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1. Preparing for Your Next Interview
Charlotte Flatley- International Recruitment Specialist

2. Introduction
Typical standard questions you may be asked in a face to face (or
formal telephone) interview are…
¤ Career overview and key achievements
¤ Safety - if it is a mining/resources/oil & gas company they will
always ask this.
¤ Technical questions related to the key responsibilities of the role
¤ Behavioural/soft skills questions related to the key criteria of the role
¤ Company values
¤ Role motivation and career aspirations
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3. Career overview
It is generally the first question asked, so it is likely that you are going to be
nervous when responding. To overcome your nerves consider the below
points…
¤ Go over your career in chronological order (either starting with your
current or most recent position and working back or working from past to
present – either way is appropriate)
¤ Focus on your relevant experience in line with the position
¤ Keep your overview to 5/10 mins - You will have many other questions to
answer in order to get your experience and skills across
¤ Do not read from your resume, you should be able to highlight your
experience and tell the interviewers more than what they can read on
paper
¤ Describe a relevant career achievement
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4. Career Overview
¤ They want to get an idea of the career journey you have been on
but delve more into the roles that you feel are relevant.
¤ Explain why you think they are relevant (using words such as
“transferable skills include”, “synergies with this position would be
“etc.), then talk through what your responsibilities were in each
particular position.
¤ If you were involved in a project do not forget to give the context
such as; size, budget/scope, timescales etc. (as long as it is not
confidential).
¤ The Interviewers will generally ask for a particular career highlight
or key achievement, have a relevant one in mind and keep it short
and specific.
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5. Safety
If you are applying for a role within a mining/resources or oil & gas
company then you can guarantee that there will be a question
based on safety.
¤ So make sure you do not show/demonstrate your indifference to it
¤ Office safety examples could relate to; ergonomics, being a fire
warden, trip hazards, kitchen hazards, heavy lifting and safe work
initiatives.
¤ They are assessing your attitude towards safety and that you care,
they do not expect you to be a HES professional (unless you are
one) but they will want to know you take it seriously.
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6. Questions About Motivations
¤ This question tells the interviewers more about you, your drivers
and your attitude, than any other question, so be careful how
you answer it.
¤ The simple rule is, do not be negative or problem focused,
instead be positive and solution focused.
¤ Why you want the job (not the company, not any job, THAT
specific job)
¤ What do you think you can bring to the role and how can you
add value
¤ Talk about the company and why personally you are driven to
work for them (this could be because of their reputation within the
market or your interests in the projects they are involved in etc.)
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7. ¤ What you want to do longer term?
¤ Do you have a set career goal you are working towards?
In that question they want to get a real feel of you and what
drives you but also they want to hear what you think you will
bring to the role.
It is a two-way street, it not all about what the company can do
for you but what you can do for the company, so recap how you
would be of value to them.
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