Successful Interviews

Successful Interviews Making the most of the interview

Aim of the presentation • To encourage students to approach graduate recruitment strategically • To assist students to assess their skills, attributes and aptitude and match with job vacancy requirements • To assist students to improve their graduate job interview preparation and performance

Overview • Preparing for interviews • The interview experience • Your presentation at an interview • Questions to expect and to ask • Different types of interview • Assessment Centre • Psychometric Tests • Interview resources

Interviews • Interview = A meeting with an objective • Employer’s objective is to find the best person for the job • Employer: reviews candidate’s experience and abilities • Can you do the job? (skills, abilities, qualifications) • Will you do the job? (interest, attitude & motivation) • How will you fit into the organisation? (personality) • You: impress employer and assess position on offer • What does this position offer me? • How does it fit with my career plans? • You must prove that you are the most suitable candidate for this position

Preparation is the key to success • Review own skills, experiences and qualities • Check CV • Anticipate questions and identify relevant examples • Prepare key selling points • Research the organisation • Websites, reports, articles, company literature, etc • Contacts with knowledge of organisation or sector • Relevant articles in the press • Personal visit or telephone call • Research the position and occupational area • Job description – or similar • Current issues • Prepare your questions • Practice

Practice • List likely questions • Brainstorm answers • In front of a mirror • Use an audiotape • Use a video camera • Practice with friends • Attend workshop • Refine technique • Interview others

Take your portfolio to job interviews • Job advertisement • Duty statement/Position Description • A hard copy of your job application • A copy of your resume • Academic transcripts • Examples of your work • References • Info about the organisation • Prepared questions • Location details • Names of the interviewers • Anything else requested by the interviewer e.g. identification, completed forms

Interview stages • Greeting • Introductions • Warm up question • Formal interview • Invitation to ask questions • Closing

Watch the Body Language • First impressions very powerful • Halo effect or Devil effect • Allow time to relax • Dress appropriately • Entrance, introductions & handshake • Smile and make eye contact • Be aware of own movements • Watch body language of interviewer

Anticipate the questions • Get-to-know-you questions • Technical questions • Behavioural questions (questions about your experience) • Hypothetical questions

Typical Questions • About you • Tell me about yourself - Bring me up to date with your CV? • Why did you choose that particular degree programme? • What experience have you had that is relevant to this post? • What would you consider your major achievements to date? • About the job • What interests you about this job? • What do you know about this organisation? • What other options are you considering? • How do you see your career developing – 5 years? • If you were Head of Department, what would be your priorities? • General knowledge • What do you think of the Government’s policy on college fees? • What’s your opinion of the Doomsday Vault project?

Competency-based Interviews • Company identifies key skills required for job • Designs questions to elicit evidence of skills • Emphasis on past behaviour as predictor of success • Teamwork:Describe a team project you worked on. What problems arose? How did you deal with them? • Communication Skills:Describe situation when you had to persuade others to support your view. Give an example of any reports you’ve written which illustrate your writing skills • Interpersonal skills: What kinds of people do you find it difficult to work with? How do you handle those situations? • Taking Responsibility:Describe a time when you took responsibility to achieve a challenging goal • Problem-solving: Tell about a time when you had several tasks to manage at one time with conflicting deadlines.

Responding to Competency Q - Structuring your answer • Q Give me an example of a problem you encountered. How did you approach it. What was the outcome? • STAR response • S: Describe the situation • T: Explain the task/problem that arose. Goal? • A: What action did you take? Strategy? • R: What was the result or outcome? What did you learn from this experience?

Employer needs Communication Team work Leadership Initiative Customer Care IT Commercial awareness Your evidence Presentation to class Example from team projects Class rep, Committee Fundraising for charity Working in a supermarket Designed website Business magazines Matching Skills to Requirements

Your Answers • Listen carefully, seek clarification • Illustrate answers with real examples and evidence • Be positive – constructive criticism • Keep answers specific and succinct • Take time to respond • Be alert to interviewer’s body language • Speak clearly, smile and show enthusiasm • Know what you want to say, and find the opportunity

Qualities Employers Seek • Good all-round intelligence • Enthusiasm, commitment and motivation • Good communication skills • Team work ability • Ability to solve problems • Capacity to work hard • Initiative and self-reliance • Balanced personality

Competencies required by X Company • Adaptability • Integrity • Innovation • Drive for Results • Know the Business • Open Exchange of Information • Makes Difficult Decisions

Interview Marking Sheet

What creates a bad impression • Poor personal appearance • Ringing mobile phone • Negative attitude – evasive, using excuses • Lack of interest and enthusiasm • Lack of preparation • Poor knowledge of role • Failure to give concrete examples of skills • Over emphasis on money/rewards • Lack of career plan

Types Of Interviews • Rotating • Like one-to-one with different interviewers • Via recruitment agency • Telephone • Group • 6-8 candidates • Group observed while discussing topic • Be aware of group interaction • Panel • 2-5 interviewers, or as many as 13!! • Try to identify different roles • Respond to interviewer, include others through eye contact • May involve presentation • Training/trial days • Case studies

Telephone Interviews • Prepare as thoroughly as for ‘real’ interview • Select comfortable, private, quiet place • Advise flatmates re answering phone • Have copy of CV and company information • Have pen and paper at hand • Prepare for usual interview questions • Practice on phone • Record answers • Try standing • Smile and use gestures • Avoid monotones • Be yourself - don’t forget your personality

