Jobs Interview tips

Teaching-you Job Interview Skills Tips Š Peter Brown and Jose Ros 2004

Contents 1. What is an interview?

2. How to avoid interview nightmares ...

3. Preparation is the key to success 4. Rest and relaxation 5. Help and support 6. Getting advice 7. Your workspace 8. Planning 9. Tools of your trade 10. Your “To Do” list 11. Dealing with paperwork 12. Stationery 13. Letters 14. Filing information 15. Screening 16. Telephone interviews 17. Telephone Tips 18. Accepting the offer of an interview 19. Doing your homework 20. Research 21. Informational interviews 22. Using your network 23. The job advert 24. The job description 25. The “person specification” 26. Buying interview clothes 27. Dress – general 28. Formal dress – women 29. Formal dress – men 30. Your CV 31. Your career history 32. Your portfolio 33. Your household budget 34. Your job “targets” 35. What does the interviewer want to know?

36. Selling yourself 37. Features and benefits 38. Practice answering questions 39. Multiple interviews 40. Tests and tasks 41. Making presentations 42. Group tasks 43. Psychometric testing 44. Assessment centres 45. Panel interviews 46. Personal hygiene 47. Dealing with nerves 48. On the day of the interview 49. What to take to the interview 50. Aim to enjoy the interview Teaching-you Job Interview Skills Tips © Peter Brown and Jose Ros 2004

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Contents 51. Travelling to the interview 52. Arriving for the interview 53. Where the interview starts ...

54. Believe in yourself 55. Body language 56. Structure of an interview 57. What not to do in an interview ...

58. Making notes 59. First impressions 60. Food and drink 61. Think before you speak!

62. Answering questions 63. Building rapport 64. Breaking the ice 65. About interviewers ...

66. Types of questions 67. “Classic” questions 68. “Closed” questions 69. “Open” questions 70. “Hidden” questions 71. Multiple questions 72. Hypothetical questions 73. Difficult questions 74. Illegal or unprofessional questions 75. Speaking 76. Listening skills 77. Don’t criticise 78. Tell the truth!

79. Back-up what you say 80. Be calm and professional at all times 81. Are you the best person for the job?

82. Will you “fit in”?

83. Can you take direction?

84. Your strengths 85. Your weaknesses 86. Management and leadership skills 87. Time management 88. Your computer skills 89. Communication skills 90. Customer care 91. Salary 92. Your “benefits package” 93. Promotion 94. Asking questions 95. Second (and third!) interviews 96. After the interview 97. Negotiating 98. Accepting a job offer 99. If you don’t get the job ...

100. The future ...

Teaching-you Job Interview Skills Tips © Peter Brown and Jose Ros 2004

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Tips 1. What is an interview?

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An interview is simply a conversation between 2 or more people.

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Unlike conversations between friends, the interviewer is in control of the conversation, but you can have some influence on the direction it takes and how it develops.

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The interviewer is trying to find out if you: - can do the job - will fit in with the organisation - can be given instructions and respond positively

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You should be trying to find out: - if you would like working for this organisation - more about the job and the organisation.

2. How to avoid interview nightmares ... *

We’ve all had sleepless nights and even nightmares about job interviews.

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But you can avoid a lot of anxiety by: - preparing carefully and thoroughly before the interview - doing your homework: find out about the company and the job; plan your schedule; re-read your application, the job description and the person specification; try to predict the questions you might be asked - practicing answering questions and discussing your answers with a friend or colleague.

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And remember that being slightly nervous is a good thing, because it makes you more alert (it keeps you “on your toes”).

3. Preparation is the key to success *

Like most things in life, thorough and careful preparation is the key to success in job interviews.

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Good preparation takes time, planning and hard work. Don’t skimp on these, and don’t underestimate the time you need to spend on them.

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If you prepare carefully for interviews, you’ll be more confident and less nervous at the interview itself. And the more you prepare the easier interviews will become.

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Work hard at your preparation but don’t drive yourself to exhaustion. You won’t do well at an interview if you’re a worn-out wreck! Balance your preparation with relaxation and a good night’s rest.

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Don’t get over-confident. No two interviews are the same, so there can always be surprises.

But the more you prepare, the less likely you’ll be asked a question that you can’t answer.

Teaching-you Job Interview Skills Tips © Peter Brown and Jose Ros 2004

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Tips 4. Rest and relaxation

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If you do it thoroughly, preparing for interviews is hard work. And, when you have a full-time job as well, it’s even harder.

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Although you can’t avoid the work you need to do to prepare for interviews, you must also get plenty of rest and relaxation if you’re not to become exhausted or “burnt-out”.

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So, relaxation is an important part of your preparation. Get some exercise, do some DIY, take the kids to the park, go to see a film, dig the garden, cook a great meal.

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Try to get a good night’s sleep - preparing properly for interviews, will stop you having sleepless nights through worrying.

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Managing and planning your time will help you juggle interview preparation while you also get some rest and relaxation.

5. Help and support *

Preparing for interviews needs a lot of work. So, get some help.

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If you live with a partner, ask for their support and advice. For example, you may not have quite so much time to help with household chores while you’re job-hunting, so getting their support is vital to keep the peace if nothing else!

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You might also need your partner’s help to plan your schedule to create more free time for interview preparation.

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Get a colleague or friend to help you practice for interviews. Ask your friend to listen to interviews you’ve recorded with this programme, and give suggestions for improving your answers.

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Try a “mock” interview where your friend acts as interviewer - record it with a video camera.

Then play it back, study your performance and take advice from your friend.

6. Getting advice *

Adults don’t ask for advice as often as they should, so they keep making the same mistakes.

Don’t fall into this trap!

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We can help each other by sharing our experiences of job interviews - that way, we learn more about what works in job interviews and what can go badly wrong.

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Use your network - friends, family, current and ex-colleagues - to get more advice about how to tackle interviews. You may be surprised what you can learn.

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For more information and tips about interviews, use the internet. You’ll find lots of advice on the web sites of recruitment agencies as well as the job sites of national newspapers, eg http://www.guardian.co.uk

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Don’t forget to act on the advice you get!

Teaching-you Job Interview Skills Tips © Peter Brown and Jose Ros 2004

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Tips 7. Your workspace

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Job interviews involve a lot of preparation. So you need a quiet place to work. A home study is best, but you can improvise - for example, a spare bedroom.

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Make sure your workspace has room to store your job files, and has useful equipment such as a stapler and a hole-punch. You also need a desk (a small table will do) and a chair which will support your back properly.

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Libraries: If you don’t have a quiet place to work at home, try your local library. Many libraries stay open quite late, so you may be able to use them after work. In any case, you may need to use the library to do your research about the employer. And you can use computers and the internet free at the library.

8. Planning *

If you have several job interviews around the same time, you must plan your timetable carefully to fit in all your preparation for each job interview. Use our timetable and to do list to make sure you cover everything.

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Plan your journey to the interview - if it’s practical, do a practice run to time the journey and make sure you don’t get lost!

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Plan how you’ll “sell” your achievements, skills and experience to the employer. Use the job ad, job description and person spec to find out what the interviewer is looking for.

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Check your To Do list every day.

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If you’re already in a full-time job, you may need to do all your preparation in the evening. So, plan how you’ll fit it in to your family or social life.

9. Tools of your trade *

You’ll need a number of useful things to prepare properly for job interviews: Diary - to plan your schedule and organise your time To Do list - to make sure you don’t overlook any tasks CV/ application form - reminds you of what you told the employer Job description, person specification, job advert - tell you what the employer is looking for Computer & printer - plan your schedule, write letters and notes, practice answering questions Folders/ storage - keep everything organised and close at hand.

