Candidates » Hiring interview
You succeeded in the first step, you are now invited for an interview. How is it going to happen ? It depends on the recruiter, the interview can be either very structured or more informal.
What is the objective ?
The goal of this first meeting is to create a contact, to assess your technical, relational and linguistic skills…
This interview will enable the recruiter to get a more precise idea of your personality and your competences.
How to get prepared ?
The best way to feel comfortable when meeting a potential employer is to know as much as possible about the company you apply in.
Companies often have a complete website where you can find a lot of interesting information. Visit this website in order to get a precise idea of the company’s activities.
You can also sometimes find an organigram on the website. If this is the case, have a look at it. This will enable you to know who is who and what the role of each person is, and to avoid mistaking the director for the secretary!
Any other information source can be useful. The company in question might also be mentioned in other websites or in the media. Get as much information as you can.
The better you know the company, the more you will be able to convince your interlocutor that you are the person he is looking for, because you will quickly integrate yourself in the company and get used to the job.
The first 30 seconds
The first 30 seconds of an interview are very important for the global impression that you will make to the recruiter. Stay yourself, try to look comfortable, shake hands firmly, try to give a positive impression as soon as you enter the office.
Outfit
It is very important to pay attention to the clothes your are going to wear for an interview. Why ? Because being well dressed to meet a recruiter shows that you have respect for him.
The first impression of the interviewer is determining, so you would better wear a suit and tie than jeans and baskets.
Examples of questions
- Are you capable of doing the job ?
- Have you already held a similar position ?
- What knowledge and previous experience will enable you to bring the projects to a good end?
- How are you going to adapt to the company ?
We advise you to prepare answers to these questions. For example, make a list of your previous technical realisations and get prepared to explain them in details if necessary.
If you have experience as a Site Manager, you should be able to explain which projects you worked on, what kind of buildings or of industrial installations, how many people you managed, what the budget of the project was …
If you apply for a drawer position, do not hesitate to bring examples of drawings that you made. This will help your interlocutor to get a precise idea of your technical capabilities.