Interview Skills

Interviewing-What is it? - A structured meeting between you and an employer Interviewing is a skill- like riding your bike PRACTICE makes PERFECT

Interviewing is a two-way street Employers are attempting to determine if you are an appropriate fit for the job and their culture You decide if the job and environment is right for you.

Types of Interviews Phone: used as an initial screen of candidates or to narrow the pool of applicants One-on-One: most common interview style and incorporates you with the potential employer Panel or Group: allows many individuals to interview you at once Meal: used to see how you interact or function in a social setting Second or On-site Interview: this allows one to get a tour of the facility, meet the staff, and additional questioning from different employees and/or administration Always ask what the venue will be for your interview

Pre-Interview Preparation Research position, company, & industry Know yourself and be able to articulate skills, strengths, accomplishments, and career goals Prepare necessary materials (Copies of CV, references, portfolio, pen and notebook) Directions, public transport, car parking – do a dry run!

Arriving Be sure to allow yourself plenty of time to arrive at your destination Try to arrive 10-15 minutes early at the site to allow you to park, walk to the interview, use the bathroom, or just gather yourself

Greeting & Introduction Only 1 chance to make a good 1st impression Dress appropriately Smile Maintain eye contact Firm handshake Remain poised and confident

Body Language: What signals are you sending? Positive Signals Leaning forward = interest Smiling = friendly Nodding = attentive and alert Eye contact = curious and focused Negative Signals Crossed arms = defensive Fidgeting hands or tapping feet = nervous or bored Lack of eye contact = untrustworthy Leaning back= discomfort

Types of Interview Questions Standard or traditional- targeting your education, work experiences, and career goals Sample Questions Tell me about yourself? What is your greatest strength? Weakness? Why did you choose to interview with us? What did you like most about your last job? Least? What are your short and long term career goals?

Types of Interview Questions Behavioral Questions -These focus on your actions and/or behaviors in a previous setting. Past behavior provides clues to future behavior Sample Questions Describe a time you had to make a difficult decision? Tell me about a time you worked under a deadline? What do you do when a team member is not pulling his/her weight? Think about a time you made a mistake. What did you learn from it?

Types of Interview Questions Questions asked by the interviewee To determine if you are an appropriate fit for the company and position, prepare a list of questions for the interviewer Sample Questions What goals can I expect within the first year? What do you like most about this company? What is the biggest challenge facing this department right now? What skills are you looking for in this position? What is the next course of action?

General Interview Strategies -Be prepared to talk about yourself and your experiences -Master the art of storytelling. The C.A.R method -Provide specific and concrete examples of your results/accomplishments -Remain positive, enthusiastic, poised, and confident throughout the interview process

The C.A.R Method CONTEXT Describe the situation and the specific task you were faced with, when, where and with whom? ACTION What action did you take? Your individual contribution - YOU RESULT What results did you achieve/conclusions did you reach - Negative result? – say what your learned from the experience. How would you improve?

The C.A.R Method Look at the job description and pick out 4 or 5 competencies that is needed to do the job. If not stated on description, use Nextstep.direct.gov.uk to look at job profiles For each competency, write down an example onto an A4 sheet using the C.A.R method. Context. Action. Result Memorise and set to the side – you will be more fluent, natural and confident when answering

General Interview Strategies Remember an interview is a formal conversation--avoid filler words like “Um”, “Ah”, & “You know” Avoid indecisive phrases like: “I think,” “I guess,” “probably,” or “pretty good” Give yourself time to think about your answer Avoid long verbose answers--limit your response to 1-2 minutes If you do not hear or understand a question, ask them to repeat or clarify it for you

General Interview Strategies Remain calm, relaxed, and be yourself Try to focus on the message you are trying to convey--NOT how well you are doing!

FOLLOW-UP Ask good questions Thank the interviewer Request a business card Inquire about next steps in the process

Final Thoughts Remember that only 15% of the success of an interview is out of your control Take some time to reflect - Overall, how well did I do? - What went well? - What steps can I take next time to improve?

Suggestions Conduct a test run the day before the interview Practice! Practice! Practice! • Stand in front of a mirror and rehearse your answers • Schedule an appointment for a mock interview with a Next Step adviser Get a good night’s sleep-be well rested and alert for the interview Be relaxed and be yourself!

For Further Help Online support: nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk