Interview Skills For Interviewees.pdf
- 1. Interview Skills For Interviewees
- 2. Learning Objectives We spend a large part of our lives working, so the more enjoyable your work is, the more you will enjoy life! •The Art of interview skills will help you think creatively as well as practically to prepare for interviews. •Inform you and equip you to shine at interviews
- 3. Sections 1. Introduction 2. Keys to Success 3. Preparing the key ingredients that contribute towards your Interview success 4. Make iteasy and get organized! 5. Preparing for your Interview 6. Allowing yourself to shine! 7. FineTuning
- 5. Reflect on interview experiences Deepen reflection; make sense of what went well, what did not and why? Plan how to transfer this learning into next interview Current experience of interviews Learning from your experience 1.1 How To Get the Best from this Training
- 6. 1.2 What Do You Need to Get the Best of this of this Training To get the most from the exercises : ✓Paper or a small ideas book ✓Different colored pens & highlighter pens ✓Time & space to be open and honest with yourself ✓A friend / colleague who you can discuss issues that may come up for you ✓Your sense of humor
- 7. 1.3 You Get What You Focus On • In life we get what we focus on. So if I ask you to not think of a blue elephant…whatever you do, do not think of a blue elephant…what happens? • Preparation is the main ingredient in interview
- 8. 1.4 Starting Point Exercise (1) 1. Take a piece of A4 paper and number it down the left-hand side. Number 0–100, in tens; imagine that this is decades of your life. 2. Mark where your current age is and tear off this section up to your age as this is the time that has already passed in your life. 3. Mark off the age when you think you would like to retire. 4. What have you got left?
- 9. Look at the remaining paper that you have… 1. What would you like to do with rest of your working life? 2. Why are you not doing it? 3. Where does the job that you are applying for fit into this? Important isn’t it, Ok let’s get cracking!! 1.4 Starting Point Exercise (2)
- 10. 2. Keys To Success
- 11. 2.1 Confidence the essential ingredient. “Confidence is a funny thing; people often say that you need luck to win. But for me, confidence comes down to preparation. I took two deep breaths, eyed the corner of the net and emptied my mind of everything else except one thought “I am going to score”. There was one focus; there was no doubt in my mind, no negativity, just a sense of complete reassurance”. (David Beckham – The Illustrated Book, 2013)
- 12. 2.2 Prepare, Prepare, Prepare Preparation comes in three forms 1. Psychological; 2. Physical 3. Focus
- 13. Translation: 1. Choosing the right language 2. Your physical preparation 3. That you have the right focus: 2.3 Creating the Right State 1. Choosing the right language 2. Your physical preparation 3. That you have the right focus
- 14. Creating the right state and achieving interview success Physiology Open body language; smiling at the panel. Wear what look, feels comfortable and you will feel confident wearing. Being relaxed. Being energised. Focus Knowledge of the role, organisation, your skills & experience. Positive mental rehearsal – seeing yourself succeeding and answering the questions well. Language Positive self talk, having practicing answers. Adapt what you are saying to their language and their job specification.
- 16. 3. Preparing the key ingredients that contribute towards your Interview success
- 17. 3.1 How to get an interview with a winning CV (1) Tips on creating an effective CV: • Choose a clear font such as Arial or Times New Roman, size 10 or 12. Bold your headings. • Ensure your name, address, telephone number and email contact details are at the top of your first page. Think carefully about how your email address, telephone answering message come across as these are a potential employers first impression of you; they should be business like.
- 18. 3.1 How to get an interview with a winning CV (2) • Remember that your potential employer may have received 40–200applications for one vacancy, so the Interview panel will skim read and match the CV experience with the job specification, so tailoring your CV to the job is essential to ensure you get an interview. • Two pages as a basic CV with any extra adaptations if required. For example if you have alot of customer care experience that you would like to say more about have an extra page titled Profile of customer care experience.
