. This makes
sure you dont re-ask something thats already been covered, which might make the
interviewer think you hadnt been paying attention! Its worth having a few extra questions,
just in case.
Theres no need to try to memorise questions; its perfectly acceptable to write them down,
to take in with you. This makes you look as though you have prepared thoroughly for the
interview and helps you relax.
For more advice on developing questions, see Ask the Interviewer Questions.

6. Practise answers to obvious questions
Some interview questions are really obvious. Revisit How To Cope With Tough Questions,
to make sure you are fully equipped for almost any question that arises.
However, should you want to do even more preparation, then there are some obvious
questions that almost always come up. Its really worth practising your answers to these, so
you sound natural and confident when asked.
7. Be friendly to everyone you meet
You never know who is involved in the recruitment process!
One of our colleagues, Sophie, had an experience of welcoming a candidate in the

reception of a large company. The candidate, Peter, was very confident, but hardly made
any eye contact with Sophie and was very dismissive. As they walked to the department
office, he didnt show any interest in Sophie, other than to ask when he would meet the
Head of Department, who was recruiting for the position.
Sophie told Peter he was delayed and asked him to wait for five minutes. Peter sat on the
sofa, pulled out his folder, looked at Sophie and said Ill have a coffee then, please and
turned his attention back to his folder. Sophie got him the coffee and then took him to the
Head of Departments office.
Peter thanked Sophie and said goodbye, as Sophie took a seat, opposite him. Are you
taking notes, then? he asked her, slightly confused.
The Head of Department said, Let me introduce Sophie: our Finance Director.
Peter didnt get the job. Why? Because the recruiting team felt he demonstrated that he
would have little respect for people who were less senior than him.
8. Focus on your strengths
A job interview is not the time or place to start admitting anything youre not good at.
However, its also not the place to fib about any areas for development you might have.
Its time to be confidently assertive.
Theres plenty you can do to help you identify any areas you might have in your experience
or career history that are less-than-flattering. And theres help available to come up with
solutions. (See Step Two: CV Confidence Common Career Problems).
The key is to make sure you use your missing skills as an opportunity to show how you
could adapt to the role.
For example, say youre going for an IT job, but you dont have the experience required in a
particular programming language:
The fact that theyve called you for interview means this doesnt prevent them considering
you. So think laterally: where else in your career or hobbies can you demonstrate your
ability to learn quickly and apply new skills?

Prove to them that your weaknesses are, in fact, areas that you could quickly develop,
once you got the job. And show that they arent significant, when compared to your other
skills and characteristics.
Remember: if youre asked a tricky question in an interview, its always ok to pause

for a few breaths while you consider your answer. Its often better to do that, than to
rush in with something you wish you hadnt said afterwards.
One great technique to buy time is to repeat the question back to them, or simply ask for a
moment to consider what they are asking. Good interviewers usually dont mind waiting for
a good answer, if it means they will learn more about what makes you tick.
Click here for more advice on handling tough questions.
9. ?
Salary: When do we talk money?
Not until you get the job offer!
As long as you did your research and confirmed the salary bracket was within your desired
range, before you applied for the job, theres no need to discuss this during the interview. It
can make you look overly motivated by cash.
The only time to discuss it is if the interviewer asks.
Its vital to understand whats important to you about the job youre applying for, so you
know where money ranks on your scale (see Step One: Where Do I Start). If you are
asked about his in the interview and salary is one of your key decision factors, make sure
you have rehearsed your answer before-hand: Um and Errr. Dont tend to get big
pay rises. Your preparation will help you justify your answer.
If at all possible, leave salary negotiations until the job offer comes through. Your
confidence will be soaring by that point and your negotiation position will be stronger.
Do I get paid travel expenses?
Unlikely.
Nowadays its rare for a first round interview candidate to be paid expenses. Indeed, some
employers, perhaps unfairly, frown on candidates who ask for expenses. The exceptions to
this rule are if you were head-hunted (i.e. someone asked you to apply) or travelling from
overseas. You may then find that economy class travel will be refunded.
Second round interviews will sometimes include travel expenses, particularly for graduate
recruitment. You should check this out, if its an issue for you.

10. What happens after the interview?
Its good to finish off your interview by asking when the recruiter thinks they will be reaching
a decision, so you know how long youll have to wait.
Step Four: After The Event contains a range of powerful methods for bridging the gap
between the interview and the companys decision, to make sure they remember who you
are.
For now, our top tip would be to follow up. Be persistent, but not pushy. Remind them youre
there and make sure they know you are interested.
Youve reached the end of the section on Interview Techniques.
The next stage is to work on those pre-interview nerves.
Many people say a few nerves help them perform. But if youre getting to the stage of churning
stomach and sleepless nights, then you need to take action.
Managing Nerves takes you through how.

