Interview tips

How to prepare for an interview

Essential advice on getting ready for a job interview, polishing your technique and calming your interview nerves...

What do I need to do before an interview?

Give yourself plenty of time to:
research the role and the organisation;
think about how well your experience, interests and skills fit the job and the organisation;
research current affairs and trends in your job sector;
find out what the prospective employer is actually looking for;
anticipate questions you might be asked, then prepare answers to these questions;
find out what form the interview will take, e.g. single, panel, group etc.
You should also:
plan the day of the interview, especially your journey with an aim to arrive ten minutes early. Take money in case you
need to take a taxi or bus unexpectedly; carry an A-Z street map or put the postcode of the organisation into Google
maps on your mobile to prevent getting lost;
decide what you will wear and set it out the night before. Suits and business wear are the best option with comfortable,
polished shoes;
get an early night - we all perform better when fully awake.

How do I make a good impression at a job interview?

Stand out for all the right reasons by ensuring you:
arrive on time or better still early;
are organised. Take your application letter, CV and examples of work (if appropriate) with you;
listen carefully to questions and answer them concisely;
highlight your best attributes in the interview. Before you go, think about what you want the interviewer to know about
you (in relation to the job) during the interviewing process;
pay attention to the way you communicate. There's evidence to suggest that non-verbal communication overpowers
verbal communication so if you describe yourself as confident and outgoing but speak inaudibly and avoid eye contact,
the interviewer will read the latter as indicating a lack of confidence and disregard what you said about being confident;
practise anything you're concerned about. This could be saying your answers aloud, which builds confidence in hearing
yourself speak, or having a trial run of the journey to the interview.

What techniques can I use to control my nerves?

In interviews, nerves can make you forget to do simple things such as smile and listen, which can result in being thought of as
unfriendly or inattentive. You're more likely to be nervous if you're inadequately prepared so as well as following our advice
above, you should:
give yourself time to think about what unique qualities you will bring to the job/organisation;
think of practical examples to demonstrate what you have achieved and draw upon all aspects of your working,
educational and social life;
write notes and take these along to the interview;
use cues in your notes to highlight examples that you want to draw upon, such as 'cricket team', 'course representative',
'sales job';
be aware of the structure of the interview. Interviews often begin with topics that are easier to answer because you need
less time to think, such as 'tell us about your studies at university';
pause before answering a difficult question in order to give yourself time to think;
use positive language, as interviewers will be assessing your motivation and enthusiasm;
ask for clarification if, at first, you're unsure of what the question means;
breathe.

Where can I practise my interview skills?

Your university careers and employability service is likely to provide practice interview sessions.
Alternatively, you could:

practise your answers (to anticipated questions) with someone you trust and seek feedback but don't be overly selfcritical;
use non-job interviews as opportunities to practise and monitor your interview skills, e.g. discussions with your tutor,
doctor etc.;
ask for feedback and advice after unsuccessful interviews and take it as an opportunity to learn and improve;
pay a private company to provide interview practice.
Plan your answers to common interview questions.

What should I take to a job interview?

In general you will not need more than your own letter of application and CV, the job specification/description and your
own notes.
Your invitation to interview should detail everything you need to bring. Often employers request examination
certificates, which can take time to locate, so make sure you check what you need in plenty of time.
You might wish to impress by reading up on the organisation's literature, e.g. a business plan or corporate social
responsibility strategy, but make sure you have read it in depth and be prepared to share your views and ideas.
A pen and notebook are always worth carrying with you and, if giving a presentation, take a copy on a data stick even if
you have emailed it beforehand, along with copies of the slides to use as handouts for the interview panel.
If you take a mobile phone, make sure it is switched to silent or off before entering the organisation.

What is a competency-based interview?

This type of interview is one where the interviewer seeks evidence that you have the skills and experience required to do the job.
Interviews that take this form involve questions developed around the job and person specifications, so think carefully about
examples from your own experience that match or complement these specifications.
Remember that you can use examples from contexts other than work, for example, you may never have worked in a team in the
same type of organisation but you have participated in teams elsewhere.
It's important to show an ability or interest in being able to learn new skills; if you are asked about something that is outside
your experience, describe a situation where you learned something new and suggest you can do so again.

How do I prepare for a phone interview?