- 19. 3.1 How to get an interview with a winning CV (3) • Have a positive personal profile and key skills that represent you and your experience. • Career summary: begin with your most recent work experience first. • Avoid abbreviations and words that you wouldn’t normally use. • Bullet points are an effective way of highlighting your achievements in work, university or voluntary work. • Shine a light on your positive qualities, positive people are much more attractive to employers
- 20. 3.2 SAMPLE CV
- 21. 4. Make it Easy and Get Organized
- 22. 4.1 Project -Your Interview Treat the job ad as a project: • Copy of Advert, with key words highlighted • Job description & job specification • CV adapted for role • Information about the company • Copy of application form, covering letter • A record of any conversations that you may have had with the company or recruitment agency, so you are clear about who said what, dates etc.
- 23. 4.2 Further research to assist your interview preparation Addition factors to consider while preparing for the interview: • Keeping a record of who you have said what to, applied with. • Copying and , photocopying the application form and put in your project file, so that when you complete it, it is clean. • Checking the details of the time frame of the application and interview process; an online application will require you to plan your time completing your form online • Finding out as much as you can about the organization, their website, arrange an informal visit if it is possible so you can see for yourself what the environment is like.
- 24. 4.3 The Informal Visit (1) Tips for an Informal visit: • Check the company website to read about the company first, • Dress smartly and professionally. • Your interview process starts as you walk through the office doors • Make sure all electronic items are switched off. • Smile and listen to what the person talking to you is saying, keep eye contact. • Accept any information pack / leaflet they have to offer you • Have a positive statement about yourself ready • Sit down directly after the informal visit and write down your immediate thoughts, reflections and any concerns that you may have
- 25. 4.3 The Informal Visit (2) • If an informal visit is not possible, is there anything else you could do? • If work is seasons (Haj or Omrah) Go to the work site and ask yourself “what is so unique about this company (SAR)? • Some company have very informative site • Check all aspects and write notes
- 26. Take care with your Social Media • Employers can check out social media to see another perspective on their interview candidates • The job offer “pending references” may include the informal reference of what you choose to say about yourself in social media. • Think before you write once you write about yourself any potential employer can read it and it may cloud their opinion on whether you match their job specification.
- 27. 5 Preparing for your Interview
- 28. 5.1 The competency-based interview Some of the most popular competencies are: •People management •Communication skills •Team working skills •Leadership skills •Customer care skills •Problem solving
- 29. 5.2 The job specification • The job specification provides essential information • The interview panel will want to hear specific examples of how you can demonstrate the skills and abilities that they consider essential for the post. • prepare by starting with the key competencies / skills that are required Required Skills fromthe job specification Your Actual Experience
- 30. 5.3 Matching your skills to the job requirements
- 31. 5.4 Why this approach works (1) ❑When you prepare in this way, with the detail of specific examples that evidence illuminate your knowledge and experience
- 32. ❑Examples: ▪ Q: Tell us what are the key skills that you think are important for this role? (competencies /skills) ▪ Q: Give an example of a time when you have assisted a team member. (Teamwork) ▪ Q: Can you tell us how you demonstrate good customer care skills? (customer management skills) 5.4 Why this approach works (2)
- 33. ▪ Q: We are looking for someone who works well under pressure; can you tell us how you would demonstrate this? ▪ (organizational skills & time management ) ▪ Q: strengths. (things that you really enjoy and know that you are good at ) ▪ Q: Can you tell us about your weaknesses? (talk about something that you have improved on) 5.4 Why this approach works (3)
- 34. 6 Allowing yourself to shine!
- 35. 6.1 A common mistake that leads to an unsuccessful interview The most common elements of feedback given to unsuccessful candidates is that they “didn’t sell themselves as well as the successful candidate”.
- 36. 6.2 Changing the focus to feel more comfortable “Allow Yourself to Shine”, talk about what you do as part of your work or life. By doing this you shift the focus to a more positive view and outcome.
