1. Preparing for Interview

8/2/2019 1. Preparing for Interview

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Preparing for Interview


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Presentation format

Types of interview

Getting ready

4 step preparation process


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Types of interview

The just come in for a chat interview

The traditional interview

The semi-structured interview

The structured or competency-based interview

The telephone interview


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Types of interview just come in for a

chat

Tends to be informal.

Normally when you have a personal contact in anorganisation

Mostly happens in the private sector

Rarely in public service

Key aspect Prepare for the meeting as if it were areal interview


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Types of interview the traditional

interview

An interview board go through your CV and

probe to see:

if you have the skills required

Look for evidence

Your strengths and weaknesses

They may look for specific ideas or suggestions


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Types of interview the traditional

interview

Your success will depend on:

Your skill as an interviewee

Your communication skills

The types of questions you are asked

Your knowledge of the company and the job

How you handle unexpected questions


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Types of interview the semi-

structured interview

A hybrid of the traditional interview and acompetency-based interview.

The interviewers decide on several clearcriteria or competencies to judge yoursuitability. They will ask you questions on:

The criteria Related topics

Unrelated topics


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Types of interview the semi-

structured interview

You may or may not be aware of these criteria

in advance, but you can focus on:

The job

Your CV

Your experience

Technical or specialist competencies required for

the job

Other skills, such as; communication, people and

interpersonal skills, organising and planning skills.


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Types of interview the structured or

competency based interview

Tend to focus on five or six key competenciesnecessary for the job

These competencies tend to be identified andexplained in the job application material

You will be expected to give examples todemonstrate that you have these competenciesnormally drawing on your work experience


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Interviewers questions will be probing to findout;

what you did,

how you did it, what obstacles you overcame and what the

outcome was and

what you learned form the experience

You may be asked to give different examplesfor the same competency


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Advantages

You know exactly what topics will be discussed

You have a chance to prepare your best examples

You will be asked about the same competencies as

every other candidate

There is a clear marking system that ensures

greater fairness, objectivity and consistency There should be no questions asked on unrelated

topics


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Types of interview the telephone

interview

Often used in the screening process

For jobs abroad

Key aspect you most prepare as if it were a

face to face interview


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interview

Preparation Be free to take the call

Prepare a quiet room

If possible, use a landline

Be aware! As all non verbal communication willbe missing, therefore;

Your tone of voice will need to be confident andenthusiastic

If you need time to think say it, silences seem longeron the telephone


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interview

Advantages

You can have your notes close by, CV and

application form

So dont waste the opportunity, put up charts on

the walls if they will help!


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Getting Ready for the interview

Time give yourself self time to:

Research the role and the company

Reflect on your own skills, knowledge, abilities and

experience and knowing which are most relevant forthe job

Revising your CV and application form

Remember your CV and application form get youthe interview, what you say in the interview getsyou the job!


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Getting Ready for the interview

Remember your CV and application form get

you the interview, what you say in the

interview gets you the job! The interviewers

are judges Therefore:

Assume you are starting with a blank record

Work out and present your track record and

achievements that are relevant to the job


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Getting Ready in Detail 4 step

process

Step 1 Plan your agenda

Step 2 Anticipate key questions

Step 3 Build your answers and examples

Step 4 Rehearse and practise (out loud!)


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Make a list of all the things the interviewer

must know about you!

1. Your understanding of the job role and step up

or transition involved

2. Your career history, relevant experience, key

achievements and why you match the job

3. Your specific examples of skill and competencydemonstration


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Other areas:

Your key priorities in the job, if you were to be

successful

Your knowledge of the industry or business

challenges

Any recommendations you may have

Areas of development for you and theorganisation


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Start of interview, questions tend to be broad

and open about your experience and track

record:

Give me a concise overview of your career to date

What are the main highlights of your CV

Why do you think you are suitable for the role


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Then to probing questions; the who, what, when,where, why and how. The interviewer isascertaining exactly what you did in certain

situations: What was your particular role on the team

How many were on the team

How did you contribute to the team

What exactly did you do on a typical day What effect did that have on your team morale

How did you feel about what happened


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Then to probing questions; the who, what, when,where, why and how. The interviewer isascertaining exactly what you did in certainsituations: What was the results Did it work

