A Starting Point to...
Interviews
Hello! You’ve submitted your CV and now the recruiter wants to meet you face-to-
face – success! Being invited to an interview is the next step towards a
successful job application. The good news is that your CV and covering letter
made a good impression and ticked all, or the majority, of the
recruiter’s requirements on their checklist. However an applicant can fall
over at the last hurdle if they haven’t done the appropriate research. In this guide we’ll show you how to ace the telephone interview,
master the handshake and give out the right vibes to an interviewer. If you are viewing this guide online, you can interact with the
booklet throughout. For example, click on a topic opposite so you can skip
forward to where you need to be. If you need a more accessible copy of this
booklet please contact the Careers Centre.
Contents So, you’ve made it this far Telephone interviews Online interviews Doing your homework Practice and eCoach – what to expect? First impressions The day of the interview What’s next?
So, you’ve made it this far
Being invited for an interview means that your CV or application form has
made a good impression and the organisation you have applied to wants to
find out more about you. They will want you to do well at the interview stage -
they have set time aside to see you and time equals money - so they are
already investing in you!
You may be panicking over the interview because you only have a short
amount of time to prepare. However with this guide you’ll be at ease in no
time. It’s important to head into the next stage of the application process positively and with the aim of living up to and exceeding the good first
impression you have created with your CV and covering letter. Remember
that an interview is a two way exchange of ideas and an opportunity for you
to further market yourself; but also to find out if the job/organisation is
really what you want.
Remember, obtaining an interview is a success! Here is why...
30.79 million over the age of 16 are in employment
1.96 million
are looking for a new job or full-time employment - you are up against all these people!
118
applications on average for a graduate level job
1.7%
rise in average wage in 2014
15%
of applicants get invited back for an interview
516,000 roughly how many current job vacancies
statistics provided by Government 2013 - 2014
Telephone and
online interviews
The phone rings...
Phonecalls are tedious at the best of times. The phone rings and its from a
number you don’t recognise or the caller’s ID has been withheld - it could be
anyone. Our advice is to always answer your phone. The minority of the time these unknown numbers will turn out to be a PPI scam or a
telecommunications company, but the one time you reject a phone call,
you might be hanging up on a future employer and your dream job. Don’t
make that mistake.
Telephone interviews are the new way for employers to initially screen
potential employees and eliminate candidates who struggle in this phase of
the process. Telephone interviews are also set up if a candidate lives a long
distance away, when personality is key rather than experience and
qualifications or when communicating on the phone is key to the job. Interviews can last from ten minutes to an hour so be prepared to be on the
phone for a long time. Most interviews are pre-arranged via email, however, if an employer rings surprisingly, then be prepared to answer a few questions. If you’re unable to field their call (for example because you are out at a
family meal or at the cinema) then we’d recommend explaining your
situation and asking them to call back at a more suitable time – they’ll understand. It’s them who has cold called.
Tips for phone interviews Prepare as you would normally for an interview.
Try to use a landline rather than a mobile, they are more reliable. If you have
no other alternative then use a mobile which has full signal and battery life. Find a quiet place where you will not be disturbed. Turn off the TV/Radio and
place your full attention on the interviewer.
Be in the right frame of mind – don’t be hungover, in bed or down the pub. The interviewer cannot see you so your tone of voice and attitude over the
phone is important. Sound enthusiastic, be polite and be confident. Speak
clearly and give concise answers.
Have a copy of your CV, job description and something to write notes on in
front of you.
Being interviewed online Conducting interviews via Skype or
another video messaging platform
oers employers all the advantages
of a telephone interview with the
bonus of being able to see the
candidate. While they are still not as
widely used as telephone interviews,
they are particularly helpful for
international recruitment when
interviewing a candidate overseas.
1 in 6
HR managers now use Skype as a
of candidates say they have had a
source: OfficeTeam
source: Right Management
regular interview tool.
