This guide will help you prepare for job interviews.
If you have been called for an interview it means that the employer has already decided that your skills and abilities could be right for the job.
The interview is to look at how enthusiastic and committed you are and to see if you meet the specifications of the job.
Starting point: do your homework
Find out as much about the company and the job as you can. For example:
- What do they do/sell/make?
- What sort of organisation are they?
- What exactly does the job involve?
Most central libraries have books and databases of company information.
The internet is also a good source of information. Many companies now have a website containing information about their business, service or products.
These websites are also good for researching a specific company or industry sector:
www.kellysearch.co.uk
www.kompass.co.uk
They contain large directories of companies, suppliers and manufacturers. Large libraries may hold hard copies of these directories.
For information on employment trends you could look at:
www.tuc.org.uk/changingtimes/worktrends.htm
www.statistics.gov.uk
You could also look at company leaflets and marketing materials.
Read the advert and any information you have been sent about the job so you know exactly what skills will be required and the sort of person they want.
Also find out if there are any tests to take - you would usually be told this when you are invited for an interview.
There is more information on job tests further on in this section.
The interview questions
Whilst looking through the job details and person specification think about the questions they could ask and how you would answer. Here are some sample interview questions:
Previous/current job
What do you do in your present job?
What were the key responsibilities of your last job?
Tell us about your achievements in your job.
Working relationships
How do you get on with people?
Give us an example of when you worked in a team.
Think of a time when you successfully managed a difficult situation at work.
Future expectations of the job
Why do you want to work here?
What training will you need?
What are your career plans for the future/where do you see yourself in five years' time?
How does this job fit in with your career plans for the future?
Skills, achievements, what you can bring to the job
Tell us about yourself.
Why do you want to work here/What made you apply for the job?
What are your strengths?
What are your weaknesses?
How do you work under pressure?
How do you manage your day/how do you prioritise your work?
What have you been doing since your last job? (If not currently working)
Why should we employ you?
Tell us about the skills you would bring to this job.
Why are you considering leaving your present job?
How do you see this job developing?
What kind of salary are you looking for?
What kind of equipment can you operate?
Tell me about you recent training/qualifications?
Evidence questions
This is when the interviewer asks you to provide examples of how your own experience relates to the job you're applying for. Example questions:
What would you do if faced with... a particular situation at work?
Give an example of when... you worked in a team.
worked to a target/deadline.
managed a task from beginning to end.
Try to think of relevant examples from your own experience.
Equal opportunities
What does equal opportunities mean to you?
How would you contribute towards equal opportunities in this company?
Knowledge of issues/products/company/services
What are the current developments in... ?
Why do you want to work for this company?
Good interviewers will ask if you have any questions
Be prepared and make a list. It is acceptable to take a sheet of questions in with you, but make sure this looks tidy and presentable.
Example questions could be:
What training would be provided?
Is there an induction programme?
How many people are on the team?
Who would I report to?
Would there be opportunity to develop my skills?
How soon will I hear the result of my application?
You can also ask questions about the job and your specific duties.
The following websites may provide some additional help:
www.monster.co.uk
Click on 'Career Advice'
Virtual job interview from monster.com. This website will help you prepare for a job
interview; it provides a number of possible interview questions and possible answers.
www.iancooper100.freeserve.co.uk/interview.htm
A list of questions that interviewers may ask.
www.direct.gov.uk
Click on ' Employment', then click on 'Jobseekers'.
Information and help on job applications, letters and interviews.
Types of Interview
One-to-one interview - this is just yourself and the interviewer.
Panel interview -this type of interview is common and you are interviewed by more than one person. Don't be put off by this. Remember to try and direct your answers to all the people on the panel not just the person asking the question.
Group interviews - these are when you are invited to be assessed as part of a group. This assesses how well you may work as part of a team.
Tests
You may also be asked to complete a selection test. If this is the case, you would usually be told about it when you are invited for an interview. The tests vary but generally fall into the following categories:
Skills test - these are designed to measure your level of knowledge or understanding of the job. Examples include typing test, computer skills test, driving test and manual dexterity.
Personality test - these are designed to question your thoughts, feelings and behaviour in certain situations. There is no right or wrong answer. These tests give the employer an idea about your personality and they use them as a tool to help decide if you are right for the job.
Aptitude tests - this type of test is designed to predict how well you might do at a certain task. They test your ability, such as, reasoning with words, number and diagrams, problem solving and the ability to follow instructions.
Don't be put off if you are invited for a test. You can prepare yourself by doing practice tests. Examples of online tests can be found on:
www.guardian.co.uk/graduate
Guardian newspaper website with psychometric and IQ tests.
www.2h.com
Personality and IQ tests.
www.support4learning.org.uk
Click on Jobsearch and then click on assessment of your skills.
Lists a number of links to online tests and tools.
There are also lots of books about job tests. Your local nextstep service will have some books which you can use to help you prepare for your test. To find out where you can go to access this type of resource ring nextstep Coventry and Warwickshire on 0800 9 17 18 18.
Final preparation
Remember to:
- Check the date and time of your interview and confirm your attendance
- Check your travel arrangements. Make sure you know which bus/train to catch, where from, the timetable and how long the journey takes. If you are going by car plan your route - a dummy run may be worthwhile
- Gather all the information you might need; this could include: company information, interview letter, CV, record of achievement and certificates
- Sort out what you are going to wear. First impressions are often created by dress. You should aim to look smart and well presented as this shows you are taking the job seriously
- Re-read the job advert to refresh your memory and make sure you haven't missed anything
The day arrives
Remeber to:
- Arrive on time, at least 5 minutes before the start time. Telephone if you are going to be late
- Be polite to everyone you meet as they may be asked their opinion
- Body language is important. Enter the room confidently, shake hands firmly, smile, introduce yourself and look the interviewer in the eye
- Listen carefully to the questions and think before answering. Ask them to repeat the question if you don't understand it
- Try to give relevant examples from your previous jobs, work experience, voluntary work, school and college when answering the questions
- Look interested - ask questions as well as answering
Feedback
Think about how the interview went:
- What went well?
- How could you improve your performance?
- Were there any questions you found difficult and why?
Try to learn as much as you can from each interview. Make notes about the sort of questions you were asked. This will come in useful when preparing for other interviews.
Contact the interviewer and ask for feedback about your performance. This should give you some tips on how to improve in the future.
