Interview Advice and Tips for Security and Fire Protection Jobs and Employment

Being prepared is the key to success when it comes to job interviews. Your aim during the interview is to leave the employer with a lasting, strong and positive impression to set yourself apart from other candidates in the race.  Follow our guide below to ensure you’re best positioned to secure your ideal Security or Fire Protection Job.

Research the organisation, industry and yourself:

Make sure you visit the prospective employer’s website and browse through the News, About Us, Careers and Management sections. Visiting the employer’s website is essential, however, to truly set yourself apart from other potential candidates we recommend that you also undertake broader research into both the company and the industry itself.

It's important to know what is going on in the wider industry so you get a sense of the challenges, issues and opportunities facing the employer you are interviewing with. Security and Fire Protection trade magazines and websites can be a fantastic source of information.  If the company is publicly listed an annual report can usually be downloaded from their website.

If you're going through a recruitment agency then your consultant should help you prepare for the interview. They should have an understanding of the format for the interview and should be able to provide some insight into what’s going on within the business, the types of questions that might be asked and what you should be ready to discuss.

Take the time to review specialist websites for the Security and Fire Protection Industries as these can also provide you with a valuable insight into what’s happening in the industry. Industry association websites are a great place to start and you can find some links to these in our Industry Links section.

It’s also essential to know your own work history in detail. This sounds obvious but again, you would be surprised how many people stumble when asked a question about their experience. Know the dates you held different roles as well as what you learnt and most importantly your key achievements in each role. Know what motivates you, what sort of team member or leader you are, what management style you respond best to and what type of organisation you would best fit with.  As you prepare for the interview keep in mind one vital question; How will you distinguish yourself from competing candidates – what is your point of differentiation?  Play to your strengths and uniquely position yourself so that you give the employer confidence that you offer a package unlike any other. 

Rehearse your response to anticipated questions:

Rehearsing out loud before a job interview is a great way to prepare. It will help you identify gaps in your preparation work and help to reduce interview nerves. It will not only build confidence and improve your communication skills but will also help you crystallize your thoughts on what it is you’re looking for. The best person to rehearse with is someone in a similar role or within the Security or Fire Protection industry. The person you’re rehearsing with can tell you if you’re speaking too quickly, if your sentences are too long or too short or if your answers are hard to follow. Avoid straight “yes” or “no” answers but always be concise when responding to a question. Rehearse again and again until you feel your answers are well formed and succinct.

Common Interview Techniques and Questions:

Behavioral and competency based interviews are the most common type of interview and are based on the theory that theory that the best predictor of future performance is past performance – that is, if you have achieved something in the past (i.e. Successfully managed a project) then you will be able to do it again in future. 

Behavioral questions require you to draw examples from your real life experience when responding. Some examples include:  “Tell me about a time when” or “Give me an example of when you ”. The best responses to these types of questions follow the STAR model where you explain the Situation or Task involved by describing the context, following by a description of the Actions you took and the Results or outcomes that this led to.

Make sure you are able to articulate some of your key career achievements using the STAR framework.

You can also expect to be asked a question on why you are leaving your current job - or have already left it. Try to be as honest as you can without being negative. If something negative has happened such as you were terminated, then the advice is to prepare an answer that starts with a positive, goes to a negative and then ends with a positive. Often people are hired for a role that turns out to be something different when they get there so it is okay to be honest about that. If it was a personality clash then don’t bag out the boss - research the workplace culture so you can answer that you were just not a fit for the culture. This research will help you work out an answer that sounds best. You will be reference checked so lying is not an option but there is no rule against putting a positive spin on things.

The Pre-interview check list:

Before the interview, find out the name and title of each person you will be meeting with. Your recruitment consultant should provide these details. If you’re dealing directly with the company it’s perfectly acceptable to ask the HR department or the line manager you’re dealing with to provide this information. Make sure on the day you know where you’re going and try to arrive early to give yourself time to relax prior to the discussion.

Your appearance:

Take extra care with your appearance. Choose your outfit ahead of time. Check for stains, stray threads and loose buttons. Try the outfit on to make sure it fits and ask someone how you look. Avoid loud ties, chipped nail polish, heavy makeup, sheer fabrics, large ear rings, jewellery that jangles, strong fragrances and untidy hair.  Remember, first impressions count!  Within the first three seconds of an encounter you are evaluated and once the first impression is made, it is often irreversible so make sure yours is positive, strong and lasting!

Make sure you feel good!:

On the morning of the interview try and start the day with some exercise which will help you relax, have better posture and therefore look like a successful candidate. On the way to the interview, walk tall and smile. By the time you arrive you’ll feel confident and fantastic. Remember, some nerves are normal and can be caused by excitement.

During the interview:

Resist the temptation to say anything negative about a past employer or manager and be in a position to explain the reason behind each change of role on your resume.

Don’t ever interrupt, talk over or cut anyone off during the discussion.

Keep your answers short and to the point however make sure you answer the question!

Avoid answering with just a yes or no – give examples where appropriate and relate your past achievements to the question where possible.

Always maintain eye contact. If there is more than one person present at the interview make sure you address all of them equally.

Prepare some questions for the discussion. These could include:

Who you will be reporting to, questions about the team you would be joining, career development options within the organisation, projects you might be working on, what a typical day in the role would involve, any current issues or challenges that might be involved with the role.

Questions related to salary package are best saved until at least the second stage of the process however it’s important to state your expectations clearly if asked. Make sure you know specifically what you’re looking for in terms of base salary and benefits. If you’re going through an agency make sure the Recruiter understands exactly what you’re looking for to avoid any confusion or embarrassment later on.

Ask Questions:

During your research and rehearsal for the Interview make a note of a few things you would like to know about the employer, the role and the projects or challenges facing the organisation.

Remember, the job interview is a two way street. The employers is assessing if you are the right person for the job but you should also be listening carefully so you can assess if this is the right role and or right employer for you.

Typical questions you might ask would include: “What are the main achievements you expect from me in my first three months if I am successful in gaining this role?” “Is this a new role?” or “As this is an existing role, why did the last person leave?” “How many people are in the team? Tell me a little about who they are and what they do?” “What are the main goals the organisation is trying to achieve this year?” As you will have researched the company you can also ask questions that expand on the way the employer has described its culture, its policies on training, or giving back to the community and so on.

Follow up:

If you’re interested in the role it’s essential to send a thank you email after the interview to the recruitment consultant and directly to the employer. Keep it simple and use the email to thank the person for their time and to restate your interest in the job. You can also ask what the next stage is in the process. If you haven’t heard anything after a week it is fine to follow up with an email or a phone call. If you’re working with a recruiter they should keep you constantly updated as to the situation.

Good Luck!