Most of the employed population have had to endure the interview process at one time or another and it can be a fairly intimidating prospect.
However it doesn't have to be.
If you follow these simple steps then you can use them to feel calm and confident which is key to portraying yourself well to your prospective employer.
And remember, you have been asked to the interview because the company have seen something they liked in your CV - so you are already starting on the forward foot.
Before the interview you should:
Make sure you know the location of the interview, how to get there and how long it will take. Even do a 'dummy run' of the route. Ariving early on the day of the interview means less last minute stress for you and gives you a final chance to recap on your notes.
Decide on your outfit and ensure it is cleaned and ironed in advance. No-one wants to be hurriedly de-linting their suit when they could be prepping interview notes.
Try to research the pharmaceutical company thoroughly. Read through their annual reports and any mentions they have in the trade press to gain an understanding of their position in the industry and their recent movements in the market.
Revisit the pharmaceutical job spec and ensure a good understanding of what the role entails, and what makes you perfect to fill the position.
Read through your CV and note any particularly relevant aspects to the job spec. Also evaluate which elements may come under scrutiny and rehearse your answers.
Attain a clear idea of the form the interview will take. They can range from a 10 minute informal chat to 10 hour evaluations including psychometric testing. Go prepared!
Put together some practical examples which demonstrate your 'key skills'.
Loosely prepare answers to 'stock' interview questions i.e.
Why a career in pharma?
What are your key strengths/ weaknesses?
Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
During the interview you should:
Enter the room with confidence. According to the site Career Advice (http://careersadvice.direct.gov.uk) 93% of an interviewer's opinion is based on how you look and behave, and only 7% on what you say. Remember that confident sincerity is very different to an arrogant swagger.
Make sure your mobile phone is switched off.
Listen carefully to questions you are asked and answer in a clear and concise manner. Around 3 points should be sufficient to demonstrate your understanding of a question. Avoid the urge to rush your answers or waffle on.
Take your time thinking about your answer and keep your response relevant to the question. If you don't know the answer to something then just be honest about it. Bluffing is often very obvious and demonstrates insecurity. Interviewers are normally more impressed by a less knowledgeable person with a keen willingness to learn, than a highly knowledgeable candidate unwilling to admit they don't have all the answers.
If you don't know the answer to something then be honest. Bluffing is often very obvious and demonstrates insecurity. Interviewers are more impressed by a less knowledgeable person with a keen willingness to learn, than a highly knowledgeable candidate unwilling to admit they don't have all the answers.
Be positive about yourself and your experience. Make sure all of the great potential you have for the company is evident.
If conversation turns to the salary and benefits and your expectations then make sure you have an idea of the market rate and perhaps even try for a little more.
Establish a timeline for hearing back to avoid needlessly waiting around.
Thank the interviewer for their time. Try not to look relieved and run for the door.
After the interview you should:
Review the interview and take notes of areas you felt confident discussing and those where you were uncomfortable or underprepared. Learn from any mistakes you made. Do NOT beat yourself up about them!
If you are successfull then allow yourself to celebrate and then prepare to live up to your interview promise.
If you are unsuccessful then gather as much feedback as possible from your interviewer to compare with your own evaluation which you can build on for future interviews.
Don't let a knock back dent your confidence. See each interview as a learning curve and an opportunity to hone your skills leading you to your perfect pharmaceutical job. - 31896
However it doesn't have to be.
If you follow these simple steps then you can use them to feel calm and confident which is key to portraying yourself well to your prospective employer.
And remember, you have been asked to the interview because the company have seen something they liked in your CV - so you are already starting on the forward foot.
Before the interview you should:
Make sure you know the location of the interview, how to get there and how long it will take. Even do a 'dummy run' of the route. Ariving early on the day of the interview means less last minute stress for you and gives you a final chance to recap on your notes.
Decide on your outfit and ensure it is cleaned and ironed in advance. No-one wants to be hurriedly de-linting their suit when they could be prepping interview notes.
Try to research the pharmaceutical company thoroughly. Read through their annual reports and any mentions they have in the trade press to gain an understanding of their position in the industry and their recent movements in the market.
Revisit the pharmaceutical job spec and ensure a good understanding of what the role entails, and what makes you perfect to fill the position.
Read through your CV and note any particularly relevant aspects to the job spec. Also evaluate which elements may come under scrutiny and rehearse your answers.
Attain a clear idea of the form the interview will take. They can range from a 10 minute informal chat to 10 hour evaluations including psychometric testing. Go prepared!
Put together some practical examples which demonstrate your 'key skills'.
Loosely prepare answers to 'stock' interview questions i.e.
Why a career in pharma?
What are your key strengths/ weaknesses?
Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
During the interview you should:
Enter the room with confidence. According to the site Career Advice (http://careersadvice.direct.gov.uk) 93% of an interviewer's opinion is based on how you look and behave, and only 7% on what you say. Remember that confident sincerity is very different to an arrogant swagger.
Make sure your mobile phone is switched off.
Listen carefully to questions you are asked and answer in a clear and concise manner. Around 3 points should be sufficient to demonstrate your understanding of a question. Avoid the urge to rush your answers or waffle on.
Take your time thinking about your answer and keep your response relevant to the question. If you don't know the answer to something then just be honest about it. Bluffing is often very obvious and demonstrates insecurity. Interviewers are normally more impressed by a less knowledgeable person with a keen willingness to learn, than a highly knowledgeable candidate unwilling to admit they don't have all the answers.
If you don't know the answer to something then be honest. Bluffing is often very obvious and demonstrates insecurity. Interviewers are more impressed by a less knowledgeable person with a keen willingness to learn, than a highly knowledgeable candidate unwilling to admit they don't have all the answers.
Be positive about yourself and your experience. Make sure all of the great potential you have for the company is evident.
If conversation turns to the salary and benefits and your expectations then make sure you have an idea of the market rate and perhaps even try for a little more.
Establish a timeline for hearing back to avoid needlessly waiting around.
Thank the interviewer for their time. Try not to look relieved and run for the door.
After the interview you should:
Review the interview and take notes of areas you felt confident discussing and those where you were uncomfortable or underprepared. Learn from any mistakes you made. Do NOT beat yourself up about them!
If you are successfull then allow yourself to celebrate and then prepare to live up to your interview promise.
If you are unsuccessful then gather as much feedback as possible from your interviewer to compare with your own evaluation which you can build on for future interviews.
Don't let a knock back dent your confidence. See each interview as a learning curve and an opportunity to hone your skills leading you to your perfect pharmaceutical job. - 31896
About the Author:
Having spent the last 5 years working for an internationally recognised pharma recruitment firm, Chris Taylor now runs Pharmaceutical Jobs, a site which helps connect job seekers with job vacancies in the global pharma space. You can search for pharmaceutical jobs and get more free and impartial career advice at his website.
