Do your interview skills get the thumbs up? Here you can read more about how to prepare and what to expect on the day... Click on the links below to go to more specific information...
► Preparation
► What will you wear?
► Revise
► Your qualities
► The day of the Interview
► At the Interview
► Questions you may be asked
► Other things in the Interview
Remember if you want help or advice, with preparing for an interview speak to your Connexions Personal Adviser.
► Preparation
Do some research on the company or training provider that you are applying for, use the internet or personal contacts who already work there. Don’t be afraid to contact them to ask for a company brochure or information. You need to find out:
► What they do if and if possible, what you would be expected to do in the job.
► Where are they? Some companies have more than one site or hold interviews at other venues.
Plan how you will get there and how long it will take. If you need to catch a bus check the timetable in advance or phone traveline on 0191 232 5325.
► Choose what you will wear
It is usual to go for clean smart clothes and shoes even if the job requires you to dress casually. Try to avoid extreme hairstyles or obvious body jewellery.
►Revise
Re-read the information you have (job ad and company information) Also look at application form or CV as they will ask you about what you have written.
►Your qualities
Think about what qualities you have that make you the right person for the job. It is important that you think about the questions you want to ask, these can include:
► What kind of training will I get?
► What kind of qualifications can I get?
► Who will I be working with?
► Who will I be my line manager?
► What will I be expected to do in my job?
► What opportunities are there for career progression?
►On the day of the interview, remember to take with you:
► The letter inviting you to interview or the interview details if it was arranged by phone. You should know: time, place, what job you are being interviewed for and who will be interviewing you.
► A mobile phone or change for a payphone to ring in case you are delayed.
► A copy of your CV, your qualification certificate if you have them (or predicted grades), your National insurance Number and any additional identification requested.
►At the Interview
A. Be early! This allows you time to settle down and avoids you arriving in a panic.
B. Turn off your mobile phone (if you forget and the phone goes off during the interview apologize and turn it off – never text or call during your interview).
C. Interviewers make up their minds about candidates very quickly so the instant impression you make is important:
► Smile and make eye contact as you enter the room
► Try to look confident even if you don’t feel it, 65% of the impression you give is through body language.
► If you don’t understand any question as for it to be repeated.
► At the end of the interview thank the interviewer and if they haven’t told you, ask when you will hear from them.
There are a number of different styles of interview, you may not know until you have arrived what sort of interview you will have but it may be:
► An individual interview – where you are interviewed by one person and they will decide whether to give you the job.
► A panel interview – where there are a number of interviewers who take it in turns to ask questions, they will decide together who will get the job.
► Group interview – where you and the other applicants are involved in a group task or discussion to see how well you work with others this sort of interview is often followed by an individual or panel interview.
Most interviews last between 30 minutes and 2 hours but for some jobs you might have to go through several interview stages in a single day or come back for further interviews.
►Questions you may be asked
Interviews questions are designed to explore you and your skills or abilities. They give you the opportunity to talk about yourself! You may be asked:
► Why do you want this job/ training place?
► What skills and qualification do you have that will help you do this job?
► Tell me about yourself
► What did you like best at school?
► What were your best subjects?
► Why do you think we should employ you?
► Tell me what you know about the company?
► What do you like to do in your spare time?
You may also be asked some “situational” or “scenario based” questions such as “Give me and example of when you had to deal with a difficult person, what did you do?
They are looking/ or you are giving a logical well thought out answer. Using the acronym STAR will help you:
S – Situation – what was the situation and why was it a problem.
T – Task – what needed to be done to work it out.
A – Action – what did you do to resolve the difficult.
R – Result – What happened as a result of your action
►Other things you may be asked to do in an interview :
Give a presentation – Sometimes in addition of asking questions about your skills, you are asked to give a presentation about a topic which will allow the interviewer to see them in action. Skills that a presentation can demonstrate: confidence, public speaking, research, problem solving, creativity and IT skills.
Get involved in a group task
Some employers like to give group challenges or tasks to see how well applicants can work together as a team. These can be fun like building a chair out of paper or serious such as planning a new shopping centre. The skills that they highlight are things like: team work, planning, problem solving, listening and co-operation.
Sit a test
Tests are used to allow you to show your skills and abilities in a controlled way. If for example you want to work in a clerical or administrative job you might be asked to take a typing task which determines how fast you type but also how accurate you are. For example the armed forces use entrance tests to decide which job you are suited to in jobs like being a plumber or an electrician. The test is a requirement for work in that industry.
Perform a task or undertake a work trial
Work trials are used mainly in skills based jobs where you have to be good at practical tasks. For example this may mean spending a day in a workshop being observed doing the job. Work trials are also used in jobs dealing with people for example, someone applying to become a social worker assistant may have to work alongside a social worker as part of the application process.
