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Sustain your ability to
reach your potential




  • "Sustainability, from the first contact, had been very professional, yet very friendly. My consultant gave me a call almost everyday to provide updates."
    S Maharaj – Financial Analyst
  • "I have worked with Paul at Sustainability for many years and always found him to be highly professional....he has consistently provided high quality candidates from his network"
    HR Manager, Aussie Home Loans
  • "SustainAbility was recommended by another manager. They immediately demonstrated a good understanding of the energy sector and AEMO’s specific business needs."
    Manager, Settlement Operations, Australian Energy Market Operator
  • "Peter pays particular attention to understanding the organisation culture and role requirements to ensure any candidates submitted are of a high standard and are fit for the role."
    Executive Manager, Business Technology, Suncorp
  • "SustainAbility really have the long term client relationship in mind and take the time to truly understand each individual’s unique requirements."
    Group IT Manager, Sony DADC
  • "The support and enthusiasm I received from SustainAbility was far and above the best I received."
    R Floutier – Management Accountant
  • “After four different agencies and no success, we got in touch with Steve and within a week, he was able to find us a candidate who matched exactly what we were looking for.”
    Kwong Lai, Technical Team Manager, Mobile Messenger

When attending a job interview it is very important to ensure that you focus on some key stages to the process:-
Preparation
Presentation
During the interview
Closing the interview
After the interview

Preparation

It is important to remember that irrespective of how much you may want a particular role the interview process is a two-way process i.e. in the current market the interviewer should be trying to impress you as much as you are trying to impress them. Bearing this in mind before going into a meeting is an important strategy when trying to settle any nerves you may have.

Having said that, you need to ensure you are as prepared prior to entering the interview as possible. It will allow you to relax and impress your interviewer with your knowledge of their business, the group, the role and even the person you are interviewing with.

To be prepared make sure that:-

  • You know where to go, when and who you’ll be meeting.
  • You try to get a job description and make sure that you understand the role and what will be required day to day in the role.
  • You have researched the company by looking at their website and search recent articles about the organisation. Familiarise yourself with facts & figures, and the products & services the company offers.
  • You have re-read your own resume and have all of your experience fresh in your mind. This will enable to you discuss important facts and figures of your own employment history. Think about your greatest achievements so far in both your work and personal file. This will enable you to answer questions coherently, succinctly and unhesitatingly thus adding weight to your replies.


Your interview may well include competency based questioning. Think about what skills might be required for the role and examples from your history that you could talk about to demonstrate these core competencies.

Presentation

The old cliché still stands, it is therefore imperative that you make a good first impression. A smart suit, however, won’t secure you a role so it is also critical that you leave a positive impression on your interviewer.

Clearly to make a good first impression you need to be well presented in appropriate business attire, and attend to all facets of your grooming. Check with your consultant what the dress code is for your future employer, however, if in doubt wear a suit as it is better to dress conservatively. A confident handshake, smile and eye contact with your interviewer will all help create a favourable first impression.

During the Interview

As mentioned it is important to be mentally prepared for your interview. Fortunately most interviews follow a fairly standard path and with preparation you will find that you are able to answer even the curliest questions fully and frankly.

Questions will fall into two categories – General “getting to know you” type questions e.g.-

  • Tell me about yourself.
  • What are you immediate objectives? What are your future aspirations?
  • What are your strengths and weaknesses?
  • What interests you in the position and/or our company?
  • What do you know about our company?
  • What are your hobbies or interests? What do you do in your spare time?


And Competency Based e.g.:-

  • Can you give me an example of a time when you demonstrated the ability to be a team player?
  • Can you tell me an example of a specific time/event in your career when you displayed initiative? (Other areas may include time management, leadership, teamwork, problem solving, conflict resolution, staff motivation and the ability to work independently)


Competency Based Interview (CBI) questions are a popular tool when finding out exactly your personal involvement with an organisation. It strips away the “we did this” and “we were on this project” approach to get to your actual direct involvement in a piece of work or style of approach. Although initially a little daunting with practice and preparation they will allow you to demonstrate your skills and talents in a powerful way.

When answering CBI style questions it helps to break your answer into 3 stages.

  • Situation Task related – What was happening at the time, what was the issue etc.
  • Action – How did you react, what did you do to improve the particular situation
  • Response – What were the consequences of your action? (This is the part that is commonly missed, however is vital in illustrating how you were able to make a positive contribution)

Closing the Interview

The final step in the interview will usually be about any questions that you have. It’s always beneficial to ask at least a couple of questions. It shows that you are keen and inquisitive. If the interview has been comprehensive, it can often be hard to think of questions. Here are some examples that might be of use:

How has this vacancy come about? Can you tell me about the previous person in the role?

  • How would you describe the culture of the company?
  • What are the key facets of working for your company that set you apart from other employers?
  • What are the company’s growth plans for the future?
  • What will be the next step?
  • What will be the next step in the selection process?


If this is your first interview with the client and you are interviewing through a recruitment consultancy, rarely will a job offer be made on the spot. However, if it is, and you feel comfortable with it, make sure that you accept it. On the other hand, if you feel you would like some time to think it through, politely request that of the interviewer. Commit to a definite time by which you will give an answer.

In most cases, the interviewer will close the interview without giving you much indication of where you stand. If this is the case, don’t be discouraged. Simply thank him or her warmly and re-iterate your enthusiasm for the role. You may also want to briefly restate why you want the position, and what you feel you can bring to the role and the company. Sell yourself right to the end, but do it tactfully.

After the Interview

Most importantly, contact your consultant immediately after the interview and provide feedback. By talking with you before the interviewer calls back, we will know your feelings about the position, together with your perception of what the client’s reaction is likely to be.

After the interview, reviews your notes and jot down all the pluses and minuses of the role and the company. We will assist you in answering all those “I should have asked that at the interview” questions.