SOME INTERVIEW QUESTIONS YOU MAY BE ASKED:

• What did you like about your last job?
• Are you a team player?
• Why should I hire you?
• What do you know about this company?
• What is the most difficult situation you have faced?
• Tell me about your experiences at school.....
• How do you take direction?
• Are you looking for long or short term employment?
• What would you like to be doing 5 years from now?
• Tell me about yourself.....
• What are your strengths?
• Why do you want to work for our company?
• Have you ever supervised anyone?
• What do you think is your greatest weakness?
• Can you work under pressure?
• How do you think your friends would describe you?
• What did you dislike about your last job?
• Do you prefer to work with others or alone?
• What do you like about you?
• When could you start in this position?
• What do you do in your spare time?
• Why are you the best candidate for this position?
• If you were a piece of fruit in a fruit bowl, what would you be and why?

INTERVIEW TIPS:

• Go to bed early the night before your interview
• Select what you are going to wear several days beforehand. Try it all on, make sure it fits, and is clean. Ensure your shoes are clean
• Drink water before the interview to stay hydrated
• Make sure you know where you are going for the interview and what the parking situation is. Allow for traffic delays on the way
• Arrive at least 15 minutes early. This gives you time to look around and settle down
• Take 3 deep breaths
• Smile and shake hands
• It is OK to take a notepad and pen into the interview to make notes
• Have the questions you want to ask (and you should ask at least 3), written on your notepad
• Smile and take your time
• Listen carefully to the questions. If you don't understand the questions, ask for clarification
• Smile and thank the Interviewer's for their time. Smile again!

HOW TO DRESS FOR YOUR INTERVIEW:

WEAR CLOTHING THAT INDICATES YOU ARE READY TO

GO TO WORK TODAY!

MEN & WOMEN

• All clothes should be neatly pressed (no wrinkles)
• Clean, polished, conservative shoes – not “open-toed shoes”, court shoes are preferred
• Clean, well-groomed hairstyle
• Clean, trimmed fingernails
• MINIMAL aftershave, cologne or perfume
• Empty pockets – no noisy coins
• No gum, chewing or smelling of cigarette smoke or alcohol

MEN

• If wearing a neck tie, choose a conservative pattern, plain colour is better
• Dark shoes, clean and polished
• Dark socks, black is best
• Conservative 2-piece business suit (solid black or blue), OR
• Tailored trousers (solid black or blue) with plain coloured shirt (white)
• Short hair always fairs best in interviews, clean and groomed
• No earrings or face piercings
• No heavy after-shave or cologne
• No mobile phone
• Don’t forget to wear your SMILE!

WOMEN

• Tailored suit (black or navy) comprising pants/skirt & jacket
• Plain white or pinstriped business shirt (no frills, no cleavage)
• Avoid extremely high heels and platforms & do not wear open-toed shoes, conservative court shoes are best, clean
• If you wear nail polish keep the colour conservative
• One set of earrings only – no noisy jewellery
• Conservative makeup
• No heavy perfume
• No mobile phone
• If you must take one, conservative handbag (no bright colours)
• Long hair is best worn “up”, and should be clean
• Don’t forget to wear your SMILE!

25 THINGS TO AVOID IN AN INTERVIEW:

1. Poor personal appearance
2. Lack of interest and enthusiasm; passive and indifferent
3. Over-emphasis on money, leave salary enquiry till last question
4. Criticism of past employer
5. Poor eye contact with interviewer
6. Late to interview – there are just no excuses!
7. Failure to express appreciation for interviewer’s time
8. Asks no questions about the job
9. Unwillingness to relocate
10. Indefinite, evasive answer to question
11. Overbearing, aggressive, conceited with “know it all” attitude
12. Inability to express self clearly; poor voice, diction and grammar
13. Lack of planning for career, no purpose or goals
14. Lack of confidence and poise, nervous, ill at ease
15. Failure to participate in activities
16. Expects too much too soon
17. Makes excuses, evasive, hedges on unfavourable factors on record
18. Lack of tack
19. Lack of courtesy, ill-mannered
20. Lack of vitality
21. Lack of maturity
22. No interest in industry, presenting without research into company
23. Sloppy application form, illegible handwriting
24. Cynical
25. Intolerant, displays strong prejudices