Today employers are seeking the best and brightest individuals for their limited number of vacancies. There is plenty of competition out there! It is crucial for applicants to be prepared and able to communicate effectively in an interview situation. Below are some tips on how to prepare for an interview and what to expect.
- Where to begin
- Preparing for the interview
- What a professional services firm looks for
- The interview itself
- After the interview
1. Where to begin
The interview process often begins on campus. To maximise employment opportunities, you should become familiar with prospective employers well in advance of graduation.
You need to:
- Become familiar with your university’s careers office.
- Determine when graduate recruitment will be taking place on your campus.
- Submit an application early (most potential employers now require students to apply on-line).
- Read employment literature – you can learn a great deal from company websites!
- Talk to different companies so that you can compare them and find the best fit for you.
Find out more from recent graduates who have been through the process. (To find out when PricewaterhouseCoopers will be on your campus, refer to our Recruitment Calendar).
2. Preparing for the interview
Remember that an interview is a two-way process.
The interviewee needs to:
- Be given an opportunity to discuss abilities and achievements.
- Find out more about the prospective employer.
- Decide whether the job and the firm fit into your career plans.
The interviewer needs to:
- Decide whether you have the abilities required to perform the job.
- Decide whether the firm can match your aspirations
- Share information about the firm and leave you with a positive and professional impression of the firm.
To make the most of any interview, you must be PREPARED!
Applicants should:
- Know what you want; know what you are applying for and what your short and long term goals are.
- Be well informed about the firm you have applied to.
- Ensure that you keep abreast of current affairs both locally and globally
3. What a professional services firm looks for:
The interviewer is looking for the best and brightest candidates who will be best for the job. Some of the criteria against which you are most likely to be evaluated are as follows:
- Ability to communicate
- Initiative
- Maturity
- Enthusiasm
- Integrity
- Willingness to learn
- Self-starter
- Teamwork
- Adaptability
- Leadership
- Innovation
4. The interview itself
You never get a second chance to make a first impression!
Some do’s and don’ts when attending an interview are as follows:
Don’t
- Arrive late. If you get lost or stuck in traffic let the interviewer know.
- Mumble or speak so softly that the interviewer can’t hear you.
- Appear flippant or disinterested in the interview.
- Slouch or appear to be TOO relaxed or TOO rigid.
- Apologise for a lack of experience or make excuses. Be honest, but phrase your answers positively.
- Ask inappropriate or irrelevant questions e.g. asking the interviewer “how much do you earn?” Rather ask how much someone in the position you are applying for would earn.
Do
- Make sure you arrive in good time for the interview so that you can be relaxed.
- Dress appropriately for the interview. Make sure you look neat and professional.
- Give the interviewer a firm handshake and greet him/her with a smile.
- Take note of the interviewer’s name.
- Make sure you are alert and that you maintain eye contact with the interviewer.
- Be aware of your posture and body language.
- Speak loudly and clearly.
- Emphasise your strong points.
- Ask for clarification if a question is not clear.
- Be yourself.
- Ask any questions you have prepared to find out more about the job or the firm.
- Find out what will happen after the interview and when you can expect to know the outcome.
5. After the interview
If you have not heard about the outcome of your interview within the specified time, don’t be afraid to follow up with the firm in a polite and professional manner.
