Interview skillsObjectives To learn what a typical interview structure is like To learn the importance of researching the company To learn top tips for personal presentation at interview To learn about how to engage with the interviewers To discuss some example interview questions To practise possible answers

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Activity 1 – Preparing for an interviewResearch the employerYou have a job interview on Tuesday with Tesco. As part of your preparation for the interview, you’ll need to do some research about Tesco. Employers like to see that you’ve researched their company.

1. What facts would be useful to know? The facts need to be accurate and interesting.

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2. How might you find out information about the company?

Top tips for personal presentation at interviewPersonal hygiene Make sure your hair is washed and tidy. Brush your teeth!

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Make-up is natural and not overly bright. Have a shower. Use deodorant. Make sure your aftershave or perfume is not over-powering. Keep facial hair neat. Avoid smoking at least 15 minutes before the interview.

Clothes Make sure your clothes are clean and ironed. Avoid jeans, combats, short-skirts, leggings. Be co-ordinated. Be smart. Polish your shoes. Avoid trainers, plimsolls, sandals. Avoid high heels. Tie your laces. Cover up tattoos.

Jewellery Keep to a minimum. Remove facial piercings. Avoid jangling chains and bracelets. Avoid lots of rings or earrings. Wear a watch if you own one.

Bags and other things you might have with you Have one small bag or shoulder bag. Take a folder that contains ID, certificates, copy of your CV, copy of your

application form, plus any other relevant documentation. Carrier bags are not professional! Switch your mobile phone off or make sure it is on silent. Having your CV and the application form with you when you’re waiting

can help refresh your memory. It is handy to have a copy for your interviewer if they do not already

have one.

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The interviewThe meet and greet

Arrive at least 15 minutes early. Introduce yourself to the receptionist, smile and make eye contact. Use the toilet if you need to. Stand up when your interviewer comes to meet you in reception. Make eye contact and smile. Shake hands and match the interviewer’s grip. Be prepared for some small talk – weather, your trip to their office.

Entering the interview room

Try to look confident. Wait to be asked to sit down. Greet other interviewers with a smile, eye contact and handshake. Sit comfortably, but do not slouch. Lean forward slightly, arms on the

table in front of you or on your lap. Put your bag on the floor. Get out your CV or application form and your

questions or notes. If offered a drink, ask for water.

Engaging with the interview panel

Make eye contact. Show active listening. Speak clearly and at a good pace. Avoid only a “yes” or “no” answer to questions.

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A typical interview structureDifferent companies use different interview structures, but the following is a typical interview structure that many people will use:

1 Introductions – how the interview will work, how long it will last, the interview process, brief overview of the company and the role

2 General questions to check out facts in your CV / application form – education, previous jobs and dates

3 Specific questions – to check out whether they think you will be able to do the job

4 Invite questions from you to test out what you know about them and how committed you are

5 Summary and close of interview – next steps and thank you for coming

Different types of questions the interviewers may askOpen “What do you know about the company?”

“What attracts you to this job?” Closed “So, from what you have said, you are confident

working on a PC?” Reflection “How would you feel about having to work different

shift patterns sometimes?” Forced choice “Do you prefer telephone or face-to-face

communication?” Experience “Can you give an example of a time in a previous

job when you had to calm down an angry customer?”

Situational “Imagine it is 4.30pm at the end of a busy day, your supervisor is away ill and a manager from another department asks you to complete a job that you think will take 3 hours. How will you handle the situation?”

Interview questions

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Although there is no set format that every job interview will follow, there are some questions that you can almost guarantee will crop up. Here’s a list of the most common questions and a guide to the kind of answers your interviewer wants to hear.

Tell me about yourself

This is usually the opening question and, as first impressions are key, one of the most important. Keep your answer to less than 5 minutes. Begin with your highest qualification, then talk about your career. You can follow the same structure of your CV. Give examples of your achievements and skills. Do not go into too much detail. Your interviewer will probably take notes and ask you to expand on any areas where they’d like more information. If this is an interview for your first job since leaving education, focus on what you most enjoyed about your studies and how this led to you wanting this particular role.

What are your strengths?

Pick your 3 strongest attributes that you think will get you the job. Give examples of how you have used these strengths in a work situation. They could be tangible skills, such as proficiency in a computer language, or intangible skills, such as management. If you’re not sure where to start, look at the job description. There is usually a section listing candidate requirements. This should give you an idea of what they are looking for.

What are your weaknesses?

