Interview Skills

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Agreement

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Objectives

• Pre - interview• The interview• Post - interview

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Pre –interview: how do you do it?

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Appearance

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AppearanceScuffed shoes

Hair

Bag

Nails

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Appearance

Make-up

Jewellery

Ill fitting / transparentBaggy / creased.

gum, candy, cool drinks

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The interview: Communication

Body language = ?Words = ?Tone = ?

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The interview: Communication

Body language55%

Voice tone38%

Words7%

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Greeting

Say Hi

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• Posture - sit upright• Lean forward (10) • Head tilt• Mirroring

The interview: Body language

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• Hands –relaxed and controlled.• Folded arms?• Legs?

The interview: Body language

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The interview: Body language

• Eye contact - hold for periods of about 10 seconds.

• Raise your head to engage in conversation.• Voice delivery- clear and controlled =

confidence.• Avoid monotone – vary pitch and tone.• Laugh with the interviewer.

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The interviewer’s message

• Interviewer body language.• Boredom cues.• crosses arms or leans away • Drumming fingers and rubbing the face

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Competency based interviews

• Competency = a set of defined behaviours• also called situational, behavioural interviews • gives insights into an individual's preferred style

of working and development of behaviours in future situations.

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“STAR” approach

• S• T• A• R

• Situation

• Task

• Action

• Result

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Over to you

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Role Play

• Entrance• Body language• Voice tone, pitch etc.• STAR answers• Exit• Anything else

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Ethics: difficult questions

• What are they?• How do I know?• Age, UK citizen • Do you have/plan to have children?• Do you have any physical disabilities or

handicaps?• Does your religion prevent you from working

during certain times of the year?

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Ethics: how to handle them

1. Refuse to answer2. Answer them3. Ask a response question4. Address the real concern

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Your questions

• How would you describe a typical week/day in this position?

• How would you describe the culture of the company?• How many people work in this office/department? • What is the typical work week? • What are the prospects for growth and advancement? • What do you like about working here? • What don't you like about working here and what would

you change? • When can I expect to hear from you? • Are there any further questions I can answer for you?

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Post interview

• ‘Thank you’ note?• Follow up• Feedback• What if I hear

nothing?

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Good luck!

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Objectives

• Pre - interview• The interview• Post - interview

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Questions?