TORC

Robin Williams uses a big disguise to ace his interview in Mrs Doubtfire

The recruitment process is a funnel that narrows dramatically through some discreet stages: CV application, psychometric screenings, assessment centres, reference checks, 1st interview and final interview. 

It ensures that only a very select number of candidates, all of whom probably more than capable of doing the job, makes it through to the interview stages. 

This means that the emphasis at interview isn’t so much about convincing the interviewer that you can do the job, but more that you can do it better than all the other interviewees still in the race. 

In other words, at interview one has to be ready to give of one’s very best – to stand out from the inevitably keen competition. 

And, not surprisingly, the world of mobile apps is replete with offerings to help you succeed. 

Currently, there are 3 broad categories of apps available: 

-   interviewee guides to answering interview questions
-   interviewee guides to making interview preparations
-   interviewer guides to organizing interviews. 

1. Guides to answering interview questions
This is by far the largest category available. Some of the more prominent examples include: 

Job Interview Edge, Interview Wizard, Interview Prep, Interview Pro, Interview Guru 

Interview Coach, Interview Gold, Swipe Q Interview App, 

101 Great Answers to the Toughest Interview Questions. 

For the most part, these provide you with a flash card or equivalent menu of possible interview questions, offer a number of possible answers from which you select and then give you feedback on which answers they would recommend.

Some provide you with an overall interview strength rating, as they have inbuilt into their multiple answer choice a scale of how good each alternative answer actually is. 

Three other examples come with a little more off-beat or enhanced design variations. 

Blow The Job Interview turns things on it head by asking you to identify the answer that will definitely ensure you do NOT get the job. 

Executive Checkers designs the interview Q&A sequence in the form of an interactive game of checkers or draughts between yourself and the interviewer. 

And, Perfect Interview – Executive Edition comes with all the bells and whistles, including offering you the ability to video record your responses and see exactly how you look and sound when answering the questions  

2. Guides to making interview preparations
Examples in this category,  Boost Your Interview IQ and Modern Interview – Tips & Tricks go beyond interview questions and cover additional aspects of interview preparation, including: 

- writing success stories
- the role of appearance
- pre-interview checklists
- how to close an interview. 

3. Guides to organizing interviews
This category, which includes such apps as The Interviewer and Essential Job Interview Organiser, focusses on assisting the interviewer rather than the interviewee. Some of the features provided include:

- selecting the key skills required for the job
- creating customised question sets
- structuring an interview
- questions to avoid
- facility to take notes during the actual interview
- prompts to dig for more information
- assessing the candidate.

If you have other favourite interview preparation apps, that you’d like to share – please leave details in the comment  box below. Thank you!

PS. For additional tips on navigating the various recruitment stages, please click on the appropriate line here:
1. interview preparation
2. panel interviews
3. assessment centres
4. career change.

PPS. For related Torc interview case studies, please click on the following links:
1. psychometric tools and interview prep
2. coaching for a panel interview