Interviews For Apprenticeships / Jobs / University

Your experiences of interviews? How did you prepare? What would you do differently?

Jot down employability skills…

Top Ten Employability Skills: 1.Verbal communication 2.Teamwork 3.Commercial awareness 4.Analysing, investigating, & problem-solving 5.Initiative and self-motivation 6.Drive 7.Written communication 8.Planning and organisation 9.Flexibility 10.Time management

Self-Awareness Fill in the grid for yourself; Explore / explain how you have got those skills required.

University Interviews: these courses have asked Aquinas Students to attend interviews: Business and Nottingham Trent Communication Culture, and Coventry University of Cumbria Music and Manchester Primary Education - all Social Chester Retail Buying and DeMontford Music Lancaster Northumbria Leeds Metropolitan.

What to do when unis want to interview YOU? Inform Sue Snelson (authorised absence); Sue will give you a questionnaire about the experience as well. Prepare for your interview: get all the relevant info: WHEN, WHERE.

For all interviews: University, Apprenticeships, Employment Before: Do your research – know about the course, job etc. Know what is required of you. Prepare! Know where you’re meant to be & how to get there, timings. During: Dress appropriately. Be punctual. Body language: be alert, don’t yawn / slump. Expect the unexpected, but avoid panic. Take your time tackling a difficult question, rather than rushing the answer and getting it wrong. If you don’t understand – ask a question, ask the interviewer to clarify. Try to relate the question to something you do know about. Ask questions. Afterwards: Evaluate your performance – take notes, think about what you’d change for next time.

How interviews might go: Settling in questions: e.g. “Did you have a good journey?” Questions about your reasons for applying; Questions about your life and experiences; Questions about your career plans / aspirations; Questions about your studies; Questions related to current affairs / wider world Asking your own questions: e.g. “How many tutorials will I have?”; “Will I be working with the same team members?” etc.

For all interviews: University, Apprenticeships, Employment What will impress Confidence Enthusiasm for course / subject / job Lively interests / activities to show you are well-rounded Intellectual interests to show you’re serious Having own opinions Reasons for wanting job, course Being honest & unpretentious Looking interviewers in the eye Listening to interviewers Expressing yourself clearly without saying too much What won’t impress Arriving late Looking untidy Smoking Avoiding eye contact Fidgeting Replying with short responses “yes” / “no” Too many fillers in your answers (e.g. “um”, “yeah”, “you know”) Mumbling Interrupting interviewer Answering with ready-made replies – you need to listen to interviewer and respond appropriately Talking too fast / talking too much Pretending to know stuff or be interested in stuff when you don’t know or aren’t interested.

Preparing for Uni interview: Research the institution & course – make a list of question you would like to ask (not everything is in the prospectus / website); Be familiar with key or “hot” topics in your area / course; Read / watch news – be informed, you may be asked for an opinion on items in the news; Practise – ask for a mock with a teacher / careers adviser / parent / friend; Get a good night’s sleep beforehand.