Interview skills
If you’ve applied for a job and you’re invited to an interview, it’s probably because you presented yourself well on paper with a good application form or a well written CV / letter …well done!
Now the employer is interested to find out more about you to see if you would fit into the company. They may wish to test your knowledge or talk about your skills and interests to help them decide if you’re the best person for the job. Your next step is planning how to present yourself well at the interview.
Here are some tips to help you:
Planning and preparation
- Phone or write to the company to thank them for offering you an interview and to let them know you’ll be attending.
- Do some research to find out about the company and the vacancy. It will boost your confidence and may also impress the interviewer(s). Most companies have a website – it’s a good place to start finding out about their business activities.
- Prepare a list of questions you may want to ask the employer about the job. (You could check out similar jobs on Jobs4U to get your thoughts flowing. You might want to ask about training, progression or the job itself.) Write your questions down and take them with you to the interview.
- Plan how you will get to your interview. Check street maps and bus / train timetables.
- Plan what you will wear. Aim to look smart.
Before your interview
- Dress smartly and make sure your shoes, hair and nails are clean and tidy. Go easy with the jewellery!
- Allow yourself plenty of time to get there so that you won’t panic before your interview.
- Read a copy of your application form or CV.
- On arrival, be polite and friendly to reception staff. Explain who you are and who your interview is with.
- Make sure your mobile phone is switched off!
At the interview
- Stay calm. Smile and enter the room confidently.
- Shake hands with the interviewer(s) and say ‘Nice to meet you.’
- Make (and maintain) good eye contact – but don’t stare.
- Listen carefully to all of the questions and give yourself time to reply.
- At the beginning, you’ll usually be asked some easy questions to help calm any nerves. If the interviewer talks about the weather or asks about your journey, be responsive – this is part of the interview and the first impression you’ll make.
- The interviewer may tell you about the company and the job vacancy. You may be asked what you already know about the company - so make sure you’ve done your homework!
- Be prepared to answer more in-depth questions about your education, interests and experience. Make sure you’ve read your application form or CV just before your interview to remind yourself what you’ve said. Make sure that you tell the interviewer(s) about your best points. If you don’t hear or understand a question, ask for it to be repeated.
- At the end of the interview, you’ll usually be asked if you have any questions about the job or the company – if there are any on your list that the employer hasn’t already answered, ask them now.
- The interviewer may finish the interview by letting you know what the next stage of the process is – such as when you will hear about their decision.
- The end! Make it a good exit. Remember to smile and shake hands again. Thank the interviewer(s) for their time and say that you look forward to hearing from them.
Questions the interviewer may ask you
You’ll be keen to make a good impression - and the best way to do this is to be prepared. Try practicing your reply to the following questions – remember to always present yourself in a good light, and emphasise your strong points:
- Tell me about yourself.
- What did you like most / least about school or college?
- What interests / hobbies do you have?
- What do you do in your spare time?
- What do you feel are your strengths?
- What would you say are your weaknesses?
- What skills and abilities do you have?
- Why do you want this job?
- What can you bring to this job?
- What experience have you had?
- Are you prepared to undertake training to develop your skills?
- Do you like to work by yourself or do you prefer to be part of a team?
- What are your job or career plans for the future?
- What questions would you like to ask me / us?
Questions you might ask
- What would be my day-to-day duties / my main tasks?
- Would I be working on my own or as part of a team?
- Would I need boots, overall, tools?
- How would I be trained?
- Would I get any qualifications?
- Would there be the chance to progress in the company in the future?
- How will I be told about the result of the interview?
If you genuinely can’t think of any questions, or if the interviewer has already covered the questions you wanted to raise, say something like, “I did have some questions, but we seem to have covered them!”
Further information
Connexions Direct have produced a video on planning your interview and a useful article on selling yourself at interviews. Click here to view them
The Careers Advice Service have produced a short video on how to make a good impression and useful articles on answering questions employers ask. Click here to view them
Good luck with your interview!
