Resources

It’s common knowledge that the interview is the hardest part of any job application, yet it doesn’t need to be.

Here are some tips and tricks that the Mps People Solutions have come up with to assist you in being your best in preparation for/and during an interview.


Interview tips

It is a competition
The prize is winning the job so treat it like one (without the aggression). Generally, there are no prizes for second-best.

Failure to prepare means that you are preparing to fail.
The more information you are armed with about the company and the role, the better the chances of your interview being a success.

Research the company.
Doing some research on the company will give you a good idea beforehand of whether the company will be a good fit for you, and will also give you questions to ask.

Web-sites now provide a wealth of information about companies. The consultant may also be able to provide details (all you need to do is ask!), and often a brochure can be obtained from the company directly.

Know where you are going.
Timing: Plan a reliable way of getting there that allows you to be a few minutes early. Google maps can be an invaluable resource when it comes to planning and timing a route. Make sure that you know who you are seeing and that you’ve prepared appropriate questions.

Dress appropriately
Are you well-dressed in a way that follows conventions in this job sector or have you dressed at the conservative end of your own range?

Ask us what the client’s dress code is – our consultants are here to help you! Although for a corporate role; a dark business suit, white shirt, conservative tie, neat hair and polished dark shoes is always a safe bet.

Always remember that first impressions count.

Who are you?
Think about your skills, competences, qualifications and experience. How are you perceived?

Talk to friendly colleagues, present or recent, about their views of you as a team member, what your strengths are and make sure that these strengths are reflected in your CV.

Who are your targeted companies?
Mps People Solutions often have access to vacancies that have not been advertised. Let your consultant know what types of industries/companies that you’re interested in working with or for.  We may have the perfect role for you but haven’t advertised it at the clients request.

Review anticipated questions
It’s always a good idea to prepare answers to common interview questions (we have some listed at the bottom of this page). This will allow you to prevent stumbling over your words by having a good idea of how you would answer them.

Prepare extra copies of your resume
Always make sure that you take an extra copy of your resume as well as something to take notes on (always carry around a reliable pen!).

If applicable to your industry, prepare a presentation binder to take it with you
You will be remembered if: you can show good sales figures; contacts that you have that are relevant to this position; any letters of commendation or certificates that show relevant qualifications; brochures of some of the products that you have sold/marketed; examples of the types of projects you`ve been involved in.
Interviews can vary, from being very formal to being very informal. There is no single way in which an interview is conducted, but there are some standards that apply to almost every time. Their assessment of you begins before the actual interview.

First contact
A firm handshake, with an enthusiastic greeting and a good amount of eye contact and a self-introduction should make a good impression.

Never carry anything in your right hand
This is the hand that you will shake with.

Be polite to any support staff that you meet including those at the consultancy.
They count too - and may influence a decision in your favour. The interviewer will frequently ask either the receptionist or the Para-consultant their opinions on the candidate

Break the Ice.
it’s natural to be a little nervous.  To help break the ice, look for something in reception or in their office that’s not too personal that you can comment on, how nice the offices are or the positive article you saw about the company on the weekend, there’s always the weather

When answering questions, there are some basic rules to keep in mind:
  • ALWAYS PROVIDE EXAMPLES of where you demonstrated this behavior in the past.  Your examples should be recent and relevant – try to draw your examples from your work experience that is most related to the organisation, industry and role you are applying for, then draw on other less relevant experiences only if needed;
  • BE SPECIFIC AND DON’T GENERALISE – remember the interviewer is looking to evaluate your behavior so you will need to provide actual examples of when you have demonstrated “I have/I did/I do”.  Steer clear of saying “we, our, us etc”, they want to determine your experience specifically;
  • DON’T USE THE SAME EXAMPLE all the time – have a number of examples ready;
  • In a concise manner, address the following three aspects of the questions:
    a) DESCRIBE THE SITUATION or task
    b) DETAIL THE ACTIONS/steps taken
    c) STATE THE RESULT/ outcome
Respond enthusiastically and pleasantly to the interviewers' questions and remarks.

