MODUL PERKULIAHAN

Mata Kuliah English for Business

Modul 6:
Job Interview: What to
Prepare?

Mengetahui hal-hal yang perlu diketahui saat menghadapi interview

kerja.

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1900010 Tim Dosen
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Job Interview: What to Prepare?

Prepare for a Job Interview

Taking the time to prepare for an interview in advance can help you
ace the interview and secure a job offer. There are a number of
steps you can take before (and after) the interview to ensure that
you make a terrific impression on your potential employer.

▪ Analyze the Job

An important part of interview preparation is to take the time to

analyze the job posting, if you have it. As you review the job
description, consider what the company is seeking in a candidate.
Make a list of the skills, knowledge, and professional and personal
qualities that are required by the employer and critical for success
in the job.

▪ Make a Match

Once you have listed the qualifications for the job, make a list of your
assets and match them to the job requirements. Create a list of your
strengths that match the job requirements. These might include
skills, qualities, certifications, experiences, professional
qualifications, abilities, computer skills, and knowledge bases. You
can bring up some of these assets when you explain to the
employer why you are an excellent fit for the job. Also, think of
examples from past work/organization experiences that show you
have these qualities. This way, if the interviewer asks you to
describe a time when you demonstrated a particular skill or ability,
you will be ready.

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 Review the job requirements, your list of strengths, and your
examples prior to the interview so that you're prepared to share
them during the interview. This preparation will help you be ready
to answer job-specific interview questions and behavioral interview
questions designed to determine if you have the knowledge, skills,
and qualities needed to perform the job.

▪ Research the Company

Before you attend a job interview, it's important to find out as much
as you can about not only the job, but also the company. Company
research is a critical part of interview preparation. It will help you
prepare to answer interview questions about the company and to
ask the interviewer questions about the company. You will also be
able to find out whether the company and its culture are a good fit
for you.

For a concise understanding of the company, check out the company

website, specifically the “About Us” page. Get a sense of how the
company compares to other organizations in the same industry by
reading articles about the company in industry magazines or
websites. You can also check out company reviews from clients, and
from current and former employees. Also, spend time tapping into
your network to see if you know someone who can help give you
an interview edge over the other candidates.

Here are some of the key factors to find out from your research:

● What the company does and the industry they operate in

● Where it is located

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 ● The approximate team size

● The company’s history, major successes and defining moments

● The company’s customers / clients or target audience

● The industry the company operates in

● Products or services that the company has recently launched

● The company's mission, aims, objectives or goals

▪ Get your interview clothes ready

Don't wait until the last minute to make sure your interview clothes
are ready. Have an interview outfit ready to wear at all times, so you
don't have to think about what you're going to wear while you're
scrambling to get ready for a job interview.

Regardless of the type of job you're interviewing for, that first

impression should be a great one. When dressing for an interview
for a professional position, dress accordingly in business attire. If
you're applying for a job in a more casual environment, such as a
store or restaurant, it's still important to be neat, tidy, and
well-groomed, and to present a positive image to the employer. It is
also important to think about your makeup and accessories when
dressing for an interview.

While many employers expect candidates to dress smartly, a growing

number encourage casual wear at work, making it trickier than ever
to choose an interview outfit. What you'll be expected to wear
depends on factors such as the size of the company, the industry it

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 operates in and the culture it promotes. For example, a small
creative agency may have different standards to a major
accountancy firm.

If you're unsure on the dress code, ask before attending the interview.
The key point to remember is that it's better to be too smart than
too casual. Only opt for a more casual outfit if you're certain that's
acceptable - if there's any doubt, go for smart business attire.
Whatever you choose, make sure that your clothes are ironed, and
your shoes are clean. For telephone and online interviews make
sure you dress as though the interview is in person. Sitting in your
tracksuit bottoms trying to act professional probably isn’t going to
go too well.

Types of Job Interview

There are different types of job interview. In some cases, you'll only
need to succeed at one of these to land the role. In others, particularly
at large graduate employers, you may face several interview formats
throughout the application process.

● Face-to face - the traditional and still most common form of

interview. You'll attend the employer's office and be questioned on
your suitability for the job by an individual or panel. Face-to-face
interviews usually last between 45 minutes and two hours and may
be preceded or followed by tests and exercises. Questions may be
strength-based or competency-based.

