Follow these basic interview tips, and you will be well on your way to attaining that dream job. 

• BE YOURSELF!
• Smile and maintain eye contact with the interviewer/s.
• Sit still.  Don't lean on the Interviewer's desk.
• Don't smoke unless you are invited to.
• Do use the interviewer's name, but not first name unless invited to do so.
• Avoid using swear words and slang expressions.
• Answer questions honestly and concisely. Don't ramble and don't attempt to take command of the job interview. If you don't know the answer to a question, say so.
• Don’t criticize or be rude about your past employers, gossip about them or give out confidential information. It is unethical, and shows you cannot be trusted.
• If you don't agree with something, say so politely - and say why. You have a mind of your own, so don't be afraid. On the other hand, rudeness and aggression are not admired and may destroy your prospects.
• Do not discuss your personal, domestic or financial problems in an interview.
• Leave questions about salary and job benefits until the end of the interview.
• Do not discuss an expected salary different from the one discussed with the Sage Pastel People Placements Consultant.  Negotiations will be handled by the consultant.
• At the end of the interview, thank the interviewer for his / her time and interest.
• Soon after the interview, review your performance and make some notes. Interview notes will be a valuable guide in preparation for future interviews.

Some Typical interview Questions

There are some typical interview questions that are generally asked – bear them in mind and prepare some answers before the job interview.

• Why are you applying for this position?
• What are your goals?
• What do you expect to be doing in 10 years from now?
• Do you think that your education prepared you well for this job?
• What can you offer this company?
• What types of people do you like working with?
• Do you like working on your own?
• Tell us about yourself?
• What does success mean to you?
• How did you hear about this job?
• What do you do in your spare time?
• If you were hiring a graduate for this job, what qualities would you look for?
• What do you expect to be earning in five years?
• What is more important to you, the money or the type of job?
• What do you consider to be your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
• Describe the relationship that should exist between a supervisor and those reporting to him / her?
• What two or three things are most important to you in your job?
• Are you willing to travel?
• How do you work / cope under pressure?
• What university subjects did you like most / least, and why?
• What do you know about our company?
• Do you think that your results are a good indication of your academic achievement?
• Do you have plans for further studies?
• What have you learned from participating in extracurricular activities?
• How would you describe your ideal job?
• What major problem have you encountered and how did you deal with it?
• How do you feel about change?
• What have you done by way of self-development over the past few years?

Questions to Ask Employers

These are some of the questions that you may like to ask employers:

• What are the opportunities for personal career growth?
• What are your expectations for new members of staff?
• How is an employee evaluated and promoted?
• Describe the work environment?
• How can you utilise my skills?
• What is the overall structure of the department where the position is located?
• When can I expect to be told whether or not I have been successful in securing the position?
• Remember to keep your list of questions short. Try not to sound like you are interviewing the employer!

What Employers Want

Usually interviewers assess prospective employees along the following lines:

• Capability and suitability for the job
• Social skills
• Initiative and energy
• Motivation
• General interest in the job
• Stability and level of maturity
• Self reliance / independence
• Leadership qualities

Do bear in mind that being invited to an interview does not guarantee you a job. The more interviews you attend, the greater the chance that you will get the job. Look at all the interviews you attend as a learning process in preparation for the career of your life! GOOD LUCK!

Cancellation of Interviews with Sage Pastel People Placements

We feel it important to stress the fact that we regard the relationship with our clients as very sensitive. We have previously experienced the embarrassing situation of candidates not arriving for interviews without notice.  It thus goes without saying that such a situation can cause damage to any Recruitment Company.  We request a 24 hour notification of cancellation telephonically.  E-mailed cancellations will not be accepted.

Need to Brush up on Sage Pastel Accounting skills?

If you desire a position in the Accounting field and might not have experience on any of the Sage Pastel products or if you are a bit rusty, you can book to attend one of your tailored Sage Pastel Accounting training courses.

Click here to book your training.

Need to Brush up on Sage Pastel Payroll & HR skills?

If you desire a position in the Payroll field and might not have experience on any of the Payroll & HR products or if you are a bit rusty, you can book to attend one of your tailored Sage Pastel Payroll & HR training courses.

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