INTERVIEW SKILLS

INTERVIEW SKILLS Bruce Woodcock University of Kent Careers and Employability Service You can download a copy of this presentation at www.kent.ac.uk/careers/slides.htm

CVs and Applications • Science CV www.kent.ac.uk/careers/cv/sciencecv.htm • Science covering letter www.kent.ac.uk/careers/cv/placementletter.htm • Application forms www.kent.ac.uk/careers/applicn.htm The best way to learn how to excel at application forms is to do the “Analyse your skills and learn to make top quality applications” assignment in the Moodle Careers Employability Award. (More about this later!)

Skills gained on a science Degree • Gather and analyse relevant information from a wide variety of sources • Identify and propose solutions to problems • Project management • Technical skills • Work independently (individual projects) • Communicate with others in a clear and articulate manner • Present ideas and arguments verbally in presentations and seminars, and informal discussions • Sell these on your CV, applications and interviews!

“Sell” your degree • List relevant modules (plus marks if good!) • Projects – especially if relevant • Laboratory skills/IT skills • Soft skills – evidence of teamwork, project management, problem solving etc. • For non-science jobs (e.g. banking) you would need a different CV focusing on your soft skills more than technical skills.

Competency Questions • The hardest part of the form for most applicants - asking for examples of specific skills such as teamwork, leadership, problem solving e.g. • Describe how your personal planning and organisation resulted in the successful achievement of a personal or group task. • Give an example of where others have disagreed with your views. How did you deal with this? • http://prezi.com/0y-aknjsspdh/making-applications-using-the-star-approach/

Application Process The smaller company process is much simpler and you can apply much later (often after final exams) but salaries are usually lower and they offer less training and less chance to specialise.

RESEARCHING THE EMPLOYER AND THE JOB • May not be able to find out much about small companies - research the industry and ask questions. www.kent.ac.uk/careers/sk/commercialawareness.htm

BODY LANGUAGE • Dress smartly • Shake hands warmly, but wait to be invited to sit down. • Smile • Try to relax - don’t sit on the edge of your chair, but don’t slouch. • Speak clearly and not too fast • Don’t fidget

PREPARE ANSWERS TO OBVIOUS QUESTIONS • Why are you applying to our company in particular? • Why have you chosen to study biology? • What makes you suitable for a placement? • Where do you see yourself in five years? • What have you got out of University? • What skills have you got?

COMPETENCY-BASED QUESTIONS Describe a situation where you had to ..... • show leadership • make a difficult decision • overcome a difficult obstacle • refuse to compromise • work with others to solve a problem

COMPETENCY-BASED QUESTIONS • Start by briefly outlining the situation • Keep the focus on your specific tasks or responsibilities • Say what action you took, then try to summarise what you achieved • Give concrete results when possible. • If you cannot be totally positive about the experience, say what you learned from it. • Situation/Tasks/Action/Result www.kent.ac.uk/careers/compet/skillquest.htm

Bioscience Interview Questions • What is the polymerase chain reaction? • What do HIV, IgG, PEG2 stand for? • What structure does NH2-CH2-COOH belong to? • Suggest a route to synthesise ethylene glycol • Technical questions about electron microscopes, ice cores, ice conductivity. • About my final year project (synthesis of dendrivers) • Revise your project and relevant topics covered in your degree.

HYPOTHETICAL QUESTIONS • "How would you deal with an irate customer?” • You are the manager of a lab and rising microbial counts had been observed going past acceptable levels in the water supply of the production lab. What would you do to investigate and address this? (GSK) • BA pilot - asked what he would do if he met the captain wearing a dress in the hotel bar.

HYPOTHETICAL QUESTIONS • Used because it's impossible to work out your answer beforehand. • Test your ability to think quickly, logically, produce practical solutions. • Don't panic! Take a few seconds to think - this shows confidence. • Just try to think of one or two sensible things to say to start off. • There may be many possible solutions.

PREPARE QUESTIONS TO ASK • DON’T ASK about holidays, pensions and parking facilities. • DO ASK about training, career development and the work itself.

REAL QUESTIONS FROM CANDIDATES • What is your Zodiac sign? • Do I have to dress for the next interview? • I know this is off the subject, but will you marry me? • Will the company pay to relocate my horse? • When is pay day? • Would it be a problem if I'm angry most of the time? • Why am I here?

PREPARE QUESTIONS TO ASK • How is performance at work assessed? • Can you give me more details of your training programme? • What equipment would I be using? • What is the ‘‘work culture’’? i.e. informal, formal, do people work autonomously, does everyone come in early, stay late? • What are the challenges that your organisation is facing? • What is your personal experience of working for this organisation?

FOLLOWING UP • The interviewer will probably let you know when you’ll know the result. If they haven't made this clear, ask! • The next stage may be a second interview or selection centre. • After the interview, make notes on the questions asked and what you could have done better.

PRACTICE INTERVIEWS ONLINE • Teaching, postgrad. study, scientific research, IT and finance etc. www.kent.ac.uk/careers/interviews/mockivs.htm • Answers to 150 interview questions www.kent.ac.uk/careers/interviews/ivquest.htm • Telephone interviews http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/ivphone.htm

Assessment Centres • Assessment Centres www.kent.ac.uk/careers/applicn.htm#Selection • Coping with group exercises www.kent.ac.uk/careers/sk/teamwork.htm • Presentation skills www.kent.ac.uk/careers/presentationskills.htm

Streamed videos • On-line Applications • Interviews • Assessment Centres www.kent.ac.uk/careers/IntVid.htm

Duty Careers Adviser • A Duty Careers Adviser is available to help with queries between 10.30 am to 12.30 p.m. and 2 to 4 p.m. every day. • No appointment needed - just drop in. Other Presentations. www.kent.ac.uk/careers/casevents.htm

Science Careers Employability Award www.kent.ac.uk/careers/moodle.htm Direct link to the award: https://moodle.kent.ac.uk/moodle/course/view.php?id=3654 Email bw@kent.ac.uk if you have problems enrolling

Bruce Woodcock You can download a copy of this presentation at www.kent.ac.uk/careers/slides.htm

PREPARATION - THE KEY TO SUCCESS • Research the employer and the job • Prepare answers to obvious questions • Think of your unique selling points • Think of how you would answer questions about your weaknesses • Prepare some questions to ask • Dress smartly • Leave plenty of time to get there

INTERVIEW SKILLS