Teaching-you Job Interview Skills Tips © Peter Brown and Jose Ros 2004

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Tips 10. Your “To Do” list

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Preparing for an interview involves different tasks to be done at different times. So, a checklist or “To Do” list is essential to make sure you don’t overlook anything.

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Our programme contains a sample “To Do” list to help you cover all your tasks. Add your own items if you need to.

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Check your “To Do” list at least once a day before the interview, and more often if you need to.

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Check your “To Do” list carefully on the day of the interview to make sure you take everything with you.

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Pin-up reminder notes in places where you ‘ll see them (eg on your front door) if your “To Do” list isn’t enough to help you remember things.

11. Dealing with paperwork *

Job interviews involve a lot of paperwork. You’ll need to: - write letters or emails to the employer - up-date and print your schedule and “To Do” list - complete tasks which the employer wants you to do before the interview, such as preparing a presentation - prepare your portfolio (if you have a creative job, such as graphic design)

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Always keep your “To Do” list up-to-date - print out a new copy if you amend it.

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File copies of letters and emails you send to the employer in your job application folder.

12. Stationery *

You’ll need to write letters to confirm you can attend an interview, or to thank the employer after the interview, so you’ll need some stationery.

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Make sure you have: - white, A4 paper (copier paper is ok for your own use, but buy better quality paper to send to employers) - A4 envelopes - folders for copies of application forms, CV, job ad, person spec, job description, details about the employer, your research log etc. Use one folder for each job you’re applying for.

- some first class stamps, for example to send a thank you letter immediately after an interview.

Teaching-you Job Interview Skills Tips © Peter Brown and Jose Ros 2004

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Tips 13. Letters

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You’ll need to write a number of letters in connection with job interviews. For example to: - accept the offer of an interview - thank the interviewer after the interview - accept the job if you’re offered it.

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Use our letter templates to help you write word-perfect letters.

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Always check letters carefully at least 2 or 3 times before you post them.

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Make sure you post letters immediately. For example, always post your thank you letter on the day of the interview.

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Keep copies of all letters you send to employers.

14. Filing information *

You must keep all the information about each job application well-organised. So, use a folder for each job you apply for.

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Recycle folders only when you’re sure you haven’t got the job!

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Buy cheap A4 card folders (document wallets) - don’t buy expensive ring-bound folders because they’re only for your own use.

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For every job application you make, keep copies of: - the job advert - the CV or application form you sent to the employer - the covering letter you sent with your application - print-outs of all emails you send to the employer - copies of maps, interview times and any other information you receive from the employer - your research log (what you’ve found out about the employer).

15. Screening *

“Screening” is a kind of pre-interview sorting of people who’ve applied for a job. In many cases these days, hundreds of people may apply for a job, so screening is used to reduce the number who have to be interviewed.

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CVs are often screened using a computer. The machine scans CVs to look for key words which the employer wants to see in an application. So, make sure your CV is always word-perfect.

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Another way of screening is by interviewing you on the telephone. So, keep details about your job applications near your phone.

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If you’re applying for jobs when you already have a full-time job, remember to tell employment agencies when (and if) they can call you at your workplace.

Teaching-you Job Interview Skills Tips © Peter Brown and Jose Ros 2004

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Tips 16. Telephone interviews

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These can catch you off-guard. They might come at work, or in the evening when you’re at home. They’re used as a second “screening” before people are selected to go for interview.

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Ask the caller to ring back if you’re not prepared or you’re at work, or ask when it’s convenient for you to call them back.

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Keep details about your job applications (copies of CVs, application forms, your research notes etc) close to your phone in case someone ‘phones you.

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When a call comes in, don’t be afraid to ask for a few moments to get your notes about the job.

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You might be called by a recruitment agency, the employer, or the company personnel department. Whoever calls, treat it as though you’re in a “real” job interview.

17. Telephone Tips *

Confirm you can attend an interview immediately you get the offer by calling the employer (but send a letter or email to confirm as well).

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Call the employer to ask for information about the organization before the interview. Or to ask for directions or about the “dress code”.

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Charge your mobile the night before the interview so you can use it in emergencies - for example, if your journey is delayed.

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Switch off your mobile as soon as you get to the place where the interview will be held.

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Whenever you call the employer, remember to be polite at all times - receptionists and switchboard operators may complain to their managers about rude interviewees!

18. Accepting the offer of an interview *

The offer of an interview may arrive in the post, by email or through a telephone call.

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Check that you can attend the interview - don’t accept and then find later that you have a meeting elsewhere.

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Always confirm you can attend in at least 2 ways.

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Use our acceptance letter template to confirm you can attend an interview. Check it carefully for errors before you send it, and print a copy for your own records.

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If you confirm by email, check for slang expressions which you might use in emails or texts to friends, eg “cos”.

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Always post letters by first class mail.

Teaching-you Job Interview Skills Tips © Peter Brown and Jose Ros 2004

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Tips 19. Doing your homework

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Before you go to an interview, you need to do some homework: - Research - find out all you can about the employer and the job.

- Re-read the advert, job description and person specification - they’ll give you valuable clues about what the employer is looking for.

- What do you want from this job? - make a list of your “job targets”.

- What did you tell the employer in your CV or application form, and covering letter?

Re-read these documents several times to check what the employer might ask you.

Compare your application with the job description, person spec and advert to see where you have gaps.

- try predicting which questions you think you’ll be asked and practice giving excellent answers.

20. Research *

At interview, you’ll almost certainly be asked what you know about the employer. So, find out: - what the organization does (products it makes or services it provides) - how many people it employs, where its offices are, where it sells products and services - how well it’s doing: is it making profits or expanding?

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Use the internet to look at the employer’s web site - most employers have web sites these days. Make notes about what you discover.

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Check at your local library for information about the employer – ask the librarians for help.

21. Informational interviews *

These are a way of getting information about jobs, and can often lead to job offers.

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Informational interviews are concerned with “networking” - using contacts to help you find information about a job, or where jobs are available.

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The idea is that you call an employer, or someone who does the kind of work you want to do, and ask them if they can spare about 20 minutes to chat to you about their work. This kind of interview is different from a job interview because you will be asking the questions - so you need to prepare carefully for each one.

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These interviews are very useful if you’re looking to change career, or just leaving college or university and trying to decide what kind of career you’d like to have.

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Try informational interviews to get information about a job before you go to a job interview (but try a different employer to the one who'll be interviewing you).

Teaching-you Job Interview Skills Tips © Peter Brown and Jose Ros 2004

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Tips 22. Using your network

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Your network is the list of people you know - your family, friends, professional contacts (bank manager, doctor, solicitor), your current colleagues, teachers, lecturers, ex-colleagues, customers, clients etc.

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Use your network to find out as much as possible about the employer who will be interviewing you, and jot-down everything you find out in your research log. Check your notes carefully before the interview.

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Keep contact details for your network up-to-date.

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Keep in touch with people in your network regularly because you never know when you might need them.

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Remember that networks only work for you if you reciprocate - that means helping people in your network, as well as asking for their help.

23. The job advert *

This can give you useful clues about what kind of person and qualities the employer is looking for.

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Always keep a copy of the ad to check it when you’re preparing for an interview.

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Using the job advert, make a list of everything that the employer mentions in the ad about the skills or qualities they are looking for. Then search through our question lists to see which ones you might be asked.

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If you’ve been sent a “person spec” and a “job description”, use them together with the job ad to get a detailed picture of what the employer requires.

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Use your career history to check your skills and experience against those given in the job ad, then you can explain them in the interview.

