How to survive an Interview

1. How to survive an Interview

2. What is an interview? • Professional conversation • Two way conversation with a purpose • Opportunity for the interviewer to gain evidence • Opportunity for the interviewee to obtain further information

3. What are competencies? • Competencies are particular qualities that an organisation feels desirable for employers to possess • During interviews and assessments competencies are used as benchmarks that assessors use to rate and evaluate candidates

4. Quick exercise to outline skills Your task In small groups consider the types of skills employers are looking for. List 5 to 10 skills. Feedback in 5 minutes

5. Competencies • Teamworking • Taking responsibility • Understanding of the company • Making decisions • Communication • Being trustworthy • Solving problems • Managing your time effectively

6. The first 60 secondsBody Language • Be on time • Dress appropriately • Maintain eye contact • Have a firm handshake • Try to relax • Smile

7. Exercise – First Impressions Your task • In pairs, take it in turns to act as the interviewer and interviewee • Interviewee – Your role is to approach the interviewer as if you have just met, shake their hand, and answer their question in 30 seconds • Interviewer – you role is to ask one question: “Tell me about yourself”

8. TechniquesProviding evidence - S T A R • Situation – Set the scene • Task – Explain what you did • Action – What actions did you take • Result – Explain what the outcome was

9. What does a bad answer look like? • Volunteer to ask an interview question • Whilst I answer, jot down why you think this answer is not going to land me the job

10. Exercise - Interview practice with peers In small groups prepare answers to the sample questions and then role play as interviewer and interviewee! OBSERVER ROLE: Role: Observe the interview and provide feedback on the answer, body language, first impression etc INTERVIEWER ROLE: Role: Ask at least one interview question and take notes on the answer INTERVIEWEE ROLE: Role: Answer the interview question(s) using the STAR technique

11. Interview practice with peers OBSERVER: Role: Observe the interview and provide feedback on the answer, body language, first impression etc • Describe a situation where you have had to work as part of a team • Give an example when you have been really stretched for a deadline and how did you achieve it? • Give an example of an occasion where you have given constructive criticism to a member of your peer group • Tell me what your greatest achievement to date has been? INTERVIEWEE: Role: Answer the interview question(s) using the STAR technique INTERVIEWER: Role: Ask at least one interview question and take notes on the answer

12. Key Tips – During your Interview • Don’t be afraid of silence. Your interviewer will be making notes • It’s perfect ably acceptable to take a moment to collect your thoughts • Don’t be afraid to ask the interviewer to repeat the question if you didn’t understand it • Be concise, do not provide long winded answers as this may detract from your main points • Don’t give one word answers. This is your opportunity to sell yourself • Do not always use the words “the company” or “we”, try to explain examples and situations as ‘I’ • Have questions prepared in advance to ask them about the job/organisation

13. Reasons for failure • Not preparing for the interview • Providing superficial information or waffling • Not listening to the questions - answering a question that ‘was not asked’