1. 1 Get that Job! Interview Skills Helen Bonnor

2. Useful Information For careers advice contact National Careers Service (Nextstep) 0800 100 900 https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/Pag es/Home.aspx/https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/Pag es/Home.aspx/ Or Google Nextstep Careers

3. 3 Interview Skills – agenda  Why an Interview? Employer, employee  How NOT to do interviews!  Confidence at an interview: Preparation  Research  Logistics  In the interview 3

4. If you were recruiting, what would you want?

5. Mock Interview Dialogue  Hello, Helen – I’m xxx › Offer hand – ignored  Do sit d… (already sat)  You’re 10 minutes late – was the traffic bad?  Well… why do you want to work for us?  Tell me about yourself › Rambles – interrupt at ‘gerbils’  No, I mean in relation to your career  What do you do well?  Do you have any questions? › Answer– 20 days  That’s all for now – thank you. 5

6. 6 How not to do Interviews http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UN0SLzFNpDs&feature=related Late Tell me about yourself - grew up on a farm… Dropped out of school Career goals Last employer… What she’s done in the last 5 months Previous experience – watching TV! No questions – except holidays

7. What’s Important  Entrance  Greeting  Body Language  Punctuality  Answering questions  Asking questions  Close 7 What can you offer the company?

8. 8 Congratulations! You have been asked to an interview…

9. Why Interviews? 9

10. What about Assessments? Try to put you in a realistic environment… eg Group: –4 – 8 people work together on a task while observed –http://assessmentcentreprep.co.uk/assessment-centres/group-exercise/http://assessmentcentreprep.co.uk/assessment-centres/group-exercise/ In-tray: –You are given a scenario relevant to the job role Role-play: –Meet someone eg demotivated staff member, customer etc

11. What about Assessments? http://www.assessmentcentreprep.co.uk/ Don’t just do it – show the assessors you’re doing it Relax and be yourself Try to practise beforehand (role play) Know the assessment criteria –Job / person specification Prioritise your time (in-tray exercise) http://career-advice.monster.co.uk/job-interview/preparing-for-job-interviews/top-5- assessment-centre-tips/article.aspx

12. What do you think about Interviews?

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14. The Secret - Preparation

15. Interview Success - Preparation 1.Research The company The job 2.Logistics What to wear Getting there 3.In the Interview Their questions Your questions

16. Interview Success - Preparation 1.Research The company The job

17. 1. Researching an Organisation Eg how big is the organisation name of top executive how long have they been in operation how many branches / departments do they have a sister company…? How do you find out about a prospective employer? 17

18. 1. Researching the Job Find out as much as you can about the job –Job advert –Person specification –Phone up beforehand and ask –If you can, watch what an employee does –Ask questions How do you match what's needed in the job? –Your skills, achievements and experience

19. Preparation 1.Research The company and the job 2.Logistics How to get there? What to wear?

20. 2. Logistics 20 Clean and well-presented!

21. 2. Logistics ctd Dress Code Appropriate Get a good night's sleep Eat breakfast And eat lunch (for pm interviews) But leave time to digest! Journey Arrive there early! Dummy run if necessary Try to think about something which makes you happy while you wait to go in –photo album? Keep things in proportion. 21

22. Interview Success - Preparation 1.Research The company and the job 2.Logistics How to get there? What to wear? 3.In the Interview Positive opening (and closing) Keeping Calm Selling yourself Questions

23. First Impressions Survey of 1000 recruiters found that 70% of interviews are lost within three minutes of entering the room: –25% of interviewers were put off by a weak handshake or lack of eye contact –24% by poor body language –18% by poor posture Selectors make snap judgments: –trustworthiness, attractiveness, likeability, competitiveness, aggressiveness and spend the rest of the interview confirming or denying Smile and keep up good eye contact with the interviewer. Shake hands firmly and warmly –A firm handshake is perceived to communicate sociability, friendliness and dominance

24. 3. In the Interview - Nerves Why do we get nervous? What happens when we are nervous? Does it affect our appearance at an interview? 24

25. Calming Nerves

26. What do I least want to be asked? Ask yourself and write down the answers Ask yourself the questions beforehand Say the answers out loud Do this again and again If you can bear it, do this with a partner http://www.myjobsearch.com/jobhelp/interview_t echnique_coping_with_nerves.html 26

