Interview Skills: The 3 P's
Preparation, Practice & Presentation
In interview situations you are being compared to other candidates at all stages of the process, from the minute you walk through the door. Be confident, relax your shoulders and be pleasant to all you meet. Following the steps below will help you achieve the best result in an interview situation.
Preparation
Preparation will help you do well at an interview, but there is more to it than you think. Below is a list of things that you can do to prepare for your interview.
Research the company
Look at their website, find out as much information about them as you can. Do they have a social media presence? Are there any articles about them? The more you know about the company and their ethos the better.
Analyse the job and the person specification
What skills are they looking for, how do you fit this? What can you bring to the job?
Prepare relevant examples demonstrating your abilities. It is important that you always bear the job specification in mind when answering questions, as the employer is looking for someone who fits the criteria.
Common interview questions
Every employer is different and their questions are not always predictable, so it is best that you prepare yourself for anything. The employer's goal is to find out whether you are the suitable candidate not only for the job but for their company/organisation/industry. They want to know if you are going to be a good fit, if you have a good work ethos and passionate about the company. The more research you do about them and the role you are applying for will benefit you greatly and make answering their questions easier.
Below are just some of the questions an interviewer can ask you:
Every employer is different and their questions are not always predictable, so it is best that you prepare yourself for anything. The employer's goal is to find out whether you are the suitable candidate not only for the job but for their company/organisation/industry. They want to know if you are going to be a good fit, if you have a good work ethos and passionate about the company. The more research you do about them and the role you are applying for will benefit you greatly and make answering their questions easier.
Below are just some of the questions an interviewer can ask you:
Tell me about yourself. What is your career goal?Give them a brief summary of yourself, highlighting key interests, skills, experience and career goal. Keep this short - you will get the chance to go into more detail later. Employers will want to know whether you are comfortable talking about yourself - are you confident in your ability? Are you eager for the opportunity? Are you a positive person who will fit in well?
Why do you want to work for us?The employers will ask this to see whether you are passionate about the position and if you identify with their mission statement. They want to see if you are a motivated individual who will thrive in their company and contribute to its success. You can also use this opportunity to demonstrate what you know about the company, their reputation, their recent activity etc.
What do you know about our company?Use this opportunity to demonstrate what you know about the company and show them that you're dedicated and keen. Your research of the company will be valuable, so think about golden nuggets of information such as the company's recent activity, mission statement, media presence etc.
Why should we hire you?Employers want to know what you will bring to the company and why you should be considered over others. Highlight your key qualities and skills that fulfil the job specification. Always back up what you say with examples.
What are your strengths/weaknesses?This is your chance to outline your key skills and qualities that are relevant to the job. As you go through your strengths, make sure you present evidence that supports your claim. Employers want to know about your best attributes but also want to know how you conquer challenges outwith your comfort zone. Thus, it is good to talk about one weakness/bad experience as long as you tell them how you overcame the struggle and turned it into a positive experience.
What do you consider to be your greatest achievement?This gives you the chance to boast about your proudest moment. It is best to choose something that you initially found difficult to accomplish to convey your determination to overcome challenging obstacles.
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STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result)
- Briefly describe the Situation or background to your example
- Explain the Task or activity
- Outline the Actions you have taken
- Summarise the Result (An interviewer may ask you to reflect on this situation, so be sure to have a list of positives and negatives and what you would so differently next time)
Good questions to ask the interviewer:
- Is there anything in your department you would like to improve?
- Can you describe a typical working day?
- Do you offer training and development opportunities?
- What have you enjoyed about working here?
Practice
Practise talking about your skills, experience and interest in the job that you are applying for. Below are some techniques that you can use:
Develop a 60 second pitch
The first question at many interviews is normally 'tell me a little bit about yourself' so it is important that you can do this efficiently. Think about your skills and experience as well as your interests. It is important that you relate to the job you are applying for, so it's best to talk about skills that are expected for the job. Use your CV as a reference point.
Practise with a friend or family member
This will increase your confidence in verbalising your answers.
Try a Mock Interview
This will help to put you in a situation as close to a real interview as possible. You can book an appointment for a mock interview with Miss Brand or Miss McFadyen by clicking below.
The first question at many interviews is normally 'tell me a little bit about yourself' so it is important that you can do this efficiently. Think about your skills and experience as well as your interests. It is important that you relate to the job you are applying for, so it's best to talk about skills that are expected for the job. Use your CV as a reference point.
Practise with a friend or family member
This will increase your confidence in verbalising your answers.
Try a Mock Interview
This will help to put you in a situation as close to a real interview as possible. You can book an appointment for a mock interview with Miss Brand or Miss McFadyen by clicking below.
Presentation
Here are some things an interview will be looking for:
- First impressions count so make sure you are dressed appropriately for the interview
- A friendly introduction - make sure you smile and shake hands with the interview and anyone you are introduced to
- Body language - avoid confrontational or defensive positions such as slouching or folding your arms. Maintain good eye contact and listen carefully to the questions they are asking you.
- Make sure you speak slowly and clearly, don't let your nerves get the better of you and rush ahead.
- Keep your answers concise, you don't want to waffle on with irrelevant details. The interview will usually let you know when they've heard enough.
- Remember to be as enthusiastic as possible
- Confidence is key - sell yourself!