24. The job description *

This lists the tasks and duties you’ll be doing if you get the job.

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The interviewer will check that your skills, qualities and experience match what is needed to do the tasks correctly.

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Use the job description to list the tasks which the job involves. Next to each task, write down how your experience or skills will help you do it successfully. Then look at our question lists to see which questions you might be asked about each task, and prepare your answers.

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If you have a copy of the “person specification” for the job, use it with the job description to predict the questions you might be asked.

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If you don’t have a copy of the job description or the person specification, use the job advert for clues about what the job involves, and the kind of person the employer is looking for.

Teaching-you Job Interview Skills Tips © Peter Brown and Jose Ros 2004

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Tips 25. The “person specification”

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This is a description of the kind of person the employer is looking for. It’s used as a checklist to make sure you have the right qualities for the job.

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The employer may send you a person “spec”, a job description and information about the organization when you apply for a job.

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Person specifications list qualities as “essential” or “desirable”. Make sure you show at an interview that you meet all essential qualities, and as many of the desirable ones as possible.

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Use the person spec to give you clues about the questions you’ll be asked in the interview.

Remember the interviewer will be checking your qualities match the ones listed on the person spec.

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When you don’t have a person spec, use the job advert for clues about the qualities and skills the employer is looking for.

26. Buying interview clothes *

Buying clothes for interviews can be expensive. Only buy new clothes if you really have to.

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Buy clothes in good time so you can get alterations done and “break” them in to make sure they’ll be comfortable to wear in the interview.

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If you’re unemployed or have just been made redundant, try some of the charity shops which sell very good (and often hardly used) business suits. And don’t forget the sales!

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Buy clothes which you’ll be able to use at work or on other occasions too.

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Don’t forget that your new clothes will let you down if your accessories, like shoes and handbags, don’t match or are old, scruffy or dirty. Always clean and polish your shoes. Iron ties, shirts and blouses.

27. Dress - general *

At interviews, the first impression you give about yourself will be through the way you look.

It’s essential that what you wear gives a good impression.

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Wear clothes which are appropriate for the organization you’re going to be interviewed by. If you know the organization dresses casually for work, wear something casual but smart - not thread-bare jeans!

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If you’re unsure about the dress code in the organization where you’ll be interviewed, call them to ask. If you can’t find out about the dress code, take the safest option and wear formal clothes - a business suit.

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If you buy new clothes, “break them in” so they’re comfortable to wear.

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Plan ahead and get your clothes to the dry-cleaners in good time.

Teaching-you Job Interview Skills Tips © Peter Brown and Jose Ros 2004

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Tips 28. Formal dress - women

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Business suits: there’s a wide choice, but grey, black and navy are best. Pinstripes and checks will be fine too, but aim for a professional, well-cut look. Avoid material which creases easily.

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Blouses: prefer long sleeves and choose white, cream or light but plain colours.

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Shoes: black or brown are probably best, but you can also wear navy or burgundy. Make sure shoes are clean and not scuffed. Take an extra pair of tights or stockings to the interview in case of ladders.

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Jewelry: keep it simple and prefer a few items. Engagement and wedding rings are fine as are simple earrings and necklaces. A bracelet is OK for the wrist, but don’t wear anything round your ankle.

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Bags: go for a smart, plain-coloured briefcase rather than a hand bag.

29. Formal dress - men *

Business suits: dark blue, grey, or brown (preferably not black). Pinstripe is ok if the stripes are not bold.

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Shirts: prefer white, long-sleeved shirts. But light blue or cream is acceptable. Stripes are ok, but plain ones are best.

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Socks and shoes: should match your suit. No brightly coloured socks! Always clean and polish shoes before the interview.

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Accessories: don’t wear bracelets, chains, tie pins etc. A wedding ring is fine, but don’t wear others. Choose a plain, simple watch – leave the Rolex at home!

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Bags: a smart black or brown briefcase is best. Make sure it’s clean and not scratched or scuffed. If you don’t have a briefcase, use a smart, clean bag to carry your things in. Not a carrier bag!

30. Your CV *

Always re-read the CV you sent to the employer who will be interviewing you. This is particularly important when you’ve tailored your CV for this job application.

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Know your CV “inside-out”.

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Check your CV carefully for things which the interviewer may ask you about, for example your achievements and any gaps in your CV.

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Review our category lists to see which questions you might be asked about your CV.

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Compare your CV with your career history to make sure you haven’t overlooked anything.

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Take 2 clean copies of your CV to the interview – one for you and one for the interviewer.

Teaching-you Job Interview Skills Tips © Peter Brown and Jose Ros 2004

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Tips 31. Your career history

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Your career history is what you’ve done in your career up to now. You’ll almost certainly be asked questions about the jobs you’ve done, and why you decided to take them.

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If you haven’t put your career history together yet, use our template to write it now (see the “Documents” menu).

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Keep your career history up-to-date, and read it through before an interview to remind yourself of why you did certain jobs, and the responsibilities you had.

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Most important of all, remember your key achievements in each job. Use them to “sell” yourself to the interviewer.

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You might be asked why you left jobs - so have your answers ready.

32. Your portfolio *

If your job involves creative or artistic work, eg you’re a graphic designer, you’ll be expected to take along samples of your work.

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A portfolio can take a long time to put together, so plan ahead to get it done properly. You may also need a web site of your work.

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Make sure your portfolio is bang up-to-date.

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Plan how you’ll show your portfolio - eg by career history order, or by the most impressive things you’ve done. You may not have much time, so show your best work first if you can.

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Use a folder or special portfolio case to keep your work in. Make sure it’s not tatty or worn, which might spoil the look of your work.

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If the interviewer doesn’t ask to see your work, ask to show it to them.

33. Your household budget *

Before you accept a job offer, always work-out your budget - particularly how much you need each month to cover your expenses.

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It’s also useful to do a second budget to find out how much you would like to spend each month (within reason).

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Working out your budget helps you know what salary you need to pay your bills, or how much you need to pay for the standard of living you’d like to have.

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There’s no point in taking a job - however much you might enjoy it - if you’ll start getting into debt as a result.

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Once you’ve done your budget, work-out your job targets so you’re prepared to start negotiating salary and benefits when you’re offered the job.

Teaching-you Job Interview Skills Tips © Peter Brown and Jose Ros 2004

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Tips 34. Your job “targets”

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What do you really want from a job? Promotion? £50,000 salary? A car? Travel? An expense account? A pension? Commission? Or what?

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Your “job targets” are the things which you’re hoping to get from a job. Most of us have a good idea of what they are, but it’s best to write them down so you’ve thought about everything a job might give you.

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Use our “job targets” template to help you consider everything.

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Once you have your job targets listed, it will help you negotiate your salary and benefits package when you’re offered a job.

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Remember it’s unlikely that a job will meet your targets in full. So think about which you would be prepared to change when negotiating salary or benefits.

35. What does the interviewer want to know? *

The interviewer is looking for answers to 3 basic questions: 1. Can you do the job?

2. Will you fit in at the place where you’ll be working, and with the other people in the team?

3. Will you take direction? In other words, can you be told what to do and not argue or take instructions the wrong way by sulking or doing the work slowly or badly.

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Interview questions are all aimed at finding out answers to these 3 basic questions.

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Make sure that what you say leaves the interviewer in no doubt that you’ll do the job, fit in well, and be easy to manage.

36. Selling yourself *

An interview is a “selling” activity. You’re trying to sell yourself as an employee to the interviewer.

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If you don’t sell yourself no-one else will! So, it’s up to you.

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Before the interview, make a list of the things which will help sell yourself to the interviewer your skills, experience, training, personality, achievements. These are your “selling points”.

