After watching some of the political leaders’ debates in the buildup to the New Zealand election, it's made me think more about how you present yourself in an interview. 

How you come across and how you respond to the questions posed to you is important. 

Whether you are putting yourself forward to be chosen for Prime Minister, or the job you’ve always dreamed of, how you prepare for this opportunity is very important. 

Often, it’s a one-shot opportunity. 

I interview people as part of my job and when I think about what I'm looking for, I’ve come up with the following key areas.  

Your CV

Having a well-prepared CV is important. However, having a CV that is too full often aspects of it can be overlooked as most employers want to see concisely what your key skills, abilities and achievements are. It's important to be concise, clear and to the point when you are including your experience. Also, don't forget to spellcheck and read your CV out loud, to be familiar with how it may be read by someone who does not know you. 

Preparation

Attending an interview whether it be with a recruiter or prospective employer, you need to be prepared to answer and ask questions. It's not a matter of just turning up and looking presentable. Presentable to me, is someone who is prepared. 

Being prepared involves researching the company and interviewers, knowing your skills and ability for the role you are applying for, understanding why you are there and what you want to achieve out of the interview, and preparing questions to ask that are important to you. 

If you are unsure about your particular preparation, sit down and talk with a good friend and ask them what they feel your key strengths are. Understanding your strengths is important as this will form the confidence to be able to articulate your skills and ability in interviews. 

Presentation

If they’re being their genuine selves, they’re already showing their strengths to me as an individual. 

I'll take into account their punctuality, their actual engagement during the interview process, and whether they can articulate to me what they’re really looking for in a new role. This also includes being able to discuss their skills and experience to do the job. 

Your Skills

Being able to articulate your skills concisely helps the interviewer to understand your experience relative to the role and company. If you are unsure of your key skills and how they relate to your work, think about how you apply yourself when you are in the doing phase and what comes naturally when you are in this phase. For example, if you are a project manager, highlight how you personally work with others to bring about collaboration and results. 

Respect

I know this may seem obvious but sometimes it can be overlooked.  Honestly, I've seen it all. Remember you are being observed in every interaction – emails, phone calls, face-to-face conversations, including how you communicate after the interview. Never be arrogant to the point that you forget there may be other people who are being interviewed.  Respecting someone’s time to meet is important. You will stand out a lot more if you are polite, communicative and respectful. And yes, it goes both ways. 

About Simone Storey

Simone is an experienced Recruitment Consultant who specialises in recruiting intermediate through to management-level consultancy engineers, particularly in the structural, and civil sectors. These particular sectors provide unique recruitment challenges, something with which she is very familiar.

Her background also brings a results-oriented and people-focused perspective, along with a solid understanding of the needs of both employer and employee. Simone has a focus on building these relationships to add value for both candidate and employer alike, for her recruitment is not merely a transaction.