The interview process is designed to evaluate the fit between the candidate and recruiter. Just as the recruiter is assessing your suitability for the role, it is equally important for you to assess the organisation against your aspirations and requirements.

Together with advice from your recruitment consultant, we’ve put together some of our top recommendations when preparing for an interview.

Understand the purpose of the interview.

An interview is an opportunity for each party to get to know one another however, the interviewer will be looking for you to answer the following questions:

1. Can you do the job?
   Do you have the skills, qualifications and experience that meet the requirements of the job description and the organisation? Your resume would have provided enough information to convince the interviewer that you do indeed have these characteristics, however, be sure to prepare examples and achievements that really drive home your abilities.
   
   
2. Will you do the job?
   The interviewer will be looking to learn more about your career goals, motivation and attitude to assess whether you are able to do the job in their work environment, or within their processes and procedures. Fortunately, your recruitment consultant would have identified your suitability to the job before the interview, so you can rest assured you will walk into the interview with a good understanding of how the company works.
   
   
3. Will you fit into the team?
   Identifying whether a candidate is a good cultural fit often comes down to personality, approach to work and attitude. Similarly, an interview provides you with the opportunity to identify whether your potential team is a good fit for you. Body language and other forms of communication play an important role here, so be mindful about how you sit, and ensure you feel comfortable.

Plan ahead.

It is likely that it has been a while since you have been interviewed, so enlist a friend, or better still a group to ask you some sample questions. Try to establish a healthy level of eye contact but also pay attention to your verbal presentation, avoiding fillers such as ‘um’, ‘uh’ and ‘so’.

It is likely that the interviewer will want you to give a brief overview of your career history, that’s relevant to the role you are applying for, your career goals and what you are looking for. Similarly, you may be asked to discuss your strengths or even weaknesses, so prepare articulate and positive responses for each of these questions. Research your potential employer, their values and latest news to ensure you are ready to answer any questions about what you think about the organisation, how you believe you could help them and how you would fit in.

Review the job description, your application and cover letter so you can remind yourself about the important aspects of the role and the qualities highlighted in your resume that make you a great fit for the employer.

Avoid negativity.

It is said that people make their minds up about someone within the first few seconds of meeting them. As the interviewer will be looking for positive likable people, any negative characteristics you display will be noticed and may count against you. With this in mind, ensure you dress appropriately for the interview; while this doesn’t mean hiding who you are, it does mean dressing for the occasion.

When discussing the reasons why you are leaving your current job, don’t dwell on negative aspects of the situation, but talk more about the positive impact you are seeking to make through a better suited role. Equally, you should show interest and enthusiasm about the vacancy and the organisation, so the interviewer clearly understands you have the desire to learn more about them. This is where your earlier planning will help you shine through, as you may already have questions about the organisation, product or service prepared.

Closing the interview.

At the end of the interview, remember to smile and thank the people involved for their time, while reaffirming your interest in the role. Typically, job offers are made some time after the interview however, if you are presented with an offer, it is acceptable to request that this is put to your recruitment consultant before formally accepting (or rejecting).