First impressions count, make sure yours hits the mark
Make an effort with personal presentation. Your Radley Green consultant can give you tips on company culture and dress code.
Interview Guide
The only interview guide you need to smash that first meeting. We cover tips for preparation, how to conquer any interview nerves and how to make a fantastic first impression.
A few points to consider when attending an interview:
It can feel overwhelming when you’re preparing for and attending an interview. We break it down into easy to follow steps so you’re brilliantly prepared and ready to impress your new employer.
Introduce yourself in a confident, professional, and friendly manner
Aim to develop rapport with the interviewer by using a conversational, warm approach and asking general questions before the interview gets going.
Your handshake, eye contact and body language will all be considered.
A firm hand shake, eye contact and positive, upright body language always make a good impression.
Never discuss salary at first interview, unless the interviewer raises it
Making a great impression, conveying your suitability and progressing your job application are the priorities at this stage.
Prepare 5-10 relevant questions prior to the interview
You will be asked if you have any questions at the end of the interview. Prepare some that relate to the role, the team and work environment, and the future of the company.
Some examples of questions for the interviewer are:
How is the department structured and where does this role fit in?
What are the potential career paths that might be available to me?
What are the opportunities for further training?
Where is your company going? Expansion plans?
Can you tell me more about the role as job specifications do not always give the full picture?
What type of person are you looking for in the role?
What type of skill set are you looking for in this role?
"I read an article on your company/I read an article on your website......can you tell me more?"
I understand that you have just introduced a new product/service. How has it been received in the market?
Common interview questions
During the course of the interview the potential employer is looking to gain an understanding of you, your skills and your suitability for the role. It is important that it’s right for you too. You need to gain an understanding of whether the role and opportunity will provide you with the most appropriate step in your career.
It is important that you are well prepared and think about your answers well in advance of the interview. Keep your responses concise and relevant, and always use examples from your previous or current role to highlight your skills and experience.
Keep your answers positive. If you have any negative thoughts during the interview remember them and speak to your Radley Green consultant afterwards. Often these are due to a misunderstanding or lack of clarity which can be discussed after the interview.
Potential employer questions include:
Tell me about yourself
Talk me through your CV to date
Why are you considering leaving your current role?
What is important to you in your career?
What makes you different from the other candidates going for this position?
Why do you want to work for this company?
What do you know about this company?
What kinds of tasks and responsibilities motivate you the most?
Why do you think you would be good at this job?
What are you looking for in your next role?
Which part of this role is least attractive to you?
How do you see this job developing your skills and experience?
Tell me about what you learned from your previous jobs.
What strengths and attributes could you bring to this position?
What are your career goals?
What do you believe are the key issues and problems in our industry today?
What do you think it takes to be successful in this field?
In what kind of work environment do you do your best work?
What kind of people do you like to work with?
What did you dislike most about your last job?
What is your greatest strength?
What is your greatest weakness?
Where do you see yourself in five/ten years?
Competency based questions
Competency-based interviews are increasingly common and employers will invariably include competency-based questions in their interview.
This type of questioning is scenario based and the employer will be looking to gain an understanding of your skill set. They want to understand how you do or would respond in certain situations. The employer will look to identify key skills including communication, influencing, management, teamwork and conflict resolution. When answering these competency-based questions you should always be positive and show how your skills overcame any issue or challenge.
Potential competency based questions will include:
Can you give me an example of when you had to work under a great deal of pressure?
Tell me about the biggest challenge you have faced in your career? How did you overcome this?
Can you describe a time when you have had to make an important decision that may not have been popular with your colleagues? How did you handle this?
Can you give me an example of when you have struggled in a position? How did you handle this?
Can you give me an example of when you have disagreed with a colleague or team member? How did you handle this?
Have you managed a project? Can you take me through how you approached it and what challenges you faced?
Closing the interview
At the end of the interview, ensure you have asked all your questions so you can make an informed decision.
Warmly thank the interviewer and, if you are interested in the position and if appropriate, ask what the next stage will be.
If you are offered the role in the interview and it is one you are interested in then accept the role and speak to your Radley Green consultant as soon as possible. We will confirm and negotiate salary/daily/hourly rate, benefits, start date etc. on your behalf.
If you are offered the role but you are not interested then thank your interviewer but say you will need more time to think about it. Be tactful. Then speak to your Radley Green consultant immediately. You never know, you might change your mind!
Always stay positive during the interview even if you feel things are not going well. This could be down to nerves and the interviewer might think you are performing very well.
Interview Guides
Pre-Interview Guide
Everything you need to know before the interview to get set for success. It’s not just about the big day, getting ahead will keep you calm and boost your confidence.
Post Interview
Find out what you should do post-interview to make sure we seal the best deal for you.
Finding your right match
We’re always available to give you the support you need so feel free to call or email us anytime