18%
Skype interview in the last year
Online interview tips
Choose your surroundings carefully – if the location you choose is your
bedroom , make sure to tidy up and remove dirty washing, alcohol and
inappropriate posters from the view of the camera. Sit at a desk or table. Place a ‘Do Not Disturb’ message on the door. If you live on the ground floor it may be a good idea to pull down the blinds to
avoid any of your so-called friends pulling faces through the window or being
distracted by the postman or passing traffic.
Test your equipment before the actual interview – is the camera working? Try
with a friend.
Does your microphone pick you up clearly? Dress smartly like you would for any other kind of interview. Have the interviewers contact details handy – just in case Skype fails you can email or call them immediately to explain what has failed.
Video advice
If you are using the interactive booklet online, click on the image to play the
video (via YouTube). If you are reading this booklet the old-school way the
URL addresses are provided below next to their respective images. What not to do during a video
interview:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
RGZeQRHH8pY
The right advice about sound, video
and appearance:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
rQwanxQmFnc
Worried about online and video interviews? Visit us in the Careers Centre at
either the Stoke or Staord campus. We can mock a video interview with you
and give you feedback and useful advice. Book in with a Employability Coach
today!
Doing your
Homework
Swatting up essentials You have made it past the initial phases of the application process and
you’ve been invited for a showdown at corporate headquarters. Great news!
You’ll find that your application has survived rigorous scrutiny and whittled
down from a hundred or so to the final few. A successful and positive
interview is the vital piece of the jigsaw in landing a job.
Just like if you were revising for an exam, swatting up for an interview results
in a better outcome. You wouldn’t wing an exam, so why wing an interview?
Each job application is a little bit different and should be treated indvidually
and uniquely.
Look at their website and make sure you know what they do. Learn where they fit into the market. Who are their competitors? Re-read the job advert and highlight key words and phrases. Look closely at the job description and person specification, how do you
match what they need?
Although using Google is practical and a good start, it won’t land you the job.
You need to investigate the role and the company further. Be investigative
and scratch underneath the surface.
Has the company been in the media recently? Has there been bad PR/good
PR or have they recently won an award?
Are they on the stock market? What’s their price? What is the company’s target consumer? Do you know who is interviewing you? Google them! You can never do enough research so these are a few pointers to get you
started. Dig as deep as you can and find out as much as you can about the
role you have applied for. The more research you do, the easier the interview
will go. Some of the things you’ll find won’t be useful to your interview,
however it shows the recruiter that you have good research techniques and that you’ve taken strong interest in their business.
Case study
“She asked lots of thoughtful questions about the company, the role, the
market and also came with a demonstrable interest and enthusiasm in the
business as a whole. That shows someone has a genuine desire to work for
our company and we want committed individuals”
– Sales Director, PR Newswire
You and the role Is it a match made in Heaven?
When doing your research, have a long think about the position you’ve
applied for and how your strengths and weaknesses come into play? We recommend writing a list of pros and cons so that you can prioritise and
highlight your strong skills and potentially hide your weaker skills. Think
about your skills and how they relate to the job:
Hard skills: Those particular to your expertise/subject and experience. Hard
skills are speciďŹ c, teachable abilities that will be required in a given context,
such as a job, profession or area of study.
Soft skills: Often called transferable skills, they are skills you have acquired
during any activity in your life - jobs, classes, projects, parenting, hobbies,
sports. Many of these skills are transferable and often applicable to the job
you are applying for.
Selling Points (USP): What skills and experience do you have that will meet their needs? What can you bring that is unique or added value to the
position/company? What are the reasons that the employer should hire you above all other candidates?
What skills do you have? Skills employers want:
Analytical ability
Oral Communication
Decision Making
Presentation
Computer Literacy Inuencing
Planning
Problem Solving
Initiative
Self-management
Negotiating
Time Management
Leadership
Networking
Team Working
Written Communication
Attributes employers want: Commercial Awareness Commitment Cooperation
Dependabilities Motivated
Flexibility
Selfawareness
Self ConďŹ dence
Willingness To Learn Integrity
Practice and
using eCoach
eCoach
Staffordshire University has just invested in new software which is perfect
for practising your interview techniques and getting one step ahead.
eCoach is the Careers Centre's careers portal - available to all Staffordshire
University students, graduates and staff. Through eCoach you can access
the latest career-related advice, tutorials, tools and views from recruiters.
