Tips for performing well at interviews. Making a good first impression. Typical format and question types. Giving STAR answers to competency-based questions.

1. Career Development Centre Lunchtime Sessions 2016:
Succeed at Interviews
John McMenamin
Careers Consultant
Career Development Centre

2. Objectives
1. To explain how interviews are conducted
2. To explore employers’ expectations
3. To be prepared for the kinds of questions you
are likely to be asked
4. To be aware of what to do and what not to do at
interview

3. Workshop Content
1. What you need to do before an interview
2. What is a job interview?
3. What are employers looking for?
4. Interview behaviour
5. Interview questions
6. Interview tips

4. Three things you need to do before
an interview
1. Preparation
2. Preparation
3. Preparation

5. 1. Preparation
1. RESEARCH yourself
2. RESEARCH the job
3. RESEARCH the organisation
4. RESEARCH the sector

6. 2. Preparation
Knowledge about yourself
– Re-read your application
– Strengths and weaknesses
– Why you want the job?
Knowledge about the job itself
– What skills do you need?
– How can you demonstrate these skills with examples from
University, work, outside interests?
Knowledge about the organisation & sector
– Why do you want to work for that organisation?
– What’s happening in the sector right now?

7. 3. Preparation
– What will the interview format be?
– How will you get there?
– Rehearse your answers
(We can help you with this!)
– Questions for the interviewer – shows interest
and enthusiasm for the role + tells you more
about the job – take a notepad with you – jot
down questions as they occur to you

8. What is a job interview?

9. Typical Interview Format
– Introduction phase
– The formal interview
– Information about the organization
– Summing up / questions about the job

10. Every job interview is a ‘marketing’
exercise, so…
– Be clear about what you want to
communicate
– Support what you say with evidence
(more on this later)

11. What are looking for?

12. Employers: Three Questions
– Can you do the job?
Do you have the knowledge and skills?
– Do you want to do the job?
Do you have the motivation?
– Will you fit in?
Do you have relevant values and personal
qualities?

13. Employers’ Wish List
– Communication skills
– Interpersonal skills
– Customer service
– Teamwork
– Commercial
awareness
– Problem-solving skills
– Enthusiasm
– Motivation
– Initiative
– Leadership
– Commitment
– Organisational Skills
– Others…..

14. Interview behaviour

15. The Interview- First Impressions
Dress
– Appropriate business dress clean shoes!
What to take
– Certificates if needed, copies of CV/application
Arrive on time
– Plan the route
– Leave extra journey time for problems
Meeting the interviewers
– Relax, but remember you are being observed
Body language
– Handshake, eye contact

17. Behavioural Characteristics
– Remain calm
– Remember your body language
– Tone of voice
– Be yourself
– First impressions count
– Communication styles

18. Body Language
Inhibited
 Saying little
 Speaking very softly
 Meek tone of voice
 Allows interruptions
 Sitting lower than others
 Downcast eyes
 Hand wringing
Assertive
 Smiling
 Eye contact
 Balanced posture
 Being on the same level
 Relaxed tone of voice
 Proximity
 Open gestures
Aggressive
 Forceful gestures
 Harsh tone of voice
 Ignoring responses
 Speaking too much
 Standing over others
 Staring
 Interrupting
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19. Interview questions

20. 30 Second Advert
‘Tell me about yourself’
– Name/current status
– Achievements
– What you value/enjoy
– Your interpersonal skills

21. Types of Questions
1. Motivational Questions
2. Technical Questions
3. Competency Questions

22. Motivational Questions
Designed to test your motivation for the job
and the organisation
– Why do you want to work here?
– How much do you know about our organisation?
– Where do you see yourself in 5/10 years time?

23. Technical Questions
– These relate to your ability to use the technology you
have learnt from your course/work experience
– “What systems and software are you competent in?”
– “What do you know about working in a photographic
laboratory?”
– “What experience do you have of using the following… ?”

