How to prepare for an interview?

To occupy a particular position in any organization, it is not enough to have knowledge, skills, even very solid experience. Only a few (this is not an exaggeration) in certain professions can prove themselves by one proper name. It is imperative for everyone else to know how to prepare for the interview correctly.

Preparation includes several important points.

Any organization is interested in professionals and just adequate people working in it. But the time for talking with each candidate is limited already simply because there are many other topical issues. Exactly because of this reason It’s very important to prepare for an interview with the employer, and only well-trained people will show their best. For all the specifics of certain areas of activity, there are universal questions that will be asked when applying for a job both in the circus and in the instrument-making design bureau, both in the flower stall, and in the international insurance company or on the oil production platform. First, recruiters will ask about training and previous experience.

They need to show in their answers:

• what skills were acquired during training;
• in which practically oriented projects a person participated during the training;
• in what area did his former organization specialize (most often he is interested in the first and the one after leaving which they come for an interview);
• what was the structure of these organizations, and how many more people were in the structural unit;
• how the candidate got there;
• what responsibilities were at the previous job;
• what experience was gained, what new knowledge was learned;
• what projects the candidate was involved in;
• for what reason the former position was abandoned.

An item on the structure of the organization (the total number of employees in it and in the department, the role of the department in the organization) is added to understand how well the candidate studies the place where he works. This is a kind of integrity test. You will have to strain your memory and restore such details in advance. As for the paragraph on employment in the same place, you should avoid answers about “luck in the form of practice from the organization” or “accidentally learned (a) from other students that firm X is cooperating with our university”.

The correct wording might look something like this:

• actively participated during training in conferences and competitions, the idea of ​​finding a job arose early, I liked company X, sorting out contacts, interviewing;
• receiving an invitation through a teacher after defending the diploma (at the same time adding that the company has always been liked, and the activity in the position received has also inspired)
• post-internship (it is desirable to indicate what were the job responsibilities and what opportunities this first job gave);
• first serious permanent job after a series of internships (It is advisable to indicate how many candidates the person was chosen for, what the particular position was of interest to, what it gave professionally, and what intentions appeared in professional development).

But when preparing for an oral interview, you need to consider that the interest of personnel officers in their first job at this is not exhausted. Even if the candidate describes his employment not in 1-2, but at least in 6-8 phrases (which is very desirable), bThey will additionally ask about:

• expectations from the first job, whether they came true;
• the most memorable moment in the work;
• the most liked moment in the previous position;
• initial impression of the company and other employees;
• expectations from the leader, whether they were justified;
• acquired skills and abilities;
• job undesirable for the candidate;
• non-liked moments in the previous work;
• salary during the trial period and at the end of work.

Answering the question about the results of the internship, we can say that it became clear that the company staff is ready to do everything possible to achieve success. When it comes to the moment that was most liked during work, experienced candidates immediately indicate that they were happy to work in a friendly and close-knit team, to master new skills and abilities. Another variant - indicate that a certain position was very interesting and attracted a range of responsibilities. Describing the interaction with leaders, it is worth focusing to their help in mastering unfamiliar work processes and subtleties, to general support.

Speaking about the acquired skills, one should talk about how tasks were changed during the internship and / or permanent work. Be sure to emphasize that this change was accompanied by an increase in skill and increased flexibility in a professional sense.

When describing the impressions of the practice, the personnel wait for a story about the main responsibilities, area of ​​activity, the main difficulties and what the candidate took out of the internship for himself. It is advisable to express gratitude to former colleagues, to emphasize their attention and support.

Answering this question, indicate:

• name of educational institution, faculty and specialty;
• place of the institution in the overall ranking;
• the main achievements of the institution and its reputation;
• the reason for choosing an institution;
• academic performance, obtaining additional scholarships;
• participation in contests and special programs;
• internships (practices) and skills gained during their time;
• research achievements;
• participation in social activities inside the institution and beyond;
• additional educational courses.

But you need to understand that even on this the interest of personnel officers will not be exhausted. They may ask about their own assessment of the quality of education and the motives that would force them to interrupt their studies, about what, in the opinion of the candidate, distinguishes an educational institution from similar organizations. And they also ask about the reasons for choosing a profession: was it conscious, or is it an imitation of parents, other relatives, some idols, maybe.

Sometimes recruiters ask for something like "What is such a field of activity for you." The answer to this question should be thought out in advance, and it is advisable to limit yourself to 3-4 phrases with clear language.

The next block of questions is about employment in a particular company. Answering them, you need to show your knowledge of its specifics and the nuances of activity. Saying why this particular company was chosen, it is worth highlighting 3 main points that attracted attention and caused just such a choice. It is very useful to combine the answer to this question with considerations about choosing a profession as a whole. Then it turns out, as it were, a hinted hint that the candidate does not think of his participation in the profession without employment in a particular company.

