Stop! Don’t go to another Renewable Energy job interview until you have read this!

Just turning up and hoping for the best just isn’t enough to secure you your next job.  Preparation makes perfect so they say, and it’s absolutely true.   So here are my 3 top interview questions, and suggestions on how to answer them in a way that will give you the best possible opportunity to walk away with your dream Green job.

1         Why do you want to leave / have you left your current job ?

This is a classic trick question, which without thought could lead you fast track straight to the “Thanks but no thanks” door.  Regardless of whether you can’t stand your existing colleagues / don’t agree with the company policies/ think you are underpaid and overworked / or have slept with the bosses wife / husband, or all of the above, this is not the time to share your innermost feelings.

You’ll have to accentuate the positive and eliminate the negatives as the song says.  So tell the interviewer about your experience and skills, and explain how you realised on hearing about their job, and finding out all about their company that you feel that you have something more to offer them, and that you are far better suited to their company rather than your existing employer.  Talk in glowing terms about the opportunity that they are offering being much more attractive, and even talk in positive terms about your ex or existing company.   Most importantly back up your claims with relevant evidence to demonstrate your suitability for the company and the job.  (See question 2)

No one wants to hear sour grapes or a diatribe from a moaning Minnie, and now is definitely not the time to air your grievances.  Evidence of past performance is often used as a measure of future potential, so demonstrating that you didn’t fit in with your last company will not make you the great hope of the future for your next employer.

2         Why do you think you are suited to this job / company?

Here’s where your homework comes in to play.  Any good candidate will have spent a good amount of time boning up on the company as well as the job.  At this point you should be able to align your own skills, experience, qualifications and ethos with that of this prospective employer.  If they have great green credentials, have outstanding reputation in renewable energy or sustainable policies, mention it now!  Quoting a few relevant facts and figures about the company will demonstrate that you are a serious contender, and have done your research.  No employer will fail to be impressed by a candidate who has taken the time to find out about the company, and who is skilled enough to shape their response to make themselves a perfect match.  Use detailed competency based evidence to back you up in your claims to leave the interviewer in little doubt that you are the one!  More detail on how to answer competency based questions can be found here.

3         Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?

Again homework will pay dividends here.  You need to strike the balance between saying that actually you just want a job that will pay the bills and really have no ambition, and at the other extreme that you would like to oust your interviewer from their position, and take their place in a very short time.  Neither of the above will win you first place in the job interview race.  You need to read the job description carefully, and find out as much as possible prior to interview about this opportunity, and note any mention of development and training.  If there is an opportunity to have an informal chat prior to interview, grab it with both hands, and use the opportunity to discover the finer points of what they are actually looking for.   For example if it’s a job for a wind turbine technician, and the job description mentions they are looking for willingness to develop skills and take on responsibility, it’s safe to say they are looking for someone who wants to progress.  If it’s a Solar PV installer position and training and development are on the menu, then adapt your response to demonstrate that you are willing to take on new challenges, undertake study and hope to progress in the company with their support.

Without interview preparation there is little point in even polishing your shoes.  So be smart, do your homework, prepare well and go in with a fighting chance of winning!