I am wondering how much time people normally spend preparing for a job interview?

The evening before? A couple of evenings of making notes? More? less?

For context, I have an interview for a 27-30k pa job that I would describe as ‘non-specialist’ i.e I’m not a qualified accountant or engineer or anything like that, though strictly speaking the job idoes require a degree.

The reason I’m asking is that until now I have usually had no problem with interviews, but have failed at interview stage twice recently which has shaken my confidence a bit. My response has been to try and prepare more but I’m a bit worried that I’m beginning to treat an interview like an exam and cram loads of information and I’m not sure if this is a good idea really?

Lastly, the invite tells me I will need to complete a ‘short written test case’ before the interview. Would it be prudent to ask what format the test will take or would they consider ‘short written test case’ explanation enough?

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated, if I flunk three in a row I’m going to start really worrying.

Have a look here for tips.
You’re never going to be able prepare 100%.
You might have failed for something you can’t control.
Practice talking about yourself, both positively and negatively.
The cramming should be about the company and related to asking them questions.
Realx and enjoy…. And good luck.

If you know the field and know the sorts of questions that generally come up in interviews in the field then it’s worth just thinking up a couple of answers/points to say to those and make sure that you know the company you’re interviewing with so you say why you want to work for them etc… Not a lot else you can do IMO, just try to keep calm and answer things as well as possible. If you’ve got through to interview then they want you to do well so that they can hire you (unless they’re dicks!).

Knowing the company and having a couple questions is good advice.

Also, prepare some examples of previous tasks/situations that best highlight some common questions…..team work, communication, deadlines etc. That way they can be pulled into use easily in a number of situations. Make sure any weakness has been reflected on and turned into.a strength.

Had one last week and these simple tips got me the job…..interview feedback highlighted these points exactly.

Also, be smiley, happy and confident.

a wee dab of speed’ll do the trick

get your boobs out and show of those legs

Convince yourself that you don’t want the job then you’ll be relaxed and stop worrying about it. I was 40 minutes late for the interview for my current job, I’d decided I’d blown it before I even sat down so I was totally relaxed.
Worked for me anyhow 🙂

No harm in asking about the test.

As for prep, I think you have to give it a couple of evenings at least, make sure you have thought of EVERYTHING they may ask, psyche yourself up, be positive etc etc.

I’d mostly just prep answers for the crappy questions like “what are you weaknesses” as those you don’t want to be winging on the fly. Know at least a bit about the company itself (when I was interviewing I didn’t want someone to quote verbatim the “About” section of the company web-site but I did want to get an impression they had a bit of an interest in the company itself and not just looking for any job of that role type, even if that’s probably the case). Also know your own CV and be prepared to expand on bits (to me that was the main thing I focused on when doing interviews for techy IT roles). It’s an instant warning flag for me if some struggles to expand on say a project they claim to have be a key player in delivering, sometimes that could just be down to nerves and not being prepared though rather than them bullshitting on the CV which is what I assumed they’d done so make sure you are prepared in case you give the wrong impression otherwise.

Tits’n’teeth my dear. Tits’n’teeth

On a serious note, in the present climate i wouldn’t be worried about ‘flunking’ 3 on the bounce. The competition for decent jobs at the moment is ridiculous. People can get a job before you because they have a ridiculously specific knowledge or experience

Also don’t forget that a lot of positions are already stitched up, but the employer is legally obliged to advertise a position and interview candidates. There’s a hell of a lot of ‘going through the legal motions’ at the moment’ out there

Oh… and good luck!!

in the present climate i wouldn’t be worried about ‘flunking’ 3 on the bounce.

This. I appreciate that confidence takes a knock, but really, try not to dwell on rejections. Rejections are far and away the most common outcome, two is nothing. Think about how many candidates an employer interviews. If they see ten people, that’s nine that don’t get a job offer (and I’ve been to interviews where the starting group of candidates numbered 200). Play the game, get to as many interviews as you can; even if it’s not the ‘ideal’ job it’s good interview practice.

Best advice I ever got about speaking to people (applies mainly to talks, but also when you’re talking to a panel at interview):

Make a face like you’re frowning and upset.

Now try to look like you’re concentrating and thinking hard.

Looks pretty similar, right?

So if you’re speaking, and people are frowning, looking serious – don’t worry, it’s good. It means they’re thinking about what you’re saying!

OTOH someone nodding and smiling when you talk probably isn’t listening…

Duggan – best of luck. No harm in asking about format of test indeed may earn extra brownie points. Interviews require extensive preparation in exactly the same way as an exam. In my experience of lots of recruiting, it is obvious who the naturally confident people are, it’s the ones who are thoroughly prepared. The ones who flounder are the ones who think that I am just going to be natural/myself ie, in reality the ones who try to wing it. Under pressure of the interview they typically break and look what they are – ill-prepared.

