How to Prepare and

Perform at
Interviews
 Interview Skills

How to prepare and research for an interview

Before you go to a job interview, it is important to find out as much as you can about
the company. Company research is a critical part of interview preparation. It will help
you prepare to both answer interview questions and to ask the interviewer questions.
You will also be able to find out whether the company and the company culture are a
good fit for you.

How do I research the role and the Company?

 Start with the job advert - what details does it tell you about the job role?
 Do you have a job description or person specification? If not, then you can ask for
one. This will tell you in more detail about the duties and responsibilities required
for the job and you can match your skills to these. This will be useful in preparing
your answers to interview questions.
 Use the internet and research the company. Find out things like how big the
company is, what their mission statement is (if they have one), what services they
deliver or products they make, where their offices are based and if they have won
any awards etc.

What type of interview am I preparing for?

Not all interviews will follow the same one-to-one model. You may have to face
other interview situations.

 Panel interviews - panels are often made up of two or more members, e.g. HR
Officer and Manager of Department. Try not to be intimidated by this situation
and look at the person asking the question, glancing at the others occasionally as
you reply. Remember, the decision will be made by more than one person, which
could in turn increase your chance of success.
 Competency based interview - these interviews are designed to allow you to
demonstrate your level of skill in key areas of the job. You may be asked to
discuss examples of your previous work and achievements and the examples
you give should be different from those on your original application form. Before
the interview you will need to list the competencies needed for the job and think
about the things you have done which demonstrate these skills.
 Group interview - You may be invited to be assessed as part of a group. This is
to test how you might work as part of a team. Be prepared to take an active role
in the discussion/task and put forward your ideas in an assertive but not
aggressive way.
 Skills test - These are designed to measure your level of knowledge or
understanding of the job, such as an IT test, driving test or manual dexterity test
etc. Find out what the test(s) will involve and try to practice them before the
interview.
 Personality tests - You could face questions on your thoughts, feelings and
behaviours in certain situations. There is no such thing as a right or wrong
answer, as the overall picture is what is important. The end result is a personality
rating used to see if the person fits the job advertised. Analysis of these tests is
highly skilled and may be used by larger organisations to supplement other
recruitment methods.
 Assessment centres - These are increasingly popular with employers. They
usually take place over one or two days and are often held in hotels or training
establishments. They aim to provide an objective measure of a person’s ability
using a variety of assessment methods. Remember that each activity is designed
to measure a specific ability or skill, which is important for the job.

Remember that not all employers have had training or are experienced in
interviewing people. They could be just as nervous as you are about the
situation. You might find yourself being talked at and given little
opportunity to sell yourself. Be patient and wait for a gap in the
conversation to talk about your skills and how you think you are right for
the job.
Examples of Interview Questions

Why do you want to work here?

If you’ve done the preparation you should have a clear idea of how this job fits into
your career plan and why the company is right for you. Concentrate on the things
that allow you to work at your best

What interests you most about this job?

The interviewer needs to know you are enthusiastic about using your skills, abilities
and experiences to benefit the company.

What has your current job / course taught you?

Talk about a practical skill you have developed or a responsibility you have taken on,
it could be by doing this you have matured, got more organised, developed your
communication skills etc.

How do you get on with other people?

They are trying to find out if you have mixed with people of all ages, status and
backgrounds. Give an example when you have done this – work experience, part
time job, in one of your areas of interest or hobby.

What makes a good team member?

Good team members are: communicative, supportive of other members, interested

in the success of the team, not just their role and flexible.

Give an example when you have participated in a team?

This is looking for a specific example; tell them the situation, your part and the
outcome.

What are your strengths?

This is your chance to shine, tell them three strengths giving examples with them,
e.g. communication skills – you are very confident talking to people both in person
and on the phone, you pay attention to detail – able to record information accurately
from messages, taking appointments etc., your ability to learn.

Seven Steps to Managing Interviews

1. Preparation  Know what the job is about.
 Know what you can offer.
 Know how it meets your needs and theirs.
2. Presentation  Look smart.
 Plan your journey to be on time.
 Act professionally from the moment you arrive.
3. Meeting and greeting  Be friendly and positive.
 Shake hands and smile.
 Wait to be seated and relax.
4. Handling nerves  Think positive - banish negative thoughts by
breathing calmly.
 If you go blank - ask for time, water or
clarification to give you a minute to think.
 Remember the interviewer is looking for the
right person and wants you to succeed.
5. Body language  Use positive body language e.g. lean forward,
show interest, make good eye contact.
 Be seen to be actively listening by nodding.
6. Answering questions  Listen carefully to the question and ask them to
repeat it if you are unsure.
 Be honest and polite.
 Enjoy the chance to talk about yourself and
prepare any questions you would like to ask.
7. Saying goodbye  Shake hands upon leaving.
 Leave on a positive note.
 Remain professional until you leave the building.
Reflection and Feedback after the Interview

It is important to take time to reflect on your interview - what do you think went well
and what could you have done better?

Your assessment of how it went

You may feel like sitting back and forgetting all about the interview until you hear
from the employer. Don’t take this option. While it is still fresh in your mind think
about how the interview went and particularly about anything you need to do next.

Exercise: Answer the following questions within 24 hours of attending an

interview while it is still fresh in your mind.

Did I arrive on time? Yes / No

Did I dress appropriately? Yes / No
Did I greet the interviewer? Yes / No
Did I sit well and relax? Yes / No
Did I maintain eye contact with the interviewer? Yes / No
Did I answer the questions fully? Yes / No
Did I sell myself - matching my experience, achievement etc. to the Yes / No
job?
Did I get answers to my own questions at the end of the interview? Yes / No
What was the best part of the interview?

What could I have done better?

Is there any additional information about myself that I would like the employer to
know or anything I would like to reinforce?

Are there any questions about the job which I still need to ask?
 Are you ‘work’ ready?
Applying for work and completing application forms are just the beginning. You need
to think if you are ‘work’ ready.

Think about your daily routine, what adjustments do you need to make to start work,
this could be adapting what time you get up, not stay up so late, habits form easily
but can be harder to change. When you are working you have a start time and have
to work x amount of hours each day you are contracted for, you don’t want to appear
too tired in the first weeks.

Start making those changes whilst looking for work and it will be easier when you do
get that job.

What are employers looking for?

There has been a lot of research about what employers are looking for in potential
employees and typically it results in lists of skills, abilities and work behaviours like
this:
 teamwork
 problem solving
 communication
 time management
 IT skills
 numeracy
 good customer service.

These skills and abilities are 'generic', which means they are likely to be necessary
in most types of employment.

The personal attributes they want are:-

 punctual
 reliable
 motivated - a ‘can do’ attitude
 organised
 looks the part - dresses appropriately for the job you are doing, some companies
will have a dress code to follow, some will require specific uniform depending
where you are working e.g. safety boots, hair net etc.

Beware of use of the internet or mobiles at work, again, most organisations have
rules on when and where you can use these or if at all.