Mackenzie Brown's top interview tips

Mackenzie Brown Recruitment works with the highest quality candidates. When you are selected for interview we want you to present yourself in the most professional way. So, this advice may seem obvious, but it could prove invaluable when keeping ahead of the rest in this challenging recruitment environment.

5 Basics tips for a Successful Interview:

Appearance:
Prepare your appearance the day prior to the interview, making certain your clothes are clean and pressed, and your hair is well kept. The interviewer will make an immediate assessment of you within seconds based on your appearance. If you are dressed inappropriately you will have to work hard to undo a bad first impression.

Punctuality:
Arrive 10 minutes early for your interview and, if possible, visit the building the day before if you are unsure where it is. Turn your mobile phone off before the interview and bring several copies of your C.V. in case the interviewer hasn't brought a copy of their own or there is more than one interviewer. (You can download a template C.V. here.)

Know your own c.v.
The interviewer will want to ask you about your sales figures, duties and dates of employment. Make sure you are certain of each detail of your C.V. Be realistic and honest.

Be prepared for 'small talk'
The interview will normally consist of some small talk. Be relaxed and informal, but professional, and remember that you are making a first impression so limit how much personal information you divulge that isn't necessary to the interview. Avoid jargon, colloquialisms and over familiarity. Remember you are addressing a potential employer not a friend with whom you are familiar.

Make a positive impression
Remain positive about your current employer and colleagues. Making disparaging remarks will not leave the right impression. Make sure your reasons for leaving are positive; a promotion or a change of direction, justify your career change rationally.

5 Tips to strive for the Perfect Interview:

Research the company
Research the company, industry and the new role from the company website, their competitors' websites and the job description. Have ideas and comments ready for the interview. It will be useful for key questions, such as "Why do you want to work for us?".

Be prepared for difficult questions
There are several different sets of questions you may be asked.

• Behavioural interview questions:
  • Describe a situation when you took a risk professionally. What was the outcome?
  • Describe a situation in which you worked as part of a team but your team failed to accomplish the goal on time and within budget. What was your role? What did you learn?
  
  
• Unusual questions:
  • What's the last book you read?
  • If you could be any animal, what would you be?
  
  
• Difficult questions:
  • What are your weaknesses?
  • Tell me about yourself?
  
  Remember to stick to answers related to your professional experience.

Be prepared for follow up questions.
Some of your questions may be followed up with further enquiries, either looking for a better answer or because this section of your experience is more pertinent to the role.

Match your values to the employer's.
During your research of the company and through reading the job description you will have found core elements the company is based upon, such as the desire to attain success through sales or making a commitment to the local community. Try to draw out comparisons between yourself and the business, and express how you and the employer can work together creating that long term vision.

Put your best points first.
The interviewer will want to employ a valued individual who is also a team player, with the ability to fit seamlessly in with the workforce. Prepare your best features as a professional (sales figures, signs of innovation, ability to comply with business structures and performance standards) and show that you are a communicative, interesting, team player with individual tastes.


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