You can work through eCoach on your own or in conjunction with one of our
Employability Coaches. You can also view all of the career guides (like the
one you are reading now) that are available.
eCoach has an interview simulator to help you practice your interview skills.
You can answer mock questions via text or video and then choose to receive
feedback from one of our Employability Coaches.
www.staffs.ac.uk/careers/ecoach
First impressions
Just like speed dating – first impressions matter. A great first impression
could mean walking into the sunset of the honeymoon of employment. A bad
first impressions means you’ll be instantly kicked to the kerb.
7
38%
seconds it takes to form an opinion
of people base their first impression
55%
7%
on an individual
of people judge their first impression on physical appearance so dress appropriately!
of a person’s tone of voice
of people judge us initially on what we have to say
source: Bussiness Insider
What should I wear?
Appearance can make or break an interview. 55% of recruiters base their
opinions on what the interviewee is wearing. This section challenges the
age-old conundrum of what to wear to a job interview. We won’t give you any
fashion tips for next season, but will help you in hopefully becoming
employed. Dos:
Dress conservatively when you meet someone for the first time (even if the
office is known as being ‘modern’ and ‘creative’).
You should be aspiring to dress one notch above what you would normally
consider suitable for work.
Dress confidently – If you look great, you'll feel great and if you feel great,
there will be a much higher chance of you storming your interview. Simple. Don’ts:
Have your mobile phone on during the interview. Even having your phone on silent or vibrate is risky!
Wear too much jewellery. Keep it to a minimum. Wear only a watch and your wedding ring if you’re married.
Go OTT – play it safe. Employers will not be impressed by your new River
Island purchase or personalised trainers.
Handshakes
Handshakes are important when forming a first impression. The kinetic
energy between two people sharing a handshake transfers over to the brain.
Within seven seconds, an employer has seen what you are wearing, spoken to you, checked your body language and shook your hand – first impression –
check!
A good handshake is an important tool to selling yourself. Every time you
shake someone's hand, whether it is with a prospective customer before a
sales presentation or with someone who's just introduced you at a
conference, that other person forms an immediate impression of you, as do
the people watching. When you shake hands with someone for the first time,
one of three things will flash rapidly (maybe even subconsciously) through
your mind, depending upon the type of shake you receive: This person makes me feel comfortable. This person is a pushover.
This person is trying to snap my hand off! When shaking someone’s hand, make sure that your handshake is firm, but fair.
The day of the interview
It’s gameday!
Today is the day. You’ve made your research notes, pressed your trousers
and polished your shoes. You’re ready to ace this interview and start your
new job. In this section we will advise you what to expect in the interview
room, some general dos and don’ts and ways to create a great lasting impression. Let’s get started... Don’t be late
Turning up late to an interview is a complete disaster. There’s no other way
to describe it. It shows that you are not prepared, that you have no time
management skills and it shows a lack of respect by taking advantage of
their valuable time. Turning up early is not ideal either. Your interviewers
will need to find a place for you to wait, get you a drink, and so on. In a busy
bar, restaurant or hotel this can be a potential imposition.
We recommend turning up 10-15 minutes before your allotted time. Make sure you know where the interview is taking place and plan the
logistics of getting there. Leave yourself plenty of time especially when
travelling by bus or train.
What to expect Depending on what role you have applied for, what stage of the interview
process you are in or what company you would be working for, the type of
interview will differ.
Face-to-face – this generally is the kind of interview that you will encounter
when attending a job interview. You will be meeting with 1 – 3 members of the
business. The interviewers will likely consist of a HR rep, your line manager
or someone who you’ll be closely working with.
