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Interview Notes

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José Casco
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15 views16 pages

Interview Notes

Uploaded by

José Casco
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Interview Preparation

Reasons to be cheerful
▪ Your CV works
▪ You are over the biggest hurdle
▪ The employer wants to know more
▪ You have prepared and know your selling points
▪ You have prepared answers to predictable questions
▪ It is a learning experience!
Transferable skills
▪ A skill learnt/used in one context, which can be applied
in another
▪ Can be acquired through study, employment, voluntary
work, hobbies, sports etc.

▪ Examples:
▪ Oral communications skills
▪ Teamwork –
Examples of transferable skills
▪ Adaptability and flexibility ▪ Meeting skills (chairing)
▪ Administrative and ▪ Networking
organisational
▪ Numeracy
▪ Analysis and problem solving
▪ Oral
▪ Computer literacy / IT communication/presentation
▪ Instruction, teaching and ▪ People skills
supervising
▪ Research (technical,
▪ Knowledge transfer literature/internet searches)
▪ Languages ▪ Self PR – marketing yourself
▪ Management – finance, ▪ Writing - technical
projects, self, time
What are interviews for?
▪ To establish whether you have the
competencies for the job
▪ To establish your knowledge, interest and
motivation
▪ To find out what you are like
▪ To give you an opportunity to find out more
about the employer – it’s a two way process
Effective Interview Preparation
Enables you to…
▪ Make a good first impression
▪ Prepare for predictable questions
▪ Respond to selector’s criteria
▪ Answer questions effectively
▪ Present skills and experience effectively
▪ Cope with unpredictable questions
▪ Cope with increasingly probing questions
You need to research…
▪ the post offered
▪ the employer
▪ your motivation
▪ your achievements and background
▪ your skills, qualities and weaknesses
▪ your own questions
Occupational Knowledge

Ask Yourself:
▪What do I know about this type of work?
▪What attracts me to this type of work?
▪What relevant work experience have I done?
▪What kind of training/additional skills am I hoping to
gain?
▪What have I done to find out more about this kind of
work?
Self Knowledge
Ask Yourself:
▪ Why do I want the job?
▪ Why am I a suitable candidate and what evidence do I have of
this?
▪ What have I gained from my academic/employment/extra-
curricular activities?
▪ What are my career ambitions/what do I want to be doing in 5
years?
▪ What was my - best/worst decision, my greatest achievement?
▪ When did I - work in a team/solve a problem/use my initiative?
▪ What are my main strengths and weaknesses?
Your Questions

▪ Prepare two or three in advance


▪ Avoid asking questions that you may already have been
told about in the recruitment materials
▪ Recognise that questions give away how much you
know
▪ If you’re stuck, ask the individual interviewing you: “Why
did you join? How would you describe the culture here?
What do you like/dislike in your job?”
▪ If you have had all your questions answered, say so
▪ Don’t ask too many if time has run out
Body language: do’s and don’ts
▪ DO ▪ DON’T
▪ Firm handshake ▪ Limp/clammy handshake
▪ Eye contact ▪ Bring in carrier bags/clutter
▪ Smile! ▪ Wear jeans
▪ Open posture ▪ Look down
▪ Relaxed, but alert ▪ Cross arms(?)
▪ Look neat & professional ▪ Flop into chair
▪ Adopt appropriate dress code ▪ Wave arms
▪ Listen actively – ‘head nods’ ▪ Stare out of window
▪ Sit in the right seat ▪ Shake with nerves
▪ Go to the loo beforehand! ▪ Adopt a threatening posture
Interview Process - Sample Structure
▪ Introductions – process explained by
interviewer
▪ Warm up questions
▪ CV/application form questions
▪ Questions based on selection criteria –
“probing”
▪ Questions from candidate
▪ Summing up – next steps
Sample questions
▪Why do you want a career in this area?
▪Which of your achievements/ideas do you feel
most proud of? What was your contribution?
▪What do you see as the most significant personal
challenge for you in this career? What will you
have to learn or develop to be successful?
▪When have you had to think through a complex
problem, which involved analysing data,
developing options and implementing a solution
(outside academic work where possible)?
Answering questions
▪ listen carefully and answer the question
▪ seek clarification if necessary
▪ have evidence to support claims
▪ talk about your PERSONAL contributions
▪ describe positive outcomes
▪ be specific
▪ Use STAR:
▪ Situation (10%)
▪ Task (10%)
▪ Action (70%)
▪ Result (10%)
Preparation and positive attitude

▪ Make a strong first impression: smile, strong


handshake, confident body language
▪ Speak slowly and clearly
▪ Answer the question!
▪ Be sure of your strengths & how they apply
to the job
▪ Be succinct, but avoid yes/no answers
▪ Be interested and enthusiastic
▪ leave positively: thank the interviewer
After an interview…
▪ Review your performance critically - what went
well or not so well?
▪ Make some notes
▪ Ask for feedback
▪ Don’t get discouraged – treat each interview as a
chance to develop skills
▪ Good luck and have fun!

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