The interview
An interview is a formal discussion, in which an employer assesses a candidate, and a candidate assesses an employer. It allows for a two-way gathering of information: for the employer to decide if you, the candidate, are suitable for the role, and for you, the candidate, to determine if the employer is right for you. An interview can be carried out face-to-face or conducted over the telephone or through Skype or video. Most jobs will require a face-to-face interview before an offer is made. For all interviews, you as the potential employee will need to be prepared to show you are the best candidate for the job. Employers will want to make sure they employ the right person – someone who can contribute the most to the organisation. Who is motivated and passionate and can bring the most to the role.
Your task in an interview is to sell yourself as the most suitable candidate, along with finding out what the role and the company can offer you.
What is the interviewer looking for?
The face-to-face interview is normally the final stage of a job application. When you arrive for an interview, the interviewer will already know certain things about you and your skills, having seen your CV or application form previously. Your CV or application form has worked hard to get you through the potential employer’s door, and now it is up to you to finish the process successfully. As a rule, employers use interviews to confirm that you:
- Have the skills and ability to do the job
- Have the necessary experience and meet the requirements
- Are enthusiastic for, and committed to the job
- Are able to work well with others and fit in with the existing team
- Are reliable and trustworthy
- Have prepared well for the interview,
- Have researched knowledge of the company and the role you are applying for
- Have a positive attitude generally, and towards past employers and colleagues
- Are presentable and looks the part. In a job interview the employer ultimately wants to find out if you are the right person for the job
How to create the best impression
The thought of attending an interview and being questioned by one or more interviewer can be daunting. However, if you prepare well in advance, you will be more prepared. You can do this by remembering:
Plan
Research
Expect (types of interviews)
Practice Plan
Company research
Find out as much as you can about the company. Most businesses have a website and a lot of content on social media, many have a YouTube channel, and so make sure you spend time exploring the potential employer’s website and join their Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and subscribe to any newsletters and magazines.
These are all great way to find out:
- The background of the company
- Who their customers are
- What products and/or services they sell
- What type of staff the company employs
- What the job role will entail
- Current events and priorities
- Their culture of the organisation.
You can obtain company information such as brochures or an annual report by researching the company on the website or prior to your interview.
Research: Job specific
Make sure you read the job advert carefully and make a note of key words used in the job description and/or criteria section of the advert. For example, if the advert states “must have excellent communication and strong team building skills,” make sure you prepare examples to demonstrate you have these. If you do not have the experience for some aspects of the role, think about how you can turn this into a positive – a challenge for you, an opportunity to learn new skills and progress, you are a quick learner, etc. Read through your CV and application form and imagine what questions you might be asked. Write down model answers and practice these with someone if you can. Try and get an idea through YouTube and Social Media of the culture of the organisation. Is this the kind of organisation you wish to work for? If you can, try and visit the organisation or talk to someone that works there.
Expect: Questions you are likely to be asked in an interview include:
- What made you apply for this job?
- What skills would you bring to the job if you were offered it?
- How would you deal with (a particular scenario?)
- What would you say are your strengths and weaknesses?
- How well do you cope under pressure? Provide an example of this?
- Why do you want to work for this company?
- Can you give me an example of good customer service?
Remember, the employer will be looking for you to show you have:
- The right skills and experience
- The personality to fit into the existing team well
- Enthusiasm for the job and the company.
Examples are the key to effectively showing you have what the employer is looking for – so prepare. In answering the question consider examples that best illustrate.
Practice: There will also be the opportunity to ask the potential employer questions, so you can determine whether or not you want to work for them. It is worth preparing questions in advance. The type of questions you could ask include the following:
- Are there many opportunities for progression?
- How big is the team? How does this role fit into the structure?
- I would be interested in undertaking a course to complement this role, would this be possible?
- What are the company’s long-term goals?
- How do you see my role develop in the first few months?
Never ask questions about the package being offered, including holiday entitlement or sick pay, as this will make the employer think you are applying for the wrong reasons. If you run out of questions to ask, or your mind goes blank, don’t say something for the sake of it. The best approach in this situation is to say something along the lines of, “You’ve covered everything for now, thank you, but I may contact you at a later date.”
