Interview success

How to prepare for a winning interview

What to expect at an interview...

Remember: often the interviewer is just as nervous as the interviewee!! The only way to ensure a successful interview is...

PREPARATION PREPARATION PREPARATION!!!

How do I prepare for my interview?

You could try:

Mind-mapping the things above this will help you to think about why you went for the job and what you could bring to the role. Researching the company website, in particular the department you will be working with. Thinking about what you could say you have done to meet the criteria and person specification they have set out for the job. They will probably day describe a time when... think of scenarios you can give them. Many interviews are competency based these days so they will mark you on how closely your personality/experiences meet the job criteria. Review your CV, they will ask you questions on what you have written so make sure you remember what you did write. Doing a dry-run of the journey to the interview: work out how you are going to g et there, how long it takes (with traffic) and where you can park etc. Whatever you do, DO NOT be LATE!!!!! Practise makes perfect! Ask your parents/carers to do a run-through interview with you.

Interview do and dont

DO
Prepare Take everything you need with you, e.g. certificates Be sure you know the date, time and location of your interview Arrive with 10 minutes to spare Wear smart clothes Use the bathroom before you go to the interview Be polite to the receptionist, they often tell the interviewer what they think of you Make a good first impression smile! Show interest even if the job isnt quite what you thought it was, its all good experience and if you are the right candidate there may be other opportunities in their organisation for you...you never know Ask if the interviewer asks you a question you dont quite understand Pause if you need to think of an answer, the interviewer will understand you are nervous Think of questions you can ask this shows you are interested and have genuinely prepared At the end of the interview, thank they interviewer for their time Practise an interview with someone who has done interviews before Make sure you talk about future career ideas and interests relevant to that job. Dont talk about your ambition to become a graphic designer at an IT interview!

DONT
Arrive late! Speak negatively about an old employer or school Answer questions with one word, always expand on your answer however closed the question is...but not TOO much! Wear inappropriate clothing Look at your watch Chew gum Forget to turn your mobile phone off, dont text and dont fiddle! Smoke before your interview Have an inappropriate email address or voicemail chances are you wont get to interview if you do

Have closed body language Be negative in response to questions, always be upbeat and positive Give a limp handshake Go to bits, even if you think the interview hasnt gone well keep confident, they invited you through to this stage for a reason Swear, or use slang, e.g. mate Forget that even if you are sitting in a waiting room, in a group scenario or anywhere other than with your interviewer...you are always being assessed.

Possible interview questions

Have a go at answering them!
Tell me a bit about yourself ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Why our organisation? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ What do you think you could bring to this team? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ What are your strengths and weaknesses? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Whats your greatest achievement? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Have you ever had difficulties working in a team and how have you overcome this? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

Why did you leave your last job? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Where do you see yourself in five years time? ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

IMPORTANT: If you are asked to involve yourself in a group scenario, discussion or assessment day, this is a form of interview. Please remember you are always being assessed from the moment you get into the building, ensure you act the way you would want to be perceived.

WELL DONE!
Now you have prepared for some of the possible interview questions you may get.

Positive action words to use on your CV

The following words will help you to sound more confident at interview try changing some of your answers above and replacing them with these positive action words:

Accelerated Accomplished Achieved Activated Approved Attained Budgeted Built Calculated Conceived Conducted Completed Consolidated Contribution Controlled Core Created Delegated Delivered Demonstrated Designed Diagnosed Directed Doubled Eliminated Empowered

Established Ended Ensured Exceeded Extended Finalised Finished Forecast Foresaw Generated Headed Increased Implemented Improved Introduced Invented Launched Led Maintained Motivated Negotiated Ordered Operated Perceived Performed Persuaded

Planned Pioneered Presented Processed Programmed Positive Profit Promoted Questioned Rectified Recognised Redesigned Reduced Reorganised Rescued Researched Revised Revived Saved Scheduled Set up Sold Solved Sorted Started Streamlined

Stressed Strengthened Stretched Succeeded Summarised Superseded Supervised Terminated Trained Traded Transformed Translated Tripled Trimmed Turned Uncovered Unified Utilised Verified Waged Won Worked Wrote

Plan ahead
To ensure success you should always plan ahead! Where do you want to be in 1, 3 and 5 years time. Make some SMART targets! By SMART, we mean:

SPECIFIC MEASURABLE ACHIEVABLE REALISTIC TIMEBOUND

Timeframe Target 1 year By who? When?

2 years

5 years

Share these with your tutor so they can help you to achieve them!

GOOD LUCK!!