Be prepared

Well done! The CV has opened the door and now comes the 'Interview'. This makes some people weak at the knees at the thought of being put on the spot. The fear of interviews often comes down to the fact that you will say the wrong answer to a question. To prevent this and to succeed at interview will depend on the quality of your preparation.

The areas to concentrate on are:

• The job description
• The company
• Selling yourself
• Preparing interview questions
• The job description

The job description will highlight the key skills and experience the employer requires for the role. It is essential that you have read and understood all aspects of the job description. If you are unsure about any duties then speak to the Permanent Consultant at DCA Recruitment. Relate all key criteria with your own knowledge and experience so you can draw upon these factors at interview.

The company

Finding company information is not always as easy as it seems. Fortunately most companies have websites, but these can be quite hit and miss with smaller firms. At DCA Recruitment we will be able to provide more information on the company, especially if we have placed candidates in the company before. When looking at the company information makes sure that this is an industry you feel is doing well. Look at their accomplishments and their objectives for the future. How many employees do they have? Do they have plans for expansion? You can often tell how professional the company is by its website.

Selling yourself

Try looking at yourself objectively. Look at your strengths, weaknesses, your potential and achievements. Your strengths lie in your skills, usually outlined in the CV. Think about examples and achievements that provide evidence that you have used or developed certain skills. Relate these skills to the job description and don't waffle as the interviewer may lose interest.

Weaknesses should be shown as areas where training can improve the skills of the individual. For example you may have no experience on a company's in house database, and why should you if you have never worked for the company before. Simple training can turn a weakness into a strength.

Your potential lies in the opportunities the company has to offer and this should be explored during the interview. You must feel confident to ask why this role has arisen. Will this role develop in time or are there opportunities for progression? Some roles are exactly what they say they are i.e. Receptionist and will not change very much over time, so be careful about asking these questions if they do not apply to the type of role you are being interviewed for.

Preparing interview questions

Interviews are two way and you must make sure you are making the right decision if you are offered the job. By asking questions either throughout the interview or at the end you must be satisfied that you have enough information. I always advise candidates to take a notepad with questions already written down. This not only shows to the interviewer that you have prepared for the interview but it prompts you to ask the questions rather than running for the door!

Also have a look at the section 'The interview', so that you can prepare some answers to likely interview questions that may come up.