Corporate Staffing Recruitment Manager Answers Frequently Asked Questions About Interviews

As a job seeker you probably have a lot of questions concerning interviews and how to ensure you ace them. What should I wear? What should I carry? And so on.
I sat down with Ms Muthoni Ndegwa, a recruitment manager at Corporate Staffing Services just to have her shed light on some of the concerns that candidates (including you) have about interview.
In this article, take a look at the most common questions you might have about interviews answered by a recruitment manager.
1. What Should I Bring?
When attending an interview you need to carry at least three copies of your CV plus a few of your work samples if you have them. Basically it is important for you to have a portfolio of your best work to carry to your interviews.
Having physical proof that you can do the job will go a long way in improving your chances of getting the job.
2. What Do I Do if I Know I’m Going to Be Late?
No matter how well you prepare, sometimes things can go wrong and there is nothing you can do about it. So if something happens and you are going to be late for the interview, it is very important that you call the interviewer to let them know.
When calling the interviewer, be sure to apologize for the inconvenience and give the time you expect to be there. This will ensure that they can make time for you when you actually arrive and it also shows that you are not irresponsible.
Being late is already bad enough, but it is worse to not inform the employer that you will be late.
3. What Should I Do if I’m Sick? Can I Cancel?
You don’t know when you will get sick and neither does the interviewer, therefore, if you fall ill and cannot attend the interview on the specified date and time, you can always call the employer and explain to them the situation.
Most interviewers will be understanding and will be willing to reschedule if it can be done so don’t be afraid to let them know. You just have to ensure that you do so in a timely manner, don’t wait until the last minute.
4. How Professional Versus Friendly Should I Be?
Obviously you have to show the employer that you are a professional and you can be serious, however, it’s okay to laugh and enjoy the conversation.
No interviewer will recommend someone who has no personality or is too stiff no matter how good they are.
This is because the employer is not only looking for someone to fill the position but they need someone who can get along with everyone else in the company.
You can always go with the flow of what the interviewer s doing, for example, if they are stiff and don’t laugh; then you can behave the same and if they are smiling and laughing, then you should do the same.
5. How Should I Talk About the Job I’m Leaving?
One rule to remember is that no matter how terrible your previous job or boss is, you should never mention this to the interviewer.
“Why are you leaving? Or Why did you leave?” is a question that will come up during the interview, so instead of bad mouthing your boss or colleagues, try and show that your reasons have more to do with advancing your career.
6. Do I Have to Tell an Employer I Was Fired?
If the “why did you leave” question doesn’t come up and you are not directly asked about getting fired, then there is no point in bringing it up.
If you are asked, then it’s important to be honest. Keep your answer simple and focus on how it has added value to your life and work in terms of what you have learnt.
In Conclusion,
You don’t want to miss out on a job opportunity because you did not perform well during the interview. Use the tips above to help you prepare for the next interview and ensure you go through the most common interview questions and how to answer them.
You can also take a one on one interview coaching session in order to improve your interview skills and ace your next interview.