• 27th September 2017

How to prepare for an interview for a position in the Maritime industry

Once you have been selected for an interview, you will need to conduct research to ensure you are fully prepared.

Preparing for an interview can help you feel more focused and confident. It can also be the difference in you getting your next Maritime position or not.

There are several different interview formats:

• Telephone interviews
• Face to Face interviews
• Skype interviews
• Assessment centres

For any type of interview, we advise you to carry out your own research. It is important you understand the history of the company, who they are now and what they do.

There are a range of methods that you can use to gather more information about your potential new employer.

You can use a company’s website, Maritime forums or industry news to gather information about an organisation. You can also use LinkedIn to acquire relevant information about your interviewer and their position, roles and responsibilities.

 

The sort of information you should look for and make note of is:

• What the company does
• What product or service they provide
• What their target market is
• Recent company achievements

Interviewers often ask what your understanding is of the company, so conducting this research will give you a bank of information to pull from.

You may also want to brush up on your Maritime industry knowledge, key changes in the market they operate and how this could affect the company. This may help you devise questions for your employer, showing you are engaged and interested in the overall success of the organisation.

We also advise you to take a copy of your CV to refer to when discussing your skills and suitability for the job role.

Not only do you need to do your research, you need to prepare for the day. We advise you to plan your travel arrangements well in advance, and arrive 10 minutes before your interview.

You should also prepare for typical questions that are asked in an interview, for example:

1. What are your strengths and weaknesses?

Always start on a weakness and try and show examples of how you have proactively turned this into a strength.

Example: “My attention to detail has sometimes lead me to make minor mistakes, so I now produce checklists for all key tasks. Allowing me to thoroughly check my own work.”

2. Why are you interested in working for the company?

Try and demonstrate where you have gained experience in other roles which has lead you to seeking a role with this organisation.

Example: “Having previously worked in both large and small organisations I know I prefer the dynamic of a large organisation, as I work well in a large team.”

Try and reference a project or a particular part of the job role you are interested in.

Example: “I am also looking forward to getting involved in practical claims handling, as I feel this would be a particularly good fit for my skills.”

3. Why do you think you are right for the role?

Reference a skill or experience to back up your statement.

Example: “I believe I am right for the role as I have over 6 months sea time on LNG tankers and have experience in managing the engine department of my previous vessel.”

4. Why are you looking for a new position?

Try and avoid pointing our flaws in your previous company, and focus on the positives that this new position will give you.

Example: “Having been in my current position for 3 years I felt it was time for a new challenge and I am looking for a company that can offer me a clear progression route.”

Finally, don’t forget to gather a couple of questions about the job role or the company that you would like to know as this shows that you are engaged with the process.