Try to arrange a mock interview, preferably with someone you do not know too well, such as a careers advisor in the College – your learning coach may be able to arrange this for you. Or you can book an appointment to see a careers advisor yourself by visiting the information desk at any campus and asking for a career’s appointment.
What is the STAR technique?
The STAR technique is a way to structure your answers to competency-based questions either on an application form or at an interview. Employers often ask how you have demonstrated, in the past, the competencies that you will need to use in the role for which you are applying.
Often at job interviews nerves can take over, even if you have done a lot of preparation, research and planning beforehand. The STAR technique allows you to focus and structure your answers effectively, demonstrating the results achieved by undertaking actions to specific tasks and the results achieved.
Employers are looking for candidates that can ultimately benefit the company or organisation. The STAR technique can be used BOTH in job interviews and applications and is highly regarded amongst careers professionals and employability advisers and in the world of recruitment.
Use the STAR technique to structure your answers as follows:
S – Situation: Set the scene. Here open with a brief description and explain the role and situation. Where were you? What were you doing? Pick a specific example of a time when you have demonstrated the desired skill and give enough information to allow someone to understand the context of your example.
T – Task: This is still the introduction but provides some context, and it will explain your role and what was expected of YOU. Provide details of the task you were faced with or what you were trying to achieve? What was your desired outcome?
A – Action: Here you need to describe the specific actions that you took to complete the task, and this is the most substantial part and should comprise of 50 – 70% of the answer. What specifically did you do? How did you handle the situation? This should make up the main body of your response and remember if you are discussing working in the team do not overuse “we”. The recruiter wants to know what you did.
R – Result: Close with the result of your efforts. Quantify the result if possible. What happened as a result of the actions that you took? What impact the result had overall on the team, on the company and on you? We are going to go into a lot more examples using the STAR model throughout the course; what was the outcome? Try to make this as specific and positive as you can. Regardless of the outcome, what did you learn? How would you handle it differently next time to improve upon your performance?
You can demonstrate your skills using examples from all your recent life, e.g. college, sixth-form, voluntary work, work experience, sports activities, societies, clubs or hobbies and interests. The point is to evidence your skills in a positive manner and to provide a specific example of how and when you used the skill that you are being asked about. When asked a series of such competency questions, use different examples to show evidence of your capabilities.
Putting the STAR technique into practice
Below are three responses to the same interview question with some feedback on each. Answer 3 uses the STAR technique.
Question: Can you give an example of when you have used your initiative successfully?
Answer 1: I used my initiative all the time in my course at college, the group I was in hadn’t been very motivated but since I joined, I think that’s changed.
Feedback: This answer is vague; it’s not giving the employer a specific instance of when the student used their initiative or how it brought about change. Simply stating possession of a skill does not provide any evidence that you have it!
Answer 2: Yes, I study Media Studies and it was my idea to set up a Facebook page which people liked.
Feedback: This answer does not provide the employer with a clear context and, though it describes the activity, it does not explain why it was needed or what resulted.
Answer 3: (Uses the STAR technique)
S – Situation: I am in my second year at college undertaking a BTEC Extended Diploma in Media, I noticed that communication between my groups was poor and that we weren’t very active in the lessons. We rarely met and, when we did, not everyone could attend.
T – Task: We were set a practical task to make a short film.
A – Action: I decided to set up a WhatsApp Group to improve communication as I knew all the students used WhatsApp regularly; I initiated discussions and communicated about upcoming meetings and shared ideas and opinions.
R – Result: Soon, other members of the group participated actively and, as a direct result, we met more often to work on our short film. The liveliness of our group led to more people wanting to join us as they were interested in group. The WhatsApp group is still actively used as the main communication channel. Looking back, I would have talked to others more before setting up the group and tried to ensure a nucleus of early users rather than just my initial solo contributions. That would have ensured a swifter take up and more impact.
Feedback: This answer shows the employer how the student used their initiative effectively. It uses the STAR technique to describe the context, to detail what the student actually did and the effect that these actions had. Finally, the student has revealed their subsequent reflection and awareness of potential for improvement.