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Remember the interviewer is looking for someone who will - fit in to the organization - be able to do the job well - be easy to manage.

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It’s not the best candidate who usually gets the job - it’s the person who sells themselves best.

Teaching-you Job Interview Skills Tips © Peter Brown and Jose Ros 2004

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Tips 37. Features and benefits

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An interview is a “selling” exercise - to get the job, you have to sell yourself to the employer.

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Sales people use “features” and “benefits” to sell goods or services, and you can use this technique too.

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Features are the qualities of a product or service. For example a kettle might boil very quickly, or may save energy.

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Benefits are what a user really gets from features - in the case of a fast-boiling kettle it can save the user time and money.

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You need to present your qualities to the interviewer, and show how these will benefit the organization. For example, if you’re good at organizing, you may be able to change procedures and save the employer money. Give examples of how you’ve done this before, to back-up what you claim.

38. Practice answering questions *

The idea of this programme is to help you prepare properly for job interviews. Practicing answering questions is an important part of your preparation.

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Practice regularly - try answering some questions (10-20) every day while you’re job-hunting.

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Record some interviews and play them back to see how they sound.

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Ask a friend, colleague, relative or coach to listen to the interviews you’ve recorded, and to give you some feedback about how well they think you answered the questions.

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Don’t try to learn your answers “off by heart”, because the questions you get in an interview may be different. Practicing helps you recognise questions, and to know how to answer them.

39. Multiple interviews *

You may have to go through more than one interview to get the job.

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In some cases, you may be interviewed by different interviewers one after the other. And then you might have a final interview where you’re questioned by a panel.

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You might have a first interview on one day, which is followed with a second, and even a third interview, on other days.

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How do you know how many interviews you’ll have? Well, usually you’ll be told when you’re invited. But, you can also guess about it if the interview offer letter asks you to attend for the whole day. Or, call the employer to ask about the interview arrangements.

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Multiple interviews are mostly used for high-level jobs which involve a lot of responsibility.

Teaching-you Job Interview Skills Tips © Peter Brown and Jose Ros 2004

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Tips 40. Tests and tasks

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Some job interviews involve tests or tasks. For example, you might be asked to give a presentation about something, or you might be asked to plan an event, or write a short article.

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You’re not always told in advance if you’ll be required to do a task, so be prepared.

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In some situations, you’ll be given instructions about tasks when you get the invitation to the interview. If the instructions aren’t clear, call the employer, and ask them to explain.

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If you have to prepare something in advance, don’t leave it ‘til the night before the interview.

Do it well in advance. And show it to a trusted friend, or do a “practice run” with a coach or colleague to get feedback about your performance.

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Add tasks to your “To Do” list so you don’t overlook them.

41. Making presentations *

For some jobs, you’re asked to prepare a presentation, or you may have to write something to take with you to the interview.

*

Make sure you follow the instructions you’ve been given. If the instructions aren’t clear, call the employer for more details.

*

Plan the presentation carefully. Don’t leave it ‘til the night before the interview.

*

Add this activity to your “To Do” list so you don’t forget about it. Make sure you have enough time to complete it.

*

Get someone to review your presentation - or do a trial run with a friend or colleague to practice, and get ideas for improvements.

*

Remember to take the presentation with you to the interview!

42. Group tasks *

Job interviews can sometimes involve tasks which you’ll do with other candidates for the job.

*

For example, you might be asked to chair or take part in a meeting, or to plan an event together.

*

In these situations, the employer (or their representative) will be assessing the performance of all the candidates during the task.

*

Always be polite and friendly with the other candidates. Although you’re in competition with them, group tasks are about cooperation and working with people to achieve something.

*

Don’t try to dominate the conversation during these exercises, or to take control of them. Your aim should be to work with the others to complete the task successfully in the time you’ve been given.

Teaching-you Job Interview Skills Tips © Peter Brown and Jose Ros 2004

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Tips 43. Psychometric testing

*

These tests measure your personality to see whether you’re suitable for a job.

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There are no “right” or “wrong” answers in psychometric tests, and you’re not being tested on your knowledge or skills.

*

You might be asked to take a psychometric test before your interview, or at different times during the selection process.

*

Other kinds of tests might be used together with psychometric tests, such as aptitude or personality tests.

*

It’s usually possible to get feedback from the employer about tests you take, including psychometric ones. Ask for some feedback if it’s not offered to you.

44. Assessment centres *

Job applications are sometimes dealt with at assessment centres. They are used when there is a large number of good candidates for a small number of jobs, and the employer wants to ensure they get the best people.

*

Some assessment centres are specially designed because they’re used on a regular basis. In other cases, assessments may be held in hotels or conference centres.

*

Assessments are often held over more than one day, and can involve overnight stays. So you need to do more planning and organizing for these.

*

There will usually be a detailed programme of activities which may cover written tests, group tasks, medicals, and interviews. You may find that you’re being continually watched by observers who will be assessing your progress.

45. Panel interviews *

A panel interview is where there is more than 1 interviewer asking you questions. In some cases there might be 5 or more.

*

Panel interviews are often used for jobs which have a lot of responsibility, such as the appointment of head teachers in schools, or the manager of a department in a company.

*

One of the interviewers usually acts as the chair person, introduces you to other members of the panel, and generally controls events.

*

Usually, each member of the panel will have been allocated time to ask you some questions expect 2 or 3 questions from each.

*

When you’re answering questions in a panel interview, keep eye contact with the person who asked you the question. But occasionally look at other members of the panel to keep their attention.

Teaching-you Job Interview Skills Tips © Peter Brown and Jose Ros 2004

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Tips 46. Personal hygiene

*

Get a haircut. Trim finger nails, as well as any nasal and ear hair.

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Only wear freshly-washed clothes. Dry-clean your suit or dress.

*

Use a deodorant rather than strong-smelling perfume.

*

When you get to the location for the interview, pop into the toilet and wash your hands and tidy your appearance.

*

Women - use make-up sparingly.

*

Remember to take a handkerchief or tissues with you.

*

Never eat strong-smelling food, smoke or drink alcohol before a job interview.

47. Dealing with nerves *

Everyone gets nervous before a job interview. So, don’t think it’s only happening to you.

*

You’ll feel more confident (and less nervous) if you’ve prepared thoroughly for the interview.

*

Practice using our programme as much as possible, and also try doing “mock” interviews with a friend, your coach or a colleague at work to really build-up your confidence.

*

Nerves can show through in your actions - like fidgeting or scratching yourself. Keep your hands clasped on your lap.

*

Try doing some breathing exercises before the interview.

*

If your mouth gets dry through nerves, ask for a glass of water.

48. On the day of the interview *

Check your To Do list to make sure you do everything before you set-off for the interview.

*

Always take a bath or shower, and check your appearance carefully.

*

Don’t use strong-smelling after-shave or perfume. A simple deodorant is best.

*

Take your time - don’t rush because that will make you more nervous.

*

Make sure you have something to eat - but make it something light so you don’t get sleepy.

Don’t have spicy food which will make your breath smell.

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Set-off for the interview in good time, but remember to check that you have everything you need before you leave home.

Teaching-you Job Interview Skills Tips © Peter Brown and Jose Ros 2004

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Tips 49. What to take to the interview

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The letter which you were sent inviting you to the interview (check it contains the 'phone number of the place where the interview will be held).

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Directions to get to the employer’s offices (or your own map).

*

Railway or bus timetable.

*

Mobile phone, or change/card to use call box.

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Money for bus or train fares; bus/train tickets; travel passes or season ticket.

*

Credit or debit cards for train tickets, hotel bills or food.

