Preparing for Interviews

June E Kay

Careers Development Consultant

Postdoctoral Research Staff

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INTERVIEWSYou can assume that, because you’ve got past the application form/CV :• They feel that you can do the job• That they want to know more about you

So why select further?• To assess the knowledge that you have marketed in your initial application• To evaluate your transferable skills under pressure • To judge how you would fit into their organisation

BUT It is also an opportunity for you to judge

whether you want to work for them

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TOUGH QUESTIONSWhy do you want to work for…?

What is it about the position that you most like?

Take me through a task that you have completed from beginning to end? Was it successful? Why?

What were the main obstacles that you had to overcome?

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TOUGH QUESTIONS

What would you describe as your greatest strength?

What would you say is your major weakness?

What would you say is your greatest achievement and why?

Give me an example of when you have worked in a team and tell me what role you took on?

What are the current issues facing…?

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Tough Academic Questions

Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?

Who are the leading researchers in your field worldwide? Are any of them willing to work with you?

What innovations in teaching would you like to implement given sufficient resources?

What are the 5 most outstanding advances in your field in the last 5 years?

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PreparationRe-read the job advert, application pack, job description

What skills have they asked for?

What personal qualities are desired?

What type of organisation are they? (ethos, management style, culture)

Review CV or application form & covering letter

How do you meet the criteria / where are there gaps?

What would you ask if you were them?

Are there any weaknesses you might be probed upon?

What probing questions might they give about your answers

• What other action did you consider?

• What might you do differently the next time? etc

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ResearchCompany• Products they make / sell• Locations• Clients• Turnover• World Ranking (if multi-national)• Main competitors• Recent expansions / contracts won / cut backs / mergersSector• Upturn / downturn profits• Effect of new technology or legislation• Market leadersAcademic

• Institution, Department, staff, Higher Education issues, subject issues

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YOUR INTERPERSONALSKILLS / REACTIONS

What impression are you hoping to create?

Dress code:formal/informal‘company culture’Body Languagehandshakeeye contactmannerismsopen/close postureSmile

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Academic Interview Format

Panel Interview – 4/5/6 members, • Impartial Chair – represent the interests of the

university not dept.• Head of Department• Head of Section (research group / area of teaching)• Member of different department – lateral

comparability

Questions split according to panel members area of interest and map onto person specification

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Non-Academic Interview Format

Individual interviews or a panel interview

One in a series or one off interview

Technical Head of Department, Human Resources, Occupational Psychologist

Part of Assessment centre?

Other tasks – group activities, presentation, in-tray / e-tray exercise

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YOUR INTERPERSONALSKILLS / REACTIONS

What approach are the interviewers adopting?

style of questions

pace of interview

body language inc. note taking

friendly/business like

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Competency Based Questions

Situation

Task

Action

Result

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Final TipsBe yourselfGive interesting examples to questions that they askBe willing to expand on any responses that you makeDon’t be thrown by the unexpected questionStay calmBuy time to thinkRemain positive throughoutShow them that you are right for the position and for them!At the end of the interview think about what impression you want to leave with them:

‘If you can’t think of good questions [to ask them] don’t ask stupid ones.’ Ian Jackson BT