The Purpose of the interview

There are many types of interview. Some are structured, others may be informal. They may be the main way of selecting the successful candidate or they may be one of a number of different selection methods.

As well as giving the interviewer a chance to see you, the interview is a two-way communication and your chance to sell yourself. The interviewers are not there to catch you out, they are simply trying to match your skills with their vacancy. It also gives you the chance to assess the role and to see if it is right for you.

How does selection work?

Many organisations now use competency based selection.

A competency is a cluster of related behaviours that, if demonstrated by an individual, will result in effective working; they describe how you achieve business results. Competency based selection methods are designed around the requirements of each individual job role.

Any type of assessment you undertake will allow you to demonstrate your skills and abilities in the competencies that have been agreed are important to succeed in the job you have applied for. Typically  assessments help to understand how you have behaved or handled situations in the past and this gives an indication of how you would potentially perform in the job should you be successful.

What to do before the Interview

• Make sure you know where and when the interview will take place and confirm that you will attend
• Make sure you know who you will be meeting
• Plan you journey, allowing plenty of time
• Remember to dress smartly
• Don’t smoke or drink alcohol beforehand
• Prepare your answers, you may take notes in with you
• Write down questions you would like to ask
• Have an early night

 Researching the Job

There are a number of things you can do to ensure you have a thorough knowledge of exactly what the job entails and whether or not you would be suited.

• Read the advertisement thoroughly
• Ask for a copy of the ‘Job Description’ and ‘Person Specification’
• Find out all you can about the department’s goals, objectives and likely future developments
• If possible, visit the department to shadow and talk to as many people as possible
• Know the organisational structure and how the job you are applying for fits into it

 Do’s and Don’ts

 Do

• Be at the right place at the right time – no excuses
• Be ready to shake hands
• Sit straight – don’t slouch
• Listen and hear what the interviewers are saying or asking
• Consider questions carefully before answering
• Ask for clarification if a question is ambiguous
• Be positive about your last job / boss – don’t sound negative or bitter
• Look at the interviewer and use his / her name
• Be natural, relaxed and courteous – never familiar
• Ignore the passing of time – no yawning / looking at your watch
• Smile appropriately
• Say something good about yourself, be positive
• Sell yourself!

 Don’t

• Sit until invited – or at least until the interviewer sits down
• Draw attention to any of your weaknesses (over age, lack of qualifications, physical shortcomings) by making any apologies or references to them
• Talk too much or waffle
• Be argumentative or flippant
• Fidget
• Be over-confident or boastful
• Interrupt the interviewer
• Smoke
• ‘Interview’ the interviewer, even if his / her techniques are terrible
• Constantly repeat questions
• Lie about achievements

 Dealing with Questions

Interviewers look for evidence of your capability and suitability. That evidence is often given in examples of what you have done and how you have behaved.

• Always tell the truth, if you don’t, you run the risk of being found out
• Answer questions fully but do not waffle, be specific
• Avoid jargon – unless appropriate
• Stick to the point, don’t give ‘politicians’ answers
• Think before giving answers, especially in situational questions, answer fully giving the reasons for your behaviour / actions, short silences are fine
• If you don’t know the answer, admit in a positive way, suggest how you would approach tackling the situation
• If the interviewer cuts you off in the middle of an answer, don’t try to pursue it then. At the end when you are offered an opportunity to ask questions, ask if it is OK to go back over a couple of points and clarify anything outstanding
• Where possible support your answer about yourself with examples which demonstrate where you have used a certain skill e.g. if there is a general question about managing difficult situations, talk through how you might generally approach them, and then describe a recent situation that you have had to manage. This shows the interviewer not only have you thought about it but that you have put the theory into practice
• If you have to describe your weaknesses, don’t dwell on them, rather describe them as areas needing more practice and explain what you have done or do to overcome them. End on a positive e.g. your learning points or development areas
• If you are asked an opinion and you have critical things to say, phrase them in a positive way, to show that you can see room for improvement
• Don’t ‘put yourself down’, try to avoid words and phrases like ‘I suppose’, ‘Maybe’, ‘Perhaps’, ‘I hope’, ‘I’ve only’. Sell in a positive way the things you have done or will do rather than admitting to things you haven’t

 Nerves and Body Language

People deal with nerves in different ways, but here are a few tips

Firstly remember nerves that are under control are worth having in the interview. It will help you focus, concentrate and heighten your awareness

• Try and get a good night’s sleep before the interview
• The better prepared you are, the better you will perform and the more comfortable you will be
• Ask someone to practise possible interview questions with you
• Make sure you arrive for your assessment in time to quickly review what is expected of you and the job description
• Take deep and controlled breaths before the interview
• Visualise yourself in the interview, going over your answers to possible questions, and giving positive answers
• Make sure you listen so you know exactly what is being asked and take time to formulate a good answer

 Body Language

Body language makes 50 per cent of the impression we give to another person. Tone of voice accounts for another 40 per cent. The words we use account for just 10%. So, while it’s important to say the right things, it’s also important to get your non-verbal communication right.

 Positive non-verbal communication

• Varied eye contact – consistent but not a stare
• Relaxed posture but sitting up straight
• Appropriate comfortable gestures
• Standing or sitting with shoulders square to the other person
• Slight lean toward the other person
• Keep head up, shoulders down

 Negative non-verbal communication

• Lack of eye contact
• Lack of interest or concern in your facial expression
• Difference between facial and verbal expression
• Lack of interest or concern shown by body position
• Inappropriate tone of voice e.g. abrupt, direct or challenging

 After the Interview

As soon as possible after the interview make notes that cover these points:

• What went particularly well?
• What went badly?
• Were there any questions you weren’t expecting?
• Were there any questions you found difficult to answer? Why?
• Was there anything about the interviewers and the interview that you found either positively helpful or unhelpful?

Use these notes to prepare for any future interview.

 Receiving Feedback

You may be able to get feedback on your interview from the interviewer. Use the notes you made after the interview to prepare for feedback and take them with you to the discussion. Remember that feedback received is always about PAST behaviour not current or future behaviour.

When receiving feedback, remember:

• Listen carefully
• Try not to become too defensive
• Ask questions for clarification and ask for examples of anything about which you are unclear or disagree
• Carefully evaluate the accuracy and potential value of what you have heard
• Gather additional information from other sources or by observing your own behaviour and other people’s reaction to it
• Thank the employer for their time in giving you feedback