If you are getting to the interview stage it means that you have identified suitable career options that match your skills, knowledge and qualifications. It also means that your CV is working for you and that you are completing application forms effectively.
If you have got to the interview stage then it means that you have beaten off competition from a number of other applicants. The purpose of the interview is to assess the short listed candidates against what skills are needed for the job by asking a series of standard questions to all candidates.
Before the interview
Everyone gets stressed about going for an interview. Having to sit in front of a group of other people and answer questions about yourself is stressful. Nevertheless, one of the most crucial interview skills is being able to control stress and nerves effectively. Practice and preparation will help you manage your nerves and will help you to provide better answers to the interview questions.
Research the organisation and the context of the job
This is a key phase of your preparation for an interview. An employer will expect you to want the job you are applying for and one way of showing this is by demonstrating that you have fully researched the work area. Have there been any major developments in the organisation recently? How might any changes in the external environment effect their work? Has the organisation just launched a new business strategy? And make sure that you read their Equal Opportunities Policy.
Reread your application
Interviewers will have copies of your application and so it is important that you know exactly what you have told them. They may ask you specific questions about activities and achievements that you have mentioned and will expect you to be able to talk confidently about them. Going back through your application again also helps remind you about the key skills and competencies that you want to highlight in your interview.
Who is interviewing you?
This can be vital to preparing for the rest of the interview. Are you going to be interviewed by the line manager for the role or someone from HR or an agency?
Think about what questions you might be asked
It is easy to predict some questions that you will be asked. For example, you can be sure that there will be a question on equal opportunities. Preparing answers is one of the best ways to boost your confidence in an interview.
Plan some questions to ask at the end of the interview
Having already completed some research about the organisation you should have some idea of the projects and developments that they are involved with. It might be useful to plan some questions around this. You could also consider some more general questions, such as asking the interviewers what they like about working for the organisation.
Arrange any adjustments
If you require any adjustments at the interview or for any test, make sure you let the employer know in plenty of time. You should also check the day before the interview that everything is in place.
Making a good impression
Dress appropriately
It is important that you put a lot of effort in to how you dress for an interview. A potential employer will begin to form an impression of you from the first moment they see you. Inappropriate clothing will mean that they are thinking negatively about you and this could jeopardise all the important preparation that you have done for the interview.
Plan your journey
If you are late for an interview you are very unlikely to get the job. You need to arrive 10-15 minutes before the start of your interview. Plan the journey in advance, know what transport you need to catch in order to make it in time and then get the bus or train before it. If you are unable to check the location out beforehand make sure you leave enough time in case you cannot find the right building straight away.
At the interview
As soon as you arrive you should behave as though the interview has started. Sit up as straight and as attentively in the reception area as you would in the interview room.
In the interview room be polite, courteous and respectful. Thank the interviewers for seeing you. Sit up and appear interested, alert and enthusiastic. Be positive; you have been successful in achieving an interview when others were not. Smile and look at the person to whom you are talking. Listen carefully to the questions and think before answering. Ask if you don't understand and re-start an answer if you make a mistake.
It is also important to end the interview confidently. This will be the last thing that an employer remembers about you so you should try to be positive. For example you could say "I have been really impressed by what you have told me about your organisation. I really feel that it would be the type of environment that I could succeed in".
Dealing with specific questions
The following is a list of typical questions that you might be asked at an interview and some suggested ways of answering them.
"Why have you applied for this job?"
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Begin your answer by talking about what you do now, highlighting skills and experience that is relevant to the job
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Then talk about why the job interests you - be it a chance to diversify into different areas of work, more experience, career progression
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Finish your answer by showing some detailed knowledge about the employer by highlighting their good reputation, training opportunities, etc
"Can you tell us about your understanding of Equal Opportunities, and how would you apply our Equal Opportunities policy in this role?"
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As part of your prepartion for the interview you should have read the employer's Equal Ops policy and be able to give a very brief summary of it
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A handy way of remembering the common areas of Equal Opportunities is the abbreviation 'GRADES', which stands for Gender, Race, Age, Disability, Ethnicity and Sexual Orientation
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As the final part of your answer you can talk about how you would make sure that the tasks on the job description were completed in accordance with the policy
"What are your weaknesses?"
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Describe aspects of your last job that you found hard and how you overcame these difficulties
"What makes a good team member?"
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Good communication
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Flexibility and Adaptability
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Co-operation
"How do you manage your deadlines?"
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Prioritising and Planning
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Communicate any difficulties
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How you demonstrated the above in previous work or activities
"What is your experience of providing information to others?"
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Have you produced leaflets, written content for a website, organised an event?
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Sign posting others or giving advice
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Use examples from a work, social or educational setting
Stay positive
Confidence comes from practice and preparation. Even if you do not get the job this time, hopefully you will have learned some things for your next interview. You should always ask for feedback on your interview and application, as this helps you highlight things you did well and things you need to prepare more effectively next time.