Interview

 

Preparation for the interview

Try to collect all information you can about the company: do an extensive search on the net and also ask people you know if they know anything about the company. Learn more about the business, products, services and developments of the company.

Dress professionally but stay comfortable. Having clean shoes and a general well-groomed appearance makes a good first impression.

What you should take with you to the interview: CV, school reports and recommendation letter(s). In any case, you can present them if you need to. Your CV summarizes your experience but is not as good as what you can say about yourself. Be ready to explain any changes in your resume and anything that is unclear.

 

Behaviour

Arrive on time, don't be too late or too early. Call them if you think you will be late. Apart from a bag and a notepad, you don’t need to bring anything else into the interview. The interview itself lasts about 15-30 minutes in general. The whole impression you give is determined first by your answers and then your behavior.

Introduction: Speak clearly and don't forget to shake hands. It is always the employer who extends his/her hand first. If they don't offer, then you shouldn't either.

Positioning, posture: Stand in front of the employer. Don’t make any unnecessary movements or gestures.

Eye contact: During the conversation, you should always look directly into your partner’s eyes. If there is more than one interviewer, you should look at each interviewer as you answer the question, starting with the one who asked the question. Be confident and optimistic.
 

Questions:

Answer the questions correctly and honestly . If you are yourself, your message will be more truthful and you will convey a better impression. Do not speak too much and keep  your answers clear and concise.

Typical questions: 

Speak about yourself!
In 2-3 minutes, expand on the most important information in your CV. If you get nervous talking in front of people, it would be worth preparing for this question because it is very common.

What are the advantages of hiring you?
This is where you can bring up your special command of language or any qualifications and, experience related to this position or any other relevant knowledge. Talk about your success at your last workplaces and which personal characteristics helped you. Talk about what motivated you to accept this task. Every new workplace means new information and knowledge and it's a plus if you mention that you are happy to learn new things and express willingness to work  on a team.

What are your salary expectations?
Answer their question with a question: “What is the standard salary for this position If you don’t get an exact answer to this question, explain your salary demands are commensurate with your professional experience. Nowadays, every applicant must evaluate their value on the labor market. If there is a big difference between your demands and the employer's offer, ask about other allowances and possibilities. Note that the less you can bargain for salary, the lower the position is and the bigger the company is. 

Do you have any questions?
You should always have questions! Ask about the plans and development, the learning possibilities and the culture of the company. You should take careful here. The questions you ask will reflect on your preparation for the interview. A prepared and motivated applicant can be identified from these questions.

 

At the end:

You can politely show interest in how the selection process will continue. Will there be a new round and if so, when can you expect to be notified

Followup:
Keep a record of your interviews (When?, Where?) and make some notes. Write down all important information about the position (name of interviewer, salary, allowances and work time).