How to survive an Interview
What is an interview?
• Professional conversation
• Two way conversation with a purpose
• Opportunity for the interviewer to gain evidence
• Opportunity for the interviewee to obtain further
information
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What are competencies?
• Competencies are particular qualities that an
organisation feels desirable for employers to possess
• During interviews and assessments competencies are
used as benchmarks that assessors use to rate and
evaluate candidates
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Quick exercise to outline skills
Your task
In small groups consider the types of skills employers
are looking for.
List 5 to 10 skills. Feedback in 5 minutes
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Competencies
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Teamworking
Taking responsibility
Understanding of the company
Making decisions
Communication
Being trustworthy
Solving problems
Managing your time effectively
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The first 60 seconds
Body Language
• Be on time
• Dress appropriately
• Maintain eye contact
• Have a firm handshake
• Try to relax
• Smile
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Exercise – First Impressions
Your task
• In pairs, take it in turns to act as the interviewer and
interviewee
• Interviewee – Your role is to approach the interviewer as
if you have just met, shake their hand, and answer their
question in 30 seconds
• Interviewer – you role is to ask one question: “Tell me
about yourself”
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Techniques
Providing evidence - S T A R
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Situation – Set the scene
Task – Explain what you did
Action – What actions did you take
Result – Explain what the outcome was
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What does a bad answer look like?
• Volunteer to ask an interview question
• Whilst I answer, jot down why you think this answer
is not going to land me the job
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Exercise - Interview practice with peers
In small groups prepare answers to the sample questions and
then role play as interviewer and interviewee!
OBSERVER ROLE:
Role: Observe the interview and provide feedback on
the answer, body language, first impression etc
INTERVIEWER ROLE:
INTERVIEWEE ROLE:
Role: Ask at least one
interview question and take
notes on the answer
Role: Answer the interview
question(s) using the STAR
technique
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Interview practice with peers
1.
Describe a situation where you have had to
work as part of a team
2.
Give an example when you have been really
stretched for a deadline and how did you
achieve it?
3.
Give an example of an occasion where you
have given constructive criticism to a
member of your peer group
4.
Tell me what your greatest achievement to
date has been?
OBSERVER:
Role: Observe the
interview and provide
feedback on the
answer, body
language, first
impression etc
INTERVIEWEE:
Role: Answer the
interview question(s)
using the STAR
technique
INTERVIEWER:
Role: Ask at least one
interview question
and take notes on the
answer
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Key Tips – During your Interview
• Don’t be afraid of silence. Your interviewer will be making notes
• It’s perfect ably acceptable to take a moment to collect your
thoughts
• Don’t be afraid to ask the interviewer to repeat the question if you
didn’t understand it
• Be concise, do not provide long winded answers as this may detract
from your main points
• Don’t give one word answers. This is your opportunity to sell
yourself
• Do not always use the words “the company” or “we”, try to explain
examples and situations as ‘I’
• Have questions prepared in advance to ask them about the
job/organisation
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Reasons for failure
• Not preparing for the interview
• Providing superficial information or waffling
• Not listening to the questions - answering a
question that ‘was not asked’
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