Interviews

Let's be honest, not many people can say they actually love being interviewed, either online or in person. However, whether it's for a volunteer placement, or a degree apprenticeship, the key to a successful experience is all in the preparation and planning. Do remember interviews can be for you to assess whether the role is right for you, just as much as it is the employer. Here are a few pointers to get you started to ensure that you feel ready and confident on the day. 

• The most important starting place is to look at the company's core values and the knowledge, skills and competencies they have described in their job description and advert. It is HIGHLY LIKELY that you will be assessed and selected, at least in part, based on how well you can demonstrate your personal alignment to these. If you can resonate with their values, and provide examples of your understanding of them, and how you meet them, you are off to a great start.

• Similarly, make a note of the key knowledge, skills and competencies they are looking for, and make sure you understand them. Build up your examples of how you can show that you have them. If you find this too challenging, do consider whether this is the right role for you to apply for, to save you, and the employer time. 

• It may sounds obvious, but really make sure you understand what the job role is, its purpose and what you would be responsible for.

• Do your company research and make sure you know a fair bit about the organisation; its operations, strategy, new growth areas and their challenges. Following the organisation on social media may also help with this, but do not solely rely on this.

• This in-depth groundwork early on is vital to ensure you are applying for the right role for you, and that you have a good chance of success. Remember this is a competitive process, so you need to give yourself every opportunity to demonstrate you are the right candidate!

COMPETENCY BASED INTERVIEWS

You may be asked a competency based question, which where you are expected to give an example of when you have dealt with a particular situation or demonstrated a certain set of skills in a situation.

One helpful way to tackle this questions is by using the STARR technique to keep your example structured and focused.

It is a good idea to have prepared five or six examples in advance, that you have rehearsed, and that could be applied to respond to these types of questions. Think about examples where you have worked under pressure, worked in a team, dealt with a difficult customer or person, shown creativity or problem solving skills, needed to communicate clearly or when you have shown leadership qualities. 

You might want to review the job description or job specification to get an idea of the skills and competencies they are looking for, which could come up at an interview for you to demonstrate your suitability. 

More often than not, you will get the opportunity to ask any questions you have at the end of an interview. Don’t forget, an interview is a two-way process and you need to make sure that the job is right for you too. You can prepare your questions in advance, and even take them into the interview in a notebook. This shows you’ve not only prepared well for the interview, but you are also taking it seriously. It also gives you the chance to make sure the interviewer has no reservations about you. Below are some suggested questions you could ask, if they haven’t been covered in the interview already. You should ask between 3 and 5 questions.