Basic Data about What an Job Interview Is
In general, if you are called for a job interview, then you should be prepared to sit in front of one, two or even three interviewers, who will be representing the employer’s interests. There may be a presentation for you to deliver, but otherwise the standard form is for you and them to have a discussion of about 15 minutes in length, during which they will try to establish whether or not you are suitable for the post.
Most of the interview consists of contrived questions that will involve the interview panel bombarding the prospective employee with questions designed to explore their key qualities and views. There are various types of questions, old favorites and interview strategies that can be employed to help the interviewers find out about you drive and ambition.
If you are going for a better paid job - either in money or prestige terms - then expect a tougher interview than if you are going for a less popular posting. In general, a job interview will be a formal meeting that will require you to adhere to certain norms and dress codes. Flout these rules at your peril.
Additionally, some professions have specific types of job interviews; for performing artists, this is an audition in which the emphasis is placed on the performance ability of the candidate. If you were called for a medical interview then you would need to be prepared to answer questions on clinical matters as well as give a powerpoint presentation about a specified topic
Increasingly, companies are moving away from old fashioned interviews and employing assessment day strategies, in which a variety of activities are undertaken to learn about the different qualities of each candidate in a less contrived way.
A great tip is to go the extra mile when ever you can. Smile more, shake more hands learn more than you competitors about the post, company and industry in which it sits. Send a follow up thank you letter to the interview panel and tell them what specifically you found helpful about the day and what you learnt in your job interview.
