Whilst every step of the job application process - from the very first line of your covering letter - is important, it is on your performance during the interview that an employer will make their final decision. Ultimately, what they want to know is whether you are capable of doing the job, whether you have the attitude and personality-type to ensure that the job actually gets done, and finally whether you will fit in to the team, department and organisation as a whole. You should keep these questions in mind when preparing for your interview and where possible, tailor your responses to reinforce the fact that you are willing, able and suitable.
A lot of the interviewer's questions around whether you have the required skills and experience to do the job will usually have been answered in your CV and covering letter, so don't expect them to spend much time on this area. You do however need to be able to confidently reinforce the skills you have acquired throughout your career history, and convince the employer that you know exactly what you're talking about when it comes to the areas which are most crucial to the role.
The more senior or technical the role, the more likely you are to be probed on the quality and depth of your knowledge in a specific area. This is where you'd need to be prepared to back up your claims with some strong examples. Never lie about your qualifications, employers can easily verify these and not all of them will be as forgiving as Alan Sugar. Equally, if you try to lie about technical knowledge, you are pretty likely to be found out during the interview if this is a key part of the role, so don't do it.
The interviewer is likely to spend about the same amount of the time finding out about your motivations for doing the job and why you have left or are looking to leave your current role. Be as honest as possible about your reasons for wishing to leave your current role, but always put a positive spin on this. If, for example, you left because of a clash with a manager or colleague, be very diplomatic about vocalising this - there is nothing more off-putting to a potential employer than a candidate who is negative or comes bearing grudges. The most effective way to position your response is to talk about the positives related to looking for a new role eg. a desire for increased challenge or your reasons for wanting to work for that particular organisation.
The most important factor in the eyes of the interviewer is whether you will fit in to their department/organisation and this is the area they will spend the majority of the interview trying to establish. For less qualified candidates, this can be used to your advantage. If an employer is faced with a candidate who has slightly less experience but displays (and shows proof of) enthusiasm, dedication and a strong desire to engage with the role and the company, they will often think more highly of that person than the candidate with more experience. Take some time when doing your research into the organisation to find out what its values are. If it doesn't explicitly state these on its website, you should be able to get a good feel for the type of people it is looking to employ from the “About Us” section.
Answers to Difficult Interview Questions | Interview Mistakes to Avoid | How to Resign Gracefully
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