*

Change of clothes if you’re staying overnight.

*

A notepad and a couple of pens or pencils.

*

Comb or brush, plus make-up for women.

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Spare pair of tights.

*

2 clean copies of your CV.

*

A briefcase or bag to put all your things in (not a carrier bag!).

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Your portfolio (examples of your work - for jobs such as graphic designers, web designers, etc).

*

Handkerchief or tissues.

*

Umbrella.

*

And don’t forget your brain!

50. Aim to enjoy the interview *

Yes, you can enjoy interviews! Give it a try.

*

You’ll enjoy them more if you’re well-prepared, know the kind of questions you’re likely to be asked and have your answers ready.

*

Treat a job interview as a new experience from which you can learn something.

*

Even if you don’t get the job, it gives you “interview experience”. This will help in future interviews. You’ll be more confident and relaxed with each one you go to.

*

You’ll enjoy the interview more if you’re friendly towards the interviewer (and other people you meet - such as secretaries, receptionists and other candidates).

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Smile, relax and keep eye contact.

Teaching-you Job Interview Skills Tips © Peter Brown and Jose Ros 2004

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Tips 51. Travelling to the interview

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Plan your journey to the interview in detail. If it involves an overnight stay, check the hotel arrangements including the arrival and check-out times.

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If it’s practical, do a dry-run to the place where the interview will be held and at the time you’ll be travelling on the day of the interview.

*

Take your mobile phone with you (remember to charge it the night before), so you can call the employer if you’re delayed. If you don’t have a mobile, borrow one from a relative or friend, or use a call box to let the employer know you’re going to be late.

*

Remember to take the employer’s ‘phone number with you to the interview!

*

Plan to arrive about 10-15 minutes before the time of the interview, or the time you were asked to attend.

52. Arriving for the interview *

Plan your journey as carefully as possible. Make allowances for trains being late and heavy traffic.

*

You should arrive at the interview location about 10-15 minutes before the time you were asked to attend. If you’re earlier than that, take a stroll around the area to kill some time. It will give you chance to get to know the area - is it a place you’d like to work?

*

You’re “on show” as soon as you enter the employer’s premises. So, be polite and friendly to everyone you meet. Remember that receptionists and secretaries may be asked for their opinions about interviewees!

*

Make sure you visit the toilet before the interview, and adjust your appearance - straighten your tie, fix your make-up and hair, wash your hands.

53. Where the interview starts ... *

It’s best to treat the interview as starting once you’ve arrived at the employer’s office, or the place where the interview will be held.

*

Everyone who sees you, or you come into contact with at the employer’s offices or factory, can play a part in deciding whether you get the job or not.

*

So, make sure you’re polite and friendly with everyone you meet. Receptionists and personal assistants may well be asked for their opinions about interview candidates.

*

Don’t assume that someone who meets you in reception will necessarily be a receptionist they may end up being the interviewer!

*

And don’t park your car in the Managing Director’s space - it might not go down too well!

Teaching-you Job Interview Skills Tips © Peter Brown and Jose Ros 2004

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Tips 54. Believe in yourself

*

If you’ve got a job interview you should congratulate yourself. You’ve been selected (maybe from hundreds of people) as being suitable for the job.

*

Now it’s time to believe in yourself and what you can do. Because if you don’t believe in yourself, how will you convince the employer to believe in you and give you the job?

*

So, believe you can get the job. Say to yourself: “I will get this job”.

*

Thinking positively can have surprising results. Before the interview, close your eyes and imagine yourself at the end of the interview being offered the job.

*

But don’t be over-confident. If you think the employer needs you more than you need them, your body language will show you’re not really interested in the job.

55. Body language *

This is what your body is telling someone about the way you feel, or the kind of person you are. Here are some good ways to show positive body language:

*

Start and end the interview with a quick but firm handshake.

*

Sit up straight in your chair and lean slightly forward towards the interviewer - don’t slouch or lean back because that says you aren’t interested.

*

Always keep eye contact with the interviewer - in other words, look at the person you’re speaking to. If there’s more than one interviewer, look for a few seconds at each in turn or look at the person who asked you the question.

*

Don’t wave your arms around - keep your hands on your lap. Don’t scratch your head, cross your legs, fold your arms or fidget.

56. Structure of an interview *

All interviews are different, but most have some distinct parts which concentrate on different things: - introduction/ opening: the interviewer welcomes you, introduces you to other members of the panel, tries to get you talking - questions about your personality - questions about your work experience (your career history) - questions about how you work with other people - questions about the salary and benefits you get now and what you want if you get the job - closing: where you’re given chance to ask questions, followed by the interviewer thanking you for coming.

Teaching-you Job Interview Skills Tips © Peter Brown and Jose Ros 2004

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Tips 57. What not to do in an interview ...

*

Never get angry or annoyed with the interviewer or criticise them.

*

Don’t raise your voice or adopt a threatening manner.

*

Don’t wave your arms around, but don’t fold them either.

*

Don’t fidget, scratch yourself, pick your nose, or fiddle with your clothes or anything else you have with you.

*

Don’t slouch in your chair.

*

Never criticise your current boss, an ex boss, or any of your colleagues whatever they might have done in the past!

*

Don’t speak without thinking what you’re going to say first.

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Don’t swear or use bad language, even if the interviewer does!

58. Making notes *

Write down questions you want to ask at the interview in a note pad. And use it to make notes during and immediately after the interview.

*

Check the notes which came with the application form or in the job advert to make sure you don’t ask about things which have been explained to you already.

*

It’s acceptable to use your notepad and CV during the interview, and you can refer to your notes when you have chance to ask the interviewer questions.

*

Write down notes about how the interview went as soon as you leave the employer’s offices.

For example, on the train or in the car before you drive home.

*

Use your notes to help you prepare for future interviews.

59. First impressions *

Many interviewers make-up their minds about a job candidate within a minute or two of meeting them. So, first impressions really do count.

*

You create the very first impression with how you look - the interviewer will see you before they hear you speak.

*

The way you’re dressed will obviously play a big part in creating the right impression.

*

Avoid giving a bad impression with the way you smell - bad breath from eating spicy food, smoking just before the interview, or using a very strong perfume can all help to give a bad first impression.

*

Give the right impression by: smiling, giving a firm handshake, sitting up straight (not leaning back or slouching).

Teaching-you Job Interview Skills Tips © Peter Brown and Jose Ros 2004

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Tips 60. Food and drink

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You’ll often be asked in interviews if you’d like something to drink. But think about how you’ll deal with it and where you’ll put it. If you’re sitting on a chair in the middle of a room, it will be hard to balance a cup and saucer on your knee!

*

Unless you’re really desperate to top-up your caffeine level, ask for a glass of water so long as you have somewhere safe to put it.

*

If you’re invited to have a meal or go to a pub for a drink with the interviewer, avoid alcohol.

Stick to soft drinks so you don’t say anything you might regret.

*

Never drink alcohol before the interview, and preferably not the day before either - it stays on your breath!

*

Make sure you have something to eat before the interview to avoid a growling stomach!

61. Think before you speak! *

When you’re nervous (as most of us are in interviews), it’s easy to ‘put your foot in it’ by saying almost the opposite of what you mean to say. Nerves cause us to rush into speaking, and before we know it, we’ve said exactly the wrong thing.

*

So, always think for a couple of seconds before you answer any question. Your brain works very fast, so thinking time is not as long as it seems to you. The interviewer will also be able to see that you’re taking time to think about your answer rather than just blurting it out.

*

If you need a bit more time to think about what you’re going to say, ask the interviewer to explain the question, or clarify it for you.

