Contact us: info@kinetic.
ae
www.kinetic.ae
SUCCEED AT INTERVIEW
A Guide for Candidates
Introduction
Mabrouk!
You have been selected for interview because you have impressed the employer with
your skills and you have the relevant experience and skills for the vacancy. This is your
chance to stand out and demonstrate that you are the best applicant for the job.
Research
This is an important part of the preparation process. You must make sure you have
done sufficient research into four key areas:
The Company – the interviewer will ask what you know about the company and
why you want to work there, so make sure you have done as much research as
possible
The Role – make sure you understand the role that you are going for so you
can demonstrate that you have the relevant skills for the role.
The Interview – what format will this take? Any Testing? Likely areas of
questioning? Who will be interviewing you?
The interviewer – Who is interviewing you. Do you know who they are, what
they do and their position in the company? This will help prepare you for the
interview in which you are about to take. (Have a look at their profile on
LinkedIn)
Interview Questions
The best way to prepare for an interview is to practice answering potential interview
questions
Talk me through your previous experience?
o Know your CV.
o Be able to explain any gaps
What skills have you gained from previous roles?
o What are your key Skills
o How can those skills complement the job role you are applying for?
What did you learn/take away from your last position?
o Always speak positively about your previous roles/experience
o Always hi-light achievements
For more information on this candidate, please call Kinetic on +971 4 4420921
Contact us: [email protected]
www.kinetic.ae
Why are you looking to leave your current role?
o Be sure about your reasons
Professional development
New challenge
Personal reasons
Again – always be positive
What are you looking for in your next job?
o Try to reflect your answer around the role in which you are applying
specifically
o Never talk about money, always the specific role you are interviewing for
o Companies love it when you talk about their brand and what their
company can offer candidates.
o Talk about professional development, increasing learning experiences,
new challenges, product exposure, therapeutical/product areas &
geographical coverage.
What type of career are you looking for?
o What kind of career is on offer with the company and match your
aspirations accordingly.
o Do not tell them you want to move from the job on offer within 6
months. They are looking for someone to step into the role for at least 2
years so ease their concern regardless of what lies ahead
Example: “I am looking for a long term career with your
organisation. My short term goal is to secure the job role currently
available, learn as quickly as possible so I am adding value to the
organisation and exceeding my targets consistently. As I develop
fully within my role, should a suitable opportunity to grow and
develop into a higher position within the company become
available in several years or is at a good time for the company
then perhaps along with my line manager discuss such opening.”
Where can you see yourself in 5 years’ time?
o Be realistic but again commit yourself to the role you are applying and
perhaps use the example above to tailor your answer accordingly.
What do you know about the position in our company?
o Read the job description back to front
o Know exactly what the job description requires
o Match the skills required for the role with your own skill set – use real life
examples
o Always pitch yourself at the level of role not higher level positions –
remember they are interviewing you for this specific role so show your
commitment for the role you are interviewing for.
For more information on this candidate, please call Kinetic on +971 4 4420921
Contact us: [email protected]
www.kinetic.ae
What do you know about our company (make sure you have looked on
the website)?
o Absolutely vital. Who are the company, what do they do?
o Press feeds – what is going on with the company globally vs locally.
Example: mergers, acquisitions, new product launches etc.
o Educate yourself. Knowledge is Power!
Why are you interested in this role?
o Be sure about your level of interest.
o Show interest in the company, brand, reputation, geographical coverage,
product areas and of course the job description itself.
o Be enthusiastic and passionate about your interest.
o Use real life examples to demonstrate you are the person they want to
hire.
Why do you want to work for our organisation?
o Great opportunity to impress the interviewer.
o Know why you want to work for the company.
o Never mention salary
o Brand, reputation, product areas, therapeutical areas, successful team,
culture.
o Be enthusiastic and passionate.
How does your previous experience relate to this position?
o Be concise and be able to use real life examples to summarise your own
working experience with the specific requirements of the job for which
you are applying
o Summarise skills, achievements and previous job responsibilities.
o Always link previous roles with current in which you are applying.