Panel - more than three interviewers; can have a chair person and often used
in teaching/local government and Civil Service interviews. A panel interview
can also be where there are several interviews with the candidates rotating
around. Each interviewer will be asked to focus on a different aspect of the
position.
Presentation – you might be asked to give a presentation. This kind of
interview is particularly true for graduate schemes. You might be asked to
give a presentation about the company or an idea which you want to bring to
the table. You might even be asked to give a presentation about something more trivial, like you’re favourite sports team or hobby.
Group – Candidates can ask questions of each other and put across their own
points of view.
Negotiating for a better salary
is one of the top 3 things applicants hate to do when at a job interview source: lifehack.com
In each interview the interviewer will ask various questions depending on
what they want to find out. Some questions are competence based, where
the interviewer is looking for skills and qualities particularly appropriate to
the job. Other questions that might be asked focus on your technical skills
that centre on a project you were involved in. You might also have to explain
your final year project or dissertation to them. If the recruiter hasn’t asked
you about your CV via a telephone call then they’ll ask you about statements you made on your CV.
15 Tips For A Great Interview
1) Find out about the industry and what the company or organisation
does – spend time researching, so you are absolutely clear and clued-up on
what you are saying. It will help you to make informed answers and ask
thought provoking questions.
2) Know your CV really well – expect to be asked questions about your CV - it
looks unprofessional if you don’t know it inside out. They are not trying to
catch you out, they just want to know as much about you as possible.
3) Know your relevant experience as completely as possible – how does your
experience fit the role you’re applying for? Where have you excelled in the
past? Be ready to back up your achievements with facts and figures.
4) Highlight your relevant skills - the interviewer will be looking to see if you
can adapt and excel at their business. Establish early on that you mean
business and you have what they are looking for. Make sure you know your
strengths and exhibit them.
5) Have a few insightful questions ready – interviewers can base their hiring
decision on the type of questions you ask, so spend time preparing and have
several. It shows thoughtfulness and enthusiasm.
6) Check your appearance – we have already explained this but we cannot
stress it enough. Dress to impress, but dress smartly and conservatively.
Keep jewellery to a minimum and your mobile phone switched off. Play it
safe!
7) Be punctual – try out the journey and do your research to make sure you
can get there on time and with minimal stress. If you can’t get there for one
day for an interview, what are your chances of travelling efficiently every day
for the foreseeable future?
8) Be polite and approachable to everyone you encounter – people hire
people based on who they like, especially who their secretaries like. Always
thank the interviewer for their time before and after the interview. Be polite
and personable to everyone you meet – they might be your future colleague or
boss!
9) Be prepared to top and tail the interview – aim to impress your interviewer
with friendly, confident chat before the interview starts and on the way out.
When you enter the building, the interview has started! 10) Demonstrate enthusiasm, interest and confidence.
11) Ensure you listen and observe – the interviewer will be interested in what
you have to say, but be aware of signs of confusion, agreement or
disagreement and respond accordingly.
12) Avoid showing signs of nervousness – everybody gets nervous, but
hiding them is a strong positive. Avoid foot tapping or evading eye-contact.
RELAX AND BE YOURSELF! If you’re struggling with your nerves, we can help.
Visit us in the Careers Centre.
13) Demonstrate desirable behaviours and attitudes – do not say anything
that can be interpreted as controversial or offensive. Show motivation,
integrity and open-mindedness and always be pleasant to whoever you meet.
Remember that your first impression is everything.
14) Show how you will contribute – if you have an idea for a new product or
new campaign, bring it up! If you’re not asked about your ideas, bring them
up anyway at a suitable juncture. They want to see you hit the ground running
and be instant hit with the existing team.
15) Avoid talking too much – do not waffle on. Keep your answers to a
maximum of one or two minutes. Let the interviewer jump back in with a
question to keep the conversation active. They might want you to expand on
an answer.
Be A STAR
A great method of answering questions is by using the STAR method as
shown below:
Situation – describe the situation, circumstance or predicament that you
faced
Task – what you had to do?
