How to prepare well for a personality interview?<

To be admitted to the company of your dreams, the path can be strewn with… trials! One of the best known is the personality interview, which is one of the stages most apprehended by candidates and students (indeed, some schools also use this type of test to select students). The interview can weigh significantly in the balance for the company, which has to choose among several applicants. Suffice to say that to put the odds on his side, each candidate must prepare well in advance. The purpose of the interview being to discover the candidate's personality, background and projects, it is necessary that the latter has taken the time to expand his CV with professional or other experience. It is therefore necessary to work the substance as much as the form! Here are some tips to prepare effectively for your test and succeed in your interview.

Be yourself during the personality interview

This advice may seem obvious but, in reality, it is not so simple to apply... The biggest pitfall to avoid during the personality interview is that recruiters have the feeling that the candidate is not not honest or that he is overdoing it, that he is overplaying. Admittedly, it is important to highlight your strengths and skills, but this must be done with manner... If they hear the substance, recruiters will also scrutinize the way the candidate talks about him. It is therefore essential to have carried out a real introspection beforehand. Knowing each other well is not obvious. This requires in-depth work. To achieve this, the candidate must be able to take a step back from himself, his educational and professional background, and his personal life. What really matters? What are the points that the members of the company can raise? By being fully aware of their strengths and weaknesses, the candidate will be much better equipped to answer questions without letting themselves be destabilized or surprised.

Refine your presentation

Whatever the company targeted, the personality interview always begins with a speech – more or less long – during which the candidate introduces himself. Basically, the pitch must be enticing… In other words: it must make people in front of it want to know more! It is therefore important to chisel your intervention in such a way as to arouse curiosity with subtlety and finesse. Generally, this presentation phase lasts a few minutes. You have to be efficient and precise. Pugnacious and controlled. To make a good impression, the candidate must also take care of his physical attitude. Dress, first of all, must be given careful attention. According to the dress codes in force in the company, it is necessary to have the appropriate attire: suit or suit/tie for formal attire (banking, insurance sectors, etc.), or more casual attire (for a communication agency for example). If it is not necessary to bet on a high fashion piece, the outfit must however be well adjusted and highlight the candidate. Posture and presence are part of the non-verbal communication elements that can influence the jury. Is the candidate comfortable with their body? How does he behave in public? All these questions matter...

Practice answering questions

In order not to be caught off guard and stammer your answers, you have to anticipate the different questions that the members of the jury are likely to ask. There are the "classic" questions to which all candidates are subject: Have you ever managed several projects at the same time? How did you organize yourself? If you had to redo your studies, would you do the same? What sets you apart from other candidates? But at certain times during the personality interview, recruiters may seek to destabilize the candidate in order to see how he reacts and finds a solution to get out of a difficulty. Knowing how to improvise is one of the qualities required for many recruiters! During his preparatory work, the candidate must therefore consider all possible questions… even the most unexpected. Which member of the jury do you want to get out of the room? Tell us a joke. Why you and not the next candidate? Here are some examples of questions that can be difficult to understand.

(By the editorial staff of the hREF agency)