The Interview – The Interview – presenting yourself in personpresenting yourself in person

Career Services Workshop #5Career Services Workshop #5

www.canberra.edu.au/careerswww.canberra.edu.au/careers

Congratulations!Congratulations!

You’ve been asked to comeYou’ve been asked to come

for a job interview! This is an for a job interview! This is an achievement.achievement.

They liked what they read – now they They liked what they read – now they want to see you in person!want to see you in person!

Who are ‘they’?Who are ‘they’?

‘‘They’ are the Selection Panel – a group of 3–4 They’ are the Selection Panel – a group of 3–4

people who will interview you. people who will interview you.

Panel members get together beforehand to read thePanel members get together beforehand to read the

applications, choose the applicants they want toapplications, choose the applicants they want to

interview and eliminate applicants who do not meetinterview and eliminate applicants who do not meet

the selection criteria for the position. the selection criteria for the position.

They decide on the questions they want to ask andThey decide on the questions they want to ask and

allocate the questions to different panel members.allocate the questions to different panel members.

First things firstFirst things first …. ….

Don’t panic!Don’t panic!

Be happy!Be happy!

Nervous? Me? Of course not!!Nervous? Me? Of course not!!

Nervous?Nervous? Being nervous is no help at all. ‘Excited’ is helpful to you, Being nervous is no help at all. ‘Excited’ is helpful to you,

‘nervous’ is not.‘nervous’ is not.

The Selection Panel are looking at you as a potential The Selection Panel are looking at you as a potential workmate – they don’t want you to be nervous at work, so workmate – they don’t want you to be nervous at work, so they don’t want you to be nervous at the interview. they don’t want you to be nervous at the interview.

A nervous interviewee makes the Panel members feel A nervous interviewee makes the Panel members feel uncomfortable. Be kind to them and make sure you feel uncomfortable. Be kind to them and make sure you feel relaxed. This really makes a difference to how the Panel see relaxed. This really makes a difference to how the Panel see you. They are not the enemy … you. They are not the enemy …

Think of the interview as a Think of the interview as a professional conversationprofessional conversation between intelligent, respectful and educated people.between intelligent, respectful and educated people.

Be preparedBe prepared … … Study the Selection CriteriaStudy the Selection Criteria – usually, interviews are based – usually, interviews are based

on the criteria for the position and your answers to them. on the criteria for the position and your answers to them. Re-read them. Change your written responses into oral Re-read them. Change your written responses into oral ones. Practise saying them out loud.ones. Practise saying them out loud.

Study the Position DescriptionStudy the Position Description – make sure you know what – make sure you know what the position entails, the duties, the times, any extra things the position entails, the duties, the times, any extra things of interest. This can giveof interest. This can give you material for the interview.you material for the interview.

ResearchResearch the work of the company or the organisation, its the work of the company or the organisation, its history, its annual report etc.history, its annual report etc.

How long is an interview?How long is an interview?

Depends on the job and the position …. Depends on the job and the position ….

A professional interview that is going well could last for 30 A professional interview that is going well could last for 30 minutes.minutes.

This is another reason to relax – 30 minutes is quite a long This is another reason to relax – 30 minutes is quite a long time. The more relaxed you are, the better you will be able time. The more relaxed you are, the better you will be able to to listenlisten to the questions and compose an answer. to the questions and compose an answer.

(If you do not hear or understand the question the first (If you do not hear or understand the question the first time, it is OK to ask the person to repeat it.)time, it is OK to ask the person to repeat it.)

Your Personal PresentationYour Personal Presentation … … Dress well – better to be formally dressed than too casual. Dress well – better to be formally dressed than too casual.

No T-shirts, tight/low tops, short skirts etc. No T-shirts, tight/low tops, short skirts etc.

Good grooming – haircut, make-up, jewellry, perfume? Good grooming – haircut, make-up, jewellry, perfume?

Speech – polite, relaxed tone; speak clearly, no slang Speech – polite, relaxed tone; speak clearly, no slang words! Don’t speak for too long when answering a question.words! Don’t speak for too long when answering a question.

Posture – sit up, walk tall; look at the panel members Posture – sit up, walk tall; look at the panel members (especially the one who is asking the question) individually (especially the one who is asking the question) individually from time to time. from time to time.

Key feature of an interview?Key feature of an interview?

Your Your communicationcommunication skills!! skills!!

Panel members can hear you and see you. You arePanel members can hear you and see you. You aretalking with them but they are also paying attention talking with them but they are also paying attention to your non-verbal communication. to your non-verbal communication.

Be relaxed, show some enthusiasm, show that youBe relaxed, show some enthusiasm, show that youare interested in what you are saying to them. It isare interested in what you are saying to them. It isOK to smile, to be positive about what you haveOK to smile, to be positive about what you havestudied, what you have done and what you want tostudied, what you have done and what you want todo. They want to have a good idea of you as a do. They want to have a good idea of you as a person. They are looking for someone they can work with! person. They are looking for someone they can work with!