Action – what steps did you take to complete the task?
Result – what was the outcome- successful or unsuccessful? Employers are always on the lookout for candidates who can evaluate
themselves. Even if a task or project was unsuccessful, explain what you
think went wrong and why and explain what you would do differently.
Not feeling confident? If you’re still feeling uneasy about the interview process then we can help.
The Careers Centre can set up mock interviews in person or online. eCoach
has a mock interview simulator where you can answer via text, audio or video
software. The simulator lets you either answer a pre-determined set of
questions or you can setup your own questions which you can answer with
confidence.
To further improve your interview skills, you can analyse and critique your
own answers or run through your interview with an Employability Coach.
Either set up an appointment with an Employability Coach in the Career
Centre or log onto eCoach.
www.staffs.ac.uk/careers/ecoach
What’s next?
Maximise your chances
Whether your interview experience was a success or a complete disaster, it
is always recommended that you follow up on your interview.
In today’s hypercompetitive job market, being memorable for the right
reasons is a must. The line between persistent & curious and being a pain is
blurry at best. Being able to profit from a follow-up email or the opportunity
to cash in a favour could means wonders to your application.
A follow up email is always appreciated. Find out the email address of the
person who interviewed you and send them a thank you note within 24
hours. An email is a good base to build upon but going the extra mile will
help you stand out. A personal, creative thank you note has been suggested
in the past by CEOs and HR Managers. Remember not to go OTT – it’s doubtful that the recruiting team would appreciate a fruit basket or anything along those lines.To help break the ice with a thank you email or letter, we
recommend talking about a particular answer you gave, an article of interest
and relevance or further evidence you’re the right applicant for the role.
Waiting game...
Appreciate that the interview process may take several weeks to conclude. If
you were the first candidate to be screened it may take a while to hear back
from the employers on the result of your application. During the interview
itself, the employer will usually tell you when to hear back from them. If you
have to call or email the recruiter, do it at a time where it is suitable for them.
For example, we wouldn’t recommend contacting a journalist on their
deadline day. Two calls is the maximum, if you have not heard back by then,
you should take it as ‘sign to move on’. We also wouldn’t recommend adding
anyone to LinkedIn until the process has ended.
During the waiting period, there are plenty of things that you can do to improve your job prospects, just in case you are unsuccessful.
Evaluate the interview – if you’re interview in your opinion wasn’t particularly good, how come? Try and think about what didn’t go so well and log onto
eCoach and address those issues. Maybe an interviewer made a note that
your CV could be better? Spend this valuable waiting time and fixing those issues.
Continue the job search – continue looking through advertisements for a new
job. If your CV was good enough for this job, you have a strong shot of getting
an interview somewhere else.
Being prepping for another interview – no rest for the wicked. Cash in a favour – maybe an influential contact can liaise with the recruiter to
further strengthen your application?
Dealing with rejection
12
times J.K Rowling was rejected by book publishers for her Harry Potter series. It’s now the highest selling series of all time. source: Huffington Post
Unfortunately you did not get the role you wanted this time, but it’s not the end of the world. Should you lose out for a position you interviewed for,
accept rejection in a professional manner. Sure it hurts to hear no; but if you
handle the rejection professionally, you might be considered for a future job
at the same employer. Remember to stay in touch and ask for if possible
feedback on your application. This feedback can become vital in the future
and it is always nice to know where you stumbled. Perhaps there was a
stronger candidate with more experience or the interviewer felt you didn’t
come across friendly? These are all things you can improve on. If you don’t have enough experience, volunteering or an internship can improve your
skillset and earn you vital experience in your selected field. The Careers
Centre can help you locate those opportunities. One door closes, but another one will open.
Thank you for reading
We hope that this guide has been useful for you to improve your interview
skills. If you need help the team at the Careers Centre can assist in a variety
of ways. Come in and see us!
Good luck!
www.stas.ac.uk/careers