24. Competency Questions
– Questions based on the general
competencies all employers expect from
graduates (team skills, communication,
problem solving etc..)
– eg “Can you tell us about a time when
you...worked in a team/dealt with a difficult
customer/met a deadline?”
– Remember that the key is providing evidence
based responses based on the STAR formula
(Situation, Task, Action, Result)

25. Answering competency questions
Try using the STAR model:
– S – situation
briefly outline where you were, what was your job?
- T – task
explain the task you encountered, what had to be done?
– A – action
what specific actions did you take to overcome the
difficulty?
– R – results
what were the results and what did you learn?

26. Example of a STAR response
Describe a time when you have used an innovative approach
to solving a problem:
Situation
Task
Action
Result
When I was assistant manager of an IT training workshop at a
college in Brighton, we had a student who couldn’t raise her
hand to ask questions due to arthritis in her shoulders. She
would get very frustrated when she had a problem and even
more frustrated when she couldn’t get the attention of one of my
staff to get the problem fixed. I went out and bought a set of
decorative lights that attach to the sides of computer monitors
which could be switched on and off by a button next to the
keyboard. I informed her and my staff that if she had a problem,
she should switch the light on and then my staff would be able
to see that she had a problem and could deal with it accordingly.
She was very satisfied with the solution and found the learning
experience much easier and more rewarding.

27. Asking questions yourself
– Demonstrates an interest in the job and the
employer. No questions = no interest.
– Prepare several questions to ask at the end
– If all of your questions have been asked, say “I did
have several questions but you have actually
answered them all for me already” – show them
the questions too!

28. Questions to ask your interviewer(s)
– Why has the position become available?
– What are the main objectives and responsibilities of the position?
– How does the company expect these objectives to be met?
– What are the measures used to judge how successful I am in the role?
– What obstacles are commonly encountered in reaching these objectives?
– What is the desired time frame for reaching the objectives?
– What can I expect from you in terms of development and support?
– What aspirations do you have for me at the company?
– Where will the job fit into the team structure?
– What is the main thing the organisation expects from its employees?
– How do you build good relationships within teams?
– What is the turnover of staff like throughout the company?
– Are there any plans for expansion?
– How would you describe the company culture and management style?

29. Interview Checklist
– Switch mobile off
– Look prepared
– Be prepared
– Eye contact
– Answer questions using STAR model
– Be prepared to ask questions yourself
– Take a copy of your application (CV or
application form)

30. 10 Tips for a good interview
1. Assume the interview starts the moment you
enter the building
2. Listen to the question and answer it, ask for
clarification if unsure what they are asking
3. Engage all interviewers in eye contact
4. Always back up everything you are saying with
examples from your experience
5. Avoid taking notes in with you and certainly
never read from them if you do

31. 10 Tips for a good interview
6. Always have questions ready for the end
7. Know what you’ve said in your application and
be prepared to discuss the details
8. If they don’t tell you, ask when you will hear
about the outcome of the interview
9. Thank the interviewer(s) by name
10. Smile! 

32. Interview No-nos
– Lack of knowledge of company
– Lack of knowledge of field/industry
– Lack of enthusiasm
– Late to interview
– Over-confident / casual
– Discussing salary expectations / administrative questions
– Talking too much / not listening
– Fidgeting
– Lack of confidence
– Sweaty palms syndrome
– Being negative about anything

33. Preparation is the key to
success!
– Find out the selection criteria
– Know what you are offering
– Identify likely question areas
– Research some (original) things about the
organisation
– Rehearse responses to potential questions
– Practice and get feedback

34. Interview - but no job offer?
– Did I prepare thoroughly?
– Did I get feedback on my performance?
– Am I right for the job/organisation?
– Do I need advice?

35. Contact Career Development Centre
www.westminster.ac.uk/careers
engage.westminster.ac.uk
T: 020 7911 5184
E: careers@westminster.ac.uk
First floor, 101 New Cavendish Street
(next to Cav St campus)
Also at Harrow – Maria Hewlett building

36. Thank you
Any questions?