Abdelmalek Essaadi University

ENSA College – Al Hoceima

Professional Communication/Soft Skills 1

Stream:ID1/S1 2022/2023
Prof. E. BOUAZZA
.......................................................................................................................................................

Job Interview: How to Succeed at Interviews for a New Job

Introduction
An interview is a conversation in which you and an employer, or committee members,
exchange information. It is a two-way discussion rather than an interrogation, as it is often
perceived to be. The objective of an interview is to get the job offer, and the employer's
objective is to find out the following:
 What you have to offer (your skills, abilities, basic knowledge).
 Who you are (your personality, character, and interests).
 Why you should be hired (you have what they are seeking).

The interview is usually preceded by the evaluation of submitted job application, certificates,
a CV from the interested candidates... After examining these documents, a limited number of
candidates will be selected for the interview.
The interview is a vital step to obtaining a career position and often depends on your skills in
marketing your potential.
Preparing for an interview
Be prepared / Know yourself
Most interviews include questions regarding:
 your qualifications, education, activities, work experience,
 personal characteristics, skills, and career interests.
To prepare for answering questions about yourself, think about the following questions:
 Which personality characteristics and skills do I want to talk about?
 What job experiences are most relevant to this position?
 What did I gain from my college education? Focus on those experiences that best
sell you for the position for which you are interviewing.
Identify your strengths:
 Be prepared to state the reasons why you should be hired: Motivation.
 What you have to offer the employer, and your interests in the position.
 Be realistic! Know your qualifications and limitations. Don’t lie to deceive.
Research the job/position
Read and analyze the job description and see how your skills apply to the position.
 For the position required, read the duties, the skills and abilities before applying.
 Assess the value of what you have to offer to the position and to the organization.
 See how your experience applies to what is required for the job.

1
Research the employer and the organization
 Do some research on the company; ask them for material (brochure, job description, etc.)
 Ask for the interviewer’s department. Information can be found in the internet.
 Visit the company’s website as they will ask you, at the interview, if you have looked at it.
 Do some research on the type of work for which you are assessed as you will be asked the
question ‘What do you know about this type of work?’
The following questions can help guide your research:
 What are the organization's goals?
 What is the structure of the organization?
 What are the organization's products and services?
 What type of training does the organization offer its employees?
Prepare questions to be asked
Questions to be asked can be:
 Tell me about yourself.
 What do you know about our organization?
 Give an example of a goal you reached and tell me how you achieved it.
 How do you handle a challenge?
 Are you interested in a long-term career or is this simply a stopgap for you?
Prepare questions to ask
Questions to ask can be:
 What is the history of the company?
 What are its future plans for growth and development?
 What exactly does the job involve?
 What will be expected from me? What goals am I expected to achieve?
 What training, backup will be given to me in order to achieve those goals?

During the interview

Create a first impression
 Show up on Time:
 Find out when and where the interview will take place and how to get there on
time.
 Being punctual should be a given especially when your dream job is on the line.
 Dress appropriately:
 Dress according to the standards of the organization.
 Your appearance should project a conservative, businesslike image and should
communicate that you are ready for a professional career.
 If you’re dressed in a more casual manner, you’re not going to show a sense of
professionalism.
 Show your enthusiasm:
 Enthusiasm, eagerness and interest in the job help create a good impression.
 Do not be passive or indifferent.
 Be alert, energetic and positive even if you feel unpleasant.

2
Interview format
 Building rapport:
 The first few minutes of the interview are used to establish rapport and to help the job
applicants feel more at ease.
 The interviewer engages in a small talk or asks questions about interests and hobbies.
 These first few minutes are where you make a first and lasting impression.
 This is an opportunity to demonstrate your communication skills.
 Exchange of information
 An interview is a mutual exchange of information between the interviewer and the
interviewee.
 The interviewer asks questions about your qualifications and career goals.
 The candidate is expected to ask questions about the position and organization.

 Listen carefully to the questions

 Listen carefully to the questions and be sure you understand them.
 Answer the questions by backing up your statements with examples of your skills.
 Do not give more information than what the interviewer is asking for.
 Show confidence in yourself and your ability to perform the job!
 Closing the interview
 Be alert for signs that the interview is coming to an end.
 Ask what the next step will be and when you can expect to know the results of the
interview.
 Thank the interviewer for taking time to talk with you.

Follow-Up
 After you leave the interview, make notes about what you discussed, including the
next steps that you should take.
 These notes will be helpful in preparing for further interviews.
 Send a thank-you email to the interviewer within 24 hours of the interview.
 Tell the interviewer you appreciated him/her taking time to see you and restate your
interest in the position.
Interview guidelines
Have good manners when interviewing
 Listen carefully to the interviewer.
 Don't sit until you are invited to.
 Don't use slang or vernacular language.
 Be polite, positive, and professional throughout the interview.
Answering questions
 Maintain eye contact with the interviewer.
 Be sure to pay attention to the question so that you don’t forget it,
 Avoid cutting off the interviewer at all costs.
 If you need to take a moment to think about your answer, that’s totally fine,
 Avoid using fillers: “ums” or “uhs.”
Interview advice: Don’ts
 Don’t answer questions solely with a Yes or No.
 Don’t lie. Employers verify the information by looking at your documents.
3
  Don’t make excuses for past failures; employers respect honesty.
 Don’t make derogatory, or less respectful, remarks about your present or former
employers or companies.
Most common causes of failure
 Lack of interest or enthusiasm.
 Failure to look the employer in the eye.
 Lack of preparation for the interview.
 Poor personal appearance.
 Poor first impression.
 Failure to ask questions during the interview.

Conclusion:
Certainly, these guidelines may not alone win you the job, but they can get you a little
closer. In order to win out, you must remember that the interview is a sales situation. To sell
yourself effectively, explain exactly what strengths you can bring to the employer and the
benefits that the employer will enjoy by employing you. Ultimately, the key to effective
interviewing is to:
 Project confidence,
 Stay positive,
 Be able to share your skills and your qualifications for the job.
Take the time to work on your interview skills so that you can develop effective interview
strategies to use in all of your interviews. Succeeding in job interviews takes research,
practice, and persistence. The more effort you put into your interview preparation, the more
chances you will have in obtaining the job offer