Preparing for interviews

Focus on relevant transferable competencies that are key to job performance such as:

• a strong work ethic

• willingness and ability to learn and assimilate quickly

• problem analysis and solving

• decision-making

• organizing and planning

• communication skills

• Your passion for the subject

• Any work/experiences you may have

• You might refer to members of your family having a background in X

Focus on an achievement that sets you apart from the other candidates and highlights your potential value to the employer. Of course academic qualifications are important but try to distinguish yourself from other students.

However the employer is also not looking for super-hero stuff but rather evidence that you have the skills they want in an employee in this job.

Look at successes where you used competencies such as your:

• communication skills

• initiative

• creativity

• persuasiveness

• organizational skills

• resilience and perseverance

A difficult questions to answer for anybody. It might be an idea to sit and write out what you want to achieve within the next 3 years and place this on your bedroom wall in bullet points. These should be big aims, push yourself.

IGCSE - I wish to attain at least 5 grades at A

A Levels - I would like to go onto take sciences, I wish to study in the area of medicine

University - I have my heart set on going to university in the UK, I have the following universities in mind...

Sporting - I will run at least 10K and break my cycling record of 200k in a single day.

new hobby, new language...become house captain....

Focus on the characteristics. What made you a good student and team member?

Competencies that are valued in any employee/employer relationship include hard-work, responsible, conscientious, dependable, adaptable, honest, enthusiastic, organized, disciplined, excellent manners, sense of humour, perseverance, never give up attitude, growth mindset.

This is all about displaying sufficient insight into yourself to acknowledge your areas of strength, Have a read at the below strengths areas.

Communication

• written communication skill evident in reports, correspondence.

• Verbal communication skills evident in presentations, managing conflict, selling, dealing with customers, active listening, meeting participation and negotiation.

Strong work ethic/diligent

• Hard working, works extra hours, completes projects before time.

• Takes on more than others, does more than required, maintains a high quality of work.

• Imposes own standards of excellence, works without supervision, follows up on own.

Organizational and planning skills

• Evident in time management, prioritizing, using resources effectively, meeting deadlines, multi-tasking, dealing with competing demands.

• Achieving objectives and goals, setting targets.

• Maintaining schedules and calendars, coordination of resources to complete projects.

Flexible and adaptable

• Able to change activities and priorities to meet new demands.

• Willing to learn new skills and knowledge, willing to attempt new tasks, makes a positive effort to accept changes.

• Able to work and communicate effectively with diverse people, willing to work in different environments.

Decision-making and judgment

• Gather the necessary information to make a sound decision, come up with viable alternatives.

• Consider pros and cons for each, fully commit to the best action, follow through on decision.

Problem solving

• Able to identify and define problems, analyze problems to find causes, find possible solutions, consider the possible outcomes of each solution.

• Decide on the best solution and implement it.

Gathering, analyzing and managing information

• Collect required information efficiently from different sources, integrate information and put it together in a logical format.

• Process information, identify trends and patterns, distribute and communicate information correctly.

• Store and maintain information efficiently.

Coaching and mentoring

• Willing and able to coach others, enable and facilitate learning, impart knowledge, help people to identify and achieve what they are capable of.

• Assess training and learning needs, develop appropriate learning interventions, adapt teaching/coaching style to meet employee's needs.

Team work

• Work effectively in a team, contribute to team objectives, communicate effectively with team members, respect, listen to and encourage team members, pitch in.

• Put success of team ahead of individual success.

Reliable and dependable

• Consistent work performance, complete projects accurately and within deadlines.

• Arriving on time, fulfilling obligations, following through on commitments.

• Checks own work, corrects own work, complies with workplace policies and procedures, takes responsibility for own actions.

Self reliant and self management

• Uses own resources, skills and abilities fully, accountable for own activity, progress and success, manages self towards goals.

• Completes projects and activities independently, obtains own help and assistance.

• Internally motivated and does not seek external rewards for good performance.

Self discipline

• Controls own behavior, self-motivated, prepared to work hard to achieve goals, sets own targets.

• Avoids distractions, perseveres with difficult tasks and activities, does not procrastinate, continues with projects in the face of obstacles and challenges.

Persistent and resilient

• Handle disappointment, deal effectively with rejection, stay enthusiastic after a set back, maintain work performance despite difficulties.

• Accept criticism, bounce back quickly, overcome obstacles to achieve, keep trying until task is completed.

Persuasive

• Evident in selling, customer management, negotiating, dealing with objections, getting agreement/commitment from co-workers/management, presenting ideas.

• Motivating people, gaining the confidence of others.

Integrity

• Maintain confidentiality, provide complete and accurate information.

• Observe company policies and procedures, comply with regulations, maintain values and ethics in the face of opposition and pressure.

Energetic

• Works long hours, maintains fast work pace, tackles challenging tasks, stays positive.

