How to Impress at Interview

Jane Chanaa, Careers Adviser

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Learning outcomes

Understanding of:• Purpose and types of recruitment interviews • Skills you need in the interview process• How to prepare for questions and tips on

responsesConfidence in:• Interviewing and being interviewed

“What is your greatest achievement?”

• Break into pairs• One the interviewer, one the interviewee• One minute each to answerFeedback: • Was this difficult? • What are other difficult questions?

Practice question!

• To establish whether a candidate has the skills, knowledge and ability to do the job

• To ensure the candidate has an accurate picture of the job and the organisation

• To give the candidate a fair opportunity to apply for the job

Why interview?

• Telephone• Panel• Group• Sequential• Virtual

• Chronological• Competency-based• Case study• Academic / Technical• Portfolio• Presentational

Interview types

Preparation is vital!

1. Organisation research2. Role research3. Self-awareness4. Your answers5. Your questions6. Practicalities7. Interview skills for the day

7 Preparation Steps

Interview research

• Goals and objectives• Competitors and comparatives• Structure of their organisation• Major streams of work• Change afoot• Possibilities for improvement

1. Organisation research

• Skills used• Terminology• Leaders in the area• Techniques, software, tools• Challenges for the role• Ways to contribute more to the role

2. Role research

You’re applying for a marketing assistant at:

How can you research the organisation and the role?

Interview research

You’re applying for a marketing assistant at:

How can you research the organisation and the role?

Interview research

WebsiteContactsOxford alumniJob descriptionInstitutes

BlogsTwitter

LinkedInTrade publications

Journals

• Why do I want the job?• What’s my evidence that I’m a good candidate? • What have I gained from the things on my CV?• What was my best/worst decision, my greatest

achievement etc.• When did I…work in a team, solve a problem etc.• What are my strengths and weaknesses?• What are my goals?

3. Self-awareness

S situation T target/task A action R result

Check they are: Relevant, reasonably recent, diverse, detailed enough, focus on evidence about you

4. Your answers

“Tell me about a time when…”

“Give me an example of…”

• Prepare a couple in advance• Questions give away how much you know• If you’re stuck ask about: opinions, personal

experience, future predictions• Use their answers to help your decisions• If you have had your questions answered, say so• Don’t ask too many if time has run out

5. Your questions

“Have you got any questions for us…?”

• Research who’s interviewing you

• Consider travel, get their early

• Think about appropriate dress

• What do you want to find out about them?

6. Practicalities

7. Interview Skills

• 7% from WORDS• 38% from VOICE TONES• 55% from BODY LANGUAGE

Posture, eye contactEmotional signalsPace, intonationSMILE! SMILE! SMILE!

• Groups of three• Label yourselves

A, B and C• Rotate interviewee,

interviewer and observer

“Tell me about a time when you worked well as part of a team”• Welcome, handshake• Feedback as a

‘compliment sandwich’

ComplimentTo improve on

Compliment

Practice

Further advice

• www.careers.ox.ac.uk • Mock Interviews• Careers Adviser appointments• Books & e-books• Interview Feedback Database• Ask for feedback• Review to improve• Don’t get discouraged!

www.careers.ox.ac.uk/careersbeyondprofit 01865 274646

reception@careers.ox.ac.uk

Q&A#careersbeyondprofit