Ready for that job interview? Preparation is everything

Anne Watson is the director of executive recruitment agency Executive Focus Ltd. Her book The Definitive Job Book – Rules from Recruitment Insiders provides information on every aspect of job hunting from interview technique to recruitment. Watson rounds up her essential advice on how to survive the interview process.

What is the number one tip for a successful interview?

The most important point for any interview is to be prepared in every sense. Be sure you are on time, looking smart, focused on the job you want and then you must go in feeling confident and certain that this is the job for you – and you are the person they are looking for. Act as if this is the only job you have applied for and the only job that you want. Do not waffle but get your points across succinctly. Do not interrupt, do not overtalk but make sure you have your say.

Remember that words are only 9 per cent of communication, so remember to get the body language right. Maintain good eye contact, smile and practise a firm handshake. Make sure you listen hard and respond intelligently.

What should your preparation process include?

Do as much background checking as possible on the company and the people who are interviewing you. In this era of the internet there is absolutely no excuse for not knowing about the company. Look at their website and find out about the directors of the business.

Find out about what the company does and who their competitors are. Remember that you are in a competitive situation and your job is to stand out, for all the right reasons.

Make sure you have worked out where the interview is going to be held and how you are going to get there.

How important is it to bring along a copy of our CV?

Competent recruiters should already have a copy of your CV but why don't you prepare a file that has all of the information about the job you are being interviewed for? You could put all your printouts in there as well as a copy of your CV. That way, if it is needed, you can produce one with a flourish. Check that the CV is perfect as nothing else will do. No spelling mistakes and no inaccuracies. People check dates on CVs and one lie, however small, will leave you firmly in the "reject" pile. Include some paper and a pen to take notes

What are the types of questions designed to throw an interviewee?

The questions you need to watch out for are the ones that are off-piste and are meant to see how articulate you are. Make sure you have read the papers and are ready for questions relating to current events or hot topics. A question relating to economic meltdown or credit crunch will be one that will test how up to date you are. One client of mine always asks: "What is the last book you have read?" In the adrenalin fuelled fear of the moment, it is easy for your mind to go blank so have something prepared that will create the right impression.

What other questions should I expect?

* What are you most proud of in your life to date?

* What would you consider to be your greatest success or failure?

* Describe a situation when you have turned potential failure into a success

* What are the three key qualities you will bring to a team?

* Who do you consider to be a role model?

* Name three people that you admire and what are the reasons why

What is the best answer for the question, 'what is your worst trait?'

Be prepared for this one as it is inevitable. It is the question that you have to sidestep and you have to have prepared for it in advance as you will be confessing to different weaknesses for different jobs. This is not the time for you to admit candidly that you are hopeless at getting up in the mornings or that you live in disorganised shambles.

We don't want to know that you never finish things off or that you have never been able to cope with being part of a team. Look at the job role and work out what they are NOT looking for and confess that you don't have it. You could say that you have a tendency to take on too much and therefore can get overloaded or you could say that you find you stick at things for too long when perhaps you should have moved on.

How often do firms ask interviewees to do psychometric testing? And how do you get through?

Most companies now use psychometric testing as part of their interviewing process. This is particularly true of graduates as they don't have a long career history that can be discussed at interview. There are two kinds of psychometric questionnaires, ability and personality. In order to gain the confidence you need to get through, make sure you do some precise papers for ability questionnaires before you embark on any interviews. They are likely to be in the categories of verbal, numerical and abstract and you can find lots of these on the internet.

Personality questionnaires are much more fun as they should truly reflect the kind of person that you are. It is pointless to practise.

How do you impress if you are called back for a second interview?

You stand a much better chance if you are invited back for a second interview. If you were asked questions that you found difficult, be ready for them this time round. If the dress code was a particular one, make sure you match it this time round. Do more research on the people and be better informed.

What's the best way to stand out in a group interview situation?

This is your chance to show your leadership skills so make sure that you listen hard to other people in the group. Be the person who is summarising the situation and suggesting ways forward. Don't shout people down and don't be a wallflower. Assessors are looking for reflectors who are inclusive in their approach so stay alert and be pleasant.

'The Definitive Job Book – Rules from Recruitment Insiders' by Anne Watson (Capstone, £12.99)

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