Nicola Urquhart
Employability Adviser
Interviews
INTERVIEW SKILLS
Nicola Urquhart
University of Kent
Careers and Employability Service
You can download a copy of this presentation at
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/slides.htm
Introduction
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What not to do.
How to prepare
Common interview questions
Questions you can ask
After the interview
Interview reports
Social Media
Careers and Employability
Service
Staying in touch
Questions
HOW NOT TO INTERVIEW
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Candidate wore an i-Pod explaining that she could listen
to the interviewer and music at the same time.
Announced she hadn't had lunch and proceeded to eat
burger and chips during the interview.
Bald candidate excused himself and returned to the
interview a few minutes later wearing a wig.
Interrupted interview to phone her therapist for advice on
how to answer specific questions.
Dozed off during the interview.
Said he never finished high school because he was
kidnapped and kept in a wardrobe.
PREPARATION - THE KEY TO SUCCESS
• Research the employer and the job
• Prepare answers to obvious questions
• Know your CV
• Think of your unique selling points
• Think of how you would answer
questions about your weaknesses
• Prepare some questions to ask
• Dress smartly
• Leave plenty of time to get there
What is Employability?
‘A set of attributes, skills and
knowledge that all labour
market participants should
possess to ensure they have the
capability of being effective in the
workplace – to the benefit of
themselves, their employer and
the wider economy.’ (CBI, March
2009)
Why are employability skills so important now?
Changing world of
work:
• Global economy
• More career
changes
• New technology
• Roles change
Employers increasingly interested in attributes
• Enthusiastic
• Self motivated
• Resilient
• Positive
• Able to cope
under pressure
RESEARCHING THE EMPLOYER AND THE
JOB
not be able to find out much about small
• May
companies - research the industry and ask
questions.
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/sk/commercialawareness.htm
BODY LANGUAGE
hands warmly, but wait to be invited to
• Shake
sit down.
• Smile
to relax - don’t sit on the edge of your
• Try
chair, but don’t slouch.
• Speak clearly and not too fast
• Don’t fidget
What employers say…
• "Few students are able
to articulate what they
have gained from their
experience in higher
education."
(Association of
Graduate Recruiters,
1995)
PREPARE ANSWERS TO OBVIOUS
QUESTIONS
• Why are you applying to us?
• Why have you chosen IT/law etc.?
• What makes you suitable for this job?
• What other jobs are you applying for?
• Where do you see yourself in five years?
• Why did you choose your degree course?
• What have you got out of University?
do you do in your spare time? What do
• What
you get out of it?
COMPETENCY-BASED QUESTIONS
Describe a situation where you had to .....
show leadership
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make a difficult decision
overcome a difficult obstacle
refuse to compromise
work with others to solve a problem
COMPETENCY-BASED QUESTIONS
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Start by briefly outlining the situation
Keep the focus on your specific tasks or
responsibilities
Say what action you took, then try to summarise what
you achieved
Give concrete results when possible.
If you cannot be totally positive about the experience,
say what you learned from it.
Situation/Tasks/Action/Result
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/compet/skillquest.htm
Providing evidence for employability skills
Example of the STAR approach:
Describe a situation where you have
demonstrated leadership skills.
It was a busy Saturday at Debenhams and I was
responsible for supervising the staff on the
electrical section. We were given a sales target to
meet and I motivated the staff with praise and
encouragement. I also acted as a role model by
demonstrating how to close sales effectively. That
day the team achieved a sales result of 5% above
the target.
HYPOTHETICAL QUESTIONS
• "How would you deal with an irate customer?”
picks up an object from the desk. "Sell
• Interviewer
me this pen".
pilot - asked what he would do if he met the
• BA
captain wearing a dress in the hotel bar.
HYPOTHETICAL QUESTIONS
because it's impossible to work out your
• Used
answer beforehand.
your ability to think quickly, logically,
• Test
produce practical solutions.
panic! Take a few seconds to think - this
• Don't
shows confidence.
try to think of one or two sensible things to
• Just
say to start off.
• There may be many possible solutions.
