Career Centre
Interviews
Before the Interview - Preparation is everything!You should find out as much as you can prior the interview for example; about the job (read the job description again), the company (read their website), its products or services. Make sure you recheck your CV so that you are clear during your interview on what you can offer.
Presentation - First Impressions really do count!- You should arrive for your interview around 10 minutes early.
- Try to dress appropriately for the job for which you are applying.
- Make sure you have had something to eat before the interview
- Make sure that you are professional to everyone that you meet once you get to the interview as their feedback could go back to your interviewer.
- Whilst you are waiting to be called into your interview take a good look around the reception area or shop floor.
Listen to what the interviewer is saying, if you do not understand a question then ask them to repeat it. You might get questions such as;
- Your strengths, weaknesses, success and failures.
- Your knowledge of the industry such as competitors etc.
- Your past history, going through your CV, your choices, why you made them, your responsibilities and what you learnt from your experiences.
Once the interview is coming to an end make sure you have at least one question that you can ask. It is also recommended that you ask what the next stage of the process is before you leave.
Store Visits
It is vital that before you have the interview that you go and visit a store, irrespective of the role that you are going for, Retail Management or a Head Office role. It is also recommended that you visit competitor stores as well; this is often referred to as a comp shop.
Below are a few points that you should consider when doing a store visit;
- First impressions like customer service, atmosphere and cleanliness.
- Layout of the merchandise, quality and overall standard
- Who are the customers that shop there?
- What are the unique selling points of the store?
Assessment Centres
Assessment Centre usually last full days or on some occasions half a day. The assessment itself will consist of varies exercises from a structured interview, group exercise and psychometric testing. Some of the most common exercises are listed below for you;
Presentations: - If you are given a time limit then it is very important to stick to this. You should rehearse your presentation beforehand, it is best to try and present it in front of a friend/partner as their feedback could be vital.
Group Discussion Exercise: - The most typical ones are that you will be given a problem that you have to solve. It could start off on your own and then through a discussion as a group or you could be given a list of items that you have to rank in order of importance.
In try Exercises:- These are usually a package of business related memos and paperwork that you are asked to prioritise.
Leadership Exercises:- This will be an exercise where you will have to lead the group and organize them within a specific task.
Competency Based Interviews
Most employers have a set list of competency questions they will stick to as they define the skills and abilities that lead to outstanding job performance. The interview is usually a structured interview which assesses candidates against those competencies defined within the competency model for a job. During the interview you will be asked to draw upon experiences from a past employment and describe actual situations when you have demonstrated those behaviors relevant to the job.
The best way to prepare yourself for a competency interview is by trying to answer the questions in line with the CAR questioning technique:
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