The more you prepare the more confident you will get. It is no secret that effective preparation will improve your confidence and performance. This is your starting point. Know what the employer wants and how you meet their needs. Know your own CV and learn about the company/industry.

Acknowledge your achievements before interviews

You need to acknowledge your achievements. This is an empowering exercise and will certainly boost confidence. My favourite exercise to support this is writing out “100 Successes List”. Please not that you will probably start struggling after about 20 successes BUT keep going. When you read through your success you will experience a significant rise in confidence. Worthwhile exercise even if you are not interviewing!!

Interviews – Confidence is a habit

You need to practice confidence as confidence is a habit. Watch how confident people act. You should also work on changing your thoughts and internal speak. What picture do you visualize when you think of an interview. For most people it is 3 (always 3) interviewers sitting at the far side of the interview table looking intimidating. Very rarely a reality. Start by changing this picture!!

Go to interview as a superhero

Superman – Try this as it really does work. We did this exercise at a martial arts workshop. Close your eyes and imagine you are entering a phone box, you spin around three times and emerge as superman/ or wonderwoman. You have the full outfit on. This does work and no I am not mad!!

Interviews – Some facts that might interest you.

You were called for interview because the employer liked your CV – A positive start!! He/She now wants a chat about your experience (which they love!!). The recruiter has a problem and you are the potential solution. They want you to succeed so they can stop recruiting and get back to their day job. By the way they don’t do much recruiting and are probably more nervous than you.

Measurability offering Interview Coaching & Interview Preparation information to jobseekers across Ireland – Armagh, Carlow, Cavan, Cork, Clare, Derry, Donegal, Fermanagh, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Westmeath, Longford, Mayo, Meath, Louth Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Tyrone, Waterford, Wexford, Wicklow, Antrim, Down, Dublin

Measurability provides expert career, interview and CV preparation advice to jobseekers in Ireland. Measurability has been established since 2006 although founder/owner Paul Mullan has 14 years Career, HR & Recruitment experience in Ireland & UK. Paul has successfully worked with many jobseekers helping them achieve their career goals through his innovative and highly supportive approach.

For more information about the services offered by Measurability just review the website or click on the following links – CAREER COACHING – CV WRITING SERVICE – INTERVIEW COACHING – or contact us.

Measurability offer Career Services nationwide – Dublin, Waterford, Armagh, Cavan, Carlow, Cork, Clare, Donegal, Derry, Fermanagh, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Limerick, Leitrim, Laois, Westmeath, Longford, Mayo, Meath, Louth Monaghan, Roscommon, Sligo, Offaly Tipperary, Tyrone, Wexford, Wicklow, Antrim, Down

Interview Coaching – Benefits

Read an email I received last week from a previous client. I facilitated a 2 hour Interview Coaching session with this individual. We focused on the key areas of interview preparation and spent some time on communicating the message through role play of difficult interview questions. I felt the interview coaching session went well but it is always nice to hear about the positive results.

“This email is long overdue but I suppose better late than never. I spent a couple of hours training with you for an interview in England for a research position. I wanted to let you know that I actually got the job and I am starting next week. I am over the moon obviously and wanted to thank you again for your help, you definitely gave me great confidence in facing the interview. If there’s a way I can leave feedback on your website or anything I would be more than happy to do that so just let me know. Thanks again and best wishes for the future” – Kate

Interview Coach – Ireland

I cannot guarantee success BUT I can guarantee that Measurability will offer full support to enhance your interview performance and confidence. For more information about our service visit – Interview Coaching.

Visit Measurability if you want to find out more about Executive Interview Coaching or email info@measurability.ie.

Recruiters have used many techniques over the years to assess job applicants BUT a popular and successful technique is the Competency Based Interview or Behavioural Interview. The thinking behind these interviews in that the best indication of how an individual will behave in the future is how they have behaved in the past.

Competency Based Interviews – What are they?
 
A competency Based interview is a technique that employers use to determine whether you are a good fit for the job by asking questions that show evidence of your past behaviour. Anyone can say they are good at selling at interview BUT when individuals are asked to recall situations and they need to show evidence that they have done what they say.

Difference between competency questions and traditional.
 
Basically Competency Interview questions are specific behavioral question will be very specific. Traditional interview questions are “what if” – for example “how would you sell me a product”. These interviews are about the now or future and do not seek specific examples
 
An example of a Competency Based Interview question.
 
“Tell me about a situation where you had to use your initiative?”
 
Preparation & Techniques for Competency Based Interviews
 
It is important to identify what competencies will be assessed. Some employers will provide this information before interview and some will not. The important thing is to ask. If you are not provided you still will be able to work out what they could be. Prepare a few examples for each of the competencies to be assessed. Ensure that you use the STAR technique for your preparation – Situation/Task, Action & Result.

If you need help preparing for a competency interview we can help. Measurability is interview experts in Ireland offering interview preparation for Competency Based Interviews or Behavioural Interviews.

