Interview Tips...

At Red Blue Recruitment, we aim for quality in every aspect of our business.

We don't want you to take second best - we want you to land the job you really want. By building relationships and regularly engaging with our candidates, we have been able to build up a valuable pool of experience when it comes to what to do and what not to do during interviews. Remember, the interviewer is going to be evaluating your overall performance in the interview, not just your answers to the questions.

Here are some tips to help you towards interview success:

Relax: The essential first step. Breathe. Be yourself. Breathe again...
Dress Professionally: First impressions can have a huge impact. Only about 15% of your naked self can be seen, so 85% of your first impression will be gained on your appearance and how you dress. Ask your Redblue consultant if you would like advice on the culture and dress code expected by the company. Double check how you look before you arrive.
Arrive on time: Aim to arrive 15 minutes early, to avoid any last minute complications. If you are having difficulty making the interview on time, immediately contact your Redblue consultant with the details and when you would be likely to arrive
Shake hands: ...firmly, but don't squeeze. If in doubt, ask your Dad for tips on handshakes. Look the interviewer in the eye and greet the interviewer by his or her first name. And remember to smile :)
Respect: Sometimes you will be interviewed by more than one interviewer. Ensure that at every stage, you treat everyone with respect and ensure you address all interviewers when responding to questions.
Charisma: It is very important that you demonstrate your interpersonal skills during the interview. Remember, relax and be yourself. Be interested and enthusiastic and try to avoid nervousness.
Positive: and enthusiastic are key “do” words. Never run down previous companies/employers/colleagues or complain about previous jobs. Positive people are attractive to potential employers.
Confidence: When talking through your CV and career history, it is important to confidently touch on the following points: * A brief outline of each company you have worked for, and the role you had there * The specific skills utilised/acquired and software packages used * Outline of the team you worked within, the size, the personalities, the difficulties, etc * The main reason/s for leaving * The likes or dislikes of each company/role, but be sure not to be personal as this is generally perceived as being unprofessional * Any other interests - personal or otherwise - that may be relevant to the role in question.
Listen: Remember to be a good listener as well as a good talker. Listen carefully to every question asked before answering, and never ever interrupt when the interviewer is speaking.
Take a moment: Just after the interviewer asks a question. When you are nervous, it is easy to jump in too early to answer and this can be perceived as not listening properly/thoroughly or not being considered enough in your response. If an unexpected question is posed, acknowledge it as a great question and ask for a few seconds to think of the answer. Remember, the interviewer is also looking for problem solving ability and rational thinking techniques. This is the fun bit!
Answer the question: that was asked of you to the best of your ability. Avoid "yes" and "no" answers and try to elaborate where possible. At the same time, be careful not to 'waffle on' or 'over answer'. Be succinct and don't keep talking if you can't answer the question.
Salary: It is the responsibility of the Redblue consultant to give you the salary parameters before/after the interview and to engage in any salary negotiations on your behalf that may arise from a job offer. Don't enquire about salary, holidays, bonuses, etc at the initial interview unless the interviewer asks, or if you are positive that the interviewer wants to hire you. You should, however, know your market value, and be prepared to specify your required salary or range. Discuss this with your Redblue consultant prior to the interview so they can already outline this expectation to the employer.
Next step: At the conclusion of the interview, enquire as to the next stage and when it is likely to happen. This not only shows your interest and motivation, it enables you to gain essential information to prepare you for the next stage - the name and position of the person you might be seeing and how they fit into the selection process, etc.
Conclude: the interview by thanking your interviewer for their time and depart with the same firm handshake and smile (see above).
Relax: and breathe again. Take the opportunity to take in the work environment of your prospective employers organisation before you leave.
Contact: Your Redblue consultant straight after the interview, to give them your feedback and go through a quick debriefing while the interview is still fresh in your memory. Under no circumstances should you contact the interviewer after the interview. Your Redblue consultant will be in constant touch with you as well as the employer, to follow up on the interview and hiring process.