The Interview

Preparing for Each Interview Stage 

An interview is usually a multi-step process that includes an initial screening, behavioural interview, and a closing interview. Interviewing criteria and timelines can vary widely from company to company.

The Initial Interview

The initial interview or HR screening is conducted to:

• Gauge your fit in the organisation
• Corroborate skills and abilities
• Confirm experience and education
• Verify eligibility for employment

Typically, the screening interview is conducted by a company recruiter or HR representative who is tasked with vetting candidates to pass on to the hiring manager. In many cases, the interviewer is staking a small part of his or her reputation in terms of the candidate he or she recommends. As a result, you need to make a good impression on the interviewer so that he or she will feel confident in referring you to the hiring manager.

The best way to prepare for the screening interview is to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the job description so you can anticipate the questions the recruiter will ask about your skills and experience. This means that you need to correlate a convincing point on your CV to each responsibility or requirement in the job description. It also means that for points where you have related but not direct experience in your background, you need to prepare a concise and convincing explanation of how your skills translate to fulfill that particular job requirement.

The 2nd Interview—Likely competency or strengths based

These interviews are conducted to understand if your behaviours will fit with a company’s mission, work, and culture. The rationale behind the behavioural interview is that the skills and experience you list on your CV only become credible when you offer real-life examples to demonstrate them. To prepare for this interview, prepare and practice STAR or PAR stories that clearly show why you’re qualified for the position. The stories should directly relate to the desired experiences stated in the job description. For more on STAR and PAR, read the Behavioural Interview Questions section.

A strengths based interview will focus on what you enjoy doing, rather than what you can do (the competency interview). Through talking about your likes and dislikes, the interviewer will be able to assess your strengths and weaknesses. The underlining theory is that you will be happier and more successful at work by identifying your strengths and ensuring that they match the role.

Interview #3 and Beyond

If you get called for a 3rd interview, that’s a great sign! You might be tempted to think that the position is yours. Resist that temptation; the process isn’t over yet.

The questions you will be asked are likely to be similar to the questions you were asked during the second interview. Your potential interviewer wants to ensure that your responses are consistent with how you responded during your other interviews. Additionally, there may be interviewers present who weren’t there previously.

Interviewing is a skill. And as with all skills, it takes preparation and practice as you plan to deliver the stories that qualify you as a right fit for a position. At this stage in the game, you’ve taken time to craft your elevator pitch, and application materials that represent your value as a professional. Once you’re ready and made it to the interviewing phase, it’s important to be prepared and know what is expected of you.

If there is anything you wish you had mentioned when you interviewed before, be sure to work the information into your responses to these questions. Therefore, it helps to include the following in your preparation:

• Research the industry and company.
• Clarify your "selling points" and the reasons you want the job.
• Anticipate the interviewer's concerns and reservations.
• Prepare for common interview questions.
• Line up your questions for the interviewer.
• Practice, practice, practice.
• Score a success in the first five minutes.
• Be assertive and take responsibility for the interview.
• Be ready to handle illegal and inappropriate questions.
• Make your selling points clear.
• Think positive.
• Close on a positive note.

The job interview creates an opportunity for an organisation to discover more about an applicant, while the candidate has the chance to gain familiarity with the organisational culture and demands of the position in question.

The value and importance of the interview process permits both parties to exchange information, ask interview questions and determine the potential for establishing a professional working relationship. Both parties have an opportunity to get a “feel” for one another and determine if the fit is right.

To develop your interview skills research explains that you need to follow 3 interview rules:

• Rule 1 – Identify the Job Criteria

• Rule 2 – Be a Self-Promoter

• Rule 3 – Communciate with Confidence

To improve your interview ability use the 10 interview reflection questions

Interview Reflection Question 1 How did you showcase your strengths?

Interview Reflection Question 2 Which question(s) did you answer well?

Interview Reflection Question 3 Which job criteria did your answers reference?

Interview Reflection Question 4 In what way did you actively promote yourself?

Interview Reflection Question 5 How did you portray confidence?

Interview Reflection Question 6 What do you need to do differently?

Interview Reflection Question 7 Which question(s) were you less confident in answering?

Interview Reflection Question 8 In which way did you show nervousness?

Interview Reflection Question 9 How did you self-disclose weaknesses?

Interview Reflection Question 10 What do you need to do to improve your interview performance?

The Ultimate Guide to Passing Video Interviews

https://www.assessmentday.co.uk/video-interviews.htm

Executive Level Interviews: 12 Steps to Win the Job [VIDEO]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfBeT_dOCoI

Executive Interview Questions and Answers! (How to PASS an Executive-Level Job Interview!) [VIDEO]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ryZUe6GvIc

Interview skills
Guides on interview preparation
eCareersGrad - Interview Success & Master the Consulting Case

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/careers/applying/interviews

How to Prepare for an Executive Level Interview

https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/interviewing/executive-interview

Executive Level Interviews: 12 Steps to Win the Job

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfBeT_dOCoI

Executive Interview Tips: Becoming Instantly Irresistible in a Job Interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMkgQVEmF64

Executive Interview Tips: 6 Words to Help You Win the Job

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFM5PXFY72U

Executive Interview Advice: The RIGHT Way to Introduce Yourself

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGseNqtQEZE

Executive Job Interview Tips: Top 5 Pet Peeves of Career Decision Makers & Hiring Managers