Phone interviews are most often used as a preliminary screen. When preparing for the interview it's important to consider:
tone of voice - ensure you're enthusiastic and use positive language;
battery life - if using your mobile charge it fully before the interview;
location - find a quiet place for the interview, where you will be undisturbed by noise or others.
Phone interviews are often recorded so you may want to find out whether yours will be. It's important to pay particular attention
to getting your key messages across quickly - write key attributes down and have this available during the phone call. Be willing
to repeat these with the use of examples.
More recently, there has been an increase in Skype or video interviews. This is particularly likely if applying for jobs overseas or
where key staff are located overseas.
Remember to dress as you would for a face-to-face interview and check what else will be in the shot with you before the interview
begins.

How do I prepare for a second interview?

A second interview means you have made it through the initial screening and the interviewer is now looking for:
evidence that you have the skills, abilities and interest to carry out the job;
confirmation that you are able to bring something of value to the organisation.
It's likely that questioning will focus on gathering a deeper understanding of you and your motivations and how these fit with
the role, existing team of staff and organisational ethos. Therefore, in order to prepare:
find out as much as you can about the challenges that face the organisation, its priorities, its markets, its competitors,
any existing or new legislative arrangements, etc.;
think about what you could bring to the organisation and prepare examples of how you have achieved (or learned)
something of relevance;
find ways to demonstrate enthusiasm for the goals of the organisation.

Interview questions
Test out your job interview skills with these typical interview questions and answers...

What are common interview questions?

Interviews enable prospective employers to gather more information about applicants and build upon questions already put in
application forms; they are also for prospective employers to check that what has been written in CVs and application forms is
real.
To anticipate what form the questions might take, put yourself in the role of the employer and consider what you would like to
know.
Questions are likely to cover:
educational achievements;
work experience;
personal skills, such as leadership, teamwork;
personal goals;
understanding of the role;
strengths;
weaknesses.
They might be put as:
What made you decide to study at university x?
What did you find challenging about working as an x?
Give us an example of how you worked effectively in a team.
Where do you see yourself in five years' time?
What would you bring to the role of x?
Tell us about your proudest achievement.
Do you envisage any difficulties in carrying out this role?
Don't assume that the interviewer has read your application carefully (there may have been many). Prepare your responses as if
the interviewer knows little about you, but be prepared to justify anything you have put in your application.

What is a competency-based question?

Competency-based interviews may include 'scenario' questions, where you are asked what you might do (or have done) in a given
situation or scenario. Again, thinking in advance about your own experience is good preparation to respond well.
Here is an example of a required competency in a job specification:
Ability to motivate learning in lower primary age (KS1 and KS2) children.
In an interview, this might be put as:
Can you give us an example of how you motivated children while on school placement? This question requires a skills
and knowledge-based answer; or
We have a small group of children in school whose ability to progress in KS2 English is significantly lower than the UK
or local norms. What would you suggest could be done to raise their attainment? This questions requires a scenariobased answer.

How do I answer challenging interview questions?

Challenging questions are sometimes used to find out how you react under pressure. Any question can be challenging if you
have not prepared for it so it's important to:
prepare well for anticipated questions;
admit you don't know the answer, rather than waffle or lie;
provide balanced responses if the question seeks your views;
give practical examples to illustrate your answer;
be honest and avoid responding with something you think the interviewer might want to hear as you could get it wrong.

Can I refuse to answer personal questions?

Yes. If you don't think a question is relevant to the job application, then you can refuse to answer. All candidates should be asked
the same questions; it would be considered highly unethical for an interviewer to ask female candidates about how they manage
childcare, but not to ask males.
Once the decision to offer a job has been made however, it might be in your interests to respond to a personal question if it
relates directly to fulfilment of the role. For example, if you have disclosed a health consideration on an application form, it
would reasonable for an employer to ask for additional personal information in order to enable you to access the job safely.
The important distinction here is whether you have been offered the job. Personal information, such as family circumstances,
sexual orientation, religious beliefs and health matters should be considered when job competency has been fully explored - and
only if relevant to fulfilment of the role. This will often arise in a follow-up interview.

What are typical portfolio-based questions?

Where you are asked to bring a portfolio of work to the interview, for example, in a creative/design job application, you are likely
to be asked questions about:
how you created the design/artefact;
what/who inspired you;
what commercial value the work has;
whether the work has been patented;
how you see the work being mass-produced;
whether the work is the result of a collaboration with others.

What makes a good answer in a group interview?