Absolutely YES!!! Most jobseekers neglect preparation before interview and fail as a result. Quite often jobseekers who prepare for interviews lack the knowledge or direction on how to prepare properly. Remember the saying “fail to prepare, prepare to fail”. This is very true when we talk about interviews

What is important – Interview Preparation?

Understand the employer – This is the key to interview preparation. You need to know the employer and what they want. Only then can you focus your interview preparation.

Identify how you meet the job requirements – Hey this is what the employer will want to know at interview. You should also prepare examples and achievement to back this up.

Know your CV – The first question I ask individuals is when did you do you Leaving and most fumble to get an answer. This is just to prove a point. If you do not know yourself how do you expect the employer to know you.

Research the company – Expect to be asked the question – “what do you know about us?” Research the company shows you are prepared BUT also interested.

Interview questions – There are a number of questions that you can be certain that you will be asked. Having said this if you get the above points right you will be fine.

Another important point about Interview Preparation.

Try getting as much information about the recruitment process as you can. This will help you save time and improve focus during preparation.

Do you need help with interview preparation?

We can help you. We are experts in the area. Paul Mullan is a leading Interview Coach in Ireland (Dublin, Meath, Kildare, Louth) helping professional at all levels of the organisation across industry sectors. Read about Paul, the Interview Coaching service and what other individuals had to say about the service.

If an interview is not going to plan what can you do?

There are two options:

a) Continue on as you are and accept your fate. Thank the interviewer and leave the interview. You have sealed your fate and you will not get the job.

OR

b) Address the situation and try to rectify it and fight yourself out of the corner. If you are aware of the mistake you can admit to the mistake. You can point out the mistake and explain what you meant to say. If you feel the interview is not going well but are unclear why then just ask the interviewer for feedback.

Let’s face it you may not be able to pull the interview back into a favorable scenario BUT if the interview is not going well you certainly have nothing to lose.

Measurability can help you with all your interview preparation. We offer expert interview coaching and advice. Work with a leading Irish Interview expert.

 Below is a list of common interview mistakes you should avoid at interview. These mistake are feedback from interviewers as to why jobseekers failed at interview. You have been warned!!

Interview Preparation will help you avoid these mistakes

Poor personal hygiene or appearance
Lack of interest
Money orientated
Negative about past employers
Lack of eye contact
Limp handshake (my pet hate!!)
Not following directions
Late for interview
Lack of appreciation for the interviewer’s time
Not asking questions
Indefinite response to questions
Aggressive or “know it all”
Poor communication
Lack of career direction or goals
Lack of confidence
Lack of participate in activities
Not prepared to get hands dirty
Excuses AND evasiveness
Poor tact
Bad manners
Immaturity
Lack of vitality
Indecisive
Poor application forms
Impression that only shopping around.
Indication that the job is short time solution
Lack of interest in company or the industry
Low standards or morals
Cynical
Laziness 

Interview Preparation – Do you need help?

If you are seeking interview preparation support contact us for more information about how we can help you to success at interview.

Interview preparation – hiding desperation.

Quite often a jobseeker can be desperate to leave a job BUT employers will look on this negatively as the question will always be there – does this individual want to join us or just get away from the current role. The likelihood is that most employers will shy away from these individuals as could be perceived that negativity is your driving factor and you would take any job. If you are desperate you must ensure that you do not portray this to the employer.

Interview preparation – playing it cool

Many jobseekers use a play it cool strategy when job hunting. They will not show desire to join a company for fear that they may seem desperate or that it may affect salary and package negotiation. Playing it too cool though can give the impression of lack of interest.

Conclusion

There are responses that can help you get the balance right ensuring that you do not fall into the above pitfalls at interview. Interview preparation will hone these skills so ensure you spend the time. Interview coaching can help you iron out the problems and improve your success.

Why is researching the company important?

An important part of interview preparation is research the potential company and related industry. There are a number of reasons for this. Firstly it benefits you the jobseeker indicating if this is the company or industry you want to join. It also shows the employer that you have put some work in before interview – evidence that you have planned your approach to the interview and you job hunting in general.

How to get information on a potential employer.

Internet – This is the obvious port of call. Most organisations have a website which will provide most of what you need. It is important that you don’t stop there. Use Google searches to identify live information that could help you stand out in the crowd. Remember most of your competition will be rhyming of material from a website – so you go the extra mile.

Employees – do you know anyone working in the company? This can be a great resource. If you don’t know anyone directly can you network of friends, work colleagues or family help you.

Marketing Material – The company may have brochures or other marketing material that you can request. To be honest this has been replace by the internet but still can add value.

Competitors – What information can you get from the competition about the employer or as importantly about the competitor as this again can help you differentiate from other interviewees.

Newspapers – It is quite common that you will be asked about what you read in the papers that morning so you should flick through the papers anyway before an interview. I did come across it one time where a friend interviewed with a company with a huge announcement in the papers that he missed before his interview.

Researching the employer is a key ingredient to interview preparation. There are however other important aspects to it. Do you need help with interview preparation contact an interview expert now.