You may already have come far in the application process, but the job interview is the biggest challenge for most of us. While you can revise your resume as often as you like, there are no second chances in a job interview; you have to be on point. Excellent preparation is the key. We offer video interview training where you can practice typical interview questions.
In a job interview, you want to confirm the good impression you have made in your application. We have put together a few tools to help you prepare for job interviews. You will also find advice on the subject of salary below.
There is no fixed framework for how an interview will go. However, you can assume that an interview is usually structured by the following topics, although the order and focus can, of course, vary:
Here you will find a checklist to help you with interview preparation.
We distinguish between structured, semi-structured, and unstructured interviews, although a combination of these formats is often used. To be prepared, it is therefore helpful to have a basic understanding of the different methods and techniques.
Structured interview
In a structured interview, the interviewer follows a predetermined interview process, and all candidates applying for a specific position are asked the same questions. This method allows the interviewers to compare the candidates. Rather than allowing discussion, the interview relies more on a question-answer format. If you notice this during the interview, make sure you communicate all the necessary information in your answers because the interviewer will ask few or no additional questions.
Semi-structured interview
In a semi-structured or partially structured interview, most questions have been prepared beforehand. However, the interviewer is free to choose the order in which the questions are asked. Most interviews are conducted in this form. You can recognize this format because the interviewer follows a script, responds to your answers, and asks follow-up questions or additional questions if necessary.
Unstructured interview
Unstructured interviews are not prepared using a script or guidelines. The interviewer may use notes with only the topic and a few key points, otherwise relying on their intuition. This type of interview is relatively rare. You will recognize it by the absence of predetermined or written down questions. Unstructured interviews allow you to steer the conversation in a particular direction, giving the interviewer the freedom to delve deeper into some topics and ask follow-up questions.
Possible Interview Questions
Here you will find possible interview questions to help you prepare for a job interview. We list the typical questions which are frequently asked in some form or another.
Interview Questions for Consulting Jobs
Here you will find examples of questions asked by interviewers in the consulting sector.
Consulting Interview Questions
Questions to ask at the job interview
Whenever an interviewer asks you if there is anything else you would like to know or if you have any questions, you should never remain silent or even shake your head: ALWAYS have some questions ready! Here are a few examples:
Questions to ask at the Job Interview
STAR Method for Interviews
The STAR method helps you structure your answers and formulate examples of your experience. This is especially useful in the case of competency-based questions.
The STAR method (also known as behavior-based questioning) originated in the United States. Today, the renowned Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) also recommends it for storytelling and arguments used in interviews. Above all, it helps maintain a common thread and allows you not to get lost in detail.
Situation: Briefly describe the situation you were in. You can use the following elements: Where was this? What was the context? What was your role? Who else was involved?
Task/Target: What was your task, goal, problem, or task?
Action: What actions did you take? How did you personally contribute?
Result/Reflection: What was the final result?
Reflection/Lessons learned: What would you do differently? What were the success factors?
Example: “Company XY brought me on board as an intern to support the development of the business unit ABC (task), which did not exist there before (situation). As part of the team, I was given the tasks of XYZ (action). I contributed to increasing the sales in the business unit by ZZ percent within half a year (result).”
In addition to anticipating the content of an interview, another prerequisite for your success is a suitable technique. Here you will find further details to consider.
Your salary will depend on the industry, the company’s size, and your position. There are regional differences, not only in Switzerland but also in other countries. Furthermore, you should consider not only the salary itself but also the overall conditions.
Your total compensation can be divided into the following components:
Above all, you should determine your “market value” in advance. When the interviewer asks about your salary expectations, they usually mean the annual rather than the monthly salary.
Example: a salary expectation of CHF 80,000/p.a. (refers to the actual salary and does not necessarily include fringe benefits).
The following pages give you an indication of the salary or compensation package you might expect (not exhaustive):
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