Jose Cofone, a senior account manager in the leisure travel division at recruitment agency New Frontiers, will be writing regular comments for ttglive.com. His other columns appear in the "related articles" column on the right

Last weeks article covered the topic of preparing your CV to secure that elusive interview. This week is all about the interview, discussing hints and tips to ensure it passes smoothly. Class be seated.

I mentioned last week that when applying for a new job, it is imperative that your CV is tailored to the role by fully researching the company and vacancy. This research is doubly important when preparing for an interview.

Visiting the company’s website should give you a clear understanding of the company background and it’s products and help you answer questions such as “what can you bring to this role? Why do you want to work here?” etc. If you are not clear on the company and the products it provides, how can you convince the interviewer that it is the right position for you?

Other aspects of research include finding out in advance exactly where the interview is, and how to get there. Double-check the address and directions including times of bus, underground or rail connections. We once had a candidate who was attending an interview in Central London to whom we provided full directions. Unfortunately he turned right instead of left out of the underground station and proceeded into the heart of London’s West End. He got so lost that he arrived over 2 hours late to the interview. We ended up having to ask the client to send out a search party to find him. After all of this they offered him the job partly due to his perseverance. 

Once you have arrived at the interview, be prepared to answer questions about everything on your CV - education, work history, hobbies etc. A good interview will be more of a chat than an interrogation. Think about the following questions, they usually come up.

Why do you want this position, or why do you want to work for this company?
What motivates you? What are your strengths and weaknesses?
What are your short term and long term goals?
What has been your greatest achievement to date and your greatest regret?
Do you have any questions? (Always make sure you can ask at least one!) 

Points to remember include:

Listen carefully to the questions. If you haven't understood the question properly, ask the interviewer for clarification. 

Be positive. Never run down past employers or colleagues. Stress your strengths and successes and don't dwell on any failures you may have had. 

Remember the interview is a two-way process. You are there to demonstrate your ability not only to speak out but also to listen. 

At the end of the interview, if you are genuinely interested in the position, say so.

Examples of Tough Interview Questions

Why do you want to work here?
To answer this question, you must have researched the company and be clear on their job requirements. Explain how your skills and experiences will fit the company’s needs and that you wish to join the right company to build a long term career. 

What is the most difficult situation you have faced? 
You must have a story ready for this one in which the situation was tough and allowed you to show yourself in a good light, e.g. a customer who came in to make a complaint and ended up becoming your best customer.

What can you do for us that someone else cannot do?
This question will come only after a full explanation of the job has been given. Think about your unique selling points that match the company needs, i.e. a Latin America operator would be very interested to hear that you have travelled extensively throughout the region and speak fluent Spanish and Portuguese.

Tell me about yourself
This is a good chance to impress an employer. The employer is really interested in how you would fit into the company, so keep your answers as pertinent to the company and its work as possible.

Where do you see yourself in five years time?
Never say “in your job”. Funny is not hired. It would be better to say that you would like to make a career within the company and would be open to any future possibilities.

What is your current salary and how much are you expecting?
You could try putting the onus on the interviewer to make the first suggestion by asking how much they are prepared to pay the best candidate. You then have a negotiating point. In this climate, you should also say that you are prepared to consider their best offer! Some people are considering taking lower salaries for the time being.

There are many possible scenarios that may arise in an interview and the only way to deal with them all is to do your homework on the vacancy and the company.

For more interview hints and tip visit www.newfrontiers.co.uk/travel/career-advice 

The most important thing to remember for any interview is to be yourself. 70% of companies employ the person that they like the best so let your personality shine.

Next week I will be looking at stress in the workplace.