Personal & Career Development (PCD)

Welcome to today’s session:Successful Applications

InterviewsLinda Butler

5 November 2014 (1200 GMT)

“The classroom is limited to 100 participants so please do stay in the room I will be starting the session at 1200 GMT”

1. Introduction

2. Agenda

a) Personal & Career Management cycle

b) Preparation for successful Interviews

c) Next steps

4. Feedback

Preparation for Interview - Top tips:• Research the employer and review your application / CV

• The Job description and the person spec will be good indicators to the type of questions you will be asked

• Link your answers to the employer requirements

• Talk about your skills, knowledge and experience to the role

• Use evidence that stand out from the crowd – what is your

differentiator?

• Use STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result)

• Be ready to ‘Sell yourself’

• Logistics – time, location, travel, dress code – be prepared

• Practice Practice Practice

Purpose

Interviews are an opportunity for both you and the employer to evaluate each other

-

It’s a two way process!!

-

Through the interview you can gain valuable information which may assist you in assessing

the prospective job, employer or industry

-

An opportunity to ‘Sell yourself’

Prepare for interview

• Identify your skills and abilities

- Communication, project management, strategic thinking, planning, organisational skills• Review the selection criteria

- be ready to provide examples of how your skills, abilities, qualities and experience match the employer’s requirements• Think about your past achievements

- These could be problems you have overcome, issues you have resolved or demands you have met• Research the organisation

- what internal or external influences are affecting it?

- is it in a state of growth or decline?

- How is the market changing or developing?

- Keep up with current affairs – particularly local/global issues affecting the organisation• Practise your answers

- verbalise the answers to questions, not just think about them so that your explanations run smoothly

Preparation contd..

Self-awarenessKnow yourself well

• Be able to articulate your skills, strengths, interests, passions, values, relevant experiences, goals and areas of knowledge

• You should be able to say why you are well suited to the job and what you have to offer your employer

• Prepare specific, practical examples of your skills and how and where you have used them

- Most importantly, try to find examples of the skills you know are relevant to the job you are seeking

• Think about achievements that demonstrate skills

For example, How did you achieve targets, build relationships – be ready to talk about leadership, responsibility, interpersonal and organisational skills

Checklist:

• Basic checks• Interviewer • Company research• Role research• Answer preparation• Behaviour check• Appearance• Final test

Types of questions:• General• Behavioural / Competency based• Hypothetical• Questions for the Interviewer

General questions:Ø Tell me about yourselfØ Why do you want to work or this organisation?Ø What is the achievement you are most proud of?Ø What would you do if a member of your team was

not pulling their weight?Ø Why should we employ you?

Behavoural / Competency based questions:These ask you to say what you have done and how

you did it – follow the STAR process (SITUATION, TASK, ACTION, RESULT)

Ø Describe a situation where you have displayed leadership

Ø Tell us about a time when you have made a decision at work and the outcomes

Ø Describe a situation where you solved a problem, how effective was your solution?

Hypothetical questions:It is very hard to prepare for these questions, the

interviewer is wanting to find out what your thinking process is – so take your time – there is no right or wrong answer!

Ø Imagine you have been working on a major project with a deadline and the computer fails and you lose all your work. How would you handle this situation?

Questions for the Interviewer:An opportunity to demonstrate your interest by

asking questions about the job itself, the industry and your career prospects:

ØWhat are the major projects currently being undertaken and what are the plans for the future?

ØWhat are the opportunities for training and professional development?

ØIs the company expanding into global markets?ØWhat are the prospects for promotion in the

company?

Access to:Employer videos

Audio trainingWritten tutorials

Relevant news

Learning Module

Interview Simulator

Interview checklist

Example questions and answers with

top tips on ‘do’s and don’ts’

The system will preselect

questions

You select questions

Employer advice

Go and practice

Employer Tips

Videos for you include :

• Know your interviewer• Assessing commercial awareness

• Good first impression at interview• How important is body language

• What your weaknesses• Talk about a mistake, failure or challenge

Performance on the day

• Logistics; know where you are going

• Dress appropriately

• Know who to ask for

• Try to appear confident and relaxed

• Communicate with enthusiasm and let your personality shine through

• You are a product – sell yourself

• Active listening

• It is acceptable to ask for questions to be repeated

• Try to avoid ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answers

The 3 P’s to successPreparationPreparationPreparation

Do this and you will feel confident and relaxed !!!

Access to your Career Portal

Next steps

What would be useful for you?

Personal & Career Management Workshops (webinars):

i. Understanding self (strengths, skills, behaviours and developing a plan)

ii. Researching the market (researching employers and effective networking) and Making choices (managing yourself, decision making, priorities and contingency planning)

iii. Successful Applications – CVs (structure, content, marketing your experience and skills – to include country focus, tailoring to the job and cover letters

iv. Successful applications – Interviews (preparation and planning for different types of questions and effective preparation for Assessment Centres)

v. Gaining experience (the first 90 days and getting the most out of your experience in employment, voluntary work etc)

vi RDI Career Portal

Utilise your on-line career resources

Access via i-learn

Career Consultation

Skype or phone conversation to assist you on your career and personal development – approx 45 mins = £75

CV Support1. CV Proof read = £30 (electronic feedback)2. Quality review of CV = £65 (skype/telephone feedback)

