GET PREPARED
- Research the employer's desired skills and attributes desired from the job description:
- Identify your relevant skills and experience for the role.
- Check STAR (situation, task, action and result) technique.
- Do a research about the company by using the website and social media (LinkedIn, Glassdoor and etc.).
- Research the job using the job description and other occupational sources such as Prospects or from UK's national careers' website
- UK's national careers's website will give you all the detailed information including salary range.
- Plan the route and if possible practice the journey prior to your interview.
- Check the interviewer's
- name,
- job title and
- phone number (it will give you the opportunity to ring the interviewer in case of getting late).
- Dress suit/smart business attire, formal shoes – no trainers.
EXPECTED QUESTIONS YOU MAY BE ASKED
Competency questions – give best-suited examples from your past experiences.
- Eg. Teamwork – ‘Describe a situation in which you were a member of a team. What did you do to positively contribute to it?’
- Use the STAR technique to answer these types of questions.
Motivation questions (or strength-based questions)
– Eg., ‘Which tasks do you get the most satisfaction from?’ ‘What interests you about working for this organization?’ ‘What do you think you would find most challenging in the role?’
‘Difficult’ questions – eg, ‘What is your biggest weakness?’ or ‘If you were an animal/biscuit, what would you be?’
Chronological – the questions link directly to your CV or completed application form.
Technical – for technical knowledge-based jobs. Questions may focus on what you are doing in your final-year project, or on real or hypothetical technical situations. Use positive/strong language in your responses.
INTERVIEW DAY!
Arriving on time and switching off your phone are important aspects.
Smile and shake the interviewer’s hand.
Be clear about your achievements, be positive about your weaknesses but be honest and truthful. Highlight your enthusiasm for the role and why you are the best person for the job.
Show you are interested and engaged, stay calm and maintain eye contact.
Give yourself time before answering questions and don’t be afraid to ask the interviewer to repeat anything you don’t understand. You can even come back to the question later in the interview if you wish.
Prepare a list of questions you would like to ask at the end of the interview.
PRACTICE USING THE STAR TECHNIQUE
The STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) format is an interview technique used to answer competency-based questions such as ‘Tell me about a time that you solved a problem to a tight timescale.’
SITUATION
Present a recent challenge or situation
TASK
What did you achieve?
ACTION
What did you do, why did you do it that way and what were the alternatives?
RESULT
What was the outcome of your actions, what did you achieve and did you meet your objectives?
What did you learn and have you put this knowledge into practice?
University of Birmingham, University of Berdfordshire
Cover image: Job Interview
References
University of Birmingham
University of Berdfordshire
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