Interview tips
Improving your interviewing technique
The purpose of an interview is to assess your suitability for a particular job.
Your interviewer wants to find out what kind of person you are, what qualities and experience you can bring to the job and how you will fit in with the organisation.
An interview is a 2-way process: it is your chance to impress the interviewer and the interviewer's chance to sell the organisation to you. Interviews can take several different formats, and you may have to attend more than one.
Interview formats
- One to one - These can be general or technical
- Panel - The panel can consist of two or more interviewers, all of whom will be assessing your performance. Sometimes people are present as observers or scribes, so make sure that you're clear who is actually asking the questions. However, it is always a good idea to address your replies to all members of the panel.
- Second interviews - A second round of interviews may be held.
Before your interview
You should find out:
- What the organisation does
- The organisation's origins
- Where the organisation operates
- The type and number of organisation employees
- Current initiatives
- Who the head of the organisation is
- Any recent press comment
During your interview
The interview is your chance to show the organisation what you can do. You're bound to be nervous, but remember that the interviewer may be nervous too - interviewing is a skill and not everyone enjoys doing it!
Don't forget that you're being watched from the moment you arrive until the moment that you leave. Try to create a good impression with everyone you meet - dress smartly and smile. Make good eye contact, sit alertly and look confident, even if you don't feel it!
The following points are important:
- Listen to questions and answer them as honestly as possible
- Take each point in turn and ask for clarification if necessary
- If you don't know the answer, say so
- Don't give one-word answers, such as "yes" and "no" - try to elaborate
- Use "I" not "we", unless you are talking about team work
- When it is your turn to ask questions, use it as an opportunity to:
- show what you know about the organisation
- clarify any areas of uncertainty about the job
- Don't be afraid to bring a list of questions with you. Don't ask too many questions, but make sure that you find out as much as you need to about the job
- If appropriate, express real interest in the job, but take care not to appear to be happy to accept just any job you are offered. Ensure that you leave knowing when you can expect a decision
- When you leave, remember to thank the interviewer
Sample interview questions
You should always answer questions in positive terms: the interviewer wants to know what has attracted you to the job, and what qualities you can bring to it.
- Why have you applied for this job?
- What are you looking for in a job?
- What are your strengths?
- What are you weaknesses?
- When you have had a deadline to meet, what have you done to ensure that you have met the deadline?
- When you have had to choose a partner or team members to work with on a project, how did you go about making the choice?
- What do you think makes a good team?
- Why would others want you on their team?
- What would you do if a team member was not pulling their weight?
- Tell me about a time when something has not gone well for you - what did you do to overcome this? What would you do differently next time?
- How do you see this job fitting into your career path?
- What other jobs have you applied for? How are your applications progressing?
- Why do you want to leave your current job? (I is important when answering this question not to be too negative about your current employer.)
- What sort of things put you under pressure? Give me an example and tell me how you cope.
- What would your colleagues say about you?
- Tell me about a presentation you have done - how did you prepare for it? What went well? What went badly?
- What do you know about this organisation?
After your interview
You should take some time to reflect on how the interview went. Make some notes on the questions asked and how you think you performed.
Hopefully your interview will have been a success and you will have been offered the position. If not, don't despair - make the most of the experience in preparing for your next one.
If you would like some feedback on your interview it is perfectly acceptable to email the Recruitment Manager with your request.
If you feel that your interview technique needs improving, practising using mock interviews can help you to overcome nerves and become more confident in answering questions. Mock interviews are often recorded on video so that you can receive valuable feedback on all aspects of your interview technique, from general attitude to body language.
Ask your local careers service if they offer mock interviews. If you are a member of a professional body, ask if they can arrange a mock interview for you.
Interview checklist
Ensure that you:
- Do plenty of research about the organisation before your interview
- Do arrive on time
- Dress smartly and remember to smile - this instantly creates a good impression
- Make a note of your interviewers' names and positions - one of them could potentially be your new boss!
- Be yourself
- Listen carefully to the questions and answer them as honestly as possible
- Make good eye contact with your interviewer
- Be confident and alert
- Do ask questions - make sure you find out as much as you need to about the job
- Don't drive to the interview if it may make you late or nervous
- Don't use "yes" and "no" as answers - try to elaborate
- Don't be afraid to prepare a list of questions in advance of your interview
- Don't ask too many questions
- Don't question the value of any tests you may have to take
- Don't gabble - speak slowly and clearly
- Most importantly, don't despair if you don't get the job… Learn from your interview experience!
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