• Takes on extra tasks, maintains high productivity levels, tenacious in achieving goals.

Initiative

• Proactive attempts to sort out problems and issues, provide ideas for improvement, make full use of opportunities.

• Identify needs and come up with solutions, take steps to make your job and the company better. 

No doubt one of the most difficult questions to answer....do not default to 'I care too much'. Take a look below at for some possible answers. More importantly, take a look at the solutions and the section on how best to answer this question.

Procrastination - Misses deadlines, rushing at the last minute to complete tasks, needing help to complete tasks, unprepared for meetings, low productivity.

Solution

• Recognize the cause of the procrastination. If it is because a task seems too overwhelming then break it into smaller, more manageable activities and set deadlines for completing each activity.

• If it is because you lack confidence in your ability to do the task then ask for help and find resources to assist you.

Impatience - Frustration with others who perform at a slower pace or to a lower standard than you expect of yourself. Doesn't accept mistakes easily.

Solution

• Recognize people have different work standards and different levels of productivity.

• See it from their point of view. Provide constructive feedback in a pleasant way and offer help to move the project forward.

Reluctance to delegate - Doesn't assign tasks to others, lacks confidence in co-workers, doesn't fully utilize other staff members, checks up on others.

Solution

• Admit that others can do the work as well as you. Accept that mistakes may be made but they can be corrected. Learn to trust other's abilities.

• Clarify what has to be done. Put support mechanisms in place to minimize the chance of failure.

Unassertive - Reluctant to speak up and contribute in group situations. Agrees with others despite own feelings. Allows others to take advantage. Difficulty in saying "no". Puts other's needs ahead of own.

Solution

• Read books and undertake training courses on how to be assertive.Practice suggested techniques.

• Practice strategies for saying no to unreasonable demands. Practice making requests and asking for what you need.

• Use assertive body language to get your message across.

Cautious - Adverse to taking risks and trying new things, difficulty in accepting change, continually reviews all details before making a decision or starting on a task. Over-analyzes outcomes.

Solution

• Practice increasing pace of communication and activity. Be open to new ideas. Avoid over-attending to details and focus on the big picture. Learn to trust other people's judgment.

• Set yourself specific time frames for reviewing information and getting started on a project.

Uncompromising or stubborn - Inflexible, difficulty in adapting to changes, resistant to different ideas, one way communication.

Solution

• Be open to different ideas and listen to opinions that conflict with your own.

• Take time to consider an idea or change and not just immediately dismiss it.

• Actively ask for people's contributions and feedback.

Strong willed or controlling - Single minded on own goal achievement, does not take direction easily, can be insensitive to feelings and needs of others, wants to be in charge. Tries to control other people's activities.

Solution

• Increase self awareness of how one is perceived by other staff members.

• Actively listen when given feedback and direction. Focus on building relationships as well as task achievement.

• Consider other people's needs.

Talkative - Distracting and distracted, indiscreet, does not get the job done, wastes time, often away from desk.

Solution

• Stay at desk and do not move around office unnecessarily, have a specific work-related purpose for going over to a co-worker.

• Set aside a specific time to chat with co-workers such as lunch break, stick to the facts when communicating and do not get off the point, learn to listen more.

Reluctance to Delegate - I am working on my willingness to delegate tasks, I understand that working as a team can produce better results. I know that working as a team will also grow the team. I am happy to offer support and advice when needed but understand that the wider team can have better results if given the space to perform. 

Lack of assertiveness - I am working on my assertiveness and how I can express my opinion and learn to say no in a polite manner. While I consider myself to be an excellent team player, I also consider that setting boundaries will allow me to become more productive without spreading myself too thin.

Impatience - My family tell me I am impatient. I acknowledge this is a weakness of mine at home and sometimes in the workplace - I like things to be done promptly and in the way I regard as best. When that doesn't happen I get frustrated. I am making a conscious effort to see ideas and solutions from other peoples point of view, I understand that rushing into decisions is not always the best way forward, its better to get the opinion of others especially when it is a big decision .

Examples of influence

• getting people to accept change

• getting a project approved

• making a difficult sale

• getting an idea or recommendation accepted

• changing an individual's behavior or actions

• convincing someone to see things your way

• reaching agreement

• negotiating a solution to a problem

• obtaining resources (budget, skills) to help you perform

• resolving disputes

• motivating a team or individual towards goal achievement

Resourcefullnes or creativity

• generating fresh solutions to work problems

• finding and suggesting new ways of doing things

• applying existing knowledge and information in novel ways

• finding resources to meet a need

• using existing resources (people, skills, technology) in a new way

• coming up with an original idea

• trying a different approach to a traditional way of working or thinking

• making connections between seemingly unrelated issues and activities

• integrating knowledge and information across job tasks

• improving a product/service/process by making gradual changes and refinements (creativity is not usually a single stroke of brilliance!)