job interviews ...in two minutes

Why do companies conduct candidate interviews?

• To establish if the candidate:
  • has the skills and temperament to do the job
  • is going to be able to “hit the ground running”
  • will fit in with the corporate culture
  • will be an asset to the company
  • has the motivation and drive to succeed
• To provide candidates with general information about the company and specific information about the job

Keep these reasons in mind when taking part in an interview. If you understand what the interviewer is looking for, you will achieve greater success in interviews.

It cannot be overstated that, although it sounds like a cliché, interviews are as much about you, the candidate, finding out about the company as it is the company finding out about you. The candidate who approaches a first interview with the attitude of "How am I going to convince them to take me on?" is making a fundamental error. Until you have spoken to the company you cannot possibly know if you want to work for them.

Furthermore, you need to mentally approach an interview as being an engagement between equals. You may well be the person who will solve all their problems. Don't allow that to become arrogance, but at the same time, do not put yourself into the weak position of approaching an interview as a “job beggar.” The company should stand to gain as much out of hiring you as you will.

Organizations are increasingly handing over responsibility for career development to their employees. They expect employees to take responsibility for their own training and honing skills and talents. The assumption is that you have the motivation and ability to go and build the skill set the company needs from you. Therefore the key to any interview is to demonstrate that you are a self-starter.

Next: Preparation