● Telephone - often used by employers early in the application

process to filter large numbers of applicants. If you're successful,
you'll typically be invited to a face-to-face interview or assessment
centre. Expect a telephone interview to last around half an hour.

● Video - increasingly popular among large employers, particularly

for applications to graduate schemes. Video interviews can be live

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 or pre-recorded and tend to last around half an hour. These have
increasingly been used due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw
the majority of things move online.

● Assessment centers - enable employers to compare the

performance of lots of candidates at the same time. You'll attend an
assessment centre with other applicants and take part in tasks such
as presentations, team exercises and psychometric tests. Assessment
centers usually last a full working day and have more recently been
adapted to be held online.

Your performance in an interview depends, to a significant extent, on

how well you prepare. Don't leave this until the last minute. In the
days leading up to the interview, focus your research on the:

● Employer - you need to show that you understand the business

beyond the basics. What sector does it operate in? What challenges
does it face? Who are its competitors? What major projects has it
recently completed? What are its culture and values? This kind of
knowledge demonstrates a genuine interest.

● Role - read the job description again and, if you completed an

application form, go over it to refresh your memory of how your
skills and qualifications match the job. It's vital that you can explain
why you want the job, that you understand the role and, even more
importantly, why the employer should choose you over other
candidates.

● Interview panel - try to find out who will be interviewing you. The
email inviting you to the interview may include this information.
Use LinkedIn and the 'About us' section of the company website to
find out more about their professional interests and experience.
This may help you to connect with your interviewers and create a
positive impression during the interview.

● Questions - consider how you'll answer common interview

questions, as well as preparing some questions you'd like to ask the
interviewer.

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What to Do Before the Interview
A quick Google search can help you come up with some common
interview questions to help your interview preparations. Looking into
the blog section of job hiring sites such as ZipRecruiter can also help
you find the tips and suggested questions that employers look at
before the interview. There’s no way to know which questions you’ll
actually get, but knowing some of the more common ones can go a
long way:

● Can you tell us about your background?

● Do you work better in a team or on your own?

● What are your salary expectations?

● What are your strengths and weaknesses?

● Why do you want to work for this company?

● Why are you the best candidate for this position?

● Where do you see yourself X years from now?

● What are your salary expectations?

● What motivates you?

● Can you tell me about a failure you experienced with a previous

employer? How did you handle it?

The more you anticipate what will happen in your interview, the less
anxious you are likely to be. Even taking a little edge off can help you
appear more grounded and confident in your interview. Confidence is
an attribute that potential employers and hiring managers look for
because it can have a positive impact on your decision-making and
work performance in general.

Job Interview: Common Questions

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 Preparing talking points for common interview questions can help
you to feel confident and prepared in your interview. While every
interviewer is different and their questions may vary depending on
the job and industry, there are a few common questions you can
expect and prepare for, such as "Tell me about yourself."

▪ Questions About You

At the beginning of the conversation, your interviewer will likely start

out by asking you about yourself. They are seeking to understand your
qualifications, what led you to the job and generally why you think
you'd be a good fit. The key here is making your answer concise and
direct, including only professional information relevant to the job.

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 Interviewers will ask questions about you to gain insight into your
personality and to determine whether you're a fit for both the job and
the company. These are open-ended questions which will give you the
opportunity to show the employer that you're well-qualified for the
position.

1) Tell me about yourself.

2) What is your greatest strength?

3) What is your greatest weakness?

4) What makes you unique?

5) Tell me about something that's not on your resume.

6) How will your greatest strength help you perform?

7) How do you handle failure?

8) How do you handle success?

9) Do you consider yourself successful? Why?

10)How do you handle stress and pressure?

▪ Why You Should Be Hired

Employers often ask this question to identify why you might be more
qualified than other candidates they’re interviewing. To answer, focus
on why hiring you would benefit the employer. Since you don’t know
the other applicants, it can be challenging to think about your answer
in relation to them. Addressing why your background makes you a

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 good fit lets employers know why your traits and qualifications make
you a strong candidate.