One-to-one CoachingA one hour personal & career development coaching session via video skype or telephone = £125

If you are interested in a free 15 minute chat to help to decide next steps please send an email to Student Support

Thank you

Dorothy DicksonManager - Student Support

Email: ddickson@rdi.co.uk

Linda Butler

http://uk.linkedin.com/in/lindabutler07

Personal & Career Development (PCD)

Welcome to today’s session:Successful Applications

InterviewsLinda Butler

5 November 2014 (1200 GMT)

“The classroom is limited to 100 participants so please do stay in the room I will be starting the session at 1200 GMT”

1. Intro – who am I and what is my background and experience

2. Agenda

3. Feedback – you will be sent a survey following the event

2

Brief intro – is in workbook

3

Preparation for Interview - Top tips:• Research the employer and review your application / CV

• The Job description and the person spec will be good indicators to the type of questions you will be asked

• Link your answers to the employer requirements

• Talk about your skills, knowledge and experience to the role

• Use evidence that stand out from the crowd – what is your

differentiator?

• Use STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result)

• Be ready to ‘Sell yourself’

• Logistics – time, location, travel, dress code – be prepared

• Practice Practice Practice

Purpose

Interviews are an opportunity for both you and the employer to evaluate each other

-

It’s a two way process!!

-

Through the interview you can gain valuable information which may assist you in assessing

the prospective job, employer or industry

-

An opportunity to ‘Sell yourself’

Prepare for interview

• Identify your skills and abilities

- Communication, project management, strategic thinking, planning, organisational skills• Review the selection criteria

- be ready to provide examples of how your skills, abilities, qualities and experience match the employer’s requirements• Think about your past achievements

- These could be problems you have overcome, issues you have resolved or demands you have met• Research the organisation

- what internal or external influences are affecting it?

- is it in a state of growth or decline?

- How is the market changing or developing?

- Keep up with current affairs – particularly local/global issues affecting the organisation• Practise your answers

- verbalise the answers to questions, not just think about them so that your explanations run smoothly

Preparation contd..

Self-awarenessKnow yourself well

• Be able to articulate your skills, strengths, interests, passions, values, relevant experiences, goals and areas of knowledge

• You should be able to say why you are well suited to the job and what you have to offer your employer

• Prepare specific, practical examples of your skills and how and where you have used them

- Most importantly, try to find examples of the skills you know are relevant to the job you are seeking

• Think about achievements that demonstrate skills

For example, How did you achieve targets, build relationships – be ready to talk about leadership, responsibility, interpersonal and organisational skills

Checklist:

• Basic checks• Interviewer • Company research• Role research• Answer preparation• Behaviour check• Appearance• Final test

Types of questions:• General• Behavioural / Competency based• Hypothetical• Questions for the Interviewer

General questions:Ø Tell me about yourselfØ Why do you want to work or this organisation?Ø What is the achievement you are most proud of?Ø What would you do if a member of your team was

not pulling their weight?Ø Why should we employ you?

Behavoural / Competency based questions:These ask you to say what you have done and how

you did it – follow the STAR process (SITUATION, TASK, ACTION, RESULT)

Ø Describe a situation where you have displayed leadership

Ø Tell us about a time when you have made a decision at work and the outcomes

Ø Describe a situation where you solved a problem, how effective was your solution?

Hypothetical questions:It is very hard to prepare for these questions, the

interviewer is wanting to find out what your thinking process is – so take your time – there is no right or wrong answer!

Ø Imagine you have been working on a major project with a deadline and the computer fails and you lose all your work. How would you handle this situation?

Questions for the Interviewer:An opportunity to demonstrate your interest by

asking questions about the job itself, the industry and your career prospects:

ØWhat are the major projects currently being undertaken and what are the plans for the future?

ØWhat are the opportunities for training and professional development?

ØIs the company expanding into global markets?ØWhat are the prospects for promotion in the

company?

Access to:Employer videos

Audio trainingWritten tutorials

Relevant news

Learning Module

Interview Simulator

Interview checklist

Example questions and answers with

top tips on ‘do’s and don’ts’

The system will preselect

questions

You select questions

Employer advice

Go and practice

Employer Tips

Videos for you include :

• Know your interviewer• Assessing commercial awareness

• Good first impression at interview• How important is body language

• What your weaknesses• Talk about a mistake, failure or challenge

Performance on the day

• Logistics; know where you are going

• Dress appropriately

• Know who to ask for

• Try to appear confident and relaxed

• Communicate with enthusiasm and let your personality shine through

• You are a product – sell yourself

• Active listening

• It is acceptable to ask for questions to be repeated

• Try to avoid ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answers

The 3 P’s to successPreparationPreparationPreparation

Do this and you will feel confident and relaxed !!!

Access to your Career Portal

Overview of upcoming webinars and point towards RDI portal

16

Career Consultation

Skype or phone conversation to assist you on your career and personal development – approx 45 mins = £75

CV Support1. CV Proof read = £30 (electronic feedback)2. Quality review of CV = £65 (skype/telephone feedback)

One-to-one CoachingA one hour personal & career development coaching session via video skype or telephone = £125

If you are interested in a free 15 minute chat to help to decide next steps please send an email to Student Support

Catherine will be sending you an on-line survey link for feedback on today's session

18