How to stand out in
interviews - Finding
the right job
L5 PSP 2 Module
Annette Phillips
Bioscience and Chemistry Employment
Adviser
Aims of session
• Interview preparation and evidencing
your skills
• Interview Types
• Formal/informal
• Telephone interviews
• video interviews
• Technical and competence based
• Assessment centres and psychometric
tests
• Presentations
• How to maximise chances of securing
placement/summer placement or
relevant work experience
Researching the Company
or Organisation is Key
Look at their:
• Core business and values
• Culture and mission
• Role or products
Use its website, recruitment brochure, newspapers, trade
journals and other internet sources.
If it is a research or education institute Look at published
papers of supervisor or Department personell
Researching the Job
• Pay close attention to the job advert – they vary in detail,
length and clarity
• The Job Description and Person Specification contain
requirements of; knowledge/experience/skills/abilities
• You need to ask if they are a good match to what
you can offer
Prospects website http://www.prospects.ac.uk/sectors.htm
explore types of jobs
industry insights
Evidence skills using STAR
Situation - briefly describe the where/when/who
Task - outline the task or objective (what you hoped to
achieve).
Action - describe what you did - focus on your role and your
input. Spend most time on this part.
Result - what the outcome was and what skills you
developed. What would you do differently next time?
Evidencing Your Skills
Activity
Skills Acquired
Practical Degree project/module
• Designed and conducted experiments
• Wrote up and presented work to the
department
• Biochemical techniques, PCR, culturing cells
• Self-driven and motivated, communication
skills (writing and presenting)
• Interpretation and analytical skills, accuracy
and precision
Voluntary work experience
• Worked on a conservation project
• Team working and cooperation
• Fieldwork skills and fitness levels
• Understanding of ecology
Bar work during first year
• Excellent communication skills – negotiating
and dealing with difficult customers
Types of interview
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1:1
panel
telephone
video
technical or
competency based
• formal/informal
• part of an
assessment centre
Informal - 1:1
Questions asked last yr for trainee Biomedical
scientist placement(Sheffield)
General:
Tell me about your course and how you are
getting on.
What are your interests outside University?
Where did you see this job advert and how did
you apply?
Cont
Lab based:
Give an e.g. of where you have practised manual dexterity in a
lab.
Give an example of a practical in your lab classes and what
skills you gained.
What are the sub disciplines of micro biology?
Professional:
What does IBMS stand for and what are their values.
If successful how will you balance a F/T job and completing
IBMS portfolio?
There is no payment for this placement how would you
manage financially?
Telephone interviews
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Telephone interviews are increasingly popular and are often used to:
screen out candidates at an early stage
conduct a follow up or final stage interview
interview candidates from wide geographical areas
The questions in a telephone interview are often exactly the same as in a
face-to-face format and you should prepare in the same way. Additional
things to consider include:
make sure you have a quiet space to take the call
have your notes nearby but try and keep them organised (no paper
shuffling!)
avoid long silences and use active listening skills - words are all you have!
consider dressing formally - it will put you in the right frame of mind
• http://targetjobs.co.uk/careers-advice/interview-types/273645-how-tohandle-a-telephone-interview
Video interviews
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2nd stage application filter
Telephone interview replacement (typically)
Fast and flexible for recruiters to administer
Flexible for candidates, reduces waiting times
Used by BT, Morrisons, British Council, UK Power
Networks, Nestle, RISE...
• Tend to be competency/situational questions
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0dmjQRA5I
s
Technical and competence based
interviews
• http://targetjobs.co.uk/careersadvice/interview-types/275401-technicalinterviews-for-graduate-roles-the-basics
Competence based
Question
e.g. 'Describe an occasion when you performed
effectively as part of a team'
Analyse:
o What is the question designed to reveal? Which part of job
spec does it relate to?
o Use specific examples to demonstrate skill/competency
o Reflect on past experience - jobs/course/placement etc.
o Discuss your personal contribution not the group's
Scientific / Technical Questions:
Prepare
– research the company's main activities
– what techniques are mentioned in the job description
– ask students who’ve had interview
Common Question topics:
• Calculations! (Molarities, dilutions, unit conversions etc.)
• Job specific (theory, practical)
• Discussion of practical work done at SHU
Other 'Awkward' Questions our Students have
Faced:
• Topical questions
• Weaknesses
• Meeting deadlines
• Recovering from a ‘bad’ question
– Try to be enthusiastic
– Show other strengths
Assessment other than
‘the interview’:
activities our students have faced
• Informal assessment – coffee, lab tour, meeting current students
(including ours)
• Group activities:
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Problem solving
Leadership / team working
Listening
Motivating
Discussing
• Oral presentations
• Aptitude tests (eg.s on www.prospects.ac.uk)
Assessment centres
• 1 or 2 days
• A number of candidates present
• A number of company representatives may
attend
• Range of different activities
• Assessed against selection criteria rather than
competing with other candidates
• See careers central
http://careerscentral.shu.ac.uk/cv-applicationsinterviews/assessment-centres-0
What do they involve?
