A smart approach to interviews!

Interviews –A smart approach by John Reidy, Director, Recruitment Plus

 As all candidates will know, despite many other measures being used by companies today ( presentation skills, role plays, referencing etc ) , the interview remains the key measurement by which pharmaceutical and medical device companies assess candidate applications.

With this in mind I felt that it might be beneficial to give some interview pointers.  You are unlikely to find anything radically new in this overview, but it’s always worthwhile to remind yourself of what you need to do to secure that new position.

Successful interviews do not come about by chance and  pre interview preparation is a vital cornerstone to winning that job.

Organisations regularly find that pre-interview, candidate are not preparing adequately, even with regard to basic company knowledge.  It is rarely enough to know just a little about a company you are meeting – and it always improves a candidate chances to be fully briefed.

This means knowing about the company in depth – its current products and market moves,  product launches envisaged or currently happening, rival products and marketing plans ( if possible), company history, culture, overall market trends, internal issues, company ethos etc.  Internet research is rarely sufficient – you have to engage with the company’s customers and seek the advice of current employees. 

On the day, pre interview, if you are feeling nervous ( not always a bad thing ) , breathe deeply, try to relax, and perhaps briefly try to think about something besides interviews and work. Something calming and relaxing – a happy thought, if you like.

In terms of personal preparation, the competency or situational interview has now become by far the most popular approach with clients, and has been for many years.  It can be an overused approach but if you wish to impress , there is no alternative to real self analysis and appraisal of your performance in your present job and the past.   Put simply, this means trying to analyse what competencies are need for the job, and what previous behaviours you have demonstrated that make you a suitable match to those competencies. 

There are plenty of examples of situational/competency based interview techniques available on the internet and in interview guide books. Read them, and see how you would answer those types of questions in the heat of an interview situation.   Questions starting with  “ Tell me about a time that you….” are now extremely common in  interviews.   As such, well thought out, relevant  answers ,  which that show that your past behaviour in your work matches the competencies your potential employer needs, will score big points for you.

Examples?  

“ Tell me about a time when your patience rewarded you in your current position” . 

“Demonstrate a time when your technical ability impressed a buyer and resulted in a successful sale” .  

“ Tell me about a time when your relationship building skills secured a new account for your company”

Prepare a checklist of items you feel you need to get across at interview.   Perhaps a “Rep of the Year” award, a successful product launch, a customer you won over, or any aspect of your performance that will impress. Don’t forget about aspects of your life outside of work – companies employ people, not just workers.

At the interview, don’t forget the basics. Arrive a little before the allotted time. Be well presented, offer a firm handshake, eye contact with interviewer(s), smile, and maintain positive body language.

Some interviewers make up their minds on candidates within 5-10 minutes of the interview start. Whilst this is an incorrect approach, use it to your advantage and score well in the early stages of the meeting. 

Try not to concern yourself about nervousness.  A little helps focus the mind.  Once you have engaged, nervousness tends to dissipate as you focus on impressing.

Answer clearly, and try to actively give examples, without the interviewer having to drag information from you.

Don’t be negative towards current or past employers – it rarely impresses, even when true!

Have some salient questions ready in advance, and don’t be afraid to clarify issues that are important to you during the meeting.

Finally, look to end the meeting positively. Thank the interviewers for their time and express your firm interest in the role.

Should you like to discuss your interview performance and improvements, please contact one of our experienced consultants at Recruitment Plus on 01 2788610 and we will always be happy to advise further.