What happened when you introduced those newprocedures or cutbacks

How did you measure the success Why did you do it that way

Would you do it the same again? If not, why


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Typical interview structure

A. CV based questions

B. Questions about the job role

C. Skills and competency based questionsD. Strengths and weakness questions

E. Where do you see yourself in five years time

F. Why youG. Nasty or tough questions

H. Any questions? Anything you would like to add?


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A. CV based questions looking for highlights

Tell me about yourself

Can you take us through your CV

Tell me about your current role

Use your CV to structure your answer, present asummary of your career and education, explain whyyou moved when you did, mention specific skills and

achievements you made along the way and preparedto answer questions about gaps or short periods


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B. Questions about the job role. So be prepared tooutline:

Your understanding of the job Key responsibilities of the role

How you will deliver

Have examples of how you would step up or

make the transition into the job. Think of pastexperiences or scenarios that you haveconsidered.


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Typical interview structureC. Skills and competency based questions;

interviewers often look for a specific example of atime when you demonstrated a particular skill or

competency, for example; Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a

staff member who was not pulling their weight

Can you give me an example of a time you had tomanage a dispute between two colleagues

So anticipate the jobs key skills e.g.Communication, people management and haveexamples lined up


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D. Strengths and weakness questions

Highlight your skills and be able to explain them

e.g. Coming up with a concept and seeing itthrough to completion. Have about four ready

Have an example of a number of weaknessesand how you have dealt with them e.g. Not

understanding a particular software. Always gofor a weakness that can be improved withtraining etc...


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E. Where do you see yourself in five years time

Are you CEO material?

Do you plan to study etc...


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F. Why you A tough question if you havent

prepared

What will you bring to the role

How will you add value

What makes you different

Why do you want the job

Remember this is a great opportunity to sellyourself


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G. Nasty or tough questions

If you were a brand of care, which car would

you be?

Remember if such questions come up, pause,

think about it and build your strengths into the

answer


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H. Any questions? Anything you would like to

add?

Again, anticipate possible questions, if the areahappens to be covered throughout the

interview, then use this time as an opportunity

to reiterate your key strengths.


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Step 3 Build your answers and

examples

Good answers have four parts

Overview of your experience and track record

Specific examples

Learning and insight

Relevance to the job


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examples

So imagine you are asked

tell me about a time when you had to lead

your team through a period of transition... or

Are you a good team leader?

Overview of your experience and track record

Specific examples

Learning and insight

Relevance to the job


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examples





Overview of your experience and track record:

throughout my career I have had to lead a variety

of teams through difficult changes and periods ofuncertainty


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examples




Are you a good team leader? Specific examples: For example, we recently had

to restructure our department and a number ofpeople in my team were impacted by the change.

It was my role to lead the team through this timeand ensure we continued to deliver our serviceseffectively


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examples


tell me about a time when you had to lead yourteam through a period of transition... or Are youa good team leader? Learning and insight: During the early weeks of

change I realised I wasnt giving people enoughopportunities to ask me questions. I quickly realisedthat communication was going to be the key toensuring morale remained positive throughout thechange. I learnt that my priority was making sure Italked people through what was happening and gavethem a chance to ask questions


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examples





Relevance to the job: This role will require the

effective leadership of change. I believe my vast

experience of working with teams through periodsof transition make me a highly suitable

candidate...


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examples

Preparing your examples and Achievements

What was the issue/objective/problem?

What were you hoping to do/expected to do

What outcome was achieved


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examples Preparing your examples and Achievements What steps did you take to achieve that particular outcome?

What exactly did you do and how did you use yourstrengths

How did you organise these tasks, why did you choose todo this

Who else was involved

What did you do in particular that helped to progressthings

What challenges or obstacles did you face and how did youovercome them

What challenges did you have to overcome in terms ofworking with other people

To ensure you don't omit any key details, ask yourself who,

what, when, where, why and how


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examples

Preparing your examples and Achievements

What was the end result of your actions?

How did things turn out

How did you know it went well How did you measure this

Were there any broader measures of success orknock on effects as a consequence

Why was this outcome a personal achivement foryou


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Step 4 Rehearse and practise (out

loud!)

The more you prepare, the more confident

you will be

Get comfortable with your answers speak

them out loud!

If you know a experienced interviewer ask

them to interview you!

Documents

1. Preparing for Interview