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Presentations
group exercises
Psychometric tests
In - Tray simulations
interview(s)
social time
Psychometric tests
• Profiling for Success -Logins available from the
Careers and Employment enquiry desk.
Enables you to practice.
• Psychometric – or aptitude – tests are a way
of assessing your skills in certain areas. They
tend to be online and will typically test your
numerical skills, verbal reasoning,
diagrammatic reasoning and data
interpretation skills within a time limit.
Presentations
• Usually 10 - 15 minutes
• May be able to use visual aids
• May be able to prepare previously or might have to do
on the spot
Employers are looking for;
- How you organize and use information
- Whether you can communicate effectively
- How you cope under pressure
See Careers central
http://careerscentral.shu.ac.uk/assessmentcentres/presentations
Have a go!
Work in pairs and imagine one person
is Interviewer and the other person is
Interviewee. Take it in turns to
describe 3 qualities or skills you
possess that would make you a good
employee. Provide the evidence that
backs this up.
Afterwards give each other some
feedback on how this came across. As
the interviewer were you convinced?
Prepare and practice
answers to potential
questions
• think about which questions you may
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be asked - refer to the job
description and person
specification
prepare your 'ideal' answers,
making sure your answers are
relevant to the role and the
company
provide specific examples about
your experience that relate to what
the employer is looking for evidence your skills using the STAR
system
write your answers down to use as a
'crib' sheet to use to practise for
the interview - practise saying the
words out loud
contact SHU Employment Bioscience
Adviser to have a practice
During the interview
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it is common to feel nervous
before and during an interview
be appropriately presented,
first impressions really do
count!
be aware of your body language,
try to appear relaxed and
confident - be friendly, smile
and maintain eye contact,
remember to breath!
focus and concentrate on the
conversation,
behave professionally throughout
be enthusiastic about the
position, the company and the
industry
if you don't understand a
question, ask for clarification
be positive
After the interview
• be patient in waiting for the decision
• self evaluation of your performance reflect on the process but don't be too
hard on yourself
• seek feedback from the interviewer
• regardless of the outcome, remain
positive - all interviews can add to your
future success even if you don't get the
role
• think about what you have learnt from
the experience and how you can
perform even better next time.
How to succeed - the 3
Ps
"An interview is all about the
three Ps. You need to prepare,
you need to practise, and
then, on the day, you need to
perform.”
Rob Yeung, Business Psychologist
Ways of securing a placement
• Through the placement officer at SHU Sarah Nile opportunities advertised on placement Bbd site or AT4
• Speculative applications – look on company websites for
details of 1 yr internships/ placements e.g. Reckitt
Benckiser
• Summer placements, Society of Biology on website lists a
number of schemes (AstraZeneca, Cancer research uk,
also IAESTA an international scheme backed by British
Council)
• Year in industry website http://www.etrust.org.uk/theyear-in-industry
Science and Health Fair (Oct 23 2014)
Follow up some of employers at the Fair offering placements
CK Science
Cogent Sector skills council
Covance
Croda International
Darwin Healthcare communications
Diabetes UK
Doncaster ITT Partnership
Eurofins Agroscience services Ltd
Nature jobs
New Scientist jobs Target jobs
Exhibitor List and info still available at
http://www.sheffieldcareersfairs.ac.uk/recruitmentfairs/2014_sh/visitors/exhibitor_list/
Other ways to get relevant Experience
• Get a Part time job or campus job Shuspace>Employability Tab>Part time or
campus jobs
• Volunteer
http://careerscentral.shu.ac.uk/gettingexperience/volunteering
Specialist Biosciences and Chemistry Careers
& Employment Advice
• Preparing targeted CV's and
applications
• Gaining work experience
• Jobsearch
• Interview preparation, including
practice or 'mock'interviews
Make appointments by contacting me
at a.phillips@shu.ac.uk or or book in at
the Bioscience Helpdesk Owen
Level 7.
Annette
Phillips,
Employment
Adviser
Careers and Employment offers you:
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Careers advice and job seeking support appointments
Careers Central web site
Practical workshops and information sessions
Practice interviews and selection activities
LinkedIn surgeries to manage your online profile
Employer presentations and recruitment fairs
Access to casual and part-time work on and off campus
Specialist advice for students with disabilities
Career Mentoring with professionals in the sector
Specialist support for international students
.......and graduate jobs and schemes for when you leave
Careers and Employability Centre
City Campus (next to main University entrance)
Telephone: 0114 225 3752
email: careers@shu.ac.uk