Interviews Alison Clay, Careers Adviser www.sheffield.ac.uk/careers 28/11/2018

Be prepared! Why do they interview? To assess your potential - evidence Check out your skills / qualities / qualifications Explore your motivation Will you fit in with colleagues? Shared values? Will you create the right impression with clients? Do you have a realistic idea of the role? And of the organisation? To give you chance to find out more about them – informed decision

Basic preparation What to expect: Process? Who? Where? When? Prepare to promote yourself & demonstrate the ‘match’: What have you told them? What more can you tell them? Clarify what you have to offer and think about ‘evidence’ of your skills, qualifications, experience, interests, etc YOUR KEY SELLING POINTS Show your motivation and enthusiasm: Why that job /course / research? Know what it involves! Why that organisation? (Check your facts). Why that sector? (show commercial awareness)

Resources to aid preparation About you: Your application SGDP materials Careers Service: www.shef.ac.uk/careers/students/worktypes/getstarted See the Bigger Picture Profiling for Success JobShopping Virtual Career Coach Talk to an Adviser www.prospects.ac.uk Views of family and friends? Talk to your tutor KEY SELLING POINTS About the job /study/ research: Job description and advert Annual report and website Prospectus, departmental brochure etc Prospects website: www.prospects.ac.uk Press articles (news sites, professional bodies; etc – current and recent archives) Personal contacts Careers Service Your Department Research resources All organisations, including charities, universities and non-governmental organisations produce annual reports which will describe the key issues, strengths and future plans. Many libraries have CD-ROM databases of press articles which you can search for reports on the organisation. Alternatively, most newspaper websites have a similar facility The best source of info is a personal contact in the organisation or a similar role. Is there someone on this course in a job that interests you? Talk to then about this and keep in touch. Most Career Services have useful networks that you can tap into. Some have lists of contacts in local companies - often alumni who are willing to offer career support. (Alternatively ask your University Alumni Office if this is a service they offer)

Anticipate questions Some will be competency-based – confirming what you have achieved AND what you can offer (your potential) Some may test what you are good at and enjoy doing - strengths-based questions Some will test what you know – about the subject / role, organisation and sector Some will be hypothetical – testing how you think or react: “What would you do if...” Expect to be asked to show your motivation and enthusiasm (genuine interest) Expect to demonstrate ‘commercial awareness’

Common topics Career choice – Why this job / course? Why suited? Why this company / further study? Alternatives? University – course and extra-curricular Work experience – and what you got from it Technical skills (as applicable) Personal skills and attributes Work / study preferences Other topics specific to the organisation

Competency based questions: What you CAN do “We will provide you with early responsibility. Within six months you may find yourself in charge of a section with ten people to manage. What are you like as a leader?” Situation – suitable and clear / concise? Task – objective? your role? Action – what did YOU do and how did it Results – positive outcome? objective met? Learning? www.careers.dept.shef.ac.uk/interactive/star/engage.html

Strengths-based questions What you really ENJOY doing Do you prefer to start a task or finish a task? What do you do when you find a task boring? How do you make sure you always do your best? Would your friends describe you as organised? How do you make others feel confident in your abilities?“ Do you enjoy working within a team? If you were at work and got a surprise couple of hours off, what would you do with the time? More questions, faster pace, less time to think  more ‘natural’ response. More enjoyable interview experience?

Preparing for strengths-based questions What do you enjoy doing? Spot similarities between your strengths and the values & skills sought by the interviewer. What are you good at? What comes easily to you? What do you learn quickly? What did you find easiest to learn at University? What subjects do you most enjoy studying? What things give you energy? Can you describe a successful day you have had? What did you do that made it successful? When did you achieve something you were really proud of? Why are you proud of it? What things are always left on your to-do list and not finished (these are probably weaknesses: things you dislike doing!) NB: body language and tone of voice

Scenarios “What would you suggest our organisation could do to improve its competitive performance?” Show you have researched and understood. Commercial awareness? “What would you do if the experiment you have been working on for 8 weeks suddenly ran into difficulties and was about to fail?” Do you show careful thought and logic? Skills?

Something a little different What is your greatest achievement to date? If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? If I was an alien, just landed on earth, what do you think are the three key issues I would need to know? In a news story about your life, what would the headline be? How do I rate as an interviewer?

General tips for answering questions Illustrate with examples, facts, details Be honest, enthusiastic and interested - show how much this means to you Show potential If you don’t understand or need time to think, say so!

Other things to remember at interview Make a good first impression – with everyone you meet! Make a good last impression – don’t ask about pay and benefits! NVC’s inc. voice and body posture What will you ask them? NB – interviewers vary but they usually make allowance for nerves (including their own!)

Your questions (1) What is the main function of the department that I will be working in? X I see on your website that your organisation works with employees to develop individual training and development plans. Could you tell me more about what training and development I might expect as a new graduate to help me progress in the company? √

Your questions (2) What salary, pension and other benefits may I expect to be offered by your organisation? X I read in the newspaper last week that you are expanding into Europe. Is the company expanding into any other markets? What effect do you think this will have on the organisation in the short term and long term? How might this affect its employees? √ and X Would you mind if I briefly tell you about another of my achievements that I feel is relevant to the post, but which I haven’t yet had chance to talk about? √

Sources of help – Careers Service Careers Service publication ‘Interviews and Assessment Centres’ Careers Service website: www.sheffield.ac.uk/careers/students/gettingajob Online talks and DVDs: www.shef.ac.uk/careers/students/gettingajob/appstalks www.prospects.ac.uk  ‘Careers advice’ Interviewer – software for mock interviews Reference books available from Careers Service What’s on: www.shef.ac.uk/careers/students/events Advice sessions at Careers Service

Where to find us….. www.shef.ac.uk/careers www.sheffield.ac.uk/careers Careers Service - 388 Glossop Road (behind SU building) Open 9am - 5pm Mon to Fri (11am – 5pm Tues) Student Jobshop – 285 Glossop Rd (temp. move) Open 10am – 3pm Mon to Fri (11am – 3pm Tues) www.shef.ac.uk/careers www.sheffield.ac.uk/careers 28/11/2018