Make the most of your interview

The interview is your chance to show the employer that you are the right person for the job. These tips are intended to help you to success.

Prepare

• Read the job description, person specification and any other information in the application pack. What do they tell you about what the organisation is looking for?
• Think about your own skills, knowledge and experience and match these to what is required. Try to pick out examples from your own experience to match what the organisation is looking for.
• Keep a copy of your CV or application form so you know what you have already told the employer.
• Read up on the organisation. Annual reports, websites, marketing materials, press reports etc. will give you valuable information on the culture, values and direction of the organisation you are applying to.
• Prepare some questions to ask your interviewers. These should help you to reach a decision about whether the job is the one for you. Try to ask questions that show your interest and suitability for the post; avoid questions which have been answered in the recruitment pack and, at this stage, questions about money and time off! You can always ask these questions when you are offered the job.

First impressions

• It is often said that a first impression is created in as little as 3 to 6 seconds. People are then inclined to ignore information which conflicts with the first impression. Hopefully your interviewer will be trained and will not rush to a swift judgment. However try to make sure that the first impression you create is a good one.
• Take care with your appearance. Arrive in good time. Be pleasant to everyone you meet.
• Act confidently with a firm handshake and comfortable eye contact.
• Take your cue from your interviewer. If you are taken on a tour of the building match your pace to that of your host. If you walk too slowly you may give the impression that you can’t work at the speed required for the job.

The interview

• Research suggests that only 7% of communication is in the words used, the rest is made up of tone of voice and non verbal cues (body language). Body language is more difficult to control than words so if there is conflict between your words and your body language you are unlikely to be believed.
• Maintain comfortable eye contact with your interviewers, if there is more than one don’t forget to engage with each of them.
• Listen to questions carefully. Ask for clarification if you are unsure.
• Answer positively, giving examples from your experience.
• Be concise and watch your interviewer’s body language to gauge whether or not your answer is full enough. You need to give the interviewer enough information to make a decision but stop talking before they get bored.
• You will often be given an opportunity to ask questions at the end of the interview. Remember your interviewer will still be judging you at this point so avoid too many questions about pay and time off as they could suggest that’s all you care about. Questions about possible career development opportunities , especially when linked to information about the organisation’s development plans, can be a good idea. However don’t be overly ambitious or it may look like you are only wanting this job as a stepping stone.

Answering questions

• Many organisations are moving to competency based selection processes. They will have identified the skills required to do the job successfully and will want you to present evidence that you have those skills.
• The difference between a competency based interview and a traditional one is that you will be asked to give examples from your experience (When have you…?)  rather than a hypothetical question (How would you…?)
• You should be able to identify the skills the employer is looking for in the person specification. Plan for the interview by thinking of times when you have used those skills, what did you do? If you haven’t used those skills in a work situation where else might you have used them. For example, if you’ve never managed a work budget you may have managed a fund raising event, a holiday with other people, a family or personal budget.
• You will be asked questions such as: 'Tell me about a time when you had to….., what did you do?’ or ‘Give me an example of…'
• The most important word in these answers is ‘I’. Be proud, take ownership and talk about your personal role. Avoid the temptation to talk about ‘we’, even if you did work in a team.
• Many employers will ask questions about your strengths and weaknesses. Try to find some strengths related to the skills required for the job but be careful in your answer about weaknesses. Good answers will talk about over commitment or over enthusiasm but always include what you are doing to overcome the weakness. Avoid highlighting a weakness in a skill required in the person specification.  So ‘I’m a bit of a perfectionist and have to be careful not to spend too long on a project’ is a much better answer than ‘I’m not very good at time management.’

At the end of the interview

• Try to finish the interview on a positive note.  If there is something important that you haven’t been asked try to introduce it before you leave, perhaps when you are asked if you have any questions.
• If there have been any positive changes (e.g. your degree result) since you submitted your application and you haven’t been asked about them introduce the subject. ‘ You might be interested to know….’
• Thank your interviewers for their time and ask when you may hear from them.