Job interviews have many common characteristics. First of all, a CV that you write as well as possible, a motivation letter that is interesting and, of course, the discussion with the employer. Apparently, all interviews are similar to each other, but the reality is more different than you might think. Discover tips to prepare for any interview!
Today's modern and technology-focused companies prefer to support their hiring processes with online interviews, at least as a first step. However, face-to-face interviews are especially important to many employers because, after all, physical encounters define us as people.
There is also the possibility of mixed interviews. For example, the selection can start with a simple phone interview, of a few minutes, but very important, as a first impression. Then, either an online or a "face-to-face" interview can follow, respectively with a physical presence at the company's headquarters. The latter can also be final interviews, but this does not always happen.
Let's see together how to successfully prepare for each type of interview.
Keep the following tips in mind when having a face-to-face interview:
An online interview can be less stressful for you than a physical interview because you are in your comfort zone, at home or any other familiar place. But remember, online interviews are just as important as in-person interviews.
Employers use specific tools to test candidates. For example, Michelin uses the structured recruitment interview. We care about you and it is very important for you to know that we focus on the accuracy of the information you give us during the interviews, i.e. we measure all candidate answers with the same scale. We're also interested in your professional experience and skills, so we'll prepare with some questions in this area as well. It is a win-win situation in terms of efficiency, fairness and integrity of the process.
Do you find this way of online testing interesting, and more than that, have you found a suitable job on our job vacancies page? We invite you to apply and get to know us online!
Choose a room without noise, and if necessary, close the window and the door. If there are other people in the house when you schedule the online interview, make sure they know you're going to be doing an interview and that they'll keep you quiet. It also prepares a room with a very good brightness. In addition to this:
When you're looking for a job, it's important to be prepared for the phone interview, as many employers start the recruitment process with a phone call. Its purpose is to assess your skills against the requirements of the position you have applied for. The recruiter will select only those candidates who will go to the next stage, which can be a test or even the final physical interview.
This interview can be scheduled in advance, by email/phone, or it can be a call where you can be held for a few minutes. Whatever the situation, this first interview can give you an edge over other candidates if you follow these tips:
Do your research on the company. You can access the employer's website, social media pages or read employee testimonials. Familiarize yourself with the industry, the field of activity, the products and the services offered. This will help you provide personalized answers and ask questions. If you know the interviewer's name, you can look up their LinkedIn profile to start documenting from there. Prepare answers to any questions related to education, certifications, work experience, and other skills identified in the job posting. Don't forget to prepare 2-3 questions to ask at the end.
Open your CV and role description and make sure you have them with you at the time of the interview. Due to emotions, it is possible to forget certain details, but in this way you will have the necessary information at hand. Take the time to match your qualifications to the job description so you can tell why you're a good fit for the job opening.
Choose the right seat to give your full attention to the discussion. Make sure you're in an area with good cell phone signal, where it's quiet enough to hear the conversation clearly. Avoid places with background noise, the presence of other people or anything that might distract you. If you're in a public place, try moving to a quieter area or using headphones. Do not hesitate to politely request to reschedule the interview if the time is not right.
Maintain a professional tone, be polite, speak clearly, answer concisely and with reason. Listen carefully to the interlocutor and do not rush to answer until he finishes asking the question. You can find additional details to those in the job advertisement, regarding tasks, recruitment process or benefits. Last but not least, smile! Although the recruiter can't see you, remain upbeat and smiling throughout the interview, as this comes across in your tone of voice.
Show enthusiasm and interest. One of the biggest mistakes candidates make in the phone interview is lack of energy and motivation. Ask about different aspects of the job and express your genuine interest in the opportunity. As the interview draws to a close, make sure you find out what the next steps in the recruitment process are and when you might receive feedback for this first stage. End the conversation on a positive note - it will help you stand out and show that you are genuinely interested in the position.
In the view of most employers, the rules of dressing for an interview are almost standardized. It's about a simple and effective principle to keep in mind: dress decently. This will do nothing but help you make a good impression on the company you want to work for.
Therefore, adopt an office, casual, smart-casual attire. You can't go wrong with these styles. In addition, take into account the profile of the company, if you want to impress in a pleasant and creative way, from the point of view of the outfit. It can be a company with formal or informal business rules. For example, a video game company might appreciate a t-shirt or shirt that capitalizes on the spirit of gaming. Analyze a little photo albums with the team, from social media, or certain interviews given by managers in the company, who can communicate a certain dress code that they appreciate in their employees.
A day or two before the job interview, you can prepare a speech to revise on the day of the interview. It's ideal to do this before you leave home, because on the road is a good time to get into a relaxed state. Discover the three important steps to consider:
Remember the job requirements, or re-read the job ad you applied for. Practically, along with your CV, it is the starting point of an employment speech.
Look for additional information about the company, in case you still need it and have any doubts. If you have this opportunity, carefully read the speeches or interviews given by the company's managers in the press. Don't skip them, as they can contain valuable information that you can include in your speech.
