Interviews

For Apprenticeships / Jobs / University

Your experiences of interviews?

• How did you prepare?

• What would you do differently?

Jot down employability skills…

Top Ten Employability Skills:

1. Verbal communication2. Teamwork3. Commercial awareness4. Analysing, investigating, & problem-solving5. Initiative and self-motivation6. Drive7. Written communication8. Planning and organisation9. Flexibility10. Time management

Self-Awareness

• Fill in the grid for yourself;• Explore / explain how you have got those skills

required.

University Interviews: these courses have asked Aquinas Students to attend interviews:

• Business and Management @ Nottingham Trent

• Communication Culture, and Media @ Coventry

• Journalism @ University of Cumbria

• Music and Drama @ Manchester

• Primary Education - all• Social Work @ Chester • Retail Buying and

Fashion @ DeMontford • Music Technology @

Lancaster• Nursing @ Northumbria• Counselling @ Leeds

Metropolitan.

What to do when unis want to interview YOU?

• Inform Sue Snelson (authorised absence);• Sue will give you a questionnaire about the

experience as well.• www.ucas.com/students/offers/interviews• Prepare for your interview: get all the relevant

info: WHEN, WHERE.

For all interviews: University, Apprenticeships, Employment

Before:• Do your research – know about the course, job etc. Know what is required

of you. Prepare!• Know where you’re meant to be & how to get there, timings.During: • Dress appropriately.• Be punctual.• Body language: be alert, don’t yawn / slump.• Expect the unexpected, but avoid panic. Take your time tackling a difficult

question, rather than rushing the answer and getting it wrong.• If you don’t understand – ask a question , ask the interviewer to clarify. Try

to relate the question to something you do know about.• Ask questions.Afterwards: • Evaluate your performance – take notes, think about what you’d change

for next time.

How interviews might go:

• Settling in questions: e.g. “Did you have a good journey?”

• Questions about your reasons for applying;• Questions about your life and experiences;• Questions about your career plans / aspirations;• Questions about your studies;• Questions related to current affairs / wider world• Asking your own questions: e.g. “How many

tutorials will I have?”; “Will I be working with the same team members?” etc.

For all interviews: University, Apprenticeships, Employment

What will impress

• Confidence• Enthusiasm for course / subject /

job• Lively interests / activities to show

you are well-rounded• Intellectual interests to show

you’re serious• Having own opinions• Reasons for wanting job, course• Being honest & unpretentious• Looking interviewers in the eye• Listening to interviewers• Expressing yourself clearly

without saying too much

What won’t impress• Arriving late• Looking untidy• Smoking• Avoiding eye contact• Fidgeting• Replying with short responses “yes” / “no”• Too many fillers in your answers (e.g.

“um”, “yeah”, “you know”)• Mumbling• Interrupting interviewer• Answering with ready-made replies – you

need to listen to interviewer and respond appropriately

• Talking too fast / talking too much• Pretending to know stuff or be interested

in stuff when you don’t know or aren’t interested.

Preparing for Uni interview:

• Research the institution & course – make a list of question you would like to ask (not everything is in the prospectus / website);

• Be familiar with key or “hot” topics in your area / course;

• Read / watch news – be informed, you may be asked for an opinion on items in the news;

• Practise – ask for a mock with a teacher / careers adviser / parent / friend;

• Get a good night’s sleep beforehand.