The interview

Your CV told them you’ve got the skills and experience, your covering letter persuaded them you’re worth talking to – but it’s the interview that will convince them that you’re the right person for that job. Or not. Keep to these interview rules and you’ve got a fighting chance. And be prepared with our list of common interview questions.

Fiona Flynn

Be punctual
In fact, be early. If you’re too early, take a walk round the block. Make sure you have their number with you, so that if the unavoidable happens, like a train crash, you can call them. But that’s for emergencies only.

Be sensitive
You can pick up a fair amount of information about company culture during your interview, just by watching how they talk and behave. Take your cue from them – if they’re formal, be formal. If they’re cracking jokes, be relaxed enough to say something amusing.

Only up to a point, though. If they swear or make an offensive remark, this isn’t a cue to do the same. They don’t need to be on their best behaviour – but you do.

Listen
If you don’t understand a question, say so. Just because someone is interviewing a potential employee doesn’t mean they can string a sentence together properly. It shows you’re concentrating and taking their questions seriously. Doing this once in the interview is fine.

Be honest
If you’ve been fired from a previous job, don’t deny it. The expression “not a good team fit” suits this purpose.

If you’ve got gaps in your CV, be honest about them. This is a general truth, but particularly important in the security industry. You have to be fully vettable, so any gaps need to be traceable. You’ll have had to explain on the application form what you were doing in these gaps, whether it’s unemployment or travel or child-rearing or whatever. If you were signing on, say so – they’ll be checking up. Anything else, you’ll need evidence so it can be checked. Have a ready explanation as to what you were doing, constructively, with that time, just in case you’re asked.

Never be critical of your last company. If you’re asked why you left your last job or are looking to move, have a constructive answer.

When it comes to difficult questions, be honest with the answers. For example, common interview questions are “What’s a weakness of yours?” and “What’s a strength?” Talk briefly about a weakness that you have had but worked to improve. The old trick of describing a “weakness” that’s actually a strength – such as working too hard - is such a cliché that even the most inexperienced interviewer will see through it.

Build rapport
An interview needs to have a two way discussion between you and the interviewer or interviewing team, even if it’s the sort of interview which has set questions (common in the public sector, and based around equal opportunities practice that says all interviewees must have the same questions to have the same chance).

You will almost certainly be asked at the end if you have any questions. Make sure you have two – no more - and have them ready before the day. If those are actually answered during the course of the interview, mention that you had a couple of questions but they’ve been answered already, thank you.

Be comfortable about asking questions during the interview, too, if they relate to the subject. Don’t get ruffled if they ask you to explain what you think you’ve already explained – be gracious about it.

If you don’t have an immediate answer for question, say so, and be comfortable about a moment or two of silence to allow you to think of the answer.

Be succinct and don’t ramble. If the interviewer asks you to tell them about yourself, keep it professional.

Remember, we’re all human
It may turn out that you’ve got a bad interviewer, or interviewing team. They talk too much to each other, he or she needs to intimidate, or ask silly questions, or ask questions that are actually illegal – such as anything about your domestic situation and child-rearing plans.

Wait until they give you a chance to speak, remember that you have the skills they’re looking for and remind them of that, and if they’re really bad, ask yourself: “Do I really want to work with them?”

Remember, you're good!
If a company has invited you for interview, it's because you impressed them with your CV, your covering letter and your application form.. They're looking for someone to do a job for them, so they need to impress you, as much as you need to impress them. Relax into it, smile, give a firm handshake and be confident.

Be prepared before you get there
Wear what you think reflects the style of the company, but it that's casual, make it a smart version. Have something to eat beforehand - a rumbling stomach isn’t good for interview confidence. If you absolutely have to have a cigarette beforehand, have it outside and with plenty of time left before the interview for the smell of tobacco to clear – now that all workplaces are smoke-free, it’s amazing how the whiff of stale smoke lingers – and if your interviewer is a non-smoker, they’ll pick it up straight away. 

 

Common interview questions

  • What do you feel are your main weaknesses?
  • What experience would you bring to this job?
  • What is your greatest achievement so far?
  • Why are you leaving your current post?
  • How would you handle a particular situation?
  • What is the most difficult situation you have had to face and how did you tackle it?
  • Do you have any questions for us?

 

Have you had interview questions you didn’t expect? Could other readers benefit from knowing about them? Share the joy with your fellow security professionals and email them to us – we’ll list them here.