Development Library - Pharmacy jobs, Interview Techniques

Pharmacy jobs interview techniques

Introduction

Consider the interview as an opportunity for both you and your employer to assess each others' suitability. Never lose sight of the fact that you are on show throughout, and it's your "performance" that is the deciding factor in whether your application will go any further.

As any interview is an interactive process there are no fixed routes to success. Nonetheless, in over 9 years in the recruitment business we have received extensive post-interview feedback from candidates and clients alike, and the following are some measures that can be taken beforehand that might possibly give you just that edge over other prospective candidates. If you think that you could use a little advice with preparing for your interview then you might like to review some of our suggestions.

Preparation

It's worthwhile remembering that you can never know too much so take the time to thoroughly research your prospective employer (use the Internet, colleague's advice, corporate press releases, local libraries). If you feel it is appropriate, call the company's HR department and ask them to send you the annual report and relevant corporate brochures. Alternatively, ETI Recruitment are more than willing to source such material on your behalf.

Before going to the interview make sure that you read the job description thoroughly, try to assess what your prospective employer is really looking for.

On the Day

• Arrive on time - even better, get there early so you have some time to compose yourself and get a general feel for the office environment.
• Dress in a formal, businesslike manner - it is always better to overdress than underdress.
• If you have a mobile phone - make sure it is turned OFF!
• Take along a printed copy of your CV.

Successful execution

To improve your chance of success try to understand the interviewer's expectations and what they specifically want to get out of the interview. If you are unsure, ask them to outline how they would like to conduct the interview.

Be attentive, listen carefully to all questions, and think your responses through thoroughly before answering. Almost as important, be sure to answer the question that has been asked. If, for any reason you do not understand a question, ask the interviewer to either rephrase it or possibly cite an example.

Try to answer all questions accurately, concisely and coherently, making sure everything that you say is relevant. Difficult though it may be, try to be as sensitive as possible to any feedback provided by the interviewer, for example, observe their tone and body language to detect if you are talking too much.

Be positive both about your previous experience and the job in question and NEVER argue with the interviewer. Avoid any negative references to present or previous employers. In short, what the interviewer wants to hear is that you are capable of carrying out the role so avoid answers such as 'I hope I can learn a lot here'. All the interviewer wants to know is that you are the right person for the job and that your contribution will be substantial and immediate; stressing relevant achievements and the required skills often helps in this regard.

Strange though it may sound, endeavour to enjoy the interview and, to a degree, to humour your prospective employer. A smile and a friendly approach helps, as 'People buy People First'. One word of warning though, however well you might get on with your interviewer, only use inappropriate language or humour with extreme caution.

Ultimately an interview is interactive so take the initiative to ask relevant questions and show your interest in the appointment. Prepare a few intelligent questions in advance as most interviews close with 'do you have any questions?'. In a first round interview avoid discussing rates/salary unless you are relatively confident you'll receive a job offer. It is generally a subject best left to your agency to discuss on your behalf. Finally, good luck!

Things to find out

• What skills and experience will you require?
• What tasks will the role consist of?
• What is the objective of the role?
• Who will you report to - what is their management style?
• How business critical is this project/role?
• Why has this position become available?
• How would the interviewer describe the team (if there is one)?
• What personal attributes does the interviewer look for in the people they recruit?
• How is the organisation structured?

Going to an interview? Successful execution – bare in mind the following

Tips for the interviewer

· As an interviewer be aware that a candidate may well be considering a number of other potential opportunities, so it is worthwhile making some effort to 'sell' your particular appointment to the interviewee.

· Try to be as precise as possible about what you are looking for in a candidate, the job description and any expectations you might have relating to that role.

· It is advisable to prepare your questions in advance. Questions should be precise and structured to enable both you and the candidate to find out more about each other. Avoid vague, evasive questions such as "What are your strengths and weaknesses?" as they tend to provoke an equally vague response.

· Avoid intimidation tactics, an applicant is not a guinea pig, so do not try to create an uncomfortable atmosphere to see how they would perform under stress. Focus on drawing out positive responses from the candidate relating to their competency, experience and suitability to the role.

· Never make promises or create expectations about a job, which you may not be able to honour in the future.

Definite Do nots, Obvious though they may seem, common interview mistakes are:

• Having no idea of what the potential employer's business is, nor the company's background.
• Showing a lack of interest in the interviewer, the company or the job/project in question. (Even if the role under consideration proves not to be of interest, the interviewer may influence other hirers who may consider an application from you in the future.)
• Displaying poor or negative body language during the interview.
• Arriving late for an interview.
• Not knowing who to ask for on arrival.
• Dressing inappropriately for the interview.
• Failing to emphasise the skills, knowledge or experience you have that meet the interviewer's needs.
• Leaving the interview before discussing any areas of concern or asking for further information.
• Leaving the interview without a clear understanding of the decision making process.

