Interviews
Job Interviews are fantastic opportunities to discover more about the job and the employer. Once you have an interview you know that the employer is interested in you. This is your chance to show the employer your strengths.
Once you've made it through the first round of the recruitment process you will be invited to an interview. With the competition, and the effort you have probably put into your application, consider this a real achievement. Not everyone will have got to this stage. For each job, only a handful may be interviewed, but there could be hundreds who have applied.
The interview is often the decider which is why it is important to demonstrate strong interview skills. By developing successful interview techniques you will stand out from the crowd. There are techniques you can use before, during and after the interview to increase your overall chances of success. Give these a go and improve your chances of securing that dream job!
Successful interview preparation
Be aware of what is required on the day
-
Confirm the location and time of the interview.
-
Find out how long the interview will take.
-
Check who will be interviewing you.
-
Ask what the interview will involve, and how you can prepare for it.
- Find out if you will need to bring anything with you. This could include an academic transcript, or proof of your residency status.
Prepare for answering questions
-
Ask the employer what might be asked as they might be willing to give you some hints.
-
Do some research on the organisation and the role to give you a stronger grasp on the employer's expectations and the work environment.
-
Read through your job application, you may be asked to clarify aspects of your background.
-
Review the position description.
-
Consider what might be asked, it is likely these will be based around the selection criteria.
-
Think about responses to possible questions, where appropriate, think of specific examples that demonstrate your ability to meet the employer's requirements.
-
Take the opportunity to practice your answers aloud. You can do this either with a friend or by yourself.
- Compile a brief list of questions you would like to ask.
Read about different interview styles and see lists of questions you may be asked
Prepare a list of questions to ask the employer
By asking questions during an interview you demonstrate your motivation and interest in the job. This is also a good opportunity to clarify points that were not obvious from the job description or advertisement.
Be careful what and how you ask questions. Obviously you are interested in what the role can provide, but don’t make this your only focus. The employer wants to know you can add value to them as well. Your questions could include:
-
What is the management style of the organisation?
-
What is expected from this role in the first six months?
-
Does the organisation support ongoing further study?
-
What further opportunities does this organisation offer?
-
What does a typical day involve?
-
Why is this position vacant?
-
What are the key performance indicators of the role?
-
Who will I report to?
- Who will I work alongside?
Practise Interview Worksheet (Word 26kb - Open in a new window)
Preparing yourself mentally and physically
-
Plan and organise how you are going to get to the venue.
-
Prepare what you are going to wear to the interview. For professional roles, business suits are generally expected. If you are unsure what to wear, it’s better to dress conservatively and professionally. Wear a good, clean pair of shoes.
-
Let your referees know the type of work you are looking for, and that they might receive a call from a potential employer.
-
Print out copies of your job application, and have one for each interviewer.
- Eat well and get an early night beforehand.
You may be feeling nervous – even the most confident of individuals are likely to find interviews at least a little nerve-wracking. Remember it is okay to be nervous. Try some techniques prior to the interview, to decrease your nerves:
-
Visualise a positive outcome. By imagining yourself performing well at interview you will increase your confidence.
-
Consciously slow down your breathing by exhaling for longer. This should slow your heart rate.
- Swing your arms to reduce the tension in your shoulders.
The actual interview
Arriving
-
Turn off your mobile phone.
- Arrive at the venue at least 15 minutes early. This will give you time to relax, fill out any required forms, and read though any useful information about the organisation.
The introduction
-
Be polite and friendly. Smile.
-
Be prepared to shake hands. Handshakes need to be firm, rather than limp or too powerful.
-
Do not accept beverages, aside from water.
- Avoid smoking directly before or during the interview.
Body language
-
Keep regular eye contact with each panel member.
-
Be aware of your posture as this contributes to the image of confidence you portray.
- Avoid fidgeting or playing with items on the interviewers desk.
Questions and answers
-
If you are unclear of what is being said or asked, clarify this with the interviewer.
-
Take your time to answer questions, so your answers are well considered.
-
For difficult questions, you can ask to come back to these. It is also okay to say you cannot answer a question if you do not have a response.
-
You answers should be positive and market your strongest selling points, but avoid exaggerating or being dishonest. It is easy to check these details.
-
Your manner of speech should be clear, concise and professional.
- As the interview comes to a close, clarify the steps for the rest of the recruitment process. Make sure you thank the interviewers and let them know of your interest for the position.
Types of interviews
You may need to prepare for all of the following interview types:
Telephone interviews
Telephone interviews are used by some organisations for financial or geographic reasons or if the role involves a telephone presence. These interviews are used for screening purposes and are generally followed by face-to-face interviews. These interviews differ as there is little visual feedback, which can be daunting. Remember that silence is expected – the interviewer could be making notes or preparing for the next question. Practice with a friend so that you feel comfortable with silence and lack of visual cues.
One-on-one interviewsOften used by smaller organisations or third party recruiters (recruitment agencies) short-listing for a company.
Panel interviews
These are more likely to occur towards the end of the selection process or initially when applying for more senior positions. They are also quite commonly used during government practices. The interview tends to be highly structured with individuals asking specific questions. Panel interviews allow for greater objectivity than one-to-one interviews.
There tends to be three or four people on a panel. Panels comprise of people from various parts of an organisation and may include representatives from senior management, human resources and other specialist areas. Try to interact with all panel members equally by using their names and maintaining consistent eye contact.
Informal interviews
Informal interviews may involve more than one interview. They resemble other interviews in many respects but are more like a friendly chat than a formal question and answer session. This can also present an opportunity you to take a look around the work premises, and for other staff to meet with you.
There are also situations where you are being interviewed in social situations such as cocktail functions, dinners, and industry events. Don’t let your guard down in these situations: behave politely at all times. An assessment is being made about your skills! Such skills can include your interpersonal, communication and team work skills.
Assessment centres
These include a series of activities designed to assess you on your ability to perform the job successfully. Possible exercises can include psychometric testing, role play, group exercise and written exercises.
More information on Assessment Centres
After the interview
Treat the interview as a learning experience:
-
Review areas that need improvement, and areas you did well on.
-
Think about what you could do differently for next time.
- Follow up with the recruiter or employer if you have not heard a decision by the designated time.
If you are unsuccessful
-
Ask for feedback, but note that employers are not obligated to provide this.
-
You may wish to write a thank you note for the interview opportunity. Some applicants who were initially rejected do get reconsidered at a later point.
- Learn from the experience, but don't let this hold you back. You may need to improve your interview technique, or consider gaining additional training or experience. Stay positive to increase your chances of success in the future. Even the most experienced of individuals need to fine tune their job search skills from time to time.
Interview resources
-
Monster - 'Virtual Interviews' - a series of virtual interviews for you to practice
-
SEEK - 'Job search strategies' - provides some shortcuts to help with organising your job search strategy
-
Seven Keys to Interview Preparation - looking at ways to effectively conduct the interview
-
Careers OnLine - Job Interviews - further resources to held you through the interview process
-
Surviving the Job Interview - how to survive the interview process by preparation
-
Graduate Careers - Interviews and beyond - further resources to held you through the interview process