Tips from a Talent Professional to a Candidate Professional

You have an important date coming up. Time is confirmed, you have just googled the physical address and hanging in your closet are three different outfit options for the occasion. This is not a social endeavour though, you have been invited for an interview after being shortlisted for that dream position you have applied for. The nerves are setting in and while you have imprinted the job description in your mind and memorised the company’s entire website, just thinking about the actual interview sets of an array of butterflies……

If you Google the term “interview questions” a total of 50 700 000 search results will appear. Navigating through just the first few pages to find the most probable set of questions you can prepare for, is like swimming breaststroke with your hands tied behind your back: A completely drowning experience.

Frankly, it matters less which questions you prepare for, but more about the sense of confidence this preparatory action will give you. Even though there is no guarantee on the type of questions you can expect during your interview, the chances are good that at least one of the Four Classics will be addressed.

Tell me about yourself?

This question may seem simple enough, but believe me, it is not. Candidates fall of this bus quickly by either saying too much or saying too little.

 Getting it wrong

This is not an open invitation to go into details relating back to your date of birth, family tree or primary school career. They do know your name, surname, age, current position and employer already, as these are displayed on the resume in front of them, hence constructing a singular statement stating the obvious won’t get you very far in creating a positive impression either.

Getting it right

Follow the 80/20 rule.Eightypercent of your story should include information about your academic history (what you have studied, reasoning behind choice of career), your career history (industries you have worked in and unique areas of skill or technical competence) and your specific career aspirations (what you are looking for in terms of functional exposure). The remaining twenty percent should revolve around your life outside of work like hobbies, extra-mural activities, community involvement or volunteering experience.

What do you perceive as being your major strengths?

Confidence is crucial, arrogance is not. Your sense of self-worth and credibility are beingtested here.  Remember features tell, but benefits sell.This is also a numbers game, and you should aim to provide three key “strengths” in answering this question.

Getting it wrong

Flexible, dynamic and hardworking with the ability to adapt to change are not regarded as strengths. Making statements regarding your strongest competencies, without substantiating them with cold hard facts, will swiftly transition your interview into failure mode.

Getting it right

Think statement coupled with reinforcement. This is your professional “proof of life”. Each strength you mention should follow with an example or reasoning to back it up. For instance:“I would cite one of my strengths as X,because I did Y” or “I am and expert regarding A, due to my previous exposure to B”.

What would you identify as your weaknesses?

No one is perfect, and that includes you. This type of question is often used to verify your authenticity and level of humility.

Getting it wrong

Working too hard or being a perfectionist are not regarded as areas of weakness, and articulating such statements will label you as fake or egotistical. On the flip side of the coin, refrain from delving into excessive detail about your perceived shortcomings. Your goal is to impress, not to distress.

Getting it right

Put a more positive spin on the term of weakness, by rephrasing it in your mind to an “area of development”. Now you are able answer such a question by discussing an area of development pertaining to a problematic issue that requires improvement, as well as an area of learning where you would need training from scratch. Be sure to offer a solution to each problem statement and stick to three examples at most.

Please share your achievements and accomplishments?

This question relates to what you perceive as adding value and your beliefs around what standards of excellence entail, in your personal and professional environment.

Getting it wrong

“Employee of the month” or “company socialite of the year” do not constitute as professional accolades worth declaring. Unless you achieved National Colours or Olympic entrance in sports or was awarded Dux Scholar status in High School omitting achievements from your time in Secondary School would be best.

Getting it right

The easiest way to answer this question is to divide it into three parts: Firstly, state any significant sporting, leadership or academic accomplishments during your tertiary educational tenure. Secondly, discuss the notable awards you have received relating to your professional career or major tangible accomplishments, but use your discretion. These should really be WOW case scenario’s. Thirdly, address one or two things you have accomplished that you are most proud of and these may include professional or personal milestones, like learning a new programming language by yourself, or mastering a third language.

In preparation for your next interview think carefully about these questions and your corresponding answers. Write them down, then say it out loud and repeat them a few times until you are comfortable with your commentary. The interview event provides you with an exclusive platform to showcase your skills and personality to a hiring manager.

Prepare well in advance and make it count!