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PAGE TABLE OF CONTENT :

Prepare for an interview
10 most frequent questions
Example of reference letter.

Prepare for an Interview

Types of interview:

Telephone
Video : through Skype, FaceTime or YouTube
One-to-one : face-to-face encounter with one interviewer. You could also be interviewed by different people at different times.
Panel : two or more people - often from different parts of the organisation - will be assessing you at the same time.
Group : Multiple candidates are interviewed together and are asked questions in turn, or discuss certain topics.
Assessment centres : tasks including presentations, written tests, and group, role-play and in-tray exercises, used to assess a candidate's performances, and last between one and three days. You'll appear alongside several other candidates.

Before the interview : research and planning. Generally, you should do the following when preparing for interview:

Anticipate potential questions and prepare answers accordingly.
Consider how you'll explain all aspects of your CV.
Contact your references, alerting them that you'll be interviewed and that they may receive a call.
Fully understand the role that you're applying for by revisiting the job description, identifying what skills, interests and experiences the employer is looking for.
Prepare questions to ask the interviewer.
Read the organisation's website, social media profiles and key literature (e.g. business plan, financial reports and corporate social responsibility strategy), ensuring that you're prepared to share your views and ideas.
Research the news, trends, competitors, history and opportunities of the organisation and its job sector.
Review your CV and application form.

How to make a good impression :

answer questions clearly and concisely;
ask relevant questions;
avoid talking about personal problems;
be enthusiastic;
be well-mannered with any staff that you meet before the interview;
display positive body language, speaking clearly, smiling frequently and retaining eye contact;
don't badmouth any previous employers;
give a firm handshake to your interviewer(s) before and after;
highlight your best attributes, experiences and achievements, based around the skills that you've identified as
important to the organisation, and evidencing them with practical examples;
inform your interviewer(s) that you're available to answer any follow-up questions;
let your personality shine;
relax and sit naturally, but without slouching in your chair or leaning on the desk;
show your hands, as this is a sign of honesty;
wear smart business attire with comfortable, polished shoes.

Tips for controlling your nerves :

be aware of the fact that they often begin with easier questions such as 'tell us about your time at university';
exerce before your interview;
think about positive and happy experiences before the interview starts,
visualise yourself in complete control during the interview.
record yourself in a mock interview, playing it back to check how you did.
prepare examples of how your achievements can apply to the organisation.

More information and preparation :

https://www.prospects.ac.uk/careers-advice/interview-tips/how-to-prepare-for-an-interview

10 MOST FREQUENT QUESTIONS :

1. Can you tell me a little about yourself?

This question seems simple, so many people fail to prepare for it, but it's crucial. Here's the deal: Don't give your complete employment (or personal) history. Instead give a pitch—one that’s concise and compelling and that shows exactly why you’re the right fit for the job. Start off with the 2-3 specific accomplishments or experiences that you most want the interviewer to know about, then wrap up talking about how that prior experience has positioned you for this specific role.

2. What do you know about the company?

Any candidate can read and regurgitate the company’s “About” page. So, when interviewers ask this, they aren't necessarily trying to gauge whether you understand the mission—they want to know whether you care about it. Start with one line that shows you understand the company's goals, using a couple key words and phrases from the website, but then go on to make it personal. Say, “I’m personally drawn to this mission because…” or “I really believe in this approach because…” and share a personal example or two.

3. Why do you want this job?

Again, companies want to hire people who are passionate about the job, so you should have a great answer about why you want the position. (And if you don't? You probably should apply elsewhere.) First, identify a couple of key factors that make the role a great fit for you (e.g., “I love customer support because I love the constant human interaction and the satisfaction that comes from helping someone solve a problem"), then share why you love the company (e.g., “I’ve always been passionate about education, and I think you guys are doing great things, so I want to be a part of it”).

4. What are your greatest professional strengths?

When answering this question, interview coach Pamela Skillings recommends being accurate (share your true strengths, not those you think the interviewer wants to hear); relevant (choose your strengths that are most targeted to this particular position); and specific (for example, instead of “people skills,” choose “persuasive communication” or “relationship building”). Then, follow up with an example of how you've demonstrated these traits in a professional setting.

5. What do you consider to be your weaknesses?

What your interviewer is really trying to do with this question—beyond identifying any major red flags—is to gauge your self-awareness and honesty. So, “I can't meet a deadline to save my life” is not an option—but neither is “Nothing! I'm perfect!” Strike a balance by thinking of something that you struggle with but that you’re working to improve. For example, maybe you’ve never been strong at public speaking, but you've recently volunteered to run meetings to help you be more comfortable when addressing a crowd.

6. What is your greatest professional achievement?

Nothing says “hire me” better than a track record of achieving amazing results in past jobs, so don't be shy when answering this interview question! A great way to do so is by using the S-T-A-R method: Set up the situation and the task that you were required to complete to provide the interviewer with background context (e.g., “In my last job as a junior analyst, it was my role to manage the invoicing process”), but spend the bulk of your time describing what you actually did (the action) and what you achieved (the result). For example, “In one month, I streamlined the process, which saved my group 10 man-hours each month and reduced errors on invoices by 25%.”

7. What's your dream job?

Along similar lines, the interviewer wants to uncover whether this position is really in line with your ultimate career goals. While “an NBA star” might get you a few laughs, a better bet is to talk about your goals and ambitions—and why this job will get you closer to them.

8. What type of work environment do you prefer?

Hint: Ideally one that's similar to the environment of the company you're applying to. Be specific.

9. How do you deal with pressure or stressful situations?

"Choose an answer that shows that you can meet a stressful situation head-on in a productive, positive manner and let nothing stop you from accomplishing your goals," says McKee. A great approach is to talk through your go-to stress-reduction tactics (making the world's greatest to-do list, stopping to take 10 deep breaths), and then share an example of a stressful situation you navigated with ease.

10. Do you have any questions for us?

You probably already know that an interview isn't just a chance for a hiring manager to grill you—it's your opportunity to sniff out whether a job is the right fit for you. What do you want to know about the position? The company? The department? The team?

You'll cover a lot of this in the actual interview, so have a few less-common questions ready to go. We especially like questions targeted to the interviewer (“What's your favorite part about working here?") or the company's growth (“What can you tell me about your new products or plans for growth?")

Example of reference letter :

To whom it may concern

I have known ............ since ............ when he applied for a full time position at my company in ............... He worked with us for ........ months as .............. and programme coordinator assistant, and we worked together on our ..................

It was a pleasure to work with ....... and his work and contribution have been of great benefit to us and our customers.

.......... is a very reliable and pleasant person who has always been motivated, opened to new initiatives and ........., perfectionist, organised, respectful, and flexible with all students and everyone here, as a ............

He contributed to improve our organisation and methods, and had strong relationships with everybody throughout his time here. ..........was always very punctual and his attendance was exemplary.

I have looked over the job / internship description, and I would highly recommend .......... for this role. I think he will manage to undertake the duties associated with the role and be highly committed.

Please do not hesitate to return to me with any further questions you might have.

Date

To whom it may concern

I confirm that I have known (name) for (number) years.

(State relationship – social, business, working together in some other capacity, club, activity, project, etc.)

At all times I have found (name/him/her) to be (state characteristics – eg, dependable, reliable, hard-working, conscientious, honest, peace-loving, courteous, etc – to be as helpful as possible think about what the reader will most prefer to see, in terms of satisfying concerns, or seeing evidence of relevant required skills or characteristics).

I’m happy to provide further information if required. (optional)

Yours faithfully, etc.