UCL CAREERS SERVICE

Succeeding at interview and assessment centres

Dave Carter

UCL Careers Adviser

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Aims of today’s session

• gain an insight into what to expect• identify the 3 key areas of preparation• understand the typical ‘interview dynamic’• learn how to create a good first impression• identify types of question and how to tackle

them • know where to look for further support

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Accuracy of Selection Methods

0%

25%50%

75%

100%

Graphology 0% Astrology 0%

Typical interviews 15%

Personality Tests 38%

Ability tests 54%

Structured interview using job analysis 63%

Assessment Centres 68%

Work sample tests 55%

Biodata 38%

References 12%

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Pre-assessment centre• Self Assessment

– realistic job preview questionnaire– numerical/ verbal reasoning Q’s

• complete online application form (20K)

• online reasoning and competencies testing (10K)

• test centre e-tray (3K)

Assessment centre: (1K)• written exercise – policy recommendation

• group exercise – role play

• briefing exercise

• competency-based interview

(350 successful candidates)

Public sector recruitment process

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Psychometric TestsAptitude: verbal, numerical and diagrammatic.• administered under exam conditions or online• strictly timed – approx. 30Q’s in 30 minutes• multiple choice: right/ wrong answers• verbal tests depend on comprehension of the passage not outside knowledge.

Personality questionnaires • explore the way you react or deal with situations• not looking for rigid ‘typical’ personality profile• may receive feedback and form basis of discussion at interview

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Aptitude practice test answers

• Verbal reasoning– 1: B 2: A 3:B

• Numerical reasoning– 4: B 5:E 6:D

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Succeeding at psychometric Tests

Aptitude: • brush up on arithmetic, fractions and ratios, practice

crosswords etc.

• ‘How to pass’ books available to ‘loan’ from careers service

• practise in test conditions at the careers service

Personality questionnaires:• be as honest as you can

• practise in test conditions at the careers service

(see website for details).

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Preparation

• re-read your application – what might interest/ worry an interviewer

• familiarise yourself with job description/ person specification – what skills, qualities and experience are they looking

for? what examples can you give?• research the company and the sector

– usp’s, customers, competitors, ‘swot’, values– website, annual report; industry press – company presentations, talk to people working

in related fields, (LINX alumni website)

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Creating a good impression

• know where to go and be on time– location– journey time

• be pleasant to everybody• dress appropriately

– better to be overdressed and conservative– pass the office to get an idea

• know who you’re meeting• prepare yourself mentally

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Interviews: Primacy and Recency

Beginning Middle End

Interviewer

Interviewee

The Perfect Interview – Max Eggert, Random House Business Books, 1999

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Performance - impact

Content ofanswers

Tone of voice

Body Language

The impact we make is based on…

- what we say (7%)- how we say it (38%)- unspoken signals (55%)

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Performance - body language

• walk confidently into the interview and shake hands.

• make eye contact and smile• use mirroring techniques

– e.g. leaning forward, laughing• stay alert

– sit upright, nod• don’t stare or look down• slow your movements• breathe

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Types of questions

• Biographical– What aspects of your degree are you enjoying?– Tell me about yourself?– What are your main strengths and weaknesses?

• Motivational– Why are you interested in this role within our organisation?– Who else have you applied to and do you have any other job offers?– How do you keep up to date with developments in this industry

sector?– Follow-up: Tell me something you have read recently. Why did this

interest you and what do you think are the key issues?

• Behavioural/ competence– Tell me about a time when you worked within an effective team and

what was your role?– When have you shown good organisational skills and the ability to

prioritise effectively?

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Types of questions

• hypothetical/ brainteasers– How could I estimate the number of dentists that operate in the UK?– How would you persuade doctors to listen to you if you were a

business manager? (NHS)– What would you do if I asked you to do something you disagreed with?

• Technical– Give an example of where you have demonstrated your (specific)

technical knowledge to overcome a complex problem?– Why might a company be worth more to another company than it’s

present market valuation? (Corporate finance)

• Inappropriate- Questions which you feel are potentially discriminatory.- Ask yourself –’Would someone of a different sex, age, race or religion

be asked this question?

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Answering questions

• listen carefully! - answer the question asked.• treat a closed question as though it were open:

– are you enjoying your degree?– Tell me about your degree course and what you are enjoying?

• talk openly and with enthusiasm about your achievements, but…– don’t waffle – keep answers to a maximum of 1 to 2 minutes– don’t overstate them and avoid apologising or being negative.

• structure your stories:– S: Situation– T: Task– A: Action– R: Result

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Typical interview scoring schedule

Unacceptable: Scores 1 & 2• took action without developing a

plan and • unable to prioritise

• failed to evaluate and manage resources appropriately

• missed important deadlines

• failed to cope with difficulties

Above average: scores 3 and 4• evidence of planning and

prioritising• tools you used to achieve eg. set

objectives & milestones/ daily schedules/ project software

• anticipated need for resources and used them effectively eg delegation to others/ resources required

• consistently beat tight deadlines requiring extra commitment

• cope when things don’t go according to plan

‘Tell me about a time when you showed good organisational skills and the ability to plan effectively.’

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If it seems to be going wrong….

• the interviewer is aggressive or doesn’t seem to like you

• you don’t understand the question– ask for it to be rephrased

• you go blank or you don’t know:– ask for “a few seconds to think about it”– admit it, but offer instead some intelligent reasoning/ a

sensible guess (based on assumptions)– a clue

• try not to panic - it’s unusual to fail on one question

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Closing the sale

• thank them• if the job genuinely interests you then let them know• your questions - examples:

– what are the possibilities of using my --- skills?– What sort of career progression have other graduate

trainees experienced?– how will my work and training be monitored and appraised?– (context) what do you enjoy about working for the

organisation– ‘Thanks I think everything I wanted to know has now been

covered’.

• make sure you know what the next step is

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Interviews – summary

• prepare thoroughly for every interview• first impressions count• competency questions - STAR• review your performance and ask for

feedback

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Further resources and Careers service support

• CareersGroup: ‘How to succeed at interviews’ booklet

• 1:1 practice interviews– on confirmation of ‘real employer interview’

• video guides:– how to suceed in interviews and assessment centres

• ‘Top answers to tough questions’– Matthew J Deluca/ John Lees

• employer/ CA led interview skills workshops sign up at www.ucl.ac.uk/careers - forthcoming events:– Practice aptitude tests – 15/21/27 Nov, 3 Dec, 14, 21 Jan……– JP Morgan: Interview skills – Tue 13th Nov– Accenture: What to expect at assessment centres Wed 21 Nov– Employer led mock interviews/ assessment

centres - Jan to mar 08

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UCL Careers Service :

4th floor ULU BuildingMalet Street, LondonWC1E 7HYwww.ucl.ac.uk/careerstelephone: 0207 866 3600Email: careers@ucl.ac.ukOpening times (term & vacation):Mon - Thurs 9:30 -17:00Friday 11:00 - 17:00