Group interviews are carried out by prospective employers to observe how candidates perform in a competitive group situation.
They take the form of:
group discussions where candidates are given a topic to discuss or a task to complete; or
questions that are put to the group by a questioner/group leader. There is often a note-taker or observer.
Group interviews are an opportunity for you to show your group or teamwork skills and:
show your knowledge of a topic;
demonstrate you can listen and understand the views of others;
act as a leader by bringing all group participants into the conversation;
intervene positively if a group member is dominant;
summarise, build consensus and agree action.
Effective group working is a skilful activity and benefits from practice and feedback. Your university careers service may offer
training in how to manage your contribution in groups.
Good answers include:
I agree and would like to add that (elaborate);
Another approach would be to (provide alternatives);
We seem to be agreeing that we take the following action (summarise);
Does anyone want to add to this? (include others).

What questions should I ask the interviewer?

Asking questions shows you are interested in the job and it's a good idea to have two or three prepared in advance. For example:
What kind of further training would be provided?
Does the organisation have plans to develop in?
What is the proposed start date for the role?
If you have had all your prepared questions answered during the interview, then simply explain that and indicate you look
forward to hearing the outcome.

Assessment centres
Good preparation is key to performing well during demanding assessment-based interviews. They are designed to assess your
suitability for a job, and you'll be tested carefully throughout

What is an assessment centre?

It's a series of tasks and activities that are structured around a one-, two- or three-day period to assess your suitability for a job.
Assessment centres typically comprise:
interviews;
in-tray exercises;
presentations;
tests;
group exercises;
social events such as dinner or lunch with prospective colleagues.
To find out more, see interview tests and exercises.
Assessment centres assess your performance in a range of situations and are generally used as the second or final stage of the
selection process after preliminary interviews have taken place.
Likely to be designed around assessing you against the job competencies, assessment centres offer the advantage of allowing you
to compensate for an activity not going well by excelling in another; the disadvantage is that you are under scrutiny for a
lengthy period of time and this can be demanding.

Activities are usually timed, which means you are being assessed in your capacity to work under pressure.

How do I perform well at an assessment centre?

As for interviews, good preparation is key. It's important to:
ensure you have all documentation, notes and resources you might need with you;
think about the job competencies required and consider what the assessors might be looking for;
match your own knowledge, skills, interests and experiences to the job competencies and identify your strengths and
weaknesses in relation to the job (you should have done this when completing the application form - but it's well worth
reviewing in preparation for an assessment centre);
try not to worry about the other candidates, focus on putting your key qualities and attributes forward;
maintain a friendly manner and remember you are being assessed even in 'informal' situations.

Interview tests and exercises

From in-tray exercises to presentations, employers have an arsenal of interview tests to choose from. Get the competitive edge by
preparing for the tests that you might encounter

What is a case study exercise?

Case study exercises ask you to collate and analyse the information given and to draw conclusions from it.
A case study exercise may be given to you verbally or as a series of documents describing an actual or synthesised situation to
which you are asked to respond. Your response may be to produce a brief report, explain verbally what you would do, make a
decision, or all of these.

How do I deal with a case study?

Try to anticipate the type of case study you will get by researching the organisation. For example, you're more likely to get a
fundraising case study in a charity than in a multinational organisation.
Once you have been given your case study:
read all materials carefully and make sure you know what is expected of you;
make notes as you go; sort out the important from the trivial material;
treat it like a course assignment - identify your focus, arrange your material and draw conclusions. Look for patterns,
inconsistencies and contradictions. What is the real issue?
decide what you think could or should be done next;
manage your time carefully - completing the task on time might be more important than capturing every detail in your
report/commentary.

What is an in-tray exercise?

This is another synthesised business situation where you are given emails, documents, telephone messages etc. and your task is
to prioritise your workload, respond to queries, draft replies, make decisions and delegate tasks as you see fit.

How do I pass an in-tray exercise?

In-tray (or e-tray) exercises are similar to case studies in that you have to collate, sort and analyse information, but they are
more likely to include less important tasks alongside the urgent ones.
Your goal is to prioritise and deal with the most important tasks first. So, it's important to:
read all materials carefully and make sure you know what is expected of you;
decide what you will focus on (a health and safety at work issue is more urgent than planning the annual staff party);
think about what you can pass on to a colleague. Remember, delegation can be upwards to your boss as well as to an
assistant;
prepare decisions and action steps in bullet form, rather than attempting narrative writing style;
work systematically and make notes about what you have already done or decided;
be willing to justify your decisions at a later stage, e.g. an interview;
demonstrate that you are confident about your decisions - they may not be the ones someone with more experience
would have taken, but they will show the assessor how you tackle decision-making;
refer to the material you are given in your decisions or actions.

