Neworld, Great relationships build great brands

So you’ve got the interview – fantastic! Now the panic sets in – what will they ask me and how do I answer them to show off me as my best self. I have put together six most likely questions you will be asked but more importantly I am giving you the answers to help you stand out from the crowd.

1. Tell Me About Yourself

This may seem like a simple enough question but it holds hidden depth. The biggest mistake candidates make is to go on and on about their life story, all we want to know are a few things relevant to the job you are applying for. The best way to answer this question is to talk about your education, your experience and work history – be mindful to talk about details that relate to the role in some form. Keep it short and sweet 2-3 minutes should do it.

2. Why Should We Hire You?

This question is quite daunting but don’t panic break it down in to 3 parts and you will not only get through it, but will impress at the same time.

• First of all state that you believe you meet all the requirement of the role.
• Go through the skills needed for the job and provide examples of how you displayed each of them in a previous role.
• Show that you are a proactive person who can see problems before they happen and come up with solutions – talk about an example here too.

As an employer we are always looking for people who can make things happen on their own initiative and if you can show you have this, you are sure to be on the shortlist.

3. Why Do You Want to Work For Us?

This is a test question to see if you have done your homework. Always do your research on the Company before interview, know their services, the brands they have worked on, try and get an understanding on their work culture. As I have said before at Neworld we look for people who can “fit” into our Company culture and who can hopefully add to it. A good answer would be “Your Company is known for its innovation and I would love to be part of the creative thinking process here.”

4. Name One of Your Strengths and One of Your Weaknesses?

When answering this one think about the role and match your one strength to the job itself, identify an instance where you used this strength to the best outcome. Please do not make the mistake that this is an opportunity for you to say how great you are – it is about what you can specifically bring to this job.

When talking about your one weakness be careful you don’t rule yourself out for the role. Pick a weakness either from your education or your work history and mention that you know you can improve on this and give an example of steps you are taking to improve on this weakness. We are always looking for people who want to improve themselves and become the best that they can be.

5. Why Did You Leave Your Previous Position?

This can tell a lot, so be careful not to criticise or moan about your previous employer, we live in a small community, so chances are your new employer knows your old employer! The simplest answer to give is that “you are ambitious and career focused and you felt there was no progression for you in your last job.” Every employer loves to hear that a candidate is career focused.

6. What Are Your Salary Expectations?

This is a definite question you will be asked, so do not get tongue-tied, do your research and find out the average salary for someone with your experience and skill level in the industry. If you are pushed for a number say – “I would be looking for a starting salary between €______ and €_______”. If pushed be ready to back this up with the reasons why you are worth this salary.

Finally, an interview will always end with the employer asking you – “so do you have any questions you would like to ask us?” This is probably the most important question of all and could be the make or break depending on the answer you give. NEVER, NEVER say “No”.

To find out the answer to this question, tune into my blog next month when I will outline top tips on clever well thought out questions you should ask your potential employer.

DEIRDRE O’SULLIVAN, H.R. MANAGER

Dee has been part of the Neworld family for nearly 25 years, having worked in many roles in the company she has been our HR Manager for the past 10 years and this is her favourite role so far. Dee believes our “USP” is our wonderful talented staff and it is her job to keep them happy. Our ethos is “great relationships build great brands” and we strive to have great relationships with all members of our staff and this comes across to our clients.