Interview Prep: How to

Guide

Laura Ballantyne – August 2020

 The Journey

Welcome
Step 1: Know yourself
Step 2: Research the job and organisation
Step 3: Practice answering questions
Step 4: Think of questions to ask the interviewer(s)
Step 5: Adapt for remote interviews

Welcome

It’s safe to say that 2020 hasn’t quite been the year we all expected, with the impacts of the global
pandemic being felt in all corners of the world, including the little slice of paradise I call home, Aotearoa
New Zealand.

I’m sure I’m not the only one noticing a huge increase in redundancy and job search related posts on
LinkedIn and wondering how I can help my connections and wider network who have unexpectedly
found themselves in the job market.

Having spent the last 5 years of my career working as a graduate recruiter, I have been lucky enough to
guide hundreds of talented students on how to apply and interview for jobs as they take the first steps
in their career.

I’m hoping some of my knowledge and top tips will be useful for anyone on the job hunt right now; to
help you to prepare for interviews, feel more confident and secure an awesome new opportunity 😊
 Step 1:
Know
Yourself

Knowing what makes you the unique person that you are will serve you well for all jobs that you interview for as it
is all about you!

Part 1: Get familiar with your CV

Being able to articulate your experience and skills is crucial in an interview, particularly the parts you have
included in your CV.

Action 1
Without looking at your CV, make a note of some of the content.
- Can you remember the statistics that you have included?
- Can you remember the project names that you have spoken to the success of?
- Which of your achievements are you most proud of?
- What other information (e.g. hobbies) have you included?

If you can’t easily recite the content, spend some time learning your CV which will enable you to speak to it in an
interview.

Part 2: Understand your strengths and weaknesses

Your strengths and weaknesses will always come up in some way in an interview even if you are not asked
directly.
Action 2
Make a list of your strengths and think of examples of when you have demonstrated them. The four A’s can help
you to identify your key strengths and add credibility to your answers:

1. Awards: prizes you have won or been nominated for that emphasise your strengths
2. Accolades: Privileges or special honours you’ve gotten because of your strengths
3. Anecdotes: A story you can tell that demonstrates your strengths in action
4. Acknowledgments: Special recognition you have received for your areas of strength
Choose strengths that you can illustrate using any (or all) of the four A’s, taking your industry and role into
account.

Action 3
Online tests have advanced from the ‘what type of dog would you be’ quizzes we used to know!
If you are struggling to think about your strengths and weaknesses, try starting with this online test:
https://www.viacharacter.org/
The test will list your strengths from 1-24, providing your own unique character strength profile.

Action 4
Make a list of your weaknesses and think of examples of when they have cropped up them. This might feel
uncomfortable but remember this is for your eyes only.
Absolutely everyone has weaknesses but the trick to talking about them is to demonstrate your self-awareness
and articulate how you manage despite them and how you are working to overcome them. It’s not pleasant to
talk about weaknesses, especially during a job interview, but remember that your interviewer already knows
you’re not perfect.
From your identified weaknesses, choose the ‘right’ ones to focus on. The right weaknesses:
- Are not directly related to the job functions you will be required to perform
- Are ones that you’re actively working on that can stand up to probing.

If you’re not actively working on a weakness, this is the perfect opportunity to stop, reflect, and begin taking steps
towards growth and development.

Action 5
Practice answering questions and talking about your strengths and weaknesses

Strengths
Combine your strengths with examples that you have identified in actions 1 and 2 to formulate some possible
interview answers, for example:
I have a strong work ethic. I’m committed to meeting deadlines and completing all tasks at a high standard. At
my previous job, I worked with a client who was on a very tight schedule. Due to circumstances beyond my
control, we received some of the information needed to complete the project just one day before the deadline.
Instead of missing the deadline or delivering a rushed, poorly done final project, I volunteered to stay late and
complete the task. I was regularly recognized for my dedication and my ability to work under pressure.
Because of this positive reputation, clients began requesting to work with me specifically. I think my strong
work ethic will help me manage multiple projects and keep all clients satisfied.
This answer provides a relevant strength, lists supporting credentials, and connects the strength to the job in
question.
 Top Tips – Strengths Questions
➢ Instead of saying, “I’m pretty good at…” or, “I think a strength might be…,” launch directly and confidently
into your answer
➢ Achievements are often evidence of strengths, but not the strengths themselves. Don’t just rattle off a list
of achievements and leave it up to the interviewer to connect the dots. Instead, list the strength first,
then state the associated achievement(s) to support your strengths, not as standalone items. If you’re
unsure, examples of strengths include communication, problem-solving, initiative, persistence, and time
management
➢ Choose your strengths wisely – saying you’re good at time management and turning up to the interview 1
minute before it’s due to start is not going to look great
➢ Even if you’re good at something, that doesn’t mean you should stop there. What are you doing to make
yourself better? How are you trying to build upon your current skill set? Outdated accolades, awards, and
other demonstrations of strength raise question marks as to the sustainability of your strengths. Provide
evidence that you continue to improve upon your strengths and raise the bar
➢ Graduates - volunteering and academic experience are great ways to demonstrate relevant skills and
experience. The key is to provide strengths from your volunteer and academic experience that directly
relate to the job you’re interviewing for