Think about your qualities and how you can highlight them within the company. Sooner or later, you will end up talking about them, and you need to not only list the qualities, but detail them, with experiences and situations you have been through. The detailing of the qualities is not seen by the employer in the CV, therefore, it is the time to make the most of your personal presentation. Pay attention to the length of the speech, which must be relatively short, without going into details of no importance to the employer.
Fear of interview questions (and how to answer them satisfactorily) is perfectly normal, but you need to know that everything revolves around the job you're applying for.
This question seems so simple that you might think you have the perfect answer. Although it's an interview ice-breaker question, the bottom line is that the employer wants to know something about you that might interest them. If you start narrating your resume, as many tend to do, you will be stopped. That's not the point. A little secret is to keep in mind the job description you applied for.
For example, for a job in marketing you need to score about creativity, dynamism, innovation, etc.
A question you don't have to hesitate at all. In principle, good answers are those directed to skills. They can be practical (hard skills), i.e. what you actually know how to do in such a way as to bring value to the company, or soft (soft skills) - these have become more and more sought after by employers. It refers to skills such as adaptability, communication and interpersonal skills, analytical thinking and creativity. Prepare yourself with some examples or situations you have faced at your current job or in the past.
We recommend that you think about the values and mission of the company, because from there you will be able to gather essential information. With them you will be able to give an answer that emphasizes your motivation to work in the company you applied to. For example, you have in mind the business model and the organizational culture, two aspects in which you must also find yourself. Otherwise, the employer may consider that you are not quite the right person. Additionally, consider what the company offers you. Within Michelin, you have the chance of a career path to develop your full potential.
It's no secret that you work to earn money. You need money, but don't under any circumstances say that money motivates you in a job. The employer wants to know, in fact, what makes you enjoy coming to work. You can very well talk about your personal development, which will contribute to the company's successes, you can talk about the fact that you find yourself working in a team or that you like helping people, especially if the company is a service provider.
The question can refer to both your professional and personal plans. From a professional point of view, you can answer with the job you applied for in mind. If you want to get involved and grow in the chosen direction, the employer will be able to consider that you are thinking about a stable, medium and long-term job. In short, it can count on you, because you're not just passing through the company. On the other hand, the personal plan dreams about your passions and concerns beyond the job. Talk about the aspects that motivate you, in the idea of becoming better.
Keeping in mind all the tips mentioned in this article, we wish you success in your job interview!
Photo credit: Shutterstock
We have prepared some recommendations that can make your job search easier and increase your chances of success in the recruitment process.
Writing your CV can be a challenge, whether you are at the beginning of your career or you already gained experience. The resume is the first step in looking for a job. Done correctly, it will increase the chance of viewing and implicitly of being for the interview.
Candidates often rely on transferable skills when applying to a job outside their expertise area. And this is what you can do, too.
The telephone interview is that stage in the recruitment process in which the recruiter contacts the selected candidates following the CV analysis. It is an essential step and should be treated as seriously as the standard interview.
Rather than having you travel to our office; we are more than eager and open to get to know you through video. But remember, online interviews are just as important for us as in person interviews. Even though we are not meeting in person, there are still some things you could do to prepare before the interview.
In their recruitment processes, employers assess the basic, measurable technical skills and personal skills. The latter are more difficult to measure according to a scale, but they are observable; during the interview, the recruiter evaluates them as they are a predictor of your way of working and of your future interaction with the team members.
In addition to the things that the recruiter looks for, we present to you what the manager is following in the discussions with the candidates. We invited some of our managers to tell you what they would like to see in candidates, regardless of their experience and the role for which they applied.
When, following the recruitment process, the employer returns to you with positive feedback and a job offer, the decision can be stressful. Here are the things to consider before accepting a job proposal, including what to look for when evaluating a job offer.
Skills or competencies are the proven abilities that you develop through learning and experience. It is important to have a range of skills, as each of them will help you in different activities. As your career advances, you can measure your progress by looking at the skills you acquire and their complexity.
I expect a positive attitude, even if there are emotions involved. I would like to notice his/her real desire to see, together with us, if we are suitable for a long-term collaboration. - Emilia Oprea, Recruiter
The most successful interviews I had were those in which the candidate had questions and expressed his/her curiosity. - Alexandra Barbu, Recruitment Team Lead
I appreciate the candidates' curiosity, openness to have a conversation. With the help of the interview, I think we both aim to find out if there is a match between our needs, those of the company, and their needs, as future employees. - Mihaela Croitoru, Recruiter
I believe that the purpose of an interview is not only to make sure that a candidate is suitable for a role, but also for the interviewee to make sure that in our company they can have the kind of experience they are looking for. - Anamaria Gheba, Recruiter
The first job interview may seem demanding, and the pressure of external factors can influence your behavior when you are a candidate for a position. The success of a job interview depends on a mix of factors.
