Interview preparation

Appearing for an interview is a crucial step in the hiring process. Basically, your employment with the company depends on the impression the interviewer, the company representative, makes of you. It is very important that after the interview has been set up, before presenting yourself to the employer, you prepare as well as possible for the meeting. First of all you should find out as much information as possible about the company. This is if possible because many employers, in the selection process, use anonymity by putting the employer's name "confidential" in their recruitment advertisements or by using recruitment firms that avoid giving details about their client before meeting the candidates. You can, however, get an idea by carefully reviewing the job requirements and analysing your profile against the recruiter's requirements.

Appearing for the interview

Before your meeting with the employer, remember to keep in mind a few details that will increase your chances of employment:

- Re-read your CV and letter of intent before meeting the recruiter;

- Don't forget to take a folder with you containing all the documents proving your professional training, skills and experience. Put your CV and letter of intent in the folder. It is possible that today's interviewer will be different from the one who has retained you for the interview and so will no longer have to identify the one that belongs to you among the CVs received at the company;

- Don't be late for your interview. It's better to arrive a few minutes early than to create a bad impression from the start;

- Be careful what you wear. No matter what field you applied for, your outfit plays an important role. Avoid garish colours, extravagant clothes. Neutral tones are preferable, as they always give a touch of seriousness. If you're a woman, don't go for heavy make-up, a lot of jewellery and shoes with exaggerated heels;

- Focus on the first impact created on the recruiter. Imagine the moment you enter the interview room, the examiner's greeting, the smile, imagine the answers you will give to the questions you anticipate being asked.

- Manage your emotions and strive to appear as relaxed and confident as possible. Be relevant, but not brash and cocky.

Questions to expect

No two interviews are alike. Even if you've been through this kind of selection process before, it's good to treat each one as your first. That's why you should create a scenario and try to anticipate as many of the questions you may be asked as possible. To make your job easier, here are a few questions that can be asked during an interview:

- Why are you applying to us?

- Do you feel up to this kind of work?

- What are your strengths?

- What can you offer us?

- What salary would you like?

- What salary do you hope to receive with us?

- What activities did you carry out at your former workplace?

- Where do you see yourself in five years?

- Briefly describe your professional development.

- Which of your qualifications would match the job description you are applying for?

- How long do you want to carry out this activity?

- How important is free time to you? What about holidays?

- Would you be willing, if necessary, to stay overtime?

- What are your hobbies?

- How do you communicate with foreign people?

- Do you enjoy working alone or in a team?

- How do you rate your current job?

- How do you imagine your future job?

- What tasks did you find extremely boring at your former job?

- Has it ever happened to you that you can't maintain your state of concentration?

- How did you end up in your last job?

- Why do you want to quit your current job?

- Why have you never changed jobs before?

- Why have you changed jobs so often?

- What position would you like to occupy in our company?

- Are you planning to qualify further?

- Have you ever changed jobs because you found something more interesting?

- Having trouble letting go of old habits?

- Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed with work tasks?

- Do you agree that better leadership can increase employee motivation?

- How do you react when others become disinterested in the company's goals?

- How do you make decisions?

- How do you think you, alone, can stimulate the team?

- What is your current income?

- What do you hope to achieve by changing jobs?

- When are you available to start work?

Sources:

http://www.bucuresti.anofm.ro/interviu.htm

http://www.myjob.ro/

http://www.informatiiprofesionale.ro/