Marketing your PPLS and other skills and experience to graduate employers – at a job interview

1. Marketing your PPLS and other skills and experience to graduate employers – at a job interview Janet Forsyth Careers Adviser

2. What we’ll cover….. • Brief introduction to interviews – general and PPLS–specific • Interview fears • Opportunity to practice • Conclusions and feedback • Further support

3. Preparation • Basic Practicalities • Research • Practice

4. The interview • Types of interview-formats • Non-verbal communication and body language • Your answers: advice • Your questions: dos and don’ts • Their questions (1): • common questions, • strength-based; • Technical/vocational • unexpected questions; • hypothetical; • ….. and degree-based and competency Qs……

5. About your degree…. ‘when you consider your courses, don’t just think about the grades you achieved in the end, but the new skills you gained along the way.’ recent PPLS grad • Why did you choose your degree subject /university? • What value is the study of philosophy in the workplace? • What have you gained from your degree that’s of value/interest to us? • How is the study of philosophy relevant to our work? • What skills have you developed from your studies that equip you to work with us?

6. From recent philosophy grads…. • ‘strong analytical and communication skills, understand formal structure of arguments and weigh up pros and cons , research skills, gather, sift and sort key information….’ grad 2009, Policy Officer • ‘Logic skills (accountancy is much more about logic than maths. Balance sheets are just big logic puzzles)’ grad 2011, trainee accountant • ‘Time management and self-discipline’ grad 2011, HR manager • ‘think rationally and analytically…makes tackling big problems a lot easier.’ grad 2008, creative director

7. Some ideas for skills…… • Philosophy skills: • analyse and construct sound arguments; • distinguish fine differences between views and find common ground; • present ideas convincingly through well-constructed, systematic arguments; • write clearly and persuasively; • generate ideas and come up with solutions to problems; • be open to new ideas and ways of thinking. • General skills: • self-motivation and the capacity for independent study and thought; • the ability to prioritise work and meet deadlines; • flexibility and creativity; • the ability to identify, absorb and sift complex information; • team working; • increased knowledge of IT. • Other PPLS subjects..

8. Skills / competency based questions • Aim to elicit evidence of a certain skill • Are based on the theory that past behaviour predicts future performance • From your research you can predict the skills they will ask about • Pick and prepare examples from a range of different experiences • For example: Tell me about a time when you worked effectively in a team? What was your role? How did you contribute to the team’s success?

9. Using the STAR structure • Situation – be specific and focused • Task – outline the challenge presented • Action – detail what YOU did • Result – sum up positively

10. Your turn…..! • Interview pairs: • Interviewer/observer • Interviewee • In pairs • choose a job to focus on • decide on 2 questions, one philosophy, one competency (related to role) • give interviewee 2 minutes to structure answers • interviewer ask questions; use checklist for observation • give feedback (feedback sandwich) • swap roles

11. Summary • Research • Prepare • Practice

12. Where to find additional • Information Centre: RED Interview section • Including interview feedback and takeaway booklets • Making an Impact and First Impressions Count - DVDs online, plus others to view in the information centres • Job Applications & Interviews – from Careers Service website • Practice interviews with an adviser • video practice via Careers MyEd channel • Practice assessment centres • Discussion with a careers adviser (20 mins - bookable on day)