- 37. 6.3 The internal candidate – make no assumptions This is especially important if you are an internal candidate for a job within the organization you already work in. Make no assumptions that the panel will know how you work, prepare as you would for an interview in a company you don’t know.
- 38. 7 Fine Tuning
- 39. 7.1 Putting a ding in the Universe • Getting focused on answering questions out loud will really help you in how you come across at your interview. • Try saying out loud this inspiring quote from the co- founder of Apple Steve Jobs
- 40. 7.2 Presentation at an Interview (1) • If asked to prepare a presentation as part of your interview, it is a great opportunity, because it is in effect your first question. • Practice delivering your presentation out loud within the time allotted, ; so, if it is a ten- minute presentation, deliver a nine-minute, thirty seconds presentation
- 41. When you deliver the presentation, the panel will be looking at: ✓Copping under pressure ✓Your organizational skills and time management ✓Your leadership skills ✓Good communication skills ✓Getting your message across 7.2 Presentation at an Interview (2)
- 42. 7.3 Interview Stress – can you avoid it? What is important is to use the energy that comes out of a stressful situation to your advantage.
- 43. 7.4 False Evidence Appearing Real • We get fearful and start worrying at interviews • Fear can be broken down : ▪ F alse ▪ E evidence ▪ A ppearing ▪ R eal • Next interview, think to yourself; “It’s just false evidence appearing real, I am prepared, organized and I have practiced my answers out loud – my Interview Bring it on”!
- 44. 7.5 Creating your own future history: Positive mental rehearsal (1) When Mohamed Ali prepared for his fights, he used his own unique form of mental preparation that he called creating your own, future history. By visualising his success with such detail, clarity and focus, he could predict accurately when his opponent was “going down” after his knockout punch. It was a very successful strategy and it worked for him fourteen out of his seventeen title fights. When asked about the three that he lost he said “I guess on those occasions, my opponent had created a better future history than me”.
- 45. 7.5 Creating your own future history: Positive mental rehearsal (2) This type of preparation is called positive mental rehearsal, where you visualize yourself in the interview answering the questions well, your presentation was very well received, your answers are flowing.
- 46. 7.6 Beware of Imposter Syndrome (1) ▪ Sometimes called Imposter Phenomenon in which people are unable to internalize their accomplishments. ▪ People with Imposter Syndrome remain convinced that they are frauds and do not deserve the success they have achieved ▪ Originally thought to be particularly common among women who are successful in their careers, it has since been shown to be equally common in men.
- 47. Quotes from people to illustrate Imposter Syndrome include: “I have offended God and mankind because my work didn’t reach the quality it should have” Leonardo da Vinci. “At anytime, I still expect that the no-talent police will come and arrest me” Mike Myers “I have written 11 books, but each time I think…uh oh they are going to find me out now” Maya Angelou “I would wake up in the morning before going to a shoot, and think, I can’t do this, I’m a fraud” Kate Winslet
- 48. 7.6 Beware of Imposter Syndrome (2) ❑By preparing you will be able to: answer some questions that you have thought about and are able to share with the panel your experience, knowledge and skills and how you can contribute to their team, project, organization. ❑Remember: You are in the right place at the right time and ready for your interview!
- 49. 8 At the Interview
- 50. 8.1 Enjoy your interview ❑ First 90 second ❑ Use proper body language ❑ Smile ❑ Deliver the presentation with enthusiasm if you have one ❑ Close positively
- 51. 8.2 Any questions? Questions you can ask an interview panel. • Can you tell me about the potential career progression within this position? • How do you see this role developing over the next 6 months? • What type of induction will I receive? • What is the timescale for appointments to this role?
- 52. 8.3 Reflect on your interview ❑ After the interview reflect on your experience ❑ If you are successful, celebrate your new job! ❑ If you are not successful on this occasion, make sure that you get feedback on your interview ❑ Build on the feedback ❑ A career coach my be used to help you with your interview delivery