© Careers Advisory ServicePage 1 Interview Skills Careers Advisory Service

© Careers Advisory ServicePage 1

Interview SkillsCareers Advisory Service

© Imperial College London Careers Advisory ServicePage 2

What is an interview?

A Two Way Process

Interviewer Interviewee

Are you the right Is this the person for the job? right job for me?


Why do employers interview?

To find out 3 things:

1. Will you be able to do the job well = your skills and experience

2. Are you really motivated to do the job

= evidence that you really want it

3. Will you fit into the organisation

= what kind of person you are


Styles of interview

• Panel• One-to-one• Formal• Informal• Telephone

• Group • Presentation • Case study• Competence

based


Panel Interviews

• Very common for graduate jobs

o Usually 2-4 members, 1 will act as the chair, normally all will ask questions

o Not all of the panel will necessarily be experienced interviewers or know a great deal about your post

o Panel interviews can often be fairer than 1-2-1 interviews- you’re not just relying on the opinion of one interviewer. A HR representative may also be present to ensure the process is fair.


Individual Interviews

• Just because this is a one-to-one, don’t believe it is ‘informal’!

o May be a sifting exercise or a ‘first interview’

o The focus is often on information taken from your CV/ Application form but be prepared for any type of question


Telephone Interviewing - an initial screening process

• Treat it as a formal interview!!

• Pre-arranged or unannounced?

• Choose suitable location/environment

• Have CV/App Form, key notes, pen, paper, diary, to hand

• Speak clearly and concisely

• Sound enthusiastic and confident


Group Interviews

o May cover more standard interview questionso May ask you to discuss contemporary business or

relevant current affairs issueso Are often used to assess your inter-personal skills:

o verbal communication, team work, leadership, listening, facilitating, understanding, persuasiveness/ negotiation, confidence


Video/webcam Interviews

o Although these are rare, they are becoming increasingly popular

o Prepare for and dress in the same way as you would for a conventional interview

o Talk to the camera rather than the screen so that you appear to be looking at the interviewer(s)

o Do a run through first to check the equipment is working and ensure someone is on stand-by to help out with any technical hitches


Case study interview

• Often used by e.g. consultancy & law firms

• Analysis of a business problem

• Evaluated on:– How you analyse

– How you identify key issues

– How you pursue and develop the thinking

• “The process not necessarily the result”


Example of a case study question.

• A large integrated steel manufacturer is contemplating entering the specialist stainless steel market. Should it? What should it think about in order to make its decision?

– Who would you think makes up the main customer base for stainless steel?

– What would you need to know about the processes involved?

– What if you are told that the stainless steel market is dominated by three main players?


Another type of case study

• How many cats are there in the USA?


Competency based interviewing

Examples of competencies

• Influencing skills

• Leadership

• Managing Priorities

• Teamwork

• Analytical Thinking

• Communication

• Customer orientation

• Initiative


How do they find out?

Tell me about a time that you have

successfully demonstrated …

Describe an experience where you were ……..

If you were to do this again, how would you do

it differently?

What have you done that demonstrated ….

What obstacles have you faced …….


The three ‘P’s for interviews !!!

• Preparation

• Practicalities

• Presentation


Preparation

• Research the employer/sector/job

• Study job description and candidate specification

• Consider why you want this job

• What can you offer/ your Unique Selling Points?

• Prepare responses to questions

• Prepare your own questions


Planning your marketing pitch

• Think about an opening ‘career goal’ statement– Spend the next 5 minutes writing yourself

• a 30 word career statement

• then note down your Unique Selling Points.


Practicalities

• Confirm your attendance with employer

• Check exact location/plan journey• Decide on dress style • Organise documentation: letter of

invitation/map, CV, application form, your questions, diary/note pad

• Be aware of personal safety issues


Preparing for Questions on …….?

• Knowledge, skills, experience, • Self awareness• Work attitude and values• Working/relationships with others• Decision making, problem solving, judgement• Subject/vocationally/technically specific• Future plans/ambitions• Interests• Circumstances, health• Awareness of equal opportunities


Remember the 3 reasons for interviews

• Can you do the job?

• Will you do the job?

• Will you fit in?

This can help you work out how to respondto questions


Complex Questions

• What is your greatest strength and weakness?

• How do you react to criticism?

• What is your preferred role in a team?

• Give me an example of when you provided a solution to a complex problem?


Tricky Questions

• What would you say has been your greatest failure?

• Why should we take you above everyone else?

• Why have you changed jobs so frequently?

• What salary are you looking for?


Technical questions• What are the factors you would need to consider when

putting a value on a multinational firm?

• Describe how the content of your degree will help you contribute to the goals of this company?

• What do you think the key trends in the industry are?

• What are your views on the health and safety issues related to running a project in this environment?

• What would be the major impact on predicting the profitability of a new product?


Practicing your fluency

• Working in pairs take 5 minutes each to practise some typical interview questions.

• Q1 Tell me about yourself?• Q2. Describe how you have contributed

effectively to a team?• Q3. What will you bring to this organisation?

– Remember to get across your career statement and your unique selling points


Do you have any questions for us?

• How has the vacancy arisen?• How will my performance be measured?• Who would I be working with?• What would the key objectives be in the first sixth months

of the job?• What would my future career prospects be like?• What training/support can I expect?• What happens next?• When will I know your decision?

• Not about salary, working hours, holidays etc!


Presentation - On the day…

• Arrive early• Look the part!• Make sure your mobile phone is off!• First impressions: body language &mannerisms • Be polite to all those you encounter • Be positive!• Act naturally!• Be attentive, listen carefully• Answer questions fully but succinctly


On the day…Avoid

• Over confidence• Being too familiar• Being negative• Smoking/drinking/chewing gum! • Arguing• Criticising others • Asking about salary and conditions in an

inappropriate way• Any other points…………….?


After the interview:

Unsuccessful?

• Move on! Do more reading and research. Study ‘interview’ videos.

• Reflect positively - what did you learn from it? How will you do it differently in future?

• Seek feedback from employer?


Things you can do to get help

• Excellent video ‘Why ask me that?’

• Many reference books e.g. ‘Ace your Case’ and IT technical questions Ace your case

• www.prospects.ac.uk

• www.imperial.ac.uk/careers

• 20 min ‘quick query’ session

• Appointments to discuss or practise interview techniques

http://www.prospects.ac.uk/

http://www.imperial.ac.uk/careers

Documents

© Careers Advisory ServicePage 1 Interview Skills Careers Advisory Service