Interview Technique
Why Interview?
Interviews give you the
chance to tell someone
about yourself – your
strengths, your
achievements and your
personal qualities
Why do we need to Practice?
Most people are nervous about
selection interviews for jobs
and courses. One way to
reduce anxiety and perform
better at interviews is to get
some practice.
Why are they important?
“It could be the most important 20
minutes of your life”
Key Information for Interviews

PREPARATION
–
–
–
–
–
–
Decide what to wear, be clean and tidy.
Find out about the company.
Plan the journey including how long the journey will take.
Prepare some questions.
Prepare some answers
Take your Personal Education Plan and plan how you
might use it.
Key Information for Interviews

THE INTERVIEW
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Arrive 10 minutes early.
Be friendly and cheerful to the secretary or receptionist who greets
you.
Look neat and clean.
Be prepared to shake hands.
Don’t sit until you are offered a chair.
Try to relax and listen to the questions carefully.
Look at the person asking the question.
Think before you answer.
Speak clearly and in a strong voice.
Show interest and enthusiasm.
Be honest.
Key Information for Interviews

QUESTIONS YOU MAY BE ASKED
–
Tell me about yourself.
Why do you want the job?
What makes you think you would be good at the job?
What do you do in your spare time?
What qualities do you think you have to offer?
How did you like school?
–
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
–
–
–
–
–
Key Information for Interviews

QUESTIONS WHICH YOU MAY ASK
–
During the interview the details of the job will probably
be explained to you, but there may be gaps and you may
wish to ask your own questions. Wait until the end of the
interview to ask questions and don’t ask too many.
What are the normal hours of work?
What training will I get?
Are there any opportunities for promotion?
Who will I be working with?
–
Who will I be directly responsible TO?
–
–
–
–
Key Information for Interviews

WHAT WILL THE EMPLOYER NEED TO
KNOW?
–
–
–
–
–
–
What qualifications you have to offer.
What experience you have including work experience.
The standard of your health.
Whether you are keen, interested and willing to work.
Whether you have the skills, abilities and personal
qualities for the job.
Whether you have found out about the company
beforehand.

WHAT ARE THE CRITERIA THE
INTERVIEWER WOULD USE IN THE
SELECTION PROCESS?
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Qualifications.
Work experience.
Health.
Home circumstances (e.g. distance from home to
work).
Skills/abilities.
Personality.
Interest and willingness to work.
Knowledge of the company.
Questions the candidate asks.

WHAT WOULD YOU TELL THE
INTERVIEWEE?
–
What they would be expected to do, who they
would be responsible to.
Wages, hours, holidays, lunch arrangements.
Training offered.
Future prospects.
Pension funds.
–
Trade unions.
–
–
–
–