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Prepare for the interview

You are bound to be asked about details you have provided in your application.  The interviewers will look more closely at the evidence you have provided in your written application and explore your background in greater depth.

You should have made a copy of your CV / Covering letter or application form and kept all the relevant information provided (advertisement, job description, job specification and any other details given).  Make sure you read and re-read these and use them to try to spot questions which may be asked.

Find out about the job

• What does the job entail?  Some organisations provide a detailed job description/person specification (e.g. public sector organisations) whilst other organisations (e.g. private sector) tend to provide a list of the required competencies.
• What personal qualities, skills, experience and knowledge are required?
• What levels of commitment, energy, motivation and initiative are needed?

The Graduate Prospects website, www.prospects.ac.uk, contains useful information on a large number of jobs i.e. general activities and skills requirements – click on “Jobs and Work” and then “Explore Types of Jobs”. The Information Room in Career Development Services (CDS) includes additional paper based information in occupational files.

If possible, speak to someone (e.g. family or friends) in a similar role and find out as much as possible about the job and the organisation.

Find out about the employer

• What is the company’s aim, size, products or services, turnover, location, organisational structure, position in the industry / service as a whole?
• Do the aims/ethos of the company fit in with your personal values and aims?
• Are there varied locations requiring geographical mobility?
• Will the size/location of the employer affect promotion prospects?

Research the organisation or company by looking at their website, looking at local and national newspapers and business directories and reading their annual report, if available.  You could also do a web search to find out what is said about them by other organisations.  The Information Room in CDS has based information in a range of employer files. 

Keep up with current issues facing the industry / sector by reading relevant journals, quality newspapers, company reports and watching business / documentary TV programmes.  Try to understand how is the industry is changing or developing.  Do try to formulate your own opinions regarding these issues.

Think about what you can offer

Reflect on the information you have gathered about the job and the employer – can you match the criteria?

• What personal and technical skills, knowledge, qualities, values and experience can you offer and do these seem to fit in with what the employer is looking for?
• Think of ways in which you could show the relevance of your past experience, knowledge, personal qualities and skills to the needs of the job and of the employer.
• Think of what you could do for the employer to make their business / service more effective.

We all have less positive experiences at some times.  If you are conscious of inconsistencies, failures, changes of direction in your life history, prepare yourself to respond to any probing questions from employers by thinking about what you have learnt from these experiences.  Be ready to emphasise positive outcomes.    Never go along to an interview just hoping for the best as there is a chance they will want to ask you about these areas.

A DVD “Why ask me that?” and “Making an Impact – the graduate job interview” about interview techniques (including telephone interviews) is available for viewing in the Careers Service in Student Central.

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