Interview tips

This is often the opening question in an interview. It's also one of the most difficult if you're not prepared.

This question calls for a one-minute advert that summarises your experience and skills and also look at your personality in the context of the job you are being interviewed for.

Remember - the interviewer does not want to hear about the football team you support or your unusual hobbies. He / she is looking at how well you match the vacancy on offer.

Just get straight to the point and sell your professional self.

Write down a few brief sentences that show you have what it takes to do the job - experience, proven results and desire to contribute.

You can always take notes into your interview as a reminder, employees see that as being prepared and organised.

The key to answering any question that pits you against the competition is to use specifics.

Other candidates will speak in general about themselves, so you need something that will make you stand out a bit. 

So give real examples that show them you are best-suited for the job.

Point out your achievements and accomplishments throughout your working life, or life experiences that are relevant to the open position. Tell them the qualities you have that are valuable to the company, and dont forget to say you are open to learn more.

You need to do your research it is important in answering these questions, they are looking to see how interested in working for the company you are.

You need to use this opportunity to show off what I know about the company and, more importantly, how you would fit in.

They are not looking for word for word about what is on their website, but how much you have looked at what they do, where the company are looking to go in the future and what the values of the company are, for example: 'I see you are looking to expand in the next few years and take on more staff in the production area of your business'.

This shows you have looked at the issues and challenges in the company to demonstrate the depth of your knowledge.

You could point out things you have done in similar companies that could address their problems.

The secret to answering this question is using your weaknesses to your advantage.

You need to flip this question on it's head - turn them into strengths - How? 

For example, if my weaknesses include my lack of having enough time to do the job, I would then state that because of this, I have learned to take special measures to ensure that I remain calm and attentive to get the job done.

Just make sure that you do give a real answer to this question. None of us is without faults, so don't pretend that you do not have weaknesses.

You need to be cautious about these kinds of questions and make sure you do not end up sounding bitter.

Dont criticise your former company, the boss, or former colleagues.

You need to have a good understanding about the job for which you're applying to turn this question into a positive one.

It may be best to say that you really enjoyed many aspects of your job, then focus on how this new job will give you the opportunity to contribute more in a particular area that is key to the position.

An interviewer does not want to hear that your five-year aspiration is to be going on holiday or working in a different industry.

You need to talk about goals you have that relate to the job. This will demonstrate that you understand the industry, the company and are motivated to succeed there.

Preparation is the key to answering any question with confidence.

Always keep in mind, whatever the question is, that the interviewer is trying to find out if you are a good fit and can make a positive contribution in the job.

This tells the interviewer that you have a long-term view and that you're not just looking for any old job; you're looking to secure a career.

Finding out why you were selected for an interview out of possibly hundreds of other candidates, this gives you a chance to expand on the qualities that caught their eye, bringing back in their mind the case for you to be recruited.

This will give you an idea of what you can expect when you walk into the job on the first day after being recruited. It also can give you a rough idea as to what will be expected of you, allowing you to show you have the necessary skills during the interview.

This shows your willingness to learn new skills and adapt to new challenges or initiatives. Adaptability is very important in today's economy and could be key to retaining your job in a reorganisation.

Hearing why a current employee opted to work at the firm can give you some insight into some of the strengths and opportunities within the organisation.

This will reveal the unseen job requirements that aren't related to professional experience or education. If you need a traditional environment to stay focused, a workplace which allows music streaming, very casual dress and ultra-flexible schedules may not be conducive to your productivity.

Ask this question, and you'll see what the company and departmental structure under which you will be working is. For instance, will you report directly to the company's manager or will there be a team leader between you?

Job adverts usually list the general areas of responsibility for a position, but it's always good to confirm what the actual duties will be. You don't want to start your new job as thinking it is one role and then find out that you're responsible for handing out the post.

Knowing this helps you determine the timing of any interview follow-up activities.

It's always good to finish up an interview with this question. It keeps the door open for further communication, giving you one last chance to make your case.