How to stand out in interviews - Finding the right job

L5 PSP 2 Module

Annette PhillipsBioscience and Chemistry Employment Adviser

Aims of session• Interview preparation and evidencing

your skills• Interview Types• Formal/informal• Telephone interviews• video interviews• Technical and competence based• Assessment centres and psychometric

tests• Presentations• How to maximise chances of securing

placement/summer placement or relevant work experience

Researching the Company or Organisation is Key

Look at their:• Core business and values• Culture and mission• Role or products

Use its website, recruitment brochure, newspapers, trade journals and other internet sources.

If it is a research or education institute Look at published papers of supervisor or Department personell

Researching the Job• Pay close attention to the job advert – they vary in detail, length and clarity

• The Job Description and Person Specification contain requirements of; knowledge/experience/skills/abilities

• You need to ask if they are a good match to what you can offer

Prospects website http://www.prospects.ac.uk/sectors.htmexplore types of jobsindustry insights

Evidence skills using STARSituation - briefly describe the where/when/whoTask - outline the task or objective (what you hoped to achieve).Action - describe what you did - focus on your role and your input. Spend most time on this part.Result - what the outcome was and what skills you developed. What would you do differently next time?

Evidencing Your Skills

Activity Skills Acquired Practical Degree project/module• Designed and conducted experiments• Wrote up and presented work to the department

• Biochemical techniques, PCR, culturing cells• Self-driven and motivated, communication skills (writing and presenting)• Interpretation and analytical skills, accuracy and precision

Voluntary work experience• Worked on a conservation project

• Team working and cooperation• Fieldwork skills and fitness levels• Understanding of ecology

Bar work during first year • Excellent communication skills – negotiating and dealing with difficult customers

Types of interview• 1:1 • panel • telephone • video• technical or competency

based• formal/informal• part of an assessment

centre

Informal - 1:1

Questions asked last yr for trainee Biomedical scientist placement(Sheffield)General:Tell me about your course and how you are getting on.What are your interests outside University?Where did you see this job advert and how did you apply?

Cont

Lab based:Give an e.g. of where you have practised manual dexterity in a lab.Give an example of a practical in your lab classes and what skills you gained.What are the sub disciplines of micro biology?Professional:What does IBMS stand for and what are their values.If successful how will you balance a F/T job and completing IBMS portfolio?There is no payment for this placement how would you manage financially?

Telephone interviews• Telephone interviews are increasingly popular and are often used to:• screen out candidates at an early stage• conduct a follow up or final stage interview• interview candidates from wide geographical areas• The questions in a telephone interview are often exactly the same as in a face-to-

face format and you should prepare in the same way. Additional things to consider include:

• make sure you have a quiet space to take the call• have your notes nearby but try and keep them organised (no paper shuffling!)• avoid long silences and use active listening skills - words are all you have!• consider dressing formally - it will put you in the right frame of mind

• http://targetjobs.co.uk/careers-advice/interview-types/273645-how-to-handle-a-telephone-interview

Video interviews

• 2nd stage application filter• Telephone interview replacement (typically)• Fast and flexible for recruiters to administer• Flexible for candidates, reduces waiting times• Used by BT, Morrisons, British Council, UK

Power Networks, Nestle, RISE...• Tend to be competency/situational questions• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0dmjQR

A5Is

Technical and competence based interviews

• http://targetjobs.co.uk/careers-advice/interview-types/275401-technical-interviews-for-graduate-roles-the-basics

Competence based Question

e.g. 'Describe an occasion when you performed effectively as part of a team'Analyse:o What is the question designed to reveal? Which part of job

spec does it relate to?o Use specific examples to demonstrate skill/competencyo Reflect on past experience - jobs/course/placement etc.o Discuss your personal contribution not the group's

Scientific / Technical Questions:

Prepare – research the company's main activities – what techniques are mentioned in the job description – ask students who’ve had interview

Common Question topics:

• Calculations! (Molarities, dilutions, unit conversions etc.)

• Job specific (theory, practical)

• Discussion of practical work done at SHU

Other 'Awkward' Questions our Students have Faced:

• Topical questions

• Weaknesses

• Meeting deadlines

• Recovering from a ‘bad’ question– Try to be enthusiastic– Show other strengths

Assessment other than ‘the interview’:

activities our students have faced

• Informal assessment – coffee, lab tour, meeting current students (including ours)

• Group activities:– Problem solving– Leadership / team working– Listening – Motivating– Discussing

• Oral presentations

• Aptitude tests (eg.s on www.prospects.ac.uk)

Assessment centres

• 1 or 2 days• A number of candidates present• A number of company representatives may attend• Range of different activities• Assessed against selection criteria rather than

competing with other candidates• See careers central http://

careerscentral.shu.ac.uk/cv-applications-interviews/assessment-centres-0

What do they involve?

