Interviews

Interviews - General Information

There are many books on how to be successful at interviews available to read at the Careers Service, as well as booklets and journals to take away. You can search for what you need via the Careers Catalogue

Watch the DVDs "Making An Impact - the graduate job interview" and "Why Ask Me That?". Both are available to watch at the Careers Service.
Making An Impact - the graduate job interview is also available to watch in 'streaming media' format.

What will they ask? - job interview questions, interview tips and job searching advice; whatwilltheyask.co.uk web site was established in 2005 by a group of economics graduates from the University of Bristol.

Videos about interviews including Interview tips from employers and How employers structure interviews amongst other titles.

Still the most common format.
Most graduate interviews with larger organisations are carefully structured, and conducted by well trained staff.
Typically last 30-60 minutes.
Atmosphere often quite informal, seated in armchairs rather than across a table.
Interviewers are from various backgrounds. May be personnel managers but staff from other functions are widely involved. Whatever their background, formal training in interview techniques is widespread.
The "competence" or "criteria" based interview is common, i.e. they look for evidence of your skills or competencies - organisation, leadership, communication, teamworking etc. May be highly structured with all candidates being asked similar questions from a prepared list. It's your job to give them the evidence. Even if it's written down on the application form, tell them what you've actually done.

Panel interviews are most common with public sector employers - universities, civil service etc
Can be as many as five interviewers, although that's very unusual. Two or three is the norm.
Typically drawn from different functions, e.g. personnel, line management, technical.
May be carefully structured, in which each interviewer asks questions about defined areas, but not always.
Address each answer primarily to the questioner, remembering to draw in other panellists by looking at them from time to time.

Imagine the person is in the room with you. Sounds stupid but do all the things you would do face to face. Sit comfortably. Relax. Be animated. Be enthusiastic. Emphasise your words. Smile. It'll all come through.
Make absolutely sure there are no distractions. Keep flatmates away. Turn domestic appliances off!

A 'viva'. It is not (usually) primarily a test of intellectual ability, much of which will be spoken for by your academic record. Interviewers look at your personality and broad range of skills. The cleverest certainly don't always get the job.
An interrogation, an attempt to humiliate or trick you. Despite what you may have heard, few interviewers deliberately play nasty, although they may try to stretch or challenge you.

All of which is not to say that you will never encounter incompetent or unpleasant interviewers, but they are the exception.

Before......

Re-read your CV and the company literature.
Decide what to wear (and get it ready).
Re-check travel arrangements. Arrive 15 minutes early.
Practise out loud.
Identify 3 key things you will get across, whatever they ask!
Prepare your questions.
Prepare a file holding company letters, brochure, copy of your application form, your questions.

Going in......

Make a good impression on everyone you meet
Look organised. carry a file.
Think about your posture. Head up. Shoulders back. Breathe deeply. (Sounds corny, but works!)
Firm handshake.
Make eye contact.
Smile.

During the interview......

Remember the importance of non-verbal communication. So regularly check the way you're sitting.
Make good eye contact.
Be enthusiastic. Smile.
Don't let a casual interviewer lull you into becoming too informal.
Always give optimistic, positive responses. If interviewers refer to something in your past which has gone wrong, concentrate on what you've learned from the experience.
Be positive. Don't be apologetic about yourself.
Start each question afresh. Don't allow a bad answer to cast a shadow.
If they ask you about your weaknesses give them one which can be remedied with training. (Don't give the one about 'being a perfectionist' - really boring).
(Within reason) expand your answers. Short answers put pressure on the interviewer. Most actually like to sit back, relax and listen!
Difficult questions? You can:
- Turn a negative into a positive ("I haven't had the chance yet to develop my knowledge of ...... That was one of the areas I hoped to gain some experience of with you").
- Ask for a moment to think about it.
- Ask to return to the question later.
- Remember, with difficult questions it's often your approach which interests them, rather than whether you gave the 'right answer'.

After the interview......

Make notes. (You won't feel like it but they're useful) - what went right/wrong? How might you have tackled questions differently?
If unsuccessful, don't feel too bad - think about what you could have done better. Interviews are one of those things where practice really does make perfect.
Some employers may offer feedback. If so, definitely take them up on this

If successful - Congratulations! For some this means a job, for some is means their prize is….er….a day or two filled with more interviews, perhaps a group exercise, some tests, an in-tray exercise and a presentation.