When a need to undertake specific roles and responsibilities arises within an organisation companies must act quickly to recruit someone. Getting the recruitment right is important so mistakes in recruitment by hiring the wrong person with the incorrect skill or motivation can prove costly in both time and money.
It’s not just the company who need to get it right, though. The candidate also needs to ensure the job is right for them too, this means finding out as much about the job role as possible in the recruitment process. The interview provides the perfect setting for both parties to get to know one another in further detail.
The competency based interview is perhaps the most common form. This style of interviewing gives all candidates a level playing field insofar as they are asked the same questions, designed to identify competencies. The question may take the form of “Tell us about a time you have demonstrated a skill in team working”, this gives the interviewee the chance to showcase their abilities as past performance is typically the greatest indication of future delivery.
In some SMEs, your interview may be less formal, more like a conversation. Some SME owners may need to act quickly to recruit for the role so you should be prepared for a two-way conversation.
Another modern trend is the strengths-based interview. Some organisations look specifically for candidates in certain roles based on their strengths. The general idea behind this is that if candidates can be suited to tasks based on strengths they are more likely to perform at a higher level.
In preparing for an interview, our top tips would always be to research the company and the department you expect to work in.
Get to know the products or service they sell, their ambition and their customers or clients. It is likely you may be asked what you know about the company in your interview and providing well-researched examples will back you up.
Also, take your time to plan your journey as well as first impressions count. No one wants to be late for an interview as that will you give you a quick strike.
Also, consider what you will wear for the interview. Think about it, is a suit appropriate or is the general dress code smart casual? Often, looking at the “our team” page on the company website can give you insights into how their employees dress.
Finally, think about some of the closing questions you could ask to find out about the company, this highlights you have the initiative to think beyond the line.
Here are 30 questions to consider asking at an interview:
