Tips for your career
How to proceed during an interview
How to proceed during an interview
We have found your CV interesting and have invited you to an interview. Our consultant will give you the address, the date of the interview and other contact details
How to dress and what to take with you for an interview
Remember that the first impression always plays an important role in the assessment of you as a suitable candidate. Think about your clothing; keep to the dress code of the job you are applying for.
Bring a note pad and prepare a list of questions you would like to ask.
Preparing for an interview
Do not underestimate preparing for an interview. Find out as much information as possible about the position, the company and its subject of business:
- What is the company’s core business?
- How long has it been active?
- Approximately how many employees does the company have?
- What are its products, services?
- Who are its competitors?
Questions
Try to think of short and clear answers for frequently asked questions which usually appear during an interview. They are often focused on:
- Your future career
- Are you satisfied with your career?
- What do you see yourself doing five years from now? Ten years from now? (Make your career goals clear.)
- In what type of position are you most interested and why?
- What is your salary expectation?
- Your work experience
- Tell me more about your last employment. (Point out especially those aspects which might be interesting from the point of view of your potential employer.)
- What were your major responsibilities and competencies?
- What did you enjoy the most and the least in your last position?
- What does your typical working day/week/month look like?
- Are you satisfied with the compensation for your work?
- Describe both your successes and failures. (Prepare some examples.)
- Why are you leaving your employer?
- Your education
- Why have you chosen a given specialization?
- What did you enjoy most at school and why?
- Your abilities and talents
- How would you describe yourself?
- Give me an example of an unexpectedly complicated situation at your work. How did you react?
- Do you have ambitions to lead people?
- Do you prefer teamwork to a position of senior expert?
- Other job offers
- Are you considering other job offers? (Let us know about other interesting positions you are applying for. This information should help your potential employer make a decision.)
- How would you evaluate this position in comparison with the other offers?
- Your future employer
- What do you know about our company?
- How can our company benefit from your work?
- What salary do you expect?
- Your questions
There should be time for your questions during an interview. Ask about things that interest you which have not been mentioned during the interview. Questions will prove your interest and orientation in a given area.
Examples of questions you can ask:
- Is it a newly created position?
- What is the company culture?
- What are the possibilities for career development?
- What is the team structure?
- Who would I report to?
- What are the future plans of the company?
- Who do you perceive being your competitor?
Foreign languages
Be prepared for testing of your language knowledge either with a short test or by a foreign-language conversation during the interview. We suggest that you prepare answers to the above frequently asked questions in the relevant foreign language.
How to behave during an interview
You should arrive about five minutes early. Switch off your mobile phone. Give a convincing handshake and smile.
Be relaxed, self-confident, positive, honest and open.
Do not think about the possibility of not being accepted. Remember that besides your potential employer, you are also making a choice.
Listen to your partner without interrupting him/her. Use short answers, but not just “yes” or “no”. Do not be either too passive or too dominant.
Make your salary expectation clear before the interview but do not be the first one who asks about it.
Speak positively about your current/previous employer. Consider carefully the answer to the question “Why are you leaving/have you left the company?” Do not hide anything; it can always come out later, for example during the verification of your references.
Try to keep your body language and all possible signs of nervousness under control (playing with a chain, moving on a chair, nervous laughing).
Next steps
The selection process usually has several rounds. At the end of each round you should receive information about the next step. You should also be given the date by which you will get feedback. Feel free to ask any questions!
Try to obtain maximum feedback, which you will learn from in order to be better prepared for the next meeting.
If the company offers you a job, do not hesitate to accept it. The sooner you decide, the better impression you make on your future employer. He/she will appreciate your enthusiasm and motivation and therefore will trust you more.