Let the interviewer lead the conversation early on
Try to establish or clarify the role and the duties involved early on. This way you can apply your previous experience and skills to the position.

Always keep a positive emphasis
 Do not say ' I can`t' or ' I haven`t'. Instead, say, for example, 'That sounds good. It is something I am sure I would be able to do. Relate answers to the position. Show you have done some research - but don`t be contrived.

Stay positive even when things appear to be going bad
A genuinely interested interviewer may be testing your reactions by making the interview appear to be going badly for you.

Enthusiasm is infectious
Let them know you`re enthusiastic about the position, and why.

Clarify what the next step is
When would the next interview be, who will you be hearing from etc?

Ask them what else they need to know about you.

State that you can do the job. Show confidence in your ability to fill the position

Remember to ask questions
A lack of questions could be mistaken for a lack of interest. Many of these you may already know from your research. Here are some questions that you’ll be able to ask:
  • What will be my responsibilities? 
  • Where will I fit into the overall organisational structure? 
  • Who will I report to? 
  • Where does he/she fit in the structure? 
  • Who will report to me? How experienced are they? 
  • What do you expect me to do in the first 6 months? 
  • What level of performance do you expect from me? 
  • Who are your customers? 
  • Where is the company going? Upwards? Expansion plans? 
  • What are the chances of advancement/promotion in this position? When? 
  • What will be my salary, benefits and bonuses? [Do not bring this up too early in the interview - wait until they are sold on you.] 
  • Will travelling be required in this position? 
  • Will relocation be required now or in the future? 
  • What training do you provide? 
  • When will you decide on the appointment?
  • What is the next step? 
  • What would I be expected to accomplish in this position? 
  • What are the greatest challenges of this position? 
  • How do you think I fit the position? 
  • What is the exact geographical area? 
  • What’s the mix of new to existing business? 
  • What are the reasons for the vacancy? 
  • How do I compare to other candidates? (Use questions like these to impress them further/remove any doubts they may have.) 
  • Can you see yourself working with me?
Be ready to answer questions!

The interviewer is trying to determine whether you’re appropriate for the job and here is a selection of commonly asked questions that Mps consultants and/or employers may ask you:
  • Tell me about yourself. (Ask them to clarify this question - what they want to know, and where they want you to start.) 
  • What are/were your primary responsibilities in your current/previous vacancy? 
  • What were your earning when you started with your previous company? 
  • What is/was your earnings currently/when you left? 
  • Why did you leave/are you considering leaving? 
  • What are your proudest accomplishments in this position? 
  • What was the most difficult part of your job, and how did you deal with it? 
  • What qualities are necessary to be successful in this role? 
  • Describe a typical workday. 
  • How did you feel about your workload? 
  • What are your weaknesses? 
  • What are your career goals? 
  • What are your short-term/long-term objectives? 
  • What is your management philosophy? 
  • Do you consider yourself successful? Why? 
  • What was the most challenging aspect of your job? 
  • What kinds of rewards are satisfying to you? 
  • What have you done to improve your skills? 
  • What are you looking for now? 
  • What other kinds of positions have you applied for recently? 
  • What do you know about us? 
  • What aspect of this job interests you least? Most? 
  • Do you prefer to work by yourself or with others? 
  • How long would it take you to make an impact with us? 
  • How would you describe your personality? 
  • Were you satisfied with your performance in your previous position? Why? 
  • Why should I hire you above another candidate? 
  • Do you set goals? 
  • Describe a major goal you set and what steps you took to reach it? 
  • When you fail to reach target, how do you deal with it? 
  • What did you find hard to do in your previous role? Why? 
  • Do you feel you were sufficiently recognised for your work by your managers? 
  • What steps do you take to overcome a problem? 
  • What do you do when faced with a decision where no company policy exists? 
  • What problems do you face in getting a typical days work done? 
  • How would your managers describe you? 
  • What types of people do you dislike working with? 
  • How do you handle criticism? 
  • What would you change about your former/current employer? 
  • What was your best/worst manager like? 
  • What outside activities are most significant to your personal development? 
  • Describe a time when you have had a conflict with a colleague. How did you overcome it?