*

Practicing answering questions with our programme will help you know what to say. Then you should need less time to think, and you’ll be more confident.

62. Answering questions *

Don’t ramble.

*

Keep most of your answers between 30 seconds and 2 minutes long. Practice using the clock in the programme to get used to how long you should speak.

*

Always look at the interviewer when you’re answering a question - keep “eye contact”.

*

Back-up what you say with examples from your career history, or your school and college life.

*

If you don’t understand what a question means, ask the interviewer to rephrase it or explain.

*

Make sure you answer the question - keep to the point.

Teaching-you Job Interview Skills Tips © Peter Brown and Jose Ros 2004

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Tips 63. Building rapport

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An interview should be more like a conversation than an interrogation (though it might not always seem like that). This is because the interviewer wants to know all about you, and you need to know about the employer too.

*

“Rapport” is where there is some trust or understanding between 2 (or more) people which allows them to communicate effectively.

*

In job interviews, you need to try and build “rapport” with the interviewer so you can show you’re the best person for the job.

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You show rapport by being open, friendly and warm towards someone - not by being cold and aloof.

*

Your body language helps to build rapport - being attentive, smiling, nodding, saying “Yes, I see” as the interviewer speaks, and laughing at the interviewer’s jokes.

64. Breaking the ice *

When the interview starts, the interviewer will often chat with you about your journey, the weather, how you like living in your neighbourhood etc. This is designed to get you to start talking, because an interview is a conversation.

*

Try to answer this kind of question in a warm and friendly manner as though you were talking to a friend or colleague. Don’t reply with just a “yes” or “no” because that won’t help to get a conversation going.

*

Many interviewers make-up their minds about a candidate after only a couple of minutes. So, the start of the interview is a crucial time to make the right impression.

*

To make the conversation go better, you can also add questions of your own. For example, you can say “Yes, I like living here, there always seems to be such a lot going on. Do you live nearby?”

65. About interviewers ... *

Many interviewers receive training about how to conduct job interviews. But not all do.

*

Some interviewers will have done hundreds of interviews. For others, it may be their first one and they might be just as nervous as you.

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Don’t think of the interviewer as your enemy - they may well be your boss if you get the job.

*

Treat the interviewer more like a colleague at work - try to adopt a warm and friendly manner towards them.

*

In most cases, the interviewer wants you to do well in the interview. They already know enough about you to think that you can do the job - you just have to prove that you’re the best person for it.

Teaching-you Job Interview Skills Tips © Peter Brown and Jose Ros 2004

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Tips 66. Types of questions

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Open: where you need to explain something and give more than a simple “yes” or “no” answer. Remember to keep your answers between 30 seconds and 2 minutes long if possible.

*

Closed: questions which can be answered with “yes” or “no”.

*

Hypothetical: questions which put you in an unusual or imaginary situation to test how you might cope, and to reveal something about your personality or your approach to problem-solving.

*

Leading questions: where the interviewer seems to be trying to make you give a particular answer, eg “You’re too young for this job aren’t you?”, or “I expect you prefer working in a team, don’t you?”

*

Problem-solving: eg “How many sheep are there in the UK?” You’re not expected to know the answer. The interviewer wants to know if you have ideas about how to find the answer.

67. “Classic” questions *

Here are some of the most popular interview questions: “What are your strengths and weaknesses?”

“Tell me about yourself.”

“Tell me about your career up to now.”

“Why do you want this job?”, “Why do you want to work for us?”

“Where do you see yourself in 5 year’s time?”

“What do you do in your spare time?”

“What do you know about our organization?”

“What salary are you looking for?”

68. “Closed” questions *

These are questions which you can answer with “yes” or “no”.

*

Closed questions are used to confirm something.

*

Sometimes, interviewers use closed questions when they actually want you to say more than simply “yes” or “no”. So, you need to think about what the question is really asking you. For example, if you’re asked “Have you helped increase sales in your current job?”, you can answer this with yes or no. But the interviewer really wants you to give an example of how you did this.

*

Don’t be afraid to answer some questions with “yes” or “no”. You don’t always need to explain things in detail.

*

Examples: “Would you be able to work late if required?”

“Can you touch-type?”

Teaching-you Job Interview Skills Tips © Peter Brown and Jose Ros 2004

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Tips 69. “Open” questions

*

These are questions which allow you to describe or explain something in detail.

*

You can’t answer these questions with a simple “yes” or “no”.

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The danger with open questions is that you might talk for too long. Remember the time rule: keep your answers to between 30 seconds and 2 minutes long if possible.

*

Open questions usually start with “How”, “Why”, “Describe”, “Explain” etc.

*

Examples: “Tell me about yourself.”

“Explain how you managed to deal with an angry customer.”

“How did you get into this line of work?”

70. “Hidden” questions *

Don’t take the questions you’re asked in an interview just at “face value”. Ask yourself “What’s this question getting at?”, and “What does the interviewer really want to know?”

*

For example, if you’re asked “Tell me about your old boss’s weaknesses.” the interviewer isn’t really interested in your boss. They want to know if you’re the kind of employee who goes around “bad-mouthing” people. Because, if you do it in an interview, you’ll do it to your new boss too!

*

Remember your answers tell the interviewer a lot about you and your personality - so always think about the question before you speak!

71. Multiple questions *

This type of question has two or more questions rolled into one. For example: “Why do you want to leave your current job? What’s wrong with it?”

*

Interviewers ask multiple questions to see if you can deal with different things at the same time.

*

Listen to the question carefully so you know how many “questions” you have to answer.

*

You don’t always need to answer multiple questions in the order you’ve been asked them. For example, you might say: “There’s nothing wrong with my job. I enjoy all aspects of it very much. But there hasn’t been any promotion in my department now for more than 3 years, and I feel I’m ready for more responsibility.”

Teaching-you Job Interview Skills Tips © Peter Brown and Jose Ros 2004

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Tips 72. Hypothetical questions

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These are questions about imaginary situations, or unusual tasks or activities. You’re unlikely to have done them before in your work, and you might think they have nothing to do with the job you’re applying for. For example, questions like: “Imagine you’re going to live on a desert island. What would you take with you?” or “What would you do if you won the National Lottery and didn’t have to work?”

*

Questions like these are used to show the kind of person you are, or how you go about approaching tasks. For example, taking perfume to a desert island doesn’t show you’re very practical or realistic.

73. Difficult questions *

Different questions are “difficult” for different people. A question which seems easy to me, may be very difficult for you.

*

The more you practice with this programme, the easier you’ll find all questions. Use our hints to help you prepare answers to the ones you find most difficult.

*

If you don’t know how to answer a question, ask the interviewer to rephrase it or explain a bit more about it. Most interviewers will be happy to repeat a question, or give you some help by explaining it.

*

If you think a question is illegal, such as a question about your religion or trade union membership, tell the interviewer that you’re not sure how the question relates to your ability to do the job, and ask them to explain. In most cases, the interviewer will move on to another question.

74. Illegal or unprofessional questions *

It’s not always easy to tell if a question is illegal or not. And things can change quite quickly, so you may not know the current law.

*

In an interview, you have the right to object to a question if you think it’s illegal. But, always stay calm and professional. Never get annoyed or angry.

*

If you don’t know if a question is illegal or not, try saying something like: “I’m not sure how that question is related to my ability to do the job. Could you explain?”

Make sure you remember this. Because what counts is whether you can do the job, not your personal circumstances, eg race, religion, family background, union membership and so on.

Teaching-you Job Interview Skills Tips © Peter Brown and Jose Ros 2004

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Tips 75. Speaking

*

An interview is a conversation. So how you speak plays a very important part in whether or not you’ll get the job.

