Develop your Career: Interview Techniques Miranda Carr Personal and Professional Development

Develop your Career: Interview Techniques Outline of the day Introductions and main concerns Background and context Preparing for a successful interview Q&A Other selection tests Handling nerves NVC … and finally Coffee to give us energy!

Background and Context What are they basing their assessment of you on? Application Interview Other selection tests Anticipation and Preparation are key

Preparing for interview Go back to the beginning – job description and person specification – the clues are there Do your research…. Access to insider info? - Use it! Read up on recent achievements and core business activities Get up to date on current issues, challenges and debates in the field

Preparing for interview What might they ask me? What do I want to ask them?

Answering Questions – a technique THINK STAR

Q&A Using the STAR technique …… How would you answer these questions? What has been your greatest achievement and why? Describe a time when you had to deal with a challenging situation and how you handled it.

Key questions and how to answer them 1 Tell me about yourself? Highlight previous experience and skills relevant to the role Give a good sense of personality and attitude What do you know about us? FiktvFJpJh_2ykrJB_jBAYTNBB Show that you have researched the organisation Highlight specific things that impress you or that you like about the organisation

Key questions and how to answer them 2 Why do you want this job? Match what you can do to fit the skills required Show your knowledge of the organisation Why should we hire you? USP – What’s yours?

Strengths and Weaknesses Strength Pick a strength that is relevant Give examples Show that you’ve been recognized for this strength Tie it back to the current job Weakness Be honest Pick a weakness that is fairly minor and `fixable’ Show what you have done to deal with it Illustrate how it has turned into a strength

Q&A Difficult questions If you can’t answer immediately take your time to think If you don’t know the answer say so, don’t be tempted to lie Try to keep calm and keep thinking clearly Always keep your answers positive even if you are describing a difficult situation Remember STAR

Ask the interviewer Interviewer: “And do you have any questions you would like to to ask us?” Interviewee: “Um, no I think you’ve covered everything” Interviewee: “What do you see as the immediate challenges for me where I to be offered this job?” “What are the key objectives (tasks) for the organisation in the coming year and how do you see this role contributing to achieving those objectives?” “What are the opportunities for training and development/pathways for advancement within the organisation?”

Selection tests

Handling Nerves Remember to Breathe! Positive self-talk Mindfulness Reward It’s a two-way process Take your time

Handling Nerves Control your nerves through breathing Breathing exercise:  Place your hand, palm flat, just below your ribs  Breathe slowly in through your nose  Feel your hand rise up as your stomach expands  Breathe out through your mouth  Feel your hand fall back as your stomach contracts  Aim to take twice as long to breathe out as you took to breathe in  Practise beforehand

It’s all about making a great entrance…. Checklist: Present yourself well Keep good eye contact with the panel Open arms – open approach Think about what your hands are doing Mirroring Don’t fiddle! Try to control any distracting habits Non-Verbal Communication

Skills Practise You will undertake a 5 min (maximum) mock interview – 3 questions to answer Each person will have a role. Roles: Interviewee, Interviewer/Camera operator, Observer -Observer makes notes on the interviewee’s performance and keeps time Feedback is given by the interviewee 1 st followed by the observer 2 nd and finally by the interviewer(s) 3 rd Each interviewee will have access to a film of their interview