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Good advice for the job interview

Good advice for the job interview

Get tips on how you handle the job interview so that you can convince the hiring committee that you are the perfect candidate for the job.

Get coaching before the job interview

Get individual coaching before your job interview. You can get assistance on how best to describe your skills in words, how to say why there are gaps in your CV etc.

Prepare before the interview

The recipe for the good job interview is: Preparation, preparation and more preparation. Therefore, before the interview you can practice how you would like to present yourself and how you will respond to the questions that you will typically be asked in a job interview.

The first thing you will be asked in a job interview is often: "Could you tell us a little about yourself?" Therefore, practice presenting yourself in no more than two minutes. You can say what particularly motivates you, which experience and skills you possess. You can describe how you have solved relevant core assignments in previous jobs, and how you will solve them in the new job. Be concrete, provide examples and only speak about what is relevant to the job you have applied for.

Consider which three things you would like the employer to remember about you after the job interview. Choose three of your most relevant skills and contributions for the job and present them. Remember to keep it short. You should not include all details, but say enough for you to get back to and elaborate on later.

Your reply must focus on what you can do for the company- and not what the company can do for you. So, you should avoid answers such as: "Because of your good working hours". Instead, think of the needs and identity of the company. Say for example: "Because you are a company known for always providing the best customer service. I really appreciate providing the customers with the best service. I do this by, for example..." You must show that you know both the company's values and services, and that you would fit in.

You have most likely already researched the company before you applied for the job. Before the job interview, you must refresh your knowledge since many employers explore your knowledge of the company. Check what the company writes about itself on social media and website. Which targets, values and visions does the company have? Which products or services does it offer? Who is the company targeted at? And who are the competitors? You can also check trends in the industry. Be humble about your knowledge - nobody expects you to know as much about the company as the hiring committee.

Perhaps working not far from where you live is most important for you, but do not express this. Again, think about an answer that focuses on the company instead of you. If for instance you apply for a job in an company that sells sustainable products, you can say that you would like to contribute to making a green difference in your working life. Explain how, with your skills, you can help the company in achieving its mission.

If you are still employed: Describe what you find attractive about the job you have applied for. Do you share the values of the company? Are the job assignments meaningful and stimulating for you? Attach importance to the positive elements and always avoid speaking ill of your current workplace.

You must emphasize your particularly strong points that also are of relevance for the job you applying for. Tell tangible success stories from your working life. You may for instance say: "You are looking for a structured employee. I am particularly good at structure and keeping things tidy. Once in my previous job, I ...".

Give examples of how you cooperate with colleagues, customers and managers. Are you good at listening to the needs of others? Do your colleagues know that they can always reach out to you if they need professional sparring?

If you have gaps in your CV, then be prepared to answer questions about that. Most people have gaps in their CVs due to childbirth, sickness and leave - and that is not a problem. Be honest and show that you have made some well-considered choices in your working life. Show what you bring with you and what you are aware of. It is positive if the employer enquires about it, because it means that they are not going to try to guess what the reasons for the gaps might be.

If you have been dismissed in a workforce reduction scheme: Be honest and mention the workforce reduction scheme. Even if you are perhaps angry and sorry about the dismissal, you must avoid speaking ill of your former place of work.

If you have been dismissed due to cooperation problems, etc.: You must say that you have been dismissed, but try to give a neutral reason, such as: "We agreed to disagree." Even though you need not elaborate on all details, it is important that you do not lie. The hiring committee might check your story. Never speak ill of former colleagues or managers.

Do not bring up the pay yourself, but nevertheless prepare thoroughly for the question. Familiarise yourself with the salary level before the interview. If you seekeing a job in a private company, you can make a salary check (in Danish) that gives you insight into the salary level of the industry. If you are applying for a job in a municipality or a region, you can see a salary list here (in Danish). If you are applying for a job in the state, you can see a salary list here (in Danish). Before the interview, you must determine two figures: proposal and pain threshold.
The proposal must be what you want to get – perhaps adding a couple of thousand added to negotiate. The pain threshold is the lowest amount that you are satisfied to work for.

Highlight a couple of strengths related to the job you are applying for. If you are seekeing a job in which you must work creatively and develop ideas for large parts of your working hours, you can provide one or two examples from previous jobs in which you were particularly creative and inventive.

You must be honest, of course, but don’t talk at length about your weaknesses. Instead, you should focus on challenges that will also give the hiring committee a positive impression of you. You may for example answer that you always say yes to help your colleagues with tasks, and that you have a tendency to say yes to more tasks than you can solve in a 37-hour working week. Therefore, you are striving to get better at prioritising your tasks, discuss with your manager and sometimes also say no to assignments. Always remember to explain what you do to handle your challenges.

Say what you value in a manager. Describe how you prefer to cooperate with a manager. Do you need an entirely free hand, or do you prefer that your manager to be involved in even the smallest decisions? Careful not to seem too demanding, but still be honest. Both parties must get an impression of whether you would be able to work together successfully.

You may reply that you hope to have achieved good results with your tasks. You may also reply that you hope to have developed and had new challenges. There is nothing wrong with being ambitious. However, you should avoid answering that you want the manager's job (you do not know if the manager wants to remain in their position for many years to come). If you have leadership ambitions, you may instead reply that you dream of a job as exciting as that of the manager.

Do you swim in the sea every morning all year round, do you brew your own beer, or do you have a complete overview of all the new series offered by the streaming services? It is very common to be asked about your leisure time interests in a job interview, because the hiring team needs to feel if you fit socially into the department - you are probably also going to talk about other things than work at lunch.

Also take HK’s online course: Preparation for the job interview

Three practical issues to check before the interview

Find out where the interview takes place. Who will be present during the interview? And how long will it last?
Check the style of the department. Do people wear suits or jeans and a T-shirt? Show that you fit into the team by dressing like the others.
Bring your CV, application, job advertisement and any exam papers, and have them in front of you during the interview. It may also be a good idea to bring a note pad and a pen.

Tips for online interviews

If the job interview is held online, find out which system is to be used for the interview . Get access to the application, and practise using it so that you can test that sound, image and inflow of light function optimally.
Use a permanent internet connection. It will ensure that you have the best stability in terms of sound and image.
Choose a neutral background or blur you background.
Create presence by speaking slowly, smiling and remembering eye contact.

Time off from your job?

You are entitled to time off with salary to go for a job interview if you are a salaried employee or you have been dismissed or handed in you notice of termination. However, to the extent possible, you must try to set up the job interview outside your working hours.
If you are still employed, you are not entitled to paid time off. Instead, you can try to schedule the job interview outside standard working hours, take half a day off or use flexitime.

during and after the job interview

You should be aware of this during the interview

Get a good start for the interview

Arrive 5-10 minutes before the interview
Turn off your mobile phone
Offer a firm handshake and smile at everybody in the hiring committee

Focus on the job
Speak into the job by pretending that you already have the job when you express yourself. Say how you will perform the job and provide examples of how you will solve the tasks. Use your experience and your imagination on how the job will be.

Be present in the room
Be present and be yourself. Make sure to get eye contact with everybody - even the people who do not speak much.

Questions that you can ask during the job interview
Be careful not to talk too much – instead opt for creating good dialogue. Ask questions about the job that you cannot find in the job posting. It shows that you are engaged and motivated.
You can inquire into:

The assignments (such as "Which tasks will take up most time?")
The cooperation with the manager (e.g. "How will the two of us collaborate in everyday work?")
The company/industry (such as "What are your greatest challenges right now?")
The working environment (e.g. "How is the social teamwork in the workplace?")

References
Are you asked for a reference? A reference may be a former leader or colleague that you know will talk positively about you. Always talk to your reference before you provide their name and telephone number to your potential new employer. Prepare your reference for which job you seek and which assignments you are going to solve.

Conclusive comments
You could ask about the rest of the hiring process when the interview is coming to an end. How many applicants have been invited for an interview? What is the further course of events? When can you expect an answer? End with a positive comment - for example that it has been a pleasant conversation.

You should be aware of this after the job interview

The job interview – second round
Many companies hold two interview rounds before they select a candidate. Get tips for what to be aware of if you are invited to the second interview.

Have your new contract checked
Will the job be offered to you? Congratulations - well done. Remember to read your contract of employment thoroughly before you sign it. You can also have HK check the contract. You can also have HK check the contract. Call your local HK branch: 7011 4545.

How to handle a rejection
If the job is not offered to you, then see the rejection as a possibility of receiving invaluable feedback that you can use in future job interviews. Ask what you did particularly well? And what you can do better another time.
It is also good manners to congratulate the employer that they have found the right candidate for the job.

Check the salary level

Check the salary level against comparable jobs. If you are applying for a job in the private sector - then check the salary here (in Danish).
If you are applying for a job in a municipality or a region – see the salary list here (in Danish).
If you are applying for a job in the state – see the salary list here (in Danish).