Weaknesses
When planning weakness interview questions, provide a response that shows you have done some reflection.
Demonstrate that you’re aware of the areas you need to work on and, most importantly, that you’re taking steps
to address and correct your indicated weaknesses.

To answer a weakness question, speak briefly on the specific weakness that you have identified then spend more
time elaborating on how you have taken steps to mitigate it.

For example:
“I occasionally have a hard time asking for help. This sometimes works out, but it can be detrimental when I do
need extra support in or managing challenges beyond my control. Last year, I coordinated an event for one of our
top clients. There were many small details and several setbacks along the way, but I was determined to handle it
all on my own. The event was a success, but afterwards I realised how easily it could have gone wrong. I took the
time to reflect, and I’ve been intentional in reminding myself to ask for help when it’s needed. My top priority is
client satisfaction, and sometimes that means getting support, insight, or resources from others.”

This response outlines a weakness that is not detrimental to the job function and demonstrates that the
candidate is actively working to overcome the weakness.

Top Tips – Weakness Questions

➢ Anyone can say that they’re working on something without actually doing anything. Show the interviewer
tangible facts to back up your responses.
➢ Don’t choose a weakness that’s detrimental to performing the job. While you want to include a true
weakness, choose one that cannot be construed as preventing you from effectively performing the job
you’re interviewing for. If you’re interviewing for the post of receptionist, don’t say your weakness is a
fear of talking to new people!
➢ Avoid the interview cliché of trying to disguise a strength as a weakness. Answers like, “I’m sometimes
too helpful,” or, “I can be too much of a perfectionist” aren’t fooling anyone and will not help your
credibility. We all have weaknesses. Instead of attempting to dodge the question, discuss a weakness that
won’t impair your ability to perform the job in question.
 Step 2:
Research the
Job and
Organisation

You will likely already have laid the groundwork through adjusting your CV and cover letter for the opportunity,
but it’s important to know why you want this job in this organisation in-particular.
Researching the job and organisation serves 2 purposes:
1. You can guarantee that you will be asked why you want to work for the Organisation
2. Interviewing is a 2-way process: as much as the Organisation is doing their due diligence on you through
an interview, you need to be making sure this is an organisation you’d like to join by doing your own due
diligence on the Organisation

You don’t need to learn or memorise content but it’s important to have a good understanding of the Organisation
and role (think what, where, when, why, how

Action 6
Make a list of reasons why this job and this particular organisation appeals. To do this:
1. Re-read and understand the job description
2. Match your skillset to the job description
3. Visit the organisation’s:
- website
- social media pages (LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram)
- public reports (e.g. financial reports and sustainability reports)
4. Google news articles

Top Tip – Researching

If you can switch out the name of the Organisation for a competitor, your reason for joining generally isn’t strong
enough. Think about specific reasons why the Organisation stands out e.g. an interaction with someone from the
Organisation or a project which really stands out to you and how that matches your skillset or values.
 Step 3:
Practice
answering
questions

You know your CV, you know your strengths and weaknesses, you’ve done your research on the job and
organisation so now it’s time to bring everything together!
The internet is a wealth of knowledge for potential interview questions. Here are a couple of good starting points:
1. 40 common interview questions and answers: https://www.themuse.com/advice/interview-questions-
and-answers

2. 30 behavioural interview questions sorted by topic (teamwork, client facing skills, ability to adapt, time
management, communication skills, motivation and values: https://www.themuse.com/advice/30-
behavioral-interview-questions-you-should-be-ready-to-answer

Action 7
It might feel overwhelming answering questions at first but start by writing down your thoughts and then work on
the structure (more info below).
Behavioural questions are aimed at learning about your past behaviours in specific work situations., e.g. ‘tell me
about a time when…’ Common behaviour-based question categories include:

1. Teamwork
2. Problem solving
3. Initiative/leadership
4. Interpersonal skills
5. Challenge/ stress / pressure
There are endless scenarios you’ll have faced (and aced!) in your career, so a good starting point is to prepare a
success story for each of these 5 categories that you know inside-out.