Step Three: The Interviews Looming Managing Nerves
Managing Nerves
Interview types - know what to expect

Being invited for an interview is suitably vague.
It could range from a one-hour one-to-one interview, to a full days assessment centre, with
multiple interviews, group exercises and psychometric tests.
Its perfectly acceptable to contact the company to ask them what the approximate format for
the day will be though bear in mind they might not know or might not want to tell you.
Typical contents for the day include:
Structured interviews
These may have one or more interviewers and usually all candidates will be asked the
same questions. You may find some questions seem a little odd just remember your
interview question preparation techniques.
Open discussion interviews
These may actually be more challenging than a structured interview, because they
could literally go anywhere. They often start as, Lets just chat. The key is to stay
relaxed and alert and to be yourself.
Panel interviews
These have multiple interviewers and will often have obvious good cop / bad cop
characters. They can be useful to help a range of people in the company to meet you,
but can feel stressful.
Sometimes different interviewers will talk over each other or ask questions at the same
time. If youre confused, make sure you ask for clarification, e.g. which question would
you like me to answer first? addressed to the leader of the panel.
Dont worry about panel interviews. Youre used to talking to groups of people you do
it every time you meet with friends or family. Just do your preparation and then be
yourself.
Lunch with potential colleagues
This is often put across as relaxation time, but you can almost guarantee that the
people you have lunch with will be asked their opinion afterwards. So make sure you

keep your wits about you and dont relax too much. You may find yourself at lunch with
other candidates, too. If this is the case, try not to see it as a competition. The top tips
are to be naturally talkative and genuinely interested in getting to know the others youre
with that makes a great impression.
Work-related exercises, to simulate how you would perform in the job
Some companies use case studies or exercises that simulate tasks you would do in the
job. Sometimes theyll add a stress factor in.
Theres not much you can do to prepare for these. So just make sure youve read the
instructions carefully and dont be afraid to ask for clarification, if youre unclear about
something. Its much better to do that than to do the whole exercise wrong.
Group exercises
This will be testing your team working skills, in a competitive environment. Typically,
you find a mixture of shy people and natural leaders in the exercise.
Again, the best advice is to be true to your natural behaviour, making sure you
contribute, but that you also create an environment that encourages the maximum
contribution from others. Back to basics: make sure someones watching the time and
also that you ask others for their ideas and opinions, rather than telling everyone how
youve had the best idea that we simply have to use!
Tasks to see how you perform under stress
Typical examples of these are either assignments that simply cannot be completed in
the time allowed, or a sudden change of the rules, half way through.
Just keep your head down and get on with it.
Some people will react angrily about the situation being unfair that wont get them the
job.
The fact is that you cope with stress all the time in life, so you have strategies to deal
with pressure. Just use them in the interview.
Presentations
If important to the role, then you might find youre asked to give a brief presentation as
part of an assessment centre.
If this is something you really dont enjoy, just do your best. Whatever you do, dont
apologise or make excuses. Employ the same techniques you currently use to get you
through presenting in your current role that way youll be doing your best.
We all have a tendency to gabble and look at our feet, if we hate presenting. If youre
really nervous, then keep breathing, speak slowly and make eye contact with your

audience.
Psychometric tests
These are multiple-choice, timed tests that are designed to test either numerical or
verbal reasoning skills. Your percentage of correct answers against number of
questions attempted is compared against industry norms.
You can improve your skills at these if you practise, but it can be hard to get hold of
sample tests.
The numerical tests are usually designed to predict the mistakes candidates might
make and include these answers in the available options, too.
The verbal reasoning tests are designed to check your understanding of the English
language, as well as to test your ability to differentiate between what is actually said, vs.
making logical assumptions.
The key to these tests is to read the question thoroughly and keep an eye open for any
twists or catches. Its not worth guessing too many answers, as most tests also use the
number of correct questions, as a percentage of those attempted, as part of the result.
Personality tests
These are scaled or multiple choice tests, usually asking you what you would do in
certain situations.
Many will include strategies to detect whether youre being honest, so its important to
give your genuine answer, rather than the response you think they want to see. Bear in
mind theyll be able to compare the results to your behaviour in other interview
exercises.
Some companies place a lot of importance on the results, but most use them as just a
piece of the recruitment jigsaw, getting an overall picture of who you are.
So dont worry about it, if youre asked to do a personality test. Its just a way of finding
out more about who you are and how you tick.
Lots of hanging around
Bear in mind that you might have gaps in your timetable, so may be hanging around for
a while. Make the most of this time to relax and prepare for the next stages.
If you need something to drink while youre waiting, dont be afraid to ask the people
around you arent mind-readers.
If you find your mind racing and over-analysing how the day has gone so far, then follow
the Learn-Log-Let Go process in Step Four: After The Event, to make sure any earlier
negatives dont impact the rest of your interviews.

