The job interview
Have you been invited for an interview? Prepare yourself well: you have only once chance of making a first impression!
Gather information
Look at the website and read annual reports and news articles, so that
you know what services or products they offer and what the latest
developments are. Also look at the LinkedIn profile of the person
conducting the interview.
Draw up a list of questions
Some questions come up in every job interview. For example:
- Why do you want to work for this company?
- Why do you want this job?
- What are your strengths and weaknesses?
- Why should we give you the job?
Also make a list of the questions you have about the position and the vacancy. Examples include:
- How would you describe the atmosphere at the company?
- What is the composition of the team?
- What are the opportunities for promotion?
Put these questions on paper and take them with you, so that you are well prepared for the interview.
Explain your competencies and skills
Many recruiters in the Netherlands use behavioral interview techniques
during application procedures, known as the STAR-T method. This means
that you can explain in detail what skills and competencies you possess
on the basis of an example.
Documents to take to the interview
- Your questions about the job and the company
- The text of the job advertisement
- Your CV
- A pen and writing pad
- The company’s telephone number (in case you get held up by traffic or public transport).
A job interview is a dialogue
A job interview is not just an opportunity for the future employer to
decide if you are the best candidate for the job, but also gives you a
chance to determine whether the job and organization are right for you.
Therefore you should ask the questions that matter to you during the
interview.
Non-verbal communication is decisive
Research has shown that applicants’ non-verbal communication during job interviews is decisive in the decision to hire an applicant. For more information on this subject, click here.
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