Imagine every question you might get asked and prepare answers well in advance. You will then be comfortable in the interview and able to answer naturally in a relaxed, confident and professional manner.

Preparing thoroughly is not merely cramming!

as above, good luck 🙂

EDIT – dress up smart! even if the job role will never involve dresing up smart as an employer who is regularly involved in interviews its good to see someone showing they’re making an effort

Preparation is key – obvious things like check their website.

More importantly, remember that the interview is a two way thing, so prepare some questions that will give you an insight to their culture and that you are looking for an employer that will help you progress both professionally and personally

Competition for jobs is high at the moment, however, remember that the skills and experience you will bring to them will be for everyone’s benefit.

And try not to look too disappointed if/when they ask you what your strengths/weaknesses are…

Check the website and check for recent press releases too, it gives you something to talk about with them about how the company is moving forward.

Key points of prep for me are how to make my skill relevant and transferable (even if they aren’t really!)

That and half a propanalol before you go in 😉

Cheers everyone, all very helpful and encouraging.

It’s good to know that thorough preparation is indeed key, I’d mentioned this to a few mates and they gave the impression that they just turn up, wing it and almost always get the job but I suspect perhaps they were being disingenuous here.

Also I think I might try and rehearse talking about a select amount of effective examples and hopefully I can then use/manipulate these hopefully for a variety of questions.

At the minute I am thinking of any and every question I might get asked and then trying to remember an answer but I think maybe this is rattling me in the interview when I get asked a question that isn’t exactly like one I have rehearsed- I get a bit panicked and think I haven’t ‘revised’ it, even though they are probably broadly looking for similar themes, just phrased in a different way.

I’ll let you know how I get on, though it’s not for a while yet.

Do your research about who and what they do. You won’t be able to know everything unless you’ve worked for them!

Know your CV inside out. Prep answers to the typical questions: strengths and weaknesses. Try to show what “you” did, not what the “team” did. And what you learned and how you would do it differently.

Tell the truth. It’s hard to remember lies or embellishments. Be yourself. A big part of interviews is to see if you will fit in with them. It’s also to see if you know what you put in the CV is true.

If you can’t answer a question, or have a mind blank, be honest and say. Don’t just speak for the sake of it.

When they ask “Have you any questions for us?” Ask if they want anything clarified or explained. It gives you a second chance to answer a question. And my secret weapon: “Why do you enjoy working for xxxx?” Makes them answer an unforeseen question, puts you in control for a few minutes.

When I interviewed for my current job I wore a suit, didn’t need to, with a lilac shirt and tonal tie. I found out later that it showed I was confident. I wasn’t, it was just the portrayal. And they remembered me.

Also it is tough out there. We interviewed over 400 people for 50 roles. New factory start up. Only 5% of people got an interview!

Duggan – Member
I’d mentioned this to a few mates and they gave the impression that they just turn up, wing it and almost always get the job but I suspect perhaps they were being disingenuous here.

I suspect your suspicion is correct. IMO, this is the biggest error people make in interviews and it is painfully obvious from the other side of the table!

Duggan – Member
At the minute I am thinking of any and every question I might get asked and then trying to remember an answer but I think maybe this is rattling me in the interview when I get asked a question that isn’t exactly like one I have rehearsed- I get a bit panicked and think I haven’t ‘revised’ it, even though they are probably broadly looking for similar themes, just phrased in a different way.

Duggan, you are doing exactly the right thing here. It is almost certain that the question they ask will differ slightly. Don’t panic – answer their question but adapt it to ensure that you are making the points that you want to make. Note how politicians do this well – arguably over-do it. The more you prepare the easy you will find it to adjust to fit the exact question. Even if the question is exactly as prepared, do not rush the answer. Act a little! Stop, breath, look up (a sign of thinking as opposed to looking down), smile then answer. That may be rehearsed but actually comes across naturally to the interviewer.

Try to find something interesting about them and slip it in early. If its a bloke their ego will naturally pick this up and talk about it! I recently met a guy (and knew that he had been at Herriot Watt Uni) so I joked that I had been to the second best Uni in Scotland after HW. He laughed and admitted that he had not been clever enough to get to my Uni – so the balance had shifted in my favour right from the start. Excuse me if this all sounds a little false, its not meant to be but hard to explain on a forum.

One last tip with a big caveat about the absurd generalisation that follows. There is a common question asked by ladies (far more than men) that goes along the lines of, ‘recommend me a film to see.’ The trap (which guys fall into most often) is to immediately spout off about their favourite films. FAIL!! The purpose of the question is nothing to do with the film recommendation, it is to see if you stop, think and ask them what kind of film they like first, the tailor your recommendation accordingly.

Oh and the obvious – have something unique on your CV. You will be amazed how often this gets picked up – especially blokes and sport!!

have something unique on your CV.

I’ve always held that this is good advice. But, if the OP is getting interviews then the CV is doing its job; once you’re in that chair the CV is largely irrelevant, it’s down to what you say and do rather than what you wrote down on a bit of paper.