*

Speak clearly, don’t mumble.

*

Speak a little more slowly than you normally do with, say, friends. This gives you time to think, and helps the interviewer if they’re taking notes.

*

Never raise your voice even if you’ve been asked an illegal or improper question. Always stay calm and in control, and show it in your voice.

*

If your mouth gets dry, ask for a glass of water.

*

If you’re usually a quiet speaker, practice recording your voice to try speaking a little louder than you normally do.

76. Listening skills *

When the interviewer is speaking, you must listen carefully to what they are saying.

*

This helps you understand what the interviewer is really asking you. It also gives you time to think about your answer.

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Show the interviewer you’re listening by keeping eye contact with them, and nod from time to time to show you understand what they are saying.

*

Your body language shows whether you’re really listening or not.

*

Don’t interrupt the interviewer when they’re speaking.

*

Practice your listening skills using our interview practice screen. Try our interviews without using subtitles, and think about what the interviewer is really asking you.

77. Don’t criticise *

Employers don’t want to take on people who are going to moan, criticise, or generally cause them problems.

*

So, don’t criticise your current boss, your previous employer, or the colleagues you currently work with.

*

It’s tempting when you’re asked “Tell me about your old boss”, to start telling the interviewer all your employer’s annoying little ways and habits. But resist the temptation! If you bad-mouth your current or old boss, it will be assumed that you’ll do the same to a new employer, and you won’t get the job.

*

Other questions to watch out for: “How do you get on with your colleagues?”

“What makes you really angry at work?”

“What do you dislike about the current employer you work for?”

Teaching-you Job Interview Skills Tips © Peter Brown and Jose Ros 2004

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Tips 78. Tell the truth!

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Never be tempted to lie in a job interview.

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If you lie you might: - be instantly dismissed without notice if you’re given the job and your lie is discovered.

- get caught-out when references are checked.

- contradict yourself when you’re asked another question later in the interview.

*

If you have periods of unemployment on your CV, or you were made redundant from a job, don’t try to cover these up with lies.

*

Check your career history and your CV or application form before the interview to remember everything you told the employer.

79. Back-up what you say *

Whatever you say in an interview, try to back it up with a real example from your current job, or career history.

*

For example, if you say that you’re a well-organized person, say that at the end of each day you update your “To Do” list, check items for posting, and tidy your desk ready for a good start the next day.

*

Use facts or figures to back-up what you say. For example: “I saved my previous company over a million pounds in costs by reorganizing the customer support team.” or “I improved sales by more than £300,000 in just 3 months.”

*

Remember the employer can check-up on what you say - for example, through references. So, don’t exaggerate or lie.

*

Use your key achievements as examples wherever possible.

80. Be calm and professional at all times *

Job interviews are stressful. And if the job you’re applying for is also stressful, the interviewer may deliberately put you under pressure to see how you react.

*

Whatever the interviewer says, stay calm and in control.

*

Never raise your voice, or get angry.

*

In a panel interview, if everyone is throwing questions at you at the same time, calmly tell them you will answer all their questions, one at a time.

*

If you’re asked an illegal or improper question, ask the interviewer to explain how the question is relevant to your ability to do the job.

*

However stressful the interview, always thank the interviewer at the end, shake their hand firmly and smile.

Teaching-you Job Interview Skills Tips © Peter Brown and Jose Ros 2004

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Tips 81. Are you the best person for the job?

*

In most cases, the person who gets the job is not the one who’s best qualified, or who has the most experience - it’s the person who performs better than the other candidates in the interview.

*

To be the best person for the job, you must show you: -

*

have the skills to do the job are well-organized will fit in with the organization or the team are keen and enthusiastic want to do well can carry out instructions are hard-working can make a contribution to the organization.

Remember you need to prove you’re the best person for the job by giving examples from your previous jobs or work experience.

82. Will you “fit in”? *

The interviewer wants to know that you’ll fit in easily to the team or organization you’ll be working in.

*

You must show that you’re a friendly and warm person who gets on well with other people, and are easy to work with.

*

Employers don’t want employees who will cause problems for them, or be difficult to deal with.

So, watch out for questions like “How do you fit in to a team?” or “How do you get on with your current colleagues?”

It won’t go down well if you say your colleagues are a pain to deal with, or you’re always arguing with them.

*

All employees have to be told what to do by their managers or supervisors. This is sometimes called “taking direction”. You must show you’re happy to be told what to do, and can take constructive criticism when you make mistakes.

Teaching-you Job Interview Skills Tips © Peter Brown and Jose Ros 2004

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Tips 83. Can you take direction?

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“Taking direction” means being told what to do.

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Of course you can take direction - it’s part of any job. Even bosses of very big companies have to be told what to do sometimes!

*

What the interviewer really wants to know is, if you’re told what to do, will you react badly?

So, you must show that you’re not the kind of person to sulk, or argue when given instructions by your boss. And your new boss might be the person who’s interviewing you!

*

Along with taking direction, you may be asked if you can take criticism. And of course you can, so long as it’s constructive.

*

Sometimes, criticism and direction may come at stressful times in a job, and your manager may not have time to explain. If you’re asked about this kind of situation, say you would do what you’re told by your boss but would expect them to explain in more detail later.

84. Your strengths *

A classic job interview question is: “What are your strengths?” (sometimes you’re asked to give a specific number, eg “What are your 3 greatest strengths?”)

*

Here’s you chance to “sell” yourself, and where your preparation will really pay-off.

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Before the interview, write down your strengths - usually up to 5 will do. These must match what the interviewer is looking for. Check the job advert, or the “person specification” which you might have got with the details about the job.

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Give examples of how your strengths benefited your previous employers, eg “I have exceptional organizational ability which enabled me to save my previous employer more than £250,000 in admin costs a year.”

85. Your weaknesses *

A classic job interview question is: “What are your weaknesses?”

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Everyone has weaknesses and faults, no-one is perfect. What the interviewer wants to know is if you know your weaknesses and you’re doing something positive about them.

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You only need to mention 1 or 2 weaknesses at the most. Whatever you do, don’t reel off a long list.

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The trick is to think of something which won’t affect your ability to do the job. And it’s a good idea to use an example from the past to show you’ve now got that weakness under control.

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Don’t use an answer like “I work too hard” - this has become over-used.

Teaching-you Job Interview Skills Tips © Peter Brown and Jose Ros 2004

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Tips 86. Management and leadership skills

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Many jobs (even ones which don’t carry a lot of responsibilities) can involve some management or leadership skills. So, you should be prepared for questions about these.

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Almost everyone has to manage a lot of their own time at work, so you need to show you can do this. For example, if you have no work to do, and are waiting for your manager to tell you what to do next, how would you spend the time?

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You might also be asked about how you like to be managed. For example, do you prefer to be told what to do, or do you prefer your boss to let you get on with the job?

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Sometimes, you might be asked whether you would be able to stand-in for your boss when they’re away from work. So, it’s a good idea to have an example of when you’ve had to do this in other jobs.

87. Time management *

This is about how you manage your time during your working day.

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Employers want to know that you -

plan ahead can juggle different tasks keep track of everything you have to do, and are generally a well-organized employee.

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So, think of examples from your career history which demonstrate these qualities.

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Show you use the right “tools” for the job, for example you always: - put important dates in your diary and check it every day - reply to letters, emails and phone calls promptly - use a “To Do” list to make sure you don’t forget things.

88. Your computer skills *

Most jobs these days involve using computers in one way or another.

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If you haven’t had much experience in using computers, email or the internet, think about doing an introductory course.