Assessment Centres • Company premises or neutral venue • Includes social or informal events • Meeting with recent graduates or managers • Activities include: • Group exercises • Practical tasks and exercises • Report writing • Oral Presentations • Psychometric assessments • Interviews • Simulates real work environment

Assessment Centres • In a group interview or assessment situation: • Contribute but don’t dominate • Be inclusive of other people’s ideas • Use active listening techniques, clarify input from others • Assist the group to come to decisions • Summarise at appropriate points • Ensure someone is keeping an eye on the timing • Use breaks to build good relations with others • Treat others as colleagues, not competitors

Difficult questions • Take your time • Ask for clarification • Use the thinking time • Structure your response • Give an example • Don’t bluff

Psychometric Tests • Aptitude Tests- measure skills relevant to position • Verbal comprehension - evaluate logic of text • Numerical reasoning - interpret statistical data • Diagrammatic reasoning - recognise patterns • Watch timing – complete as many as possible • Personality Questionnaires • Look at personality style • No right or wrong answers • Be spontaneous, don’t try to second-guess • Tests include built-in checks • Employers may be looking for different personality profiles • Practice using online tests using websites

Closing an interview • Allow the interviewer to signal the close • Read the signals and obey accordingly! • Listen carefully for further contact information e.g. notification details • Have some prepared and relevant enquiry if invited to ask questions • Thank each interviewer individually

After the Interview Review own performance thank-you email what went well what went badly what you wished you had said prepare for next stage Invitation to second/final round interviews assessment centre psychometric testing panel interview Rejection letter/email if you can request feedback - use it

Common interview questions • What appeals to you about this job? • Where is the industry heading in the next 3-5 years? • Tell us about a significant achievement • Describe a time you had to motivate someone to do something • What are your strengths? • What are your weak spots? • What is important to you in your work? • How do you cope with change? • Why did you choose to study at the University of? • How do others describe you? • Why should we select you?

Case Interviews • Work on a business problem or estimating exercise • Perform basic calculations with large numbers • Structure your answer • Demonstrate your ability to solve complex problems and your analytical thought processes and logic • Can be interactive, ask questions, seek clarification, brainstorm • One on one style interview • Take notes, use a whiteboard • The interviewer will observe and answer questions

Your Questions • Training programmes • Career development opportunities • Types of projects & responsibilities • Reporting structure • Profile of staff • Questions about topics raised in interview • What happens next?

Questions you could ask • What are your expectations of the successful applicant? • Does the organisation have a mentoring scheme? • What are the quality standards for this role? • How will my work be evaluated? • Do you support further study? • Is it possible to rotate through different divisions? • How does your organisation ‘give back’ to the community? • If I were to be successful for this job, how do you suggest I prepare for my first week in the role? • Do you have any questions or concerns about my qualifications or experience that I may answer for you?

Example Describe a time when you demonstrated high level skills in organisation and time management in a marketing role • Situation While on student placement in the Careers Centre, my role was to assist the Industry Development Manager to organise the 2007 Careers Fair at the University. • Task I reviewed and redeveloped the marketing strategies to students and employers. I also assisted with organising the logistics of venue hire, catering, security and exhibition hire. • Action One of the key methods to advertise the Fair to students each year is the postcards that are mailed out to final year students. I designed the postcard this year to fit with the theme of ‘Carnivale’. The timing of the student advertising campaign was scheduled for March and April and included the postcards, banners, flyers and posters. I used Project Management software to plan and manage the scheduling. • Result Over 80 employers exhibited at the Fair which was the largest number to date and over 2500 students attended. Feedback from both employers and students was positive. I received a certificate of appreciation for my role in organising the student marketing campaign.

Example Describe a time when you demonstrated leadership and decision making • Situation While in my final year I worked on a team-based project where we were required to produce XXX to industry standards. • Task There were 5 other students in this team and although there was no designated leader, we each took on a leadership role. I tended to be the team coordinator–ensuring tasks were allocated according to strengths, progress was made and deadlines were met. • Action I liaised with the academics and industry contacts regularly and read widely on the topic to provide the broad perspective required of this type of project. My ability to analyse available data and guide the group in joint decision-making was an important element in the success of the project. • Result I have developed skills in managing meetings and discussions. We receive a High Distinction and presented at a faculty meeting to visiting academics and industry representatives.

Handling Nerves • Everyone gets a bit nervous: learn to use your adrenalin to advantage • Practice LISTENING and your interview response technique • Remember that most interview situations are supportive • Tell the panel if you are feeling particularly nervous but otherwise don’t apologise for being nervous • Take a deep breath and remember to keep breathing • Keep your talking pace modulated (don’t babble!) • Recognise and manage the physical symptoms e.g. sweaty palms, mind goes blank, perspiration, lump in throat, butterflies, twitchy hands • Take application form, notes, resume, reports • DON”T FORGET YOUR PERSONALITY – BE YOURSELF!

Improving Your Interview and Follow up • Review your resume and application • Add to your skills audit • Call and ask for feedback • Focus on the positive • Keep improving • Keep motivated • Send a thank you note or email if appropriate • Celebrate! • Take time out to reflect • Record the questions they asked • Record the answers you gave • Jot down improvements you could make • Review your preparation • Review your behaviour and dress • Talk it over with someone

Remember • They are assessing you and you are assessing them • See the interview as a chance to share information • Not all interviewers are skilled at interviewing • It takes time to get a job – don’t give up • Maintain your energy, set small goals each day • Have back-up plans GOOD LUCK!

Successful Interviews