No need for nerves
What if Im nervous?
Check Out Your Body
Its really useful to quickly check out where youre holding tension in your body.
If your mind is tense and nervous, then there is a corresponding physical response. This will
impact both your breathing and your ability to think clearly.
Its useful to breathe from your stomach, rather than your chest, which helps reduce tension.
Your stomach should move out as you breathe in and contract as you breathe out. Breathing
like this (like babies do) reduces tension. Whereas shallow breathing from your chest region
encourages tension.
You can also help yourself relax by allowing the tension to drain from your eyelids, jaw and neck
muscles. We tend not to notice stress build-up in those areas and you might well be amazed at
how much strain you are holding. Releasing it is highly effective and can help your
concentration.
Cant Sleep?
If you find your mind is racing, thinking about the interview, then it can be difficult to sleep. Top
tips are:
1. Avoid caffeine after 6pm (this includes tea, coffee, cola and chocolate).
2. Have a warm bath, with some soothing bubble bath.
3. Keep a notepad near you, even in bed: you can make a note of anything youre worried
about and what youre going to do about it. The reason your mind races is because it
wants to make sure we dont forget things. By writing it down, it allows the mind to start
to let go.
A key to overcoming nerves is having a positive attitude.
Would you rather get to the end of the interview, thinking about how well you answered the
questions, or wishing you had done better?
Basically, since youre sat in the interview, your CV has probably already proved youre a
suitable candidate for the role. Youve already made it through to the short-list, beating plenty of
other candidates.
Then all you need to do is stay calm and give the answers that are natural to you.
Most interviewers will pick up on someone who is exaggerating or bluffing, so just be yourself.
After all, the interviewer has given up their time to get to know you better and find out how you
might fit in.
The interview process is equally about the interviewer sussing you out, as much as you finding

out whether you want to work for the company.
Waiting for the interview killing time in reception it can be an hour or more.
If theyre running late, you could find yourself waiting in reception for a long time.
Rather than clock-watching and getting progressively more nervous, use this as an opportunity
to review your CV and interview preparation notes.
Or maybe the company has some interesting literature in its reception area that would tell you
more about what its like to work there or the current projects theyre running?
Youll make a much better and more relaxed first impression if youve kept yourself occupied
while waiting, rather than staring at the walls.
During the Interview
Breathing Remember to breathe from your stomach this reduces stress, compared from
breathing from the chest area or even throat area.
Posture Sit up straight, but comfortably, so you can relax. Feel free to adjust the chair,
so you can get comfortable. Its better than spending an hour, shuffling and
fidgeting.
Smile Smiling (naturally) helps you relax. If you notice that youre feeling nervous and
tense, just imagine youre smiling with your eyes. It will help release tension and
make you look more confident, without grinning inanely!
Water Dont be afraid to ask for a glass of water during the interview, if your throat
feels dry. Its better than coughing all the time and trying to appear confident,
with a croaky voice.
If interview nerves are a real issue for you, then you might find a session of interview coaching
really helps.
Email coaching@interviewstuff.com to find out more.

Step Three: The Interviews Looming Final Checklist
Final Checklist
Congratulations!
Youve completed your interview preparation.
As a final tip, heres a quick check-list, to help reassure you that youve covered the essentials.
I know where Im going & when
Ive got my clothes ready & my hair is presentable
Ive prepared my interview question answer techniques
Ive covered the obvious questions
Ive got some good questions to ask the interviewer
I know what to expect from the day
Ive checked out the common interview mistakes and interview etiquette advice
Im keeping my cool
Im ready to go!
Good Luck!
When youve finished your interview, its time to move onto Step Four: After The Event, to find
out the value of follow-up, how to make the most of learning from how the interview went and
strategies for letting go of anything that was less than perfect.