27. Try some breathing exercises – Take a deep breath though the nose while counting to 2 Release through the month while counting to 3 Repeat a few times 27 Calming Nerves –with Elephants In

28. Interview Confidence Visualisation You DOING the job Having answers to their questions 28

29. Interview Success - Preparation 1.Research The company and the job 2.Logistics How to get there? What to wear? 3.In the Interview Positive opening (and closing) Keeping Calm Selling yourself - USP (Unique Selling Point) –How you can do the job better than anyone else Questions

30. Shine at the Interview What are they going to ask? Look at the job ad! Your USP (unique selling point) relate back to job ad Hiring winners – evidence of your Skills & Achievements Bring samples of your work You are the other half of a torn £50 note They need problem solving skills “ I’m good at coming up with solutions to problems under pressure An example of when I did this is…” 30

31. Selling your Skills Make a list of 5 reasons why you’re the best person for this job – reference the job ad 31 1.My skills – IT skills, technical etc 2.My experience (volunteering?) 3.My enthusiasm 4.My commitment etc……

32. Shine at the Interview Your weak points Try to anticipate them and have answers; what about outside work? Minimum qualifications If you don’t have them, show that your experience compensates How much will you cost? Ask employer what they had in mind Give a range – is there a package of benefits? Leave room for negotiation Do you have any questions? Say something positive about the role Reinforce your message In 6 month’s time, how will you know you made the right choice? 32

33. Interview Success - Preparation 1.Research The company and the job 2.Logistics How to get there? What to wear? 3.In the Interview Keeping Calm Positive opening (and closing) Your USP – how you can do this job Questions –Yours as well as theirs

34. What does the Interviewer want?... Why did you apply? What are you offering? How well do you understand us? Will you fit in? Work well with us? Why you, not the next person? USP? What do you cost? 34

35. Sample Questions Why do you want this job? Where does it fit in with your career plans? What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? What's been your most significant success at work? What is the biggest mistake you ever made? What is the greatest challenge you have ever faced? How do you cope with difficult colleagues? You've changed jobs three times in the past five years, why should I think you are more serious about this one? What do you do outside work? What's your current salary? http://www.totaljobs.com/Content/Interviews/Interviewssamplequestions.html 35

36. Sample Questions Why do you want this job? What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? What's been your most significant success at work? What is the biggest mistake you ever made? How do you cope with difficult colleagues? You've changed jobs three times in the past five years, why are you more serious about this one? What's your current salary? http://www.totaljobs.com/Content/Interviews/Interviewssamplequestions.html 36

37. Remember, it's a 2-way Process This is your chance to find out whether working for this company will suit you. Change your mindset... You’re interviewing them You may not want their job Regain the feeling of control which is often lost as soon as people enter the interview room.

38. What do you Need to Know?... Why is this position available right now? How many times has it been filled in the past 5 years? What is the purpose of the job? What are the end results? What results really matter? What specific skills or knowledge are needed? What are the main problems? What kind of people have done well / badly in the past? 38

39. Questions you should ask the Interviewer 1. What would you most like to see done in the next 6 months? 2. What should the new person do that is different from the last person that had this position? 3. How much freedom do I have in decision-making? 4. What are my options for advancement? 5. How has this company succeeded in the past? 6. What changes do you see in near future for this company? 7. What do you think constitutes success in this job? http://www.interview-advice.co.uk/questions-you-should-ask-yours-interviewer.html 39

40. Disclosure of Tricky Subject Employers want to hear: the problem has been managed and won't recur I was in circumstances which no longer apply I underwent treatment for a year; I have taken active steps to change my environment I made a mistake and I have learned I behaved out of character; judge me by my work track record 40

41. Rejection You will get more rejections that acceptances Another candidate was a better match Bad luck Personality of interviewer The job really wasn’t right for you … “Do you have any feedback?” Don’t take it personally. It happens to us all… 41

42. People who were Rejected Others…Others… and more…and more… 42 Determination and hard work are as important as talent.

43. Websites Virtual job interview: http://career-advice.monster.co.uk/job-interview/careers.aspx See Links handout 43

44. 44 Interview Skills – agenda  Why an Interview? Employer, employee  How NOT to do interviews!  Confidence at an interview: Preparation  Research  Logistics  In the interview 44

45. 45 Very best of luck! helenb@zen.co.uk