Structuring your answers

The STAR technique is a simple and effective way of structuring behavioural interview question answers.

Situation: a brief description of the situation and context of the success story (who, what, where, when, how)
Task: explain the task you had to complete, highlighting any specific challenges or constraints (e.g. deadlines,
costs, people etc.)
Action: describe the specific actions that you took to complete the task. These should highlight desirable traits
without needing to state them (initiative, intelligence, dedication, leadership, understanding, etc.)
Result: Close with the result of your efforts. Include figures to quantify the result if possible. Note, it’s important
to talk about your input and results rather than just the team’s

Top Tips – Answering Questions

➢ Practice with a real person – it’s amazing what you think you know until someone asks the question in a
slightly different way
➢ How you speak is often as important as what you say. Be conscious of your tone of voice and body
language (especially if it’s an online interview) – simply smiling goes a long way!
➢ Don’t feel like you have to answer straight away. Pause, take a sip of water and think about your answer
before launching into it. Your interviewer may actually be relieved to have a few seconds to pause too
 Step 4:
Think of
Questions
to Ask

Asking your interviewer(s) good questions can make you stand out as a candidate, but it’s also important to think
about what information will help you to decide if this is the job for you – it’s a 2-way process after all!

Action 8
Make a list of questions to ask your interviewer(s). What do you want to know about the position? The
organisation? The department? The team? The interviewer(s)? The culture?
There are lots of example questions online if you’re struggling to think of ideas, including within the following
articles:
1. https://www.thebalancecareers.com/questions-to-ask-in-a-job-interview-2061205
2. https://www.themuse.com/advice/51-interview-questions-you-should-be-asking

Top Tips – Asking Questions

➢ Ask one question at a time and try to avoid multi-part questions
➢ Avoid one word or ‘yes’ and ‘no’ questions and instead ask questions that will create a dialogue between
you and the interviewer
➢ Avoid ‘me’ questions, i.e. relating to salary, holidays and work hours per week. Have a chat to your
recruiter who will be able to chat to you about these topics
➢ Ask questions about different topics to demonstrate your curiosity and interest in all aspects of the
position
➢ Don't ask anything too personal about the interviewer's family, race, gender, etc.
 Step 5:
Adapt for
Remote
Interviews

Given the current COVID-19 world we’re all living in in 2020, the final step is to prepare for a remote interview.

Action 9
Check and adjust your technology:
- Make sure you have a good internet connection and a fully charged battery
- Turn off notifications on your phone and device you’re interviewing on – we all know how distracting
those group messages can be
- Test the link prior to joining, and join 5 minutes early

Action 10
Check and adjust your setup:
• Think about your surroundings and background which is shown on video. A light and blank wall behind
you is ideal but otherwise just a tidy space
• Dress in the same way as you would a face to face interview. Not only will this put you in a good mind-set
but means your PJs won’t be on display if you need to stand up at any stage without warning (e.g. if your
dog or unexpected visitor enters the room)
• Let your household / flatties know that you’re interviewing and that you shouldn’t be distracted and pop
a sign on the door as a visual cue
Action 11
Your Remote Interview!
• Normal interview advice applies – smile, think about your body language and try and remain calm. Here
are some great top tips from some T+T people: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGVNV3KKmVg
• Don’t read off notes. It’s pretty obvious and the interviewer will be looking for you to be yourself and
answer as naturally as you can. It’s important you’re honest for your own experience too – it’s a 2-way
process after all
• Have a glass of water nearby. Just like in a face to face interview, taking a sip of water is a great cue to
think through your response to a tricky question (maybe save the chocolate bar for after though)
• Your interviewer may also be at home so be patient if they have any trouble themselves (e.g. with
unexpected visitors)

Finally, think on your feet, have a contingency plan in place for if you have to
move spaces and just be yourself!

Sources
https://www.careermatch.com/job-prep/interviews/greatest-strength-and-weakness/
https://www.themuse.com/advice/51-interview-questions-you-should-be-asking
https://www.themuse.com/advice/interview-questions-and-answers
https://www.themuse.com/advice/30-behavioral-interview-questions-you-should-be-ready-to-answer
https://www.thebalancecareers.com/questions-to-ask-in-a-job-interview-2061205
https://www.themuse.com/advice/51-interview-questions-you-should-be-asking