Why do you think you would be suitable for this position? Why should
we pick you?
o Summarise skills and experience successfully.
o Use your personal skills to show not only do you have all the technical
expertise but also you have the personal competencies to complement
the organisation culture.
o Again an opportunity to impress your interviewer to convince them you
are the right person for the job.
o Re-iterate interest in specific role, company, brand and team. Show your
energy for adding value quickly and that you are only have long term
interests in the role/organisation.
Where have you used these skills before?
o Impress the interviewer.
o Know the skills they require by researching the job description and be
prepared for this question.
o Match relevant skills with your own skill set – Use examples.
For more information on this candidate, please call Kinetic on +971 4 4420921
Contact us: [email protected]
www.kinetic.ae
Could you give me real examples in your previous jobs of where you:
o Worked to deadlines – Prepare 2 successful examples
o Worked under pressure – Prepare 2 successful examples
o Good Customer Service – Prepare 2 successful examples
o Problem Solving – Prepare 2 successful examples
o Decision Making – Prepare 2 successful examples
o Implementing a process – Prepare successful example
o Leadership – Prepare an example of how you have led successfully
What are your strengths? (Back up your example with an example) and
weaknesses?
o Strengths – A great opportunity to sell yourself to your interviewer. Be
sure about your key strengths
o Weaknesses – Identify a weakness you can turn into a strength.
Here is an example, but please use your own:
“Sometimes I ask a lot of questions when I start a new assignment
which could be seen as annoying however it is only because I’m
interested and passionate so want to get things right. Once I have the
answer, I do not need to ask the question again.”
This tells the interviewer a lot about yourself in a positive way.
What computer skills do you have?
o How have you added value to other organisations/roles by utilising your
computers skills
o Processes or systems implemented successfully – use examples
o Be concise and know your skills.
o Who are their distributors, what is the region and where are their head
offices?
How would one of your friends/employer’s describe you?
o Excellent question but be honest and draw on all the positive and
professional things your friends and manager would say about you.
o This is a typical HR question and this should be prepared beforehand. Do
not sit thinking about the answer.
o Think – what would I want to hear if I was asking this question?
Example: friendly, professional, successful, honest, loyal,
dependable, high integrity, Ethical, intelligent, Results driven, high
achiever, team player, good listener, Good leader.
How do you cope in an environment with lots of different nationalities?
o The chances of working in an environment where there are lots of
nationalities in the Middle East is high so demonstrate that you are used
to working in a multi-cultural environment and give an example of
cultural awareness.
For more information on this candidate, please call Kinetic on +971 4 4420921
Contact us: [email protected]
www.kinetic.ae
How do you deal with the communication barriers when dealing with
people from different nationalities?
o Good opportunity to demonstrate your openness, flexibility, patience, and
willingness to help where required, training staff members etc.
Always ask questions at the end of the interview.
What obstacles might I encounter?
Can you describe your ideal candidates to me?
What plans does the company have for expansion within Dubai or regionally?
When are you looking for someone to start?
How many people are in the teams?
Do you offer training?
Important Question to ask at the end of the interview?
“At this point, do you have any concerns in my ability to perform in this role
successfully?”
Allows you to get instant feedback from the hiring manager
Allows you to get another opportunity to demonstrate effective competence if
the interviewer has any concerns (Remember, if you don’t do this, this will be the
feedback given to the recruiter and so allows the client to focus purely on the
positive aspects of the feedback)
Allows you one last opportunity to sell yourself to the company and interviewer
and make that lasting impression as “the right candidate”
Presentation
It is important to make a good first impression so ensure that you wear a suit and are
smartly presented (Clean shaven, ironed shirt, polished shoes). Also be aware of your
body language: firm handshake with the interviewer and make eye contact.
End of the interview
It is important to close the interview on a positive note – re-iterate your interest in the
role, ask when you will find out if you have been successful.
Remember: To be positive and be yourself in the interview. You are given on average 1
hour to shine, use this time well and do your best.
Good luck!
For more information on this candidate, please call Kinetic on +971 4 4420921