How do I tackle a written exercise?

Written exercises often involve writing a letter or report on a certain topic or you may be given a document to review or
summarise.
To successfully complete a written exercise, you should:
read all materials carefully and make sure you know what is expected of you;

use a combination of narrative writing styles, headings and bullet points to add emphasis;
ensure correct spelling and use of grammar by using the spell check and proofreading to avoid the misuse of words, e.g.
there when it should be their;
write for someone who does not have your depth of knowledge;
use acronyms only when you have explained them as you would in an essay. For example, 'the Student Loans
Company (SLC)' followed by, 'in the SLC instructions';
keep comments concise or you may run out of time;
make sure all writing is relevant to the task you have been given.

What makes a good interview presentation?

Presentations are used to assess your ability to communicate formally with groups and also to give you an opportunity to
provide your own ideas.
You will usually be given a topic and timeframe in advance, so can prepare in your own time. If you're asked to make a
presentation during an assessment centre without prior notice, you're being observed in how you respond under pressure.
When preparing a presentation make sure you:
decide what you want the audience to know by the end of it and keep that in mind throughout your preparation;
develop aims, objectives and outcomes for your presentation and write them down;
structure your presentation to include an introduction, a main section and a conclusion;
keep visual prompts to a minimum - don't overload PowerPoint screens so that you have to wait for the audience to read
through the text;
practise your presentation by speaking out loud, rather than reading your notes, as this will give a better idea of how
long it will take.
If you feel like you need help preparing, your university careers or employability service may provide practice sessions or advice
in making presentations.
When you give your presentation, remember to:
respond to the topic you have been given and eradicate any irrelevant material;
use pauses to allow the audience to take in what you have said;
avoid rushing, which often happens when we are nervous;
leave time at the end to invite questions from the audience.

Psychometric tests
Forget academia and concentrate on being yourself. Psychometric tests don't require right answers; they just call for you to
respond honestly

What is a psychometric test?

Psychometric tests are used to identify a candidate's aptitudes, personality, or ability. Tests have been established over many
years and are often used with specific groups defined by age, prior educational level or type of job.
Most psychometric tests are performed online, although you may find some remain as hard-copy questionnaires. Some tests
enable you to save your answers and return to complete the test at a later stage; others are timed.
Check if you can go back and amend an answer before you begin a test, as some tests do not permit you to go back to a question
once you have moved on.
Tests are often used for preliminary screening or may be used as part of an assessment centre.

Types of psychometric test

Personality tests aim to identify a personal type and there are no 'right or wrong' answers. They often take the form of paired
items or pictures that you are asked to choose a preference. For example, would you rather read a book or go to a party?
To prepare for a personality test:
practise using tests so that you are familiar with the style and format of questions;
answer questions honestly and without trying to guess what is the 'right' answer;
omit any questions that you do not understand.
Aptitude or ability tests are those that are designed to assess your reasoning or cognitive ability.
Aptitude tests are usually timed and include:
verbal tests;
numerical tests;
spatial reasoning;

subject/job-specific tests.
To prepare for an aptitude test:
practise as many tests as possible;
try to find out whether there are particular tests for your type of job or industry;
ask your careers or employability service about which tests are best for practice.

How do I pass a psychometric test?

Remember, there are no right or wrong answers in personality tests, and aptitude tests are often used as a starting point for
recruitment.
When taking these tests, make sure you:
read the instructions carefully;
work through briskly and accurately;
don't try to guess the right answer;
answer honestly;
practise so that you're not distracted by the style or formatting of questions;
pay attention to what you're being asked but don't dwell for long - move to the next question if you're unsure.

Where can I practise psychometric tests?

Your careers or employability service may provide training or practice in a range of psychometric tests.
It's also worth visiting the website of the organisation to which you are applying, as some large companies provide practice
testing and coaching on how to improve scores, although there may be a cost.
For advice, information and practice tests (some organisations may charge), visit:
AssessmentDay - practice aptitude tests.
Cubiks Online Assessment - information and practice tests.
Institute of Psychometric Coaching - professional preparation for psychometric tests.
JobTestPrep - numerical reasoning tests.
Morrisby - career and educational guidance.
SHL - assessment advice and practice tests.
Written by Editor, Graduate Prospects
Date: June 2013