Interview Mastery

"Tell me about yourself" is the most common interview question and the first question interviewers ask to start the interview. This is one question you will certainly be asked. Plan and practice your response so you can use this question to your advantage. Knowing how to respond will help you influence the interview's direction in your favour.

Here is a three step response strategy;

First, provide a brief overview of your most relevant experience. The interviewer is not interested in a history lesson, but they are interested in your most recent experience that is relevant. The overview of your experience should be presented in reverse chronological order.

Second, highlight a few of your personal qualities like "results- focused", "persistence" and "detail oriented". Tell them that you can provide examples that demonstrate both your business talents and your personal qualities. This is one of the only times during the interview when you can highlight some of your personal qualities, so take advantage of it.

Third, ask a question to uncover this interviewer's hidden job requirements. This is called the "Target Question". "Tell me about yourself" this is a perfect opportunity for you for give an overview of your experience and then ask “The Target Question”.

Keep your response brief, between 60 and 90 seconds. Speaking longer will lose the interviewer's attention. If at any point, you feel you have been speaking too long, stop and ask the interviewer a question. For example, you might ask "Am I giving you enough or too much detail at this point?" Asking a question will solicit a response from the interviewer, re-engage their attention and help promote a two way conversation.

1. Interviewer Questions
Write down and practice your response to typical interview questions.
Typical interviewer questions include;
- “Tell me about yourself.”
- “What are your strengths and weaknesses?”
- “What are your salary requirements?”
- “Why did you leave your last position?”

Be sure you're ready to respond to these and other Frequently Asked Interview Questions. Each question is an opportunity. You need to know how to structure your answers. Having a template (or framework) helps you respond to any FAQs.

2. Your Questions
Interviewers are more impressed with your questions than any selling points you try to make. Create questions before each interview that you'll ask. When the interviewer asks if you have any questions just take out your list. Your questions should start with “What” or “How”. The following are examples of questions you can ask. Be as company and industry specific as possible when creating your own questions.
- What are the reasons driving the need for this position?
- What are the three top challenges that I'll face in this job?
- What are the key metrics for measuring success in this position?
- How do the position's responsibilities align with the department's goals?

3. Opening Questions
Ask one “opening“ question at the start of every interview.
Interviewing is like playing darts in the dark. The target is each interviewer's screening criteria. Each dart represents a dimension of your talents. To win this interviewing "dart game" you have to locate the target and decide which three “talent darts” to present. Asking the right questions at the start of the interview is the key. Examples of effective "opening" questions you'll ask include;
- “What are the key skills you feel are required for success in this position?”
- “What parts of my background are you most interested in learning about?”
- “What did you see in my resume that created your interest in my background?”

Response Strategy for Frequently Asked Interview Questions (FAiQ)

Each interview question presents an opportunity to present why you're the best person for the job. Your response should highlight your positive qualities and avoid presenting reasons to disqualify you. For each quality you present, describe a situation where you demonstrated that quality. Describe specific examples of your experience where you demonstrated the quality you are discussing. Basically you want to prove what you claimed about yourself.

For example, if you state that you “work well under pressure”, describe an example where you did work effectively under pressure and delivered the results required.

Don't play the interviewer's game with alternative or trick questions. Interviewers often ask trick questions like "Do you prefer to work alone or on a team?" In your response be like a politician. Politicians answer questions by presenting information they want to present and do not allow reports to trick them. The next time you watch a press conference notice the kind of questions reports ask and how the politician responds. Politicians often answer questions indirectly by presenting information they want to convey. You can use a similar response strategy.

For example, if the interviewer asks if you prefer to work alone or on a team, they are trying to get you to say you're one way or the other. Don't play this game. The reality is that most jobs require us to work independently and in teams. Your response to this question needs to show that you have been successful in both situations.

Before responding to any interviewer question, take your time, breath and think about your answer. Thoughtful answers delivered clearly are much better than answers given rapidly. The quality of your answer is not measured by the speed of your response.

Be honest and succinct with your responses. Tell the truth in a positive manner and don't discuss things or events in a negative fashion. Long answers are less effective than concise responses and tend to make interviewers suspicious. If you are talking more than 90 seconds without interaction with the interviewer you may be giving them more detail than they want. If you feel you've been talking too long, just stop and ask the interviewer a question like “Am I giving you the level of detail you're looking for?” This question prompts a response and promotes a conversation. Besides, if you're putting the interviewer asleep with your long answer asking a question will wake them up.

After your response, ask the interviewer a tag-on question to make sure you are understood accurately and promote two-way communications.

You deserve the best, so practice your responses to frequently asked interview questions (FAiQ) and prepare to be your best when it matters most.