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Returning to work and need to overcome your interview anxieties?
One simple word - PREPARATION. We will not promise that thorough preparation will remove all your nerves about a forthcoming interview. In fact we would encourage you to have some nerves as this keeps the adrenalin flowing, keeps you alert and stimulates you to use all your senses in the interview.
Remember lots of listening, steady eye contact and watching body languages both yours and your interviewers are important for effective communications and ultimately interview success. Controlled and steady nerves will help you achieve this.
If you are returning to work after a career break and about to attend your first interview in a long time make sure you do your preparation and can answer persuasively some of the very popular questions asked in interviews. Here are the popular 5 questions we come across time and time again for you to consider and prepare your answers:
“Tell me a little about yourself?”
Whilst this is often used as a warm up question, do not warble on at length about pets, hobbies etc. Taking the job specification, tailor your answer around the criteria and style of person they are looking for and demonstrate where your past experience, skills and interest are relevant to the role and makes you such a great candidate.
"Why do you want to work here?”
This is your chance to show you’ve done your homework and considered the industry, the market and the company and have come to a well thought through conclusion that the employer currently interviewing you is the best place to work. It is also a chance to flatter them but do not go over the top and be obsequious. Insincerity is easy to spot so demonstrate your genuine interest supported by some evidence you’ve seen in the press, company report, on the internet, learnt from a contact that attracts you to the company.
“Why did you leave your previous job?”
Do not break the cardinal rule of running down past employers however badly they treated you. It can inadvertently make you look like someone who is awkward to please or worse still a trouble maker. If you did leave your past employer on less than favourable terms prepare a response to this question that avoids referring to the acrimonious nature of your departure from a previous employer. Please contact us if this is something you feel needs particular help so that you can handle this question professionally and confidently.
“What is your greatest weakness?”
This is definitely not an invitation to run off a long list of imperfections. Keep it tame and something that can also have positive attributes – such as you strive to be the best and in doing so put yourself under pressure or that you are your own worst critic and set very high standards for yourself.
“How do you handle criticism?”
Keep it simple – all criticism is feedback. Do not go over the top and say you welcome it but expand a little by talking about how you listen, attempt to put any immediate negative emotional responses to one side and reflect on what you’ve been told about yourself.
In summary, an interview is a 2 way dialogue for you to learn more about the company and the job and for the recruiter to find out more about you. It is both a selling and fact finding session for you and you need to be comfortable that you have both of these aspects covered off to get the most from the hour – a typical interview length.
If you would like any help with this and refining your interview technique, particularly after a career break then please contact us or book a consultation. We’ve got lots of experience and resources to help you practise and build your interview skills to help you with your return to work. Alternatively sign up for our free Return2WorkMums membership for lots more tips and insight in interviews and lots more return to work coaching tips.