Career Development Programme Getting a Placement Gill Clarke – Careers Adviser

Getting a Placement sessions 1:Written Applications 2:Interviews, Tests and Assessment Centres

Useful resources - for information, advice, workshops and employer events Careers Centre leaflets AGCAS booklet “Going for Interviews” Video – “Why ask me that?” Practice aptitude test sessions / booklets Quick Advice Desk (15 minutes) Mock interviews

What happens next? One or more of the following – the order can vary Pre-screening Telephone interview On-line psychometric tests 1 st interview 2 nd interview Assessment centre

Types of interview Face to face or telephone 1:1 or panel Formal or informal Technical or personnel Criteria or situational Case study 1 st, 2 nd or as part of assessment centre

Skills employers seek Analytical ability Commercial awareness Computer literacy Decision-making Influencing Initiative Leadership Negotiation Networking Oral communication Planning Presentation Problem-solving Self-awareness Self-confidence Self-management Team-working Tenacity Time-management Willingness to learn Written communication

The interviewer’s agenda Can the applicant do the job? Qualifications / experience / aptitude Will s/he do the job? Attitude / approach / motivation Will s/he fit in? Personality / style / flexibility of approach

Your agenda Gather information to determine: Can you do the job? / Will you enjoy the work? / Will you feel at home in the organisation? Emphasise your key selling points Ask questions at the end

Preparing yourself Research the placement / career area Find out about the organisation Re-read your written application Prepare outline answers to basic questions, but don’t have a script What would you want to know if you were the interviewer?

Preparing for the day How much do you know about the timing / format / structure of the interview and what it will involve? Where are you going and how are you getting there? Will you take anything with you? What will you wear?

Making a good impression Be yourself – at your best Dress appropriately Give a firm handshake Keep calm and positive Look and sound interested and enthusiastic – smiling helps a lot How you come across is as important as what you say

Answering the questions! The Question How good an organiser are you? The Evidence How have you demonstrated organisational skills? The Personal Contribution What was your contribution / what did you learn / what would you do differently next time? The General Situation What makes a good/bad organiser / why is it important to recruit people with organisational skills?

Interview exercise In pairs, ask each other the following 1.Why did you choose your degree subject? 2.What do you enjoy most about university? 3.Tell me about 2 of your strongest skills. 4.What do you hope to gain from your placement?

Typical interview questions 1.Why did you choose engineering? 2.What have you gained from your course so far? 3.Why do you want to work for us? 4.What do you know about our company? 5.How would your friends describe you? 6.How do you approach a project? 7.Tell me more about your part time job. 8.What makes you the best candidate for this placement?

Summary Getting an interview means you are well on the way to getting a job Interviewers want you to succeed Interviews are never perfect Reflect on your performance and learn from it (obtain feedback where possible)

Second interviews and assessment centres One or two days Social events Group activities (discussion, role-play, business games, case studies etc.) Individual tasks (in-tray exercises, report writing, aptitude tests, etc.) Presentations Interviews

Psychometric / aptitude tests Evaluate how people perform / react Standardised scores against a norm group Aptitude tests Personality questionnaires Listen to instructions Watch the clock and work quickly Don’t worry if you don’t finish Practice if you can

More help? > Applications and Interviews  Aptitude tests – advice, links to useful websites where you can practice and further reading > Choosing a career  Profiling for Success  Choose Learning Styles indicator step1 and/or Type Dynamics indicator step 1  Don’t use a hotmail address to receive your reports – it won’t work)