Summary: Introduction to Interview Skills

Before the interview

preparation is key:

How can you prepare to perform well at interview?

• Organisation / industry research
• Research your interviewer’s profile on LinkedIn
• Rehearse “Tell me about yourself”
• Review Job Description / Person Specification
• Develop “STAR” responses to likely questions
• Align the company’s values to your values
• Review people-centred questions in your T&T manual
• Consider using AI in your research and to identify potential questions
• Prepare your questions for the employer – keep them positive
• Book a mock interview

Remember the 8 Ws:

• When? Where? Wear? What? Who? Why? With? Waiting!

What types of interview are there?

• One- to- one
• Panel telephone
• Teams / Zoom links
• Fully virtual (i.e.no actual interviewer present)
• Competency - based
• Strength - based
• Formal / informal
• Assessment Centre exercises

What other tools might an employer use?

• Ability / skills test
• Aptitude test
• Presentation
• In tray / inbox exercise
• Written exercise
• Personality / psychometric questionnaire
• Group exercise / discussion
• Informal / formal lunch / dinner

What kind of interview questions are there?

• Open/Closed
• Multiple Leading
• Hypothetical Probing
• Competency
• Strengths
• Situational

The first interview question - “Tell me about yourself”

You should respond with a two-minute answer that is tailored to the role; that yu know fluently; and that demonstrates that you can do the job

• The secret is to: describe yourself using the key skills and experiences that are set out in the job description to show you are exactly what they're looking for!

How many interview questions are there?

Answer = 3

• Can you do the job?
• Do you want to do the job?
• Will you fit in?

They will answer these questions by:

• establishing your competencies, linked to the responsibilities of the role
• asking about your your skills and experiences
• testing your knowledge, values, attitude and personal characteristics
• gauging how you come across in the interview

The STAR approach to answering questions

This is  a key tool to help you structure your answers in interviews.

• Situation (10% of the response)
• Task (10% of the response)
• Action (70% of the response)
• Result and/or Reflection (10% of the response)

Practice using STAR as you consider how you would answer possible questions.

Remember to use "I" not "we" when discussing the actions you took.

After the interview 

• Always thank the interviewer; at the end of the meeting
• Send a "thank - you " email after the interview

Immediate next steps

• Review your response to "Tell me about yourself" with your Advisor
• Know your CV inside out
• Consider your transferable competencies/skills
• Prepare your answers with examples using STAR approach to the competency/commonly answered questions
• Discuss any particular questions you find difficult with your Advisor 
• Book a mock interview