The
Careers
Service.
Careers Day
Interviews
 Interview essentials
 Mock interview
 Q&A
 Top tips
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Careers
Service.
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What to expect?
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Careers
Service.
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Types of interview
 One to one
 Panel interview
 Telephone
 Interview+
 Presentation
 Psychometric exercise
 Written exercise
 Competency-based
 Strengths-based
 Technical
You need to be ready for anything!
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Careers
Service.
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What recruiters look for...
Why you want the job
• Understanding of the role, enthusiasm and genuine interest in the
job - motivation
Why you want that company
• Knowledge and genuine interest in the company/sector
Why you are suitable for the job
• Experience – University, projects, work - what you gained
• Skills (competency based questions) – your potential
• Knowledge - about the subject / role, organisation and sector,
technical knowledge
• Hypothetical questions – reacting under pressure, judgement
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Careers
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Preparation 1: Research the job/company
Research:
 Job description, duties,
skills and
competencies required
 History and structure
 Products and services
 Clients & competitors
 Philosophy and ethos
 Significant recent
developments in the
company/industry
 Annual report and
website
 Press articles (news
sites, professional bodies
etc
 Personal contacts – e.g.
from careers fair/
employer presentations
 Social media, Twitter etc
Researching the organisation:
www.careers.dept.shef.ac.uk/info
tree/Employers.php
The
Careers
Service.
Preparation 2: Know yourself!
Remind yourself:
 What did you put on your application form/ CV?
 Review your other skills and experiences
 What are your key selling points?
 Have examples and STAR stories ready
 Situation
 Task
 Action
 Results
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Careers
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Preparation 3: Focus on how you want to
present yourself
 8% is interpreted from
the words we use
 37% from our voice –
speed, tone, pitch,
rhythm, volume etc.
 55% is what the other
person sees from our
body language
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Careers
Service.
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Body Language – First Impressions
 Is it a positive or negative
one?
 Firm handshake?
 Do you look pleased to
be there?
 Do you present the right
‘professional image?
 Are you appropriately
dressed?
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Careers
Service.
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Body Language – Non verbal
communication
 Eye contact
 Body posture /
movements
 Voice
 Speech patterns
 Facial expression
The
Careers
Service.
Typical questions
Motivations questions
Competency questions:
Strengths based questions
Hypothetical questions
Technical questions
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Motivations questions
Competency
questions:
 Why
Whatdo
is your
you want
greatest
this job
to date
and
 achievement
Why do you want
to work
why?
for this(Achievement
company?
Strengths
based questions
orientation)
Describe
an occasion
 What
makes
a good day for
Hypothetical
questions
when you have had to
you?
 work
What
would
youtodo if...
with
others
 What do you do when you
achieve
a goal.
(Team
find a task
boring?
work)
 How do you always make
 Tell
a time
sureme
youabout
do your
best?
when you have had to
 If you had a couple of hours
overcome a
free at work, what would
disappointment or
you do?
setback. (Resilience/ self
 How
do you handle working
confidence)
with people you don’t like?
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Careers
Service.
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Chance to practise...
• Tell me about yourself?
• What’s your biggest achievement to date and
why?
• Tell me of a time you have worked in a team to
achieve a goal.
• How did your contribute to the success of the task?
• How did you manage the project and ensure you met
your deadline?
• How do you handle a task when you find it
difficult or boring?
• Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
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Careers
Service.
Review and feedback
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Careers
Service.
Any Questions?
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Careers
Service.
Top Tips

Alumni / employer suggestions

Have confidence

Be friendly

Prepare! Know about the job role/company

Go in with an agenda of things you want to tell them

Prepare the evidence of your knowledge, experience and
skills

Rehearse telling your STAR stories

Your ‘greatest achievement’ doesn’t have to be world peace!

Have a question(s) for them
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Careers
Service.
After the interview
 Reflect – record – discuss
 Remember what you did well
 Think of how you could improve your other responses
If you aren’t successful:
 Ask for feedback from the interviewer
 Talk to a Careers Adviser
 Keep trying – you’re nearly there!
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The
Careers
Service.
RESOURCES
 Prospects website ‘Applications and Interview’
www.prospects.ac.uk/links/interviews
 The Careers Service website
www.sheffield.ac.uk/careers/students/gettingajob/interviews.html
 Interviews – Online Talks http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/careers/students/gettingajob
 ‘Interviewer’ – interactive interview practice
 ‘Interviews and Assessment Centres’ booklets
 Reference books in abundance!
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The
Careers
Service.
Any Questions?