1. New Professionals Day Maynooth University 19th November 2016

2. Preparation
It starts with the advertisement then the CV- Make sure it’s corrected and preferably edited by someone else.
Read Your CV the JOB DESCRIPTION and relevant material for clues
Not too much reading but if you do please make notes and then dispense with large tomes
Research the interview board
Talk, Talk ,Talk out your answers/mock interviews with someone you trust (or the mirror?)
Have your competencies ready and practised to perfection!

3. Competency Based Interviews
Competence has replaced “suitability”
Competence is “capability/ability” but generally a selected skill that is considered a requirement to enable an employee to perform a particular skill effectively
Your demonstrated level of competence in the past predicts your future performance
Examples: Planning and organising, Customer Service, Interpersonal understanding/Communication, Initiative, Knowledge/Experience
These will often merge as a skills base

4. Competency based Interviews
You may be simply asked to demonstrate “your decision making abilities” REMEMBER THIS MAY BE ASKED IN THE NEGATVIVE e.g.
“Can you tell me of a time when you made a bad decision”
“Can you give me an instance when you felt you failed to communicate something effectively?
Use the STAR method: SITUATION, TASK (Brief), APPROACH (Important), RESULT (Measureable Improvement / what you learned/how you would do things differently)
Link result to the competencies and be prepared to justify it.

5. Competency based Interviews
You should be armed with at least 3 or 4 examples for each competency
A question may give you the opportunity to demonstrate more than one competency and you don’t worry if you “use” your e.g. leadership competency- you can frame another one in a specific competency context.
In preparation try and understand the nature of the competencies and use examples of situations/events or projects in which you demonstrated several of the competencies. This builds up a narrative of ability which deems you confident for the job.

6. On the day of the Interview
Focus on yourself- it’s the only thing you have control over
Be on time (visit the office before)
Dress neatly and appropriately
Use positive, confident body language: a good firm handshake, keep eye contact, not too demonstrative
Use chair for support and water if you need
Visualise yourself in the position a year later, having had success with the job and as a valued member of the team/organisation

7. During the Interview The Interview Board is made up of human beings
Put into practice what you prepared (how to sit, visualise your flash cards, etc)
Take a breath before answering
Frame your questions
You can NEVER sound too boastful unless you intend to!
Being nervous is natural and can be a sign of sincerity and enthusiasm
After all the practice you need to WORK at the interview-it is a precious limited number of minutes to present all your abilities to a listening audience.

8. How much do you want that job?
Enough to….
Assess yourself critically (and make minor adjustments that will help you)
Face your worst question (and have your answer ready)
Trust someone to help you (you do the same for them !)
Really believe that you are the absolute best person for the job (even if that is only for 30 minutes)
You probably are the Best Person for the Job!
Sincere good wishes and the best of luck