The STAR model summary
The STAR model, allows you to reflect on your answers, to think carefully about the impact of your involvement in a particular task. It also allows you to manage interaction more effectively, to structure your answers and to consider the positive outcomes of a particular situation. The STAR technique may take practice to perfect, but ultimately will put you in a good light. Giving you a competent edge to becoming a winning contender and an effective interviewer
Additional research
You will need to be prepared for the following scenarios: • You may be interviewed by just one person or by a group of interviewers • You may be asked to take a test or deliver a presentation You need to prepare yourself for every possibility, although most companies will advise you beforehand if the interview will consist of a test and/or a presentation. It is always better to be over-prepared, though, and it is best not to assume anything. Check the location – find out where the interview is and plan your route. It may be worth making a “dummy run” to check how long it will take you to get there. If you are going by car, make sure you investigate parking. This will make you more relaxed on the day and ensure that you are punctual. First impressions are very important.
The importance of appearance
First impressions count, and it is vital to make a good one. You want to create a professional image. Even if you know the staff work in casual wear, you will normally be expected to make an effort for the interview – turning up in jeans and t-shirt usually tells the employer you are not bothered whether you get the job or not. As with everything, however, there are always exceptions and if you are specifically told you can dress casually, you may wish to do so.
As a guide, though, dressing smartly, neatly, and appropriately for the job role, is a safe rule to follow.
For women, a shirt or blouse and smart trousers or skirt is normally acceptable for an interview. If the company is smart, it may be advisable to wear a suit. Hopefully, the research you do for the company will help you decide how smart you need to be. For men, shirt, and smart trousers and similarly a suit if you prefer or you feel this would be more suitable.
With shoes, a pair of court shoes, smart boots, or lace-ups, would be fine. The main thing is to be presentable, but do not worry about spending a fortune on a new outfit. Chances are you have suitable shirt and trousers and shoes already. It also helps if you feel comfortable in what you wear. Be sensible with what accessories you choose to wear. Again, researching the company thoroughly should help you decide what may or may not be appropriate to wear on the day.
Body language
Try to relax and look confident, maintain eye contact when you are speaking or being asked a question, and show interest through facial expressions and mannerisms such as nodding. How you behave during an interview will send messages to the interviewer. Try to be calm and composed throughout and remember that the interviewer is also likely to be nervous. People tend to feel more relaxed if they can see similarities in your body language and it is worth observing your interviewer for clues on how you are performing. For example, if the interviewer is leaning in towards you, this could show a keenness for what you have to say, whereas a distant look could indicate a lack of interest.
End of the interview
When the interview is over, do not relax too much! You need to remain professional until you have left the building. The closing moments are a good time to thank the interviewer for their time, reiterate your interest in the job, and enquire about the next stage. However, you feel the interview has gone, leave on a positive note. Smile reiterate thanks and offer a firm handshake at the point of leaving, as this will leave a good impression.
Do’s and Don’ts of interviews
Do:
- Do your research and make use of social media as well as LinkedIn
- Be polite, friendly and positive
- Be punctual
- Be yourself. Let your personality shine through, as this will be an important factor in whether or not you are offered the job
- Explain all your strengths, your key skills and relevant experience
- Back-up your answers with examples
- Keep your answers clear and simple
- Remember to make a good first impression, including body language, appearance and switching your mobile phone off during the interview
Don’t:
- Don’t let your nerves get the better of you. Being a little nervous will help you appear keen, but practice some breathing techniques beforehand to calm yourself if necessary
- Don’t be arrogant. Assuming you will get the job tends to alienate the people responsible for this decision
- Don’t assume. Explain your answers fully and, if you are unsure of anything, don’t be afraid to ask Don’t lie about your skills and experience. The truth will out, and people respect honesty. Besides, you can always turn a negative into a positive, a gap in your skills/experience into a challenge and a great training opportunity
- Don’t ask about the packages in terms of benefits, holidays, etc
- Don’t use slang words; interviews should remain formal even if the company normally takes a more relaxed approach
- Don’t criticise former employers or colleagues.