Often they are interested in the career goals of those who came for an interview. It is imperative to show a desire to connect with the organization for a longer time. It is worthwhile to think over and even paint the answers to such questions:

• about a dream;
• about goals for the next 3, 5, 10 years;
• about your own vision of an ideal career;
• about the ways to achieve the goals set for 3, 5, 10 years;
• about possible obstacles to their plans, ways to eliminate them;
• about his assessment of the main thing in the work in this specialty.

Important: each of these benefits needs to be backed up with concrete evidence, not just declared. As for the weaknesses, one should not mention such cliché points as perfectionism, excessive attention to the family or hobbies, excessive exactingness towards people. Instead, talk about:

• the most difficult moments for yourself in the profession;
• excessive rationalism;
• difficulties in mastering certain new programs and technologies;
• difficulties with public speaking;
• excessive passion for work.

It is necessary to think about other probable issues. They ask about hobbies and dreams in childhood, about read literature and films watched. Sometimes they are interested in teamwork skills. It is also necessary to show your ability to lead a discussion and argue the position.

In the process of preparation, it is worth analyzing the experience of previous interviews. If there is no such experience, you can always find other people's stories about such a procedure when selecting for similar posts. It is unlikely that the composition of the questions will differ. When rehearsing the interview, it is useful to first think through in what order questions will be asked, and what answers the personnel officer will be waiting for.

Attention is paid when working out the answers:

• clarity of speech;
• rigor of wording (no ambiguities);
• maximum content;
• conciseness of statements.

Preparing for the final interview is about the same as for the preliminary survey.But it is worth analyzing your answers, the likely interests of recruiters and revealing to them what they have not yet managed to find out immediately. If testing is to be done on a "polygraph", it is advisable to rest on the eve of the test. It is undesirable to use alcohol or psychotropic substances. Questions must be answered honestly, behave as usual.

But questions are not everything. You must consider what documents and other things you need to have with you at the interview.

It is very useful to bring along a printed map of the area, which marks the location of the office. If you rely on a simple knowledge of the address, there is a great risk of being hopelessly late.

A resume is also worth carrying. Better in 2-3 copies. It is likely that in one day the interview will be conducted twice. Either the interlocutors will be immediately two, three. They put the resume in front of themselves and additionally offer the interviewer.

Even if the recruiter already has a copy of the resume, such an offer is a rule of good form. A copy, laid in front of him on the table, allows you to quickly recall the various formulations for the answers. If only the applicant does not look at the sheet constantly, but addresses it periodically, this is completely normal. No one's memory can be perfect. Writing in a notebook can be done, but after asking permission and fixing only the most important points, and not everything.

Even a diploma is not always needed, and this point should be clarified specifically. But the passport should be taken with you in any case. Almost all serious organizations and business centers have already organized a powerful access control system.

Examples, programs, cases, original projects can be carried with you, but you do not need to impose them. If the interlocutors are not interested in such offers, it is better to immediately return them to the portfolio and not mention more in the conversation.

And also it is worth considering that for employment in accordance with applicable laws and standards you need:

• SNILS;
• TIN;
• labor books;
• military tickets;
• in some cases, medical books.

For some creative positions, as well as for the positions of photographers, they are selected by portfolio. It is worth not only to send it in advance, but also to have it with you to immediately clarify and discuss the necessary points.

But even if the job seeker is well prepared for the questions and stocks up with the necessary documents, sometimes a refusal is likely. For the simple reason that a person does not know how to dress properly. And this implies not only some specific rules, but also the choice among all the corresponding clothing that is comfortable. The feeling of even a slight inconvenience fetters and interferes with what will be immediately noticed by experienced interviewers. It is quite possible to use a shirt fastened with all buttons (no matter how familiar such clothes are).

Do not take (even women) small bags. It is rather an accessory for fun evening entertainment. You need to have a bag or briefcase of sufficient size so that you can safely put all the necessary documents.

It is very important to consider the tips and rules for successful employment. But it is equally important to pay attention to possible misses with the device. The main one is when the applicants failed to demonstrate their motivation quite fully and convincingly.The next important point is when the skills stated in the resume were not disclosed or not confirmed. For example, if a candidate wrote that he speaks a foreign language, and then did not understand the simplest questions or made gross errors in speech, this immediately demonstrates him from the worst side.

The psychological background of the allegations of former employers of rudeness, inadequacy and other actions is understandable. It is also understandable that all this may well exist. But to express such moments in an interview is a sure way to failure. All organizations value employee loyalty. And those who did not show loyalty before are unlikely to discover it even now - this is the typical train of thought of any personnel officer and leader.

You can not use bright makeup and catchy manicure. No less serious errors will be:

• the device of a stormy feast on the eve;
• the smell of tobacco;
• fawning in front of the personnel officer;
• excessive arrogance and excellence;
• cheeky gestures;
• obscene expressions;
• too frequent use of the word "I";
• lack of interest in upcoming work;
• interruption of a conversation due to a phone call;
• “Slight unshavenness” and other deviations from hygiene standards.