How to survive an Interview

What is an interview?

• Professional conversation

• Two way conversation with a purpose

• Opportunity for the interviewer to gain evidence

• Opportunity for the interviewee to obtain further

information
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What are competencies?

• Competencies are particular qualities that an

organisation feels desirable for employers to possess

• During interviews and assessments competencies are

used as benchmarks that assessors use to rate and
evaluate candidates

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Quick exercise to outline skills

Your task

In small groups consider the types of skills employers

are looking for.

List 5 to 10 skills. Feedback in 5 minutes

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Competencies

• Teamworking
• Taking responsibility
• Understanding of the company
• Making decisions
• Communication
• Being trustworthy
• Solving problems
• Managing your time effectively
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The first 60 seconds

Body Language
• Be on time
• Dress appropriately
• Maintain eye contact
• Have a firm handshake
• Try to relax
• Smile

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Exercise – First Impressions

Your task

• In pairs, take it in turns to act as the interviewer and

interviewee

• Interviewee – Your role is to approach the interviewer as if

you have just met, shake their hand, and answer their
question in 30 seconds

• Interviewer – you role is to ask one question: “Tell me about

yourself”

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Techniques

Providing evidence - S T A R

• Situation – Set the scene

• Task – Explain what you did
• Action – What actions did you take
• Result – Explain what the outcome was

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What does a bad answer look like?

• Volunteer to ask an interview question

• Whilst I answer, jot down why you think this answer

is not going to land me the job

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Exercise - Interview practice with peers
In small groups prepare answers to the sample questions and
then role play as interviewer and interviewee!

OBSERVER ROLE:

Role: Observe the interview and provide feedback on

the answer, body language, first impression etc

INTERVIEWER ROLE: INTERVIEWEE ROLE:

Role: Ask at least one Role: Answer the interview

interview question and take question(s) using the STAR
notes on the answer technique
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 Interview practice with peers
OBSERVER:
Role: Observe the
1. Describe a situation where you have had to interview and provide
work as part of a team feedback on the
answer, body
language, first
2. Give an example when you have been really impression etc
stretched for a deadline and how did you
achieve it? INTERVIEWEE:
Role: Answer the
interview question(s)
3. Give an example of an occasion where you
using the STAR
have given constructive criticism to a technique
member of your peer group

4. Tell me what your greatest achievement to INTERVIEWER:

date has been? Role: Ask at least one
interview question
and take notes on the
answer 11
Key Tips – During your Interview

• Don’t be afraid of silence. Your interviewer will be making notes

• It’s perfect ably acceptable to take a moment to collect your thoughts
• Don’t be afraid to ask the interviewer to repeat the question if you
didn’t understand it
• Be concise, do not provide long winded answers as this may detract
from your main points
• Don’t give one word answers. This is your opportunity to sell yourself
• Do not always use the words “the company” or “we”, try to explain
examples and situations as ‘I’
• Have questions prepared in advance to ask them about the
job/organisation

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Reasons for failure

• Not preparing for the interview

• Providing superficial information or waffling

• Not listening to the questions - answering a

question that ‘was not asked’

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