REAL QUESTIONS FROM CANDIDATES
• What is your Zodiac sign?
• Do I have to dress for the next interview?
know this is off the subject, but will you marry
• Ime?
• Will the company pay to relocate my horse?
• When is pay day?
it be a problem if I'm angry most of the
• Would
time?
• Why am I here?
PREPARE QUESTIONS TO ASK
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DON’T ASK about
holidays, pensions and
parking facilities.
DO ASK about training,
career development
and the work itself.
PREPARE QUESTIONS TO ASK
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How is performance at work assessed?
What is a typical career path in this job?
Can you give me more details of your training
programme?
What is the ‘‘work culture’’? i.e. informal, formal, do
people work autonomously, does everyone come in
early, stay late?
What are the challenges that your organisation is
facing?
What is your personal experience of working for this
organisation?
If I was successful how could I best prepare?
Assessment Centres
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What happens at a selection centre?
Selection centres usually last for one or two
days. During this time a group of candidates typically 6-8 people - will take part in a range of
tasks, both individually and as a group,
designed to assess the competencies that the
employer requires. The group exercises (and
some of the individual exercises, such as
presentations) will be observed by assessors
noting the skills and competencies displayed by
candidates. At some centres, there will be one
observer assigned to each candidate.
FOLLOWING UP
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The interviewer will probably let you know when you’ll know
the result. If they haven't made this clear, ask!
The next stage may be a second interview or selection
centre.
After the interview, make notes on the questions asked and
what you could have done better.
Thank the interviewer
Follow up with an e mail, ask for feedback
INTERVIEW REPORTS
• A selection of reports completed by
students after they have been to
interview. Give details of questions
asked, tests administered and tips for
candidates.
• Fill in our interview report to help other
candidates know what to expect.
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/ivreps/ivrepsmenu.htm
PRACTICE INTERVIEWS ONLINE
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Teaching, accountancy, banking, journalism, marketing,
retail personnel, Civil Service, postgrad. study, scientific
research, IT and law
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/interviews/mockivs.htm
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Answers to 150 interview questions
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/interviews/ivquest.htm
Telephone interviews
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http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/ivphone.htm
Use Social Media
• LinkedIn – fantastic way
to build your employer
knowledge
• Allows you to connect to
employers and to build
your knowledge
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Able to contact 1st and 2nd
degree connections
• Join groups.
What is
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Twitter is a form of micro-blogging
Twitter gives you 140 characters per ‘tweet’ to
say what’s on your mind
You can follow people/companies/ recruiters
who interest you.
Ideas on who to follow:
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Companies/employers you are interested in working for
Industry experts/bloggers
Professional networks and industry/professional
publications
Job sites and job boards
Recruiters / headhunters / HR personnel who are hiring
for the roles you're targeting
@unikentemploy
Use MyFolio to begin to record evidence you could use
for interviews.
• Record your thoughts, feelings and
reactions when carrying out a task –
Did you enjoy doing it?
https://myfolio.kent.ac.uk/myfolio/
• Use MyFolio as a space to reflect on
your values – what is important to
you salary, status, working hours,
location etc?
• Use MyFolio to learn to write
reflectively. Record what you have
learned, activities undertaken, what
would you do differently next time?
www.kent.ac.uk/ces Telephone: 01227 823299 Email: careerhelp@kent.ac.uk
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9 to 5 including vacations
Drop-in times (no appointment needed): 10.30 to 12.30 & 2 to 5 pm
Duty Adviser
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Drop in quick query
available between 10.30
am - 12.30 p.m. and 2.00 5.00 p.m. every day.
No appointment needed just drop in.
Stay up-to-date with what is happening
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www.kent.ac.uk/ces
www.kent.ac.uk/employability
Employability Newsletter
Follow us on Facebook at
University of Kent Student
Employability
www.facebook.com/UKCE
Follow us on Twitter at
@unikentemploy
Check out your School
website.
INTERVIEW SKILLS
Nicola Urquhart
University of Kent
Careers and Employability Service
You can download a copy of this presentation at
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/slides.htm