The dreaded question is best handled by turning your weakness into a positive. It may be something that you have made positive steps to redress.For example, “My IT skills could improve, so I am doing a Pitman level 2 course in IT to address this.” Your initiative could be a strength. On no account say, “I don’t have any weaknesses.” Your interviewer will not believe you. Do not try, “I tend to work too hard.” This is avoiding the question.

Why should we hire you? or What can you do for us that other candidates can't?

What makes you special and where do your strengths lie? The job description should tell you what the employer is looking for. “I have a unique combination of strong technical skills and the ability to build long-term customer relationships” is a good opening sentence. This can then lead onto a more specific example of something you have done in your career. State your biggest achievement and the benefit it made to the business, then finish with “Given the opportunity, I could bring this success to your company.”

What are your goals? or Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?

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It’s best to talk about both short-term and long-term goals. Talk about the kind of job you’d eventually like to do and the various steps you will need to get there. Try to relate this to the position you’re interviewing for. Show the employer you have ambition, and that you have the determination to make the most of every job to get where you want to be.

Why do you want to work here?

The interviewer is listening for an answer that shows you’ve given this some thought. If you’ve prepared for the interview properly, you should have a good inside knowledge of the company’s values, mission statement, development plans and products. Use this information to describe how your goals and ambition match their company ethos. Tell them you would relish the opportunity to work for them. Do not say, “I just need a job.”

What are 3 positive things your last boss would say about you?

This is a great time to brag about yourself through someone else’s words. Try to include something that shows: your ability to do the job your commitment to the work that you are a good person to have in a team.

For example, “My boss has told me that I am the best designer he has ever had. He knows he can always rely on me, and he likes my sense of humour.”

Top tips for answering questions

Be definitive and confident in your answers. If you do not understand the question, ask the interviewer to repeat or

explain. This is not a sign of weakness. If you need a few minutes to think, say so. This shows you are

considering the answer. Be honest. If you do not know something or do not have relevant

experience in a specific area, say so. You are not expected to know everything.

Relax! OK, not always easy. Try to show the interviewer the real you. Avoid “yes” or “no” answers. Always answer using a sentence.

STAR

STAR is a good way of remembering a structure for answering situational or past experience questions positively.

– S = Situation– T = Task– A = Activity or action– R = Result – the outcome

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Example:

I was working at Iceland on work experience (situation).

My job involved filling shelves with stock (task).

I noticed that the supervisor did not always put the boxes out in a logical order so I suggested that if we did that, we could fill the shelves much quicker (action).

The supervisor took on board my idea and we improved productivity by 10 minutes per shelf (result – the outcome).

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Activity 3Write down some answers to the following questions. Make sure you write down exactly what you would say.

1. Tell me about yourself?

2. What is your main ambition in the next 6-12 months?

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3. What is your biggest achievement in your work life so far?

4. How would you describe your biggest strength?

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Questions to ask at interviewHave some questions prepared for your interview so that you demonstrate your interest in the position. Prepare a minimum of 3 questions, that will: give you more information about the job delve deeper into the culture and goals of the company show how keen you are

Examples of questions you can ask:

6 “Could I ask what training would be provided, please?”7 “Will a uniform be provided?”8 “How many people work in the team?”9 “Could I ask what the working hours or shift pattern would be,

please?”10 “Could you describe what a typical day would look like for me?”11 “Would there be opportunities for me to develop in the future?”12 “If I were successful in my application, when would I be able to

start?”13 “Is there anything else I could tell you to help me secure the role?”14 “Would you like to see any of my qualifications or references?” (Show

documents from your folder.)

Top 5 job interview tips Do your research

Fail to plan, and you plan to fail. You are certain to be asked specific questions about the company, so make sure you've done your homework on things like last year's profits and latest product launches. Also research the latest developments in the industry so you can talk with confidence.

Practise your answers

There is no set format that every job interview will follow, but there are some questions that you can almost guarantee will crop up. You should prepare answers to some of the most common interview questions. You should reply giving your personal strengths and explaining why you would be the best person for the job.

Look the part

Appearances should not matter, but we are often judged before we have said a word. Make sure your shoes are polished, your clothes fit correctly and that your accessories are subtle. Dressing one level above the job you're applying for shows a desire to succeed.

Stay calm

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Good preparation is the key to staying in control. Plan your route, allow extra time for any unexpected delays and get everything you need to take with you ready the night before. Remember to speak clearly, smile and remember that your interviewers are people too and they may also be nervous!

Prepare some questions

You should always have some questions for your interviewer to demonstrate your interest in the position. Prepare a minimum of 3 questions, some which will give you more information about the job and the culture and goals of the company.

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Personal action plan – interview skillsWhat have I learnt?

What more support do I need?

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