Step Three: The Interviews Looming Exercise templates
Exercise templates
Print these forms out to complete the exercises as often as you need to.
Exercise 1: Background information................................................................................. 72

Exercise 2: What Do I Still Want To Know?...................................................................... 77
Exercise 4: Research Phone Call: ..................................................................................... 78
Exercise 5: Choosing Questions To Ask In The Interview.............................................. 81

Exercise 1: Background information

What is your current impression of the company? What do you like or dislike about it, based on
your current level of knowledge?
What is the public reputation or image of this company?
What is the main business of the company?

Do you know anyone who works there who you could talk to about the company? Do you know
anyone who knows anyone who works there? Make the most of your contacts!
What size is the company? (number of employees, turnover, international subsidiaries, etc)
How is the company currently performing? (e.g. market share, profits, other relevant measures,
are there any plans for expansion / takeovers)

Where would the advertised role fit within the companys structure and plans?
What do you know about its culture?
Does the company have a published vision or mission statement?

What do you know about what its like to work there?
What is the likelihood of your top values being satisfied by working there?
(Values are covered in Step One: Where Do I Start?)
How would the company describe its ideal employee? What types of skills and characteristics
would they have?

Are there any buzz words or technical terms that the company or industry uses in its literature.
(You might include these in your CV or interview).
What would be the pros and cons of working for this company?
Question: Do I still want this job?
Yes
No
Not sure
Be honest with yourself!
Back to Background Information

Exercise 2: What Do I Still Want To Know?
Essential:
Important
Icing on the Cake
Back to What Do I Still Want To Know?

Exercise 4: Research Phone Call:

This exercise gives you a chance to prepare.
Remember to smile!
Name & number to call:
Objective of the call
Do I have any questions about the job or company?
3-5 reasons why I am interested in the job

3-5 reasons why I think I am a suitable candidate
Salary & benefits package: current and what Im looking for
(remember to include bonuses, pension contributions, vacation entitlement, healthcare and other
benefits)
Current Desired

Any specific questions
Notes from the call
Congratulations on completing the research call!
Back to Research Phonecall

Exercise 5: Choosing Questions To Ask In The Interview
Above all, the questions should be something that genuinely interest you - rather than
something you read in a book or article. This is your chance to find out more about whether you
want to work for the company. We invite you to make the most of it.
So, which questions do you want to ask the interviewer?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Back to Questions To Ask In The Interview

The Interview Is Looming

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1 2 3 4 5

Step Three: The Interviews Looming

Clare Jaques 2003, 2004

Clare Jaques 2004 1

Whats An Interview For? ........................................................................................................... 5

Clare Jaques 2004 2

Step One Where do I start?

Step Two CV Confidence

Step Three The interviews looming

Step Four After the event

Step Five Ive got a job offer

The Interviews Looming

There may be an initial reaction of panic or excitement?

But at the end of the day, its your choice.

Clare Jaques 2004 3

The Interviews Looming takes you through:

Balancing preparation and spontaneity

Neither of these extremes works well in practice.

Give Yourself A Head Start

Remember the Basics

Dont rule yourself out of a job offer by forgetting the basics.

Clare Jaques 2004 4

Whats An Interview For?

But what is an interview?

An interview is typically seen by the interviewee as a potential interrogation or even an

But it doesnt have to be that way.

So whats the right attitude?

Someone who is genuinely interested in the company and who they

Clare Jaques 2004 5

Why Should I Bother Preparing?

3 Its easier to relax in the interview

3 Youll feel more confident and will be more articulate

3 Youll come across as a motivated self-starter

3 Youll be able to prove more convincingly that youre a strong candidate

If you wing it:

3 You might end up being more nervous

2 You should at least know what you want and why

2 Spontaneity can backfire, particularly if other candidates have prepared

Think about it:

At the end of the day, its your decision.

Clare Jaques 2004 6

Research the employer

Start your interview question preparation.

Concentrate on completing your research

Work on your interview question preparation

Decide what to wear

Get your suit dry-cleaned

Get your hair cut

Start working on minimising your pre-interview nerves

Review how to avoid common interview mistakes

Review your CV and interview question preparation

Double-check the clothes you want to wear

Do any last-minute preparations, such as cleaning shoes, ironing shirt, etc.

Double-check directions and travel times

Leave plenty of time

Take contact details, in case of delay

Review last minute strategies to reduce nerves

Clare Jaques 2004 7

Give Yourself A Head Start

In-Depth: Why & how to research your future employer

This section covers:

3 why and how to research the company

3 whats expected of you