Preparation is Key

Posted by admin on 25 Aug, 2016

With the demand for qualified staff in the Construction and Engineering industries pushing towards pre-recession levels, we have found that when we get someone for a role it is quite easy for them to get an interview. It is then up to the candidate to do the research on the company in order to know how their skillset can be utilised and how they will fit into the company culture. It is obvious that we can all sell ourselves in the best light possible, but those who have done research and are prepared for the interview are the ones that get the job. Now this may seem painfully obvious, but it is apparent that not everyone heeds this advice, so kppm have devised a checklist of things to do before interview

Know the location and arrive on time

Now, this may seem like something that your parents have told you from a young age, but as a recruitment agency it is never a surprise to get a call from the client 10 minutes after an interview was due to start to say “Hi, X has not shown up for the interview as of yet. Do you know anything about this?” We then call the candidate who is flustered as their bus is running late or they are unable to find the office. It does not take that much to ensure that you get there on time. If the journey takes half an hour, then give yourself an hour to get there. The internet is there so you can check out the office from the comfort of your own home, so use it. And if you are running late, let someone know.

Know the company

Again the internet is a wondrous thing full of facts and figures. You can get a feel for the company, the projects they work on and how they operate. Most of this can be found on the website and there are always bonus points for people who can include facts and figures about the company in their interview. Also a little more investigative work goes a long way if you can bring company finances and accounts into the equation. If you know people who work with the firm that is also an added bonus as you talk to them about the company, while also mentioning them in the interview.

Know the industry and competition

Of course knowing the company is important, but knowing the direct competition and having an understanding of the industry as a whole is also great to bring into an interview. A simple online search can yield great results as well as utilising professional and governing bodies and the industry knowledge that they can provide is always a great addition. While it is obvious that you should not dwell too much on the work that other firms do, as it may show you to be very interested in the competitors and a possible light risk so to speak, it is still important to be aware of these competitors.

Know your interviewer/Key people

Before any interview you will be told who you are meeting with (usually 2 or 3 members of staff). These should be the focus of your initial investigative work on staff in the firm .It is quite often the case that there will be a representative from HR as well as the hiring manager and the possibility of another member of staff usually with a technical background. You should at the very least check these people on LinkedIn and from the company website. This can provide a great foundation as you will know their faces, area of expertise, background and qualifications. It would also be helpful to check out the Senior Management team in the company and get as much background on them and their progression career-wise and within the company.

Find out what the process is like

If you know anyone who works for the company get in touch with them and see what the process for interview is like with them. This can often help as you are prepared for the kind of questions that can be asked, who is likely to be present (if you were not made aware previously). Alternatively you can ask an agency about the process for interview as often they have had numerous interviews and have inside knowledge of operations so this can be a great place to gain an insight into what can be expected from the company overall.

What can you offer?

No one knows you better than you know yourself so make use of that fact and combine it with what you have learned to illustrate what you can offer the company and how you can fill the role that you are interviewing. If you are the right fit, then you will be able to sell your skillset to the company and make them realise that you can do the job, as well as providing a great deal more that will be of benefit to the company.

It is always a great idea to have some questions prepared for the end of an interview. Obviously this is going to vary from industry to industry but a great one that we in kppm like a lot is “What are the opportunities for progression within this role and how rapid is the progression? I like to learn, develop, improve and progress in every role so I feel that with such a diverse role as this I will naturally need to do just this. In previous cases how long has this taken?

“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail” Benjamin Franklin