To help you prepare this answer consider the following:

● Assets the employers finds valuable: Review the job description for
role responsibilities as well as required and desired skills, qualities,
experience and qualifications. For example, if a position
emphasizes cross-collaboration, you might speak about your ability
to unite a team around a common goal.

● Ways you've been successful in previous roles: Reflect on past

accomplishments and list the qualities that helped you achieve
them. For example, if you received an award for your marketing
skills you might share this along with the project or experience that
earned you the award.

● Traits or skills you've been praised for: Consider your strengths

and qualities commonly recognized by previous employers or
coworkers. Think back to positive feedback you’ve received from
performance reviews and completed projects. For example, if your
employer consistently brings up your ability to motivate others in
your performance reviews, it’s likely a trait they highly value and
other employers would also appreciate.

Why should you be hired over the other applicants? What makes you
the best candidate for the job? Here's when you'll have the opportunity
to make a case for getting a job offer, and the chance to sell yourself to
the interviewer.

1) Why should we hire you?

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 2) Why shouldn't we hire you?

3) What can you contribute to this company?

▪ Questions About Salary

Some of the hardest questions to answer during a job interview are

about compensation. Here's what you will be asked and examples of
the best answers. Questions about salary can be tricky to answer, and,
in some locations, employers aren't allowed to ask about your salary
history.

1) What were your starting and final levels of compensation?

2) What are your salary expectations?

3) What are your salary requirements?

4) Why would you take a job for less money?

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▪ Qualifications Questions

The most important thing for interviewers to determine is whether

you're qualified for the job. Here's what they will ask to find out. When
responding, be specific.

1) What applicable experience do you have?

2) Are you overqualified for this job?

3) Tell me about your educational background.

4) What can you do better for us than the other candidates for the
job?

5) What part of the job will be the least challenging for you?

6) Which parts of this job are the most challenging for you?

7) What philosophy guides your work?

8) What strength will help you the most to succeed?

▪ The New Job and the Company

What do you know about the company, why do you want the job, and
what would you do if you were to be hired, are just some of the
questions you'll be asked about the position and employer. Take the

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 time to research the employer prior to the interview, so that you can
ask informed questions about the job and company.

1) How is our company better than your current employer?

2) What interests you about this job?

3) What do you know about this company?

▪ Questions About The Future

Are you going to stick around if you're hired is something most

employers want to know. All these questions will gauge your interest
in making a commitment.

1) Tell me about the trends in your profession and industry.

2) What are you looking for in your next job? What is important to
you?

3) What is your professional development plan?

4) Where do you see yourself five years from now?

5) How do you plan to achieve your goals?

6) What will you do if you don't get this position?

What to Do After the Interview

After the interview: When you leave the interview, try to reflect on
some of the harder questions you were asked - this can help you to
prepare for future interviews.

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 Accepting a job: If you’re offered the job, let the company know in
good time whether you want to accept the offer. You can also agree
when you’ll start and find out what you’ll need to do on your first day.

Turning down a job: If you decide not to accept the job, turn it down
but be polite. You may want to work for them in the future.

If you’re not successful and If the employer does not offer you the job:

● try to be positive - this is a chance to learn from your experience

and build your resilience

● ask for feedback on your interview

● think about the things that did not go so well and what you could
do to improve next time

● get some interview practice. Ask friends, family, colleagues or a

careers adviser to help

REFERENCES

125 Common Job Interview Questions and Answers (With Tips) | Indeed.com.
(2022). Indeed Career Guide.
https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/interviewing/top-interview-quest
ions-and-answers

Doyle, A. (2022). How To Prepare for a Job Interview. The Balance Careers.
https://www.thebalancecareers.com/how-to-prepare-for-a-job-interview-
2061361

Doyle, A. (2022). Job Interview Questions, Answers, and Tips to Prepare. The
Balance Careers.

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https://www.thebalancecareers.com/job-interview-questions-and-answer
s-2061204#toc-prepare-for-the-interview ‌

‌ Swain, R. (2021). How to prepare for an interview | Prospects.ac.uk.

Prospects.ac.uk; Prospects.
https://www.prospects.ac.uk/careers-advice/interview-tips/how-to-prepar
e-for-an-interview

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