• Presentations • group exercises• Psychometric tests• In - Tray simulations• interview(s)• social time

Psychometric tests

• Profiling for Success -Logins available from the Careers and Employment enquiry desk. Enables you to practice.

• Psychometric – or aptitude – tests are a way of assessing your skills in certain areas. They tend to be online and will typically test your numerical skills, verbal reasoning, diagrammatic reasoning and data interpretation skills within a time limit.

Presentations

• Usually 10 - 15 minutes• May be able to use visual aids• May be able to prepare previously or might have to do on

the spotEmployers are looking for;- How you organize and use information- Whether you can communicate effectively- How you cope under pressureSee Careers central http://careerscentral.shu.ac.uk/assessment-centres/presentations

Have a go!Work in pairs and imagine one person is Interviewer and the other person is Interviewee. Take it in turns to describe 3 qualities or skills you possess that would make you a good employee. Provide the evidence that backs this up.

Afterwards give each other some feedback on how this came across. As the interviewer were you convinced?

Prepare and practice answers to potential questions

• think about which questions you may be asked - refer to the job description and person specification

• prepare your 'ideal' answers, making sure your answers are relevant to the role and the company

• provide specific examples about your experience that relate to what the employer is looking for - evidence your skills using the STAR system

• write your answers down to use as a 'crib' sheet to use to practise for the interview - practise saying the words out loud

• contact SHU Employment Bioscience Adviser to have a practice interview

During the interview

• it is common to feel nervous before and during an interview

• be appropriately presented, first impressions really do count!

• be aware of your body language, try to appear relaxed and confident - be friendly, smile and maintain eye contact, remember to breath!

• focus and concentrate on the conversation,

• behave professionally throughout• be enthusiastic about the position, the

company and the industry • if you don't understand a question, ask for

clarification• be positive

After the interview• be patient in waiting for the decision• self evaluation of your performance -

reflect on the process but don't be too hard on yourself

• seek feedback from the interviewer• regardless of the outcome, remain positive

- all interviews can add to your future success even if you don't get the role

• think about what you have learnt from the experience and how you can perform even better next time.

How to succeed - the 3 Ps

Rob Yeung, Business Psychologist

"An interview is all about the three Ps. You need to prepare, you need to practise, and then, on the day, you need to perform.”

Ways of securing a placement

• Through the placement officer at SHU Sarah Nile - opportunities advertised on placement Bbd site or AT4

• Speculative applications – look on company websites for details of 1 yr internships/ placements e.g. Reckitt Benckiser

• Summer placements, Society of Biology on website lists a number of schemes (AstraZeneca, Cancer research uk, also IAESTA an international scheme backed by British Council)

• Year in industry website http://www.etrust.org.uk/the-year-in-industry

Science and Health Fair (Oct 23 2014)

Follow up some of employers at the Fair offering placementsCK ScienceCogent Sector skills councilCovanceCroda InternationalDarwin Healthcare communicationsDiabetes UKDoncaster ITT PartnershipEurofins Agroscience services LtdNature jobsNew Scientist jobs Target jobsExhibitor List and info still available at http://www.sheffieldcareersfairs.ac.uk/recruitment-fairs/2014_sh/visitors/exhibitor_list/

Other ways to get relevant Experience

• Get a Part time job or campus job - Shuspace>Employability Tab>Part time or campus jobs

• Volunteer http://careerscentral.shu.ac.uk/getting-experience/volunteering

Specialist Biosciences and Chemistry Careers & Employment Advice• Preparing targeted CV's and

applications• Gaining work experience• Jobsearch• Interview preparation, including

practice or 'mock'interviews

Make appointments by contacting me at a.phillips@shu.ac.uk or or book in at the Bioscience Helpdesk Owen Level 7.

Annette Phillips,

Employment Adviser

Careers and Employment offers you:

• Careers advice and job seeking support appointments• Careers Central web site• Practical workshops and information sessions• Practice interviews and selection activities• LinkedIn surgeries to manage your online profile• Employer presentations and recruitment fairs• Access to casual and part-time work on and off campus• Specialist advice for students with disabilities• Career Mentoring with professionals in the sector• Specialist support for international students

.......and graduate jobs and schemes for when you leave

Careers and Employability CentreCity Campus (next to main University entrance)Telephone: 0114 225 3752 email: careers@shu.ac.uk