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You can get free access to computers at your local library and UK Online centres. For information, call UK Online on 0800 77 1234 or see their web site at : http://www.ufi.com/ukol

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You can get qualifications in using computers, such as the European Computer Driving Licence (which has nothing to do with driving cars!). You can take a basic course as well as an advanced one. For details, see the web site at: http://www.ecdl.com

Teaching-you Job Interview Skills Tips © Peter Brown and Jose Ros 2004

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Tips 89. Communication skills

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Communication is about exchanging information with other people. In a job, you need to communicate with -

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customers and clients. colleagues. your boss. people outside the employer’s organization, eg press.

Communication involves: - speaking (eg to colleagues and customers, using the phone).

- reading and writing (eg letters, reports, emails).

- listening (which is more important than you may think).

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There are very few jobs which don’t require good communication skills. So you may well be asked about them in a job interview, eg “How do you rate your communication skills?”

90. Customer care *

This is about how you deal with and look after customers or clients.

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Many jobs involve dealing directly with customers - people who buy (or use) your employer’s goods or services.

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You should also treat your colleagues as your “customers” too - they depend on you to do tasks properly and on time. So, working with colleagues will also involve caring for a kind of customer.

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At job interviews, you’ll often be asked about how you deal with “difficult” or angry customers.

So, think of examples from your work history where you had to do this.

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Some jobs, such as working in shops and call centres, involve working with customers almost continually. So, you’ll have to show the interviewer that you can deal with different types of customers in a calm and efficient manner.

91. Salary *

If you’re asked what your current salary is in the interview, you will have to reveal it - the interviewer may find out anyway through references.

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The interview is not the time to discuss your salary and benefits package. So, don’t ask about these things in the interview.

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If you’re asked what salary you’re looking for, try not to give a definite figure. If the interviewer presses you, then give a range (eg £30,000 to £40,000) rather than a single figure.

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In many jobs, salary is not negotiable any way because the job is paid according to a fixed scale.

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Use our template to draw-up your list of targets for each job you’re applying for. This will help you deal with salary and benefits negotiation if you’re offered the job.

Teaching-you Job Interview Skills Tips © Peter Brown and Jose Ros 2004

Page 35 of 37

Tips 92. Your “benefits package”

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This is your total remuneration or pay for a job. It can include bonuses, commission, holidays, pension contributions, company car, life and health insurance, expenses, loans to buy season tickets etc.

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The job advert may list the benefits which will be included in your remuneration package if you get the job, or it might simply say “plus benefits”.

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The job interview is not the place to discuss your benefits package - leave this until you’re offered the job. Then you can find out what benefits are on offer and “negotiate” with the employer.

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Benefits can add substantially to your salary. So, make sure you think about them carefully when considering a job offer.

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To prepare for negotiating, use our “job targets” template to list the benefits you’d like to get.

93. Promotion *

Most employers will expect you to want promotion in the future. If the interviewer doesn’t mention it, you might want to ask them about promotion prospects.

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Employers spend a lot of money and time recruiting staff, so they don’t want to employ people who will only stay a few weeks or months. So don’t give the impression that you’ll want promotion in a few weeks and leave if you don’t get it. Don’t make the interviewer think you’re a “job hopper”.

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If you’ve changed jobs quite a lot recently, you may be asked why. So, make sure you can give good reasons for each move you’ve made.

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Always try to give the employer the idea that, as long as prospects are good and you have challenging work to do, you’ll stay with them.

94. Asking questions *

Always prepare some questions to ask the interviewer. Write them down in a small note book, and take it to the interview.

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You usually get chance to ask questions at the end of the interview. If the interviewer doesn’t ask if you have any questions, tell them you have some questions before the interview ends.

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Don’t ask too many questions - 1 or 2 is usually enough.

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Don’t ask about salary or benefits at this stage - leave these questions until you’re offered the job.

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Check your questions before you ask them to make sure the interviewer hasn’t already answered them.

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If you’re stuck for questions, ask about how the job will develop in the future, or what training or support you’ll be given.

Teaching-you Job Interview Skills Tips © Peter Brown and Jose Ros 2004

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Tips 95. Second (and third!) interviews

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You may not always get a job by going to just one interview. Many jobs involve a number of different interviews on the same day, or on different days.

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Usually, the more responsibility the job involves, the more likely you are to have a second, or even a third, interview

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First interviews are often conducted to “screen out” some candidates, particularly when there are a large number of good candidates. So, if you get a second interview, you may be one of the final 5 or 6 interviewees for the job.

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It’s more likely that you’ll face a panel interview in a second interview, and the questions are likely to be more stressful and more probing. For example, you may often have follow-up questions asking you to explain your answers in more detail.

96. After the interview *

Congratulate yourself on a job well-done! You got through it, and you did your best. So, give yourself a well-deserved “pat-on-the-back”.

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As soon as possible after the interview, note down anything which you can improve on in future interviews. And make a note of any awkward questions you were asked so you can prepare carefully for those in the future.

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Make sure you send a thank you letter, and post it on the day of the interview. Use our template, and keep a copy for your own records.

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Try to decide if you would take the job if you were offered it.

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And think about your targets for this job. What sort of salary and benefits will you want? Use our job targets template to help you.

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If you still want the job, prepare to negotiate!

97. Negotiating *

Not all job offers involve negotiating. In some cases, jobs are paid at a standard rate, or on a fixed scale. But, always ask if the benefits package is negotiable, and make sure you know what is on offer.

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Remember negotiation is about give and take. Both you and the employer must feel you’ve got a good deal in the end. If you ask for too much from the employer, they may back-off and decide to employ someone else!

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Review your job targets for this job, and decide which of them the employer is going to meet, and which you’ll need to negotiate about.

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Don’t be the first one to give a salary figure. If you do, you’ll “show your hand”, and the employer will know the maximum salary you’re aiming for. Instead, say “Well, since you’re offering me the job, what salary did you have in mind?”

Teaching-you Job Interview Skills Tips © Peter Brown and Jose Ros 2004

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Tips 98. Accepting a job offer

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You may be offered a job by telephone, or in a letter. Whatever the case, you’ll need to be prepared for it. Most important of all, ask yourself if this is really the job for you.

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Before you accept an offer, you should know exactly what the job entails and what is being offered in terms of salary and benefits.

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Check to see if the offer matches your job targets and your budget.

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In some cases, you can negotiate with the employer about salary and benefits. With other jobs the “package” may be fixed. But, even in these cases, you might be able to negotiate extra training, or time off to study for more qualifications. So always ask.

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Get the job offer in a letter from the employer, then write to accept. Never resign from your current job until everything is in writing.

99. If you don’t get the job ... *

Don’t “beat yourself up” about not getting the job!

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Instead, congratulate yourself on a job well-done. You got an interview (when there might have been hundreds of applicants for it) and you did your best. Don’t under-estimate your achievement.

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Remember, job interviews are not a precise science. Sometimes you can be unlucky.

Interviewers can pick the wrong candidate even with the best of intentions.

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Treat every job interview as excellent practice - the more interviews you go to, the better prepared you’ll be for the next one.

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You might have been up against exceptionally good candidates, so there’s no shame in not getting the job.

100. The future ... *

Whether or not you get the job, you can learn something about interviews for the future. So, always makes notes about how the interview went, and your overall performance in applying for the job.

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If you got the job: - keep all your notes so you can use them when you’re applying for jobs in the future - up-date your career history regularly, say every 3 months or so.

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If you didn’t get the job: - keep making applications - look at ways to improve your job applications - keep practicing for interviews.

Good luck!

Teaching-you Job Interview Skills Tips © Peter Brown and Jose Ros 2004