Behavioural questionsBehavioural questions These questions focus on your These questions focus on your conductconduct or or behaviourbehaviour

in the past. Past behaviour predicts future behaviour. Used in the past. Past behaviour predicts future behaviour. Used

particularly in graduate interviews, where the graduate is not particularly in graduate interviews, where the graduate is not

expected to have a professional work history.expected to have a professional work history.

‘‘Tell me about a time when you faced a challenge in your life and Tell me about a time when you faced a challenge in your life and

how you met that challenge.’how you met that challenge.’

‘‘Describe a time when you were under pressure. What strategies did you useDescribe a time when you were under pressure. What strategies did you use

to get organised and carry out your tasks?’to get organised and carry out your tasks?’

Remember the STAR method of answering Selection Criteria? Remember the STAR method of answering Selection Criteria?

Use the same method here. Use the same method here.

Non-behavioural questionsNon-behavioural questions

These questions are about your These questions are about your

skills, contributions, attitudes etc.skills, contributions, attitudes etc.

‘‘What do you think is your best communication skill?’What do you think is your best communication skill?’

‘‘My research and writing skills are probably my strong point. I loveMy research and writing skills are probably my strong point. I love

language and writing and find I am good at taking information or language and writing and find I am good at taking information or

data and putting it into a readable format so other people can absorbdata and putting it into a readable format so other people can absorb

and use that information. I am good at writing for an audience.’and use that information. I am good at writing for an audience.’

Things to think about ….Things to think about …. Your strengths – what are you good at? What do Your strengths – what are you good at? What do

you enjoy doing in a work-type situation?you enjoy doing in a work-type situation? ‘‘I I enjoy helping people find out information that they need to enjoy helping people find out information that they need to accomplish their tasks. I get a sense of satisfaction from doing this.’ accomplish their tasks. I get a sense of satisfaction from doing this.’

Your weaknesses – things you are not so good at, Your weaknesses – things you are not so good at, things you know about your self that you work to things you know about your self that you work to improve.improve.

‘‘I’m not the organised person I would like to be, I’m afraid. AtI’m not the organised person I would like to be, I’m afraid. At university, I had to plan things carefully to make sure I knewuniversity, I had to plan things carefully to make sure I knewall my assignment deadlines ahead of time. I like to keep all my assignment deadlines ahead of time. I like to keep lists to organise my study life and I will continue to do this tolists to organise my study life and I will continue to do this to help me at work.’help me at work.’

Things to think aboutThings to think about contcont

Think back through your school and university Think back through your school and university history for interesting things you did or achieved. history for interesting things you did or achieved. Travel, sport, community work etc is all part of Travel, sport, community work etc is all part of your life and experience.your life and experience.

See what useful points you can draw from this See what useful points you can draw from this experience for possible use in an interview. experience for possible use in an interview. Having a variety of experiences to talk about Having a variety of experiences to talk about means you do not have to refer to one single means you do not have to refer to one single example for different interview questions.example for different interview questions.

Ending the InterviewEnding the Interview

The leading Panel Member will indicate that the interview isThe leading Panel Member will indicate that the interview is nearly over. He or she will ask you if you have any questions nearly over. He or she will ask you if you have any questions for the Panel. It is considered ‘a good thing’ for the ntervieweefor the Panel. It is considered ‘a good thing’ for the ntervieweeto ask a question or two about the work of the company to ask a question or two about the work of the company or the position. Do not, however, ask about salary or the position. Do not, however, ask about salary or holidays at this point!!or holidays at this point!!

Take a moment to thank the panel members for their time. Take a moment to thank the panel members for their time. Give everyone a last smile and exit.Give everyone a last smile and exit.

If the Panel assesses you as the most desirable applicant, If the Panel assesses you as the most desirable applicant, then you will hear from them, usually by telephone.then you will hear from them, usually by telephone.

‘‘I didn’t get the job!’I didn’t get the job!’

Neither did most of the people who were interviewed!Neither did most of the people who were interviewed!

One job = one person!One job = one person!

Not getting the job is not a failure on your part. It could Not getting the job is not a failure on your part. It could mean that more-qualified or more-experienced applicants mean that more-qualified or more-experienced applicants also applied. also applied.

If you know the interview went badly, then go back and If you know the interview went badly, then go back and think about it, and work out how to do better in the future. think about it, and work out how to do better in the future. Job interviews are a way of life – there will be more! With Job interviews are a way of life – there will be more! With practice you will become better. This is a skill in itself. practice you will become better. This is a skill in itself.

Next Week’s Workshop ..Next Week’s Workshop .. ..

Graduate Recruitment ProgramsGraduate Recruitment Programs

– Private SectorPrivate Sector

– Public SectorPublic Sector

Wednesday 21 OctoberWednesday 21 OctoberRoom 2B4Room 2B41.30pm1.30pm