Recruitment interview – how to prepare for it?

Step 1 – Check the company

It is worth starting by familiarizing yourself with information about the company or employment agency to which you are applying. Where will you find them? Analyze the website, look at the history and values of the company. Additionally, check the company’s social media activity. Also make sure that the company or employment agency is registered and operates in accordance with the law. You can check this through the register of entrepreneurs or the national register of employment agencies. Make sure the financial terms offered are clear and fair.

Step 2 – Prepare answers to common questions

Prepare to answer typical questions that may be asked during a job interview. Questions often concern your professional experience, skills and motivation to work in a given company. What questions can you expect when, for example, you are looking for a job abroad? Here are some examples:

• Tell us something about yourself and your professional experience.
• Why do you want to work abroad and use the services of our agency?
• How do you cope with the new and changing work environment?
• How do you rate your level of knowledge of English (or another foreign language)?

Step 3 – Prepare for the interview

If you are interviewing in person, make sure you know the exact location where the interview will take place. If possible, visit in advance to check arrival times. This will help you avoid stress related to possible delays.

If you are preparing for an online interview, it is a good idea to test the platform on which the online interview will take place, check the operation of your equipment, camera and microphone, and choose a quiet and well-lit place where you will conduct the interview. Regardless of the form of the meeting, remember to maintain eye contact, smile and open body posture. Avoid crossing your arms and excessive gesturing. Your body language should exude confidence and interest.

Step 4 – Prepare questions for the recruiter

Asking questions of the recruiter during the interview is important, both to understand the job offer and to demonstrate your interest and commitment. What questions are worth asking? Here are some examples that will also work for job offers abroad:

• What are the specific responsibilities of this position?
• Could you describe a typical working day?
• Is experience necessary or is it possible to train for this function?
• What are the standard working hours and is it possible to work overtime?
• Does the company offer support in completing formalities related to staying and working in the Netherlands?
• Does the company provide transport to the workplace or offer accommodation for foreign employees?

Step 5 – Remember to dress and look appropriate

Choose appropriate clothing that will make you feel more confident and professional, regardless of whether the meeting takes place in person or online. Taking care of your appearance and first impression is equally important during an online conversation as well as a traditional one.

To sum up, preparing for a job interview, regardless of whether it is for a job in the country or abroad, requires preparation and attention. First, carefully check the company or employment agency, get to know its history, values, and the industry in which it operates, which will help avoid possible misunderstandings. Then prepare answers to typical recruitment questions about your experience, skills and motivation. In the case of an online conversation, it is also worth taking care of the technical aspects of the conversation, such as the operation of the equipment. Also remember to prepare questions for the recruiter to better understand the job offer and conditions. Don’t underestimate the importance of appropriate clothing and appearance, which undoubtedly influence the first impression. Taking care of all these issues will make you feel more confident and increase your chances of success in the recruitment process.

What does a recruitment interview at the Duijndam Works Employment Agency look like?

After receiving your application, which you can send by applying to one of our job offers or directly completing the registration form, we will contact you by phone and offer a recruitment interview. You choose whether you want to visit one of our offices in person (Opole, Den Haag or Rotterdam) or prefer an online conversation via one of the messengers. The conversation can take place in one of the following languages: Polish, English, Dutch, Romanian, Ukrainian, Slovak or Hungarian. After reviewing your application, we want to get to know you better, so during the interview, one of our experienced recruitment department employees will ask questions, including: regarding your availability, experience, language skills, possession of a driving license and other qualifications, as well as professional preferences. The next step in the conversation will be to present you the conditions we offer to our employees – we will tell you, among others: about the possibility of using company accommodation, transport to work and formalities related to employment. After completing the recruitment interview, we will carefully analyze your candidacy and match it to appropriate job offers. Then, we will contact you to present you a job offer. Our goal is to provide you with full support and answers to all your questions so that you can start your new job in the Netherlands with confidence and comfort. We welcome your application and look forward to helping you with your career!