True Cougar to an extent – I would still bet that 9/10 that unique fact will get brought up. For me, it was typically the first question (to relax the person) or the final one to see whether they would fit into the team/it was genuinely interesting. If you are lucky the interviewer and interviewee share a similar passion and then its just a question of flattering the interviewer’s ego!! 😉

that unique fact will get brought up

I spent an entire “technical” interview with IBM discussing the best places to MTB in the north of england, as my interviewer had just started riding and noticed bike club stuff on my CV.

Got offered the job mind 🙂

Some great advice here. A couple of added extras. Research the company and their marketplace. Who are their competitors? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the competition? What are the issues in the marketplace at the moment? What are the challenges? What are the opportunities? If you can start asking them questions about what is going on in their marketplace an demonstrate at least a basic understanding of the issues and their competition, it will stand you in great stead. In addition, remember that the key to your past experience is not your responsibilities, but your achievements. So you ran a 10 man project team? Big deal. What I want to hear is that you brought the project in early and under budget. Think about what you have achieved in the pat, not just what you did. And finally, ask them questions about themselves, make them sell the company to you. For instance, why did you join the company and can you tell me why you feel it would be good place for me to work? And finally finally, I always ask how they think I’ve done.

funkrodent – more good advice there. Interested in you final comment. How do people react to that? I think that its quite a risky question as some interviews do not like being put on the spot. But equally, a confident step if things are going well. Only put to me once by a guy who had bombed – so it was an easy if painful answer to give!

I ask what they thought of me, so that *I* can actually get something out of the interview (even if I don’t get that job).

Knowing the company and having a couple questions is good the best advice.

Ask about the test, not only will it help you prepare and feel a bit less nervous, if I was the interviewer, I’d see you putting ab it of effort in preparation which would score you points (but that mayu be just me)

And finally finally, I always ask how they think I’ve done.

no-one has ever asked me that at the interview, one or two have afterward. TBH, not sure how I’d react,and can see some people reacting negatively. Bit of a gamble and IMHO I’d leave it out, you’ll get the job or not

the CV is largely irrelevant, it’s down to what you say and do rather than what you wrote down on a bit of paper.

Disagree, the CV can be the conversation starter, it gets you in and if there’s something really unique that pricks the interviewer’s interest it may help you steer the interview the way you want it to go. Also, most interviews last a specific amount of time, say 30 minutes. Waste 10 of them discussing that you skydive naked, then you have 10 less minutes to talk about the stuff you’d rather not talk about.

Duggan, firstly best of luck… secondly I gave this advice to someone recently and they got the job… might not work for you – don’t know your industry but here goes.

We are in a recession (pretty much). It’s tough out there and there is tremendous competition for jobs. All of your competition for the job will be preparing in the same way, thinking about the same questions – weaknesses etc. Forget that, it’s stock stuff. What about looking at what you can do for them? Could you bring them or help them get a new client? Is there a new service that you could help them develop that would grow the business? Is there a way that you think they might be able to save costs? The person who goes in with a bunch of new ideas – even if they’ve thought of them before will be remembered and will stand out. If you can get them taliking about ways you can help develop the business / push the business forward they will not be interested in the stock questions and you’ll shine.

Hope that helps…

Just typed all that and then saw Funkrodent had done pretty much the same. Oh well, that’s 2 of us 🙂

It seems a bit corny, but I was told recently about the STAR model for preparing answers to questions that might get asked. For instance, a few people have mentioned about about teamwork scenarios or strengths and weaknesses.

S – Situation.
T – Task. So what you did
A – Action. How you did it
R – Result. What came about?

This might help explain a bit better
http://www.interview-skills.co.uk/competency-based-interviews-STAR.aspx

I really found it helped me focus on the questions I was given as I had a clear thought process

I think that its quite a risky question as some interviews do not like being put on the spot.

Yeah, it always made me squirm when interviewing. If they’ve done well then it’s not really an appropriate time to say that in case it gives false hope, and if they’ve done badly then it’s just awkward.

Incidentally, I’ve just thought of a critical interview tip. What does your online footprint look like? Only, an interviewer can and will stick your name into Google and Facebook to see what falls out. If your FB stream looks like it was written by a 12-year old on a Nokia 3210, zomging and loling all over the place, sanitise it or make it private.

I’m not all that bothered about people being puerile – I’m 40 years old and still occasionally giggle at some of my more creative farts – but not covering your tracks when you’re looking for a job is careless and stupid, and I don’t want to employ people who are careless and stupid.

I’ve rejected candidates largely on the grounds of Google results. One memorably boasted about what a great hacker he was and what take-downs he was taking credit for. Just what we want running loose in a large corporate IT dept. Mind you, he was also just about the worst candidate I’ve ever interviewed anyway, so ultimately it didn’t matter too much. (-: