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2.

Succeeding at your Job

Interview

What you need to know about interview

techniques and making a good impression

- i -

The advice in this publication is designed to help you plan your job search

strategy.

Think about what you have read, turn it into action points and implement them.

Good luck!

If you require a copy of this publication in large print or another format, please

enquire at Futures Reception.

This symbol is used to highlight information of relevance to students with disabilities and/or learning difficulties

Futures Library Building

01772 895858 / 892584

www.uclan.ac.uk/futures

Futures@uclan.ac.uk

Opening hours: Monday to Thursday: 9:00 – 5:00

Friday: 9:00 – 4:00

© Copyright licensed to the University of Central Lancashire

To request permission to reproduce any text from this booklet for commercial purposes

contact: Futures@uclan.ac.uk

Careers Team, Futures

University of Central Lancashire

Revised August 2011, V1

sky’s your limit with the careers service

- ii -

Contents

Introduction ..................................................................................... 3

Preparing for your Interview .............................................................. 3

Research the Company ............................................................................. 3

Research the Job ..................................................................................... 4

Prepare yourself ...................................................................................... 4

Clothes ................................................................................................... 6

Travel .................................................................................................... 6

Practise Interview .................................................................................... 6

The Telephone Interview ................................................................... 7

The Face-to-Face Interview ................................................................ 8

First Impressions ..................................................................................... 8

Interview Models ..................................................................................... 9

Applying for a technical/scientific post ...................................................... 11

Questions and Answers........................................................................... 12

Ending the Interview .............................................................................. 14

After the Interview .......................................................................... 15

A Further Stage? ................................................................................... 15

Accepting the job ................................................................................... 15

Rejection and how to cope ...................................................................... 15

Further Information ........................................................................ 16

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Introduction

Congratulations! You‘ve applied for a job and have now been invited for an interview. The organisation

you applied to has clearly recognised from your application that you may have the potential

they are seeking. While you should certainly feel good about reaching this stage, you now

need to ensure that you make the most of the opportunity you have been offered.

Most people would admit to feeling apprehensive before an interview. It may be helpful to

remember that this will be a meeting of two people who both have a stake in a successful

outcome. The interviewer wants to measure you against the requirements of the organisation

and you want to see if it is an organisation in which you can succeed. It is a two-way process

and it is good if you can approach it as an equal.

You will also gain confidence from some thorough preparation so that you can enter the room

knowing that you have thought about and researched the organisation, the position and

yourself.

Preparing for your Interview

Make sure that you always keep a copy of your application form or letter. It can be a reference

point for the interviewer. Ensure that you know what you wrote and can comment in greater

depth on any aspect of the information you gave them.

Research the Company If you show at the interview that you do not know much about the company, the message to

the employer is that you may not have real commitment. From your perspective, if an

employer does ask you what you know about the company or why you want to work there, you

will feel a lot more confident in your answers if you have done some pre-interview research.

The sort of information you may wish to find out could include:

What does the company produce or what service does it offer?

Where are they based?

How many employees do they have?

What links do they have with other companies?

Who are their competitors?

What is their profit/turnover?

Any recent developments?

What are their plans for the future?

What challenges do they face over the next few years?

Information on job opportunities and a company annual report are normally available on-line

at the company‘s website. Do read them. You can also try to extract some further information

about the company in other ways. That will indicate a bit more effort and may enable you to

respond to questions with more originality than the other candidates.

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You can use:

The Futures Centre information resources in the Library Building

The University library e.g. Trade journals

The Internet (e.g. trade association website)

Whatever information the employer can send you

Back issues of the broadsheets or specialist press for recent developments

Local Chambers of Commerce and the Learning and Skills Councils may be able to

help with information on small and medium sized companies

Research the Job Read the job description carefully and think positively about ways in which you could

contribute and what qualities and skills are needed to be effective in that role.

Many organisations produce a person specification alongside the job description and will base the interview on this (See the example on page 6). This will give you a very clear idea of the skills and competencies required for the job.

If a person specification is not provided, how are you going to get a clear idea of what a

personnel assistant/public relations consultant/trainee retail manager does? For a start you

can research job titles in the University Futures careers library and/or through the Prospects

graduate careers website (www.prospects.ac.uk).

Other information may be gained from professional bodies/trade associations. Could you talk

to someone who does a similar job with another company, even arrange some job shadowing

if you haven‘t already done so? If you do so, make notes of any points you wish to raise at

the interview.

Be clear about what you are applying for. The job title used in one company may have a

different meaning within another similar organisation. Employers expect you to understand

what you are applying for. It might also be useful to find out what training

programmes/professional qualifications you can undertake in the job.

Prepare yourself Clarify your own ideas about some of the things you may be asked. Why do you want the job and can

you explain your reasons? Why do you think you can do the job? Why should they give you

the job? Why are you applying to that organisation?

There are three main areas you will be asked about: yourself, the job for which you are

applying and the organisation that you are hoping will appoint you.

Go over the information you have already given the employer in your application.

Look at your life as a series of key events. Employers are interested in your own

contribution, your motivation and what you have learned from the event.

Think about yourself in terms of the skills the post requires. Where have you shown

evidence of these skills? If you have been asked for examples in your application

form, be prepared to talk in more depth about those examples. It might be a good

idea to have additional examples ready.

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Person Specification

Job Title: Finance Officer

Faculty/Service Financial Services

Post Reference No: NT/12A

Grade: F

Salary: £18,185 - £24,458 per annum

Date: 22 July 2011

Attributes Essential Desirable Measured by

Work

Experience

Experience working in a

Financial Environment.

Application form

Preparation of financial

reports and information

Application form, interview,

work sample tests

Experience of

computerised financial

systems

Application form and

interview

Education/

Qualifications

GCSE level or equivalent

with evidence of higher

study

Degree level study Application form

Skills/Abilities Organisational skills Application form, interview

and work sample test

Communication skills Application form, interview

and work sample test

Analytical skills Work sample test

Experience of using

spread sheet facilities

Application form and work

sample test

Personal

Details

Able to demonstrate and

apply initiative.

Application form and

interview

Able to work as part of a

team

Application form and

interview

In the example of this post, it is planned that two short work sample tests would be used to

measure particular attributes. For example:

Work sample test 1 would be to read a short financial report and then produce a

half page summary to be circulated to colleagues and work sample test 2 would

be to produce a spreadsheet incorporating formulas to show budget expenditure.

Guidance notes would be given to the candidates on the day and both work sample tests

should be completed within 40 minutes.

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It is best to think around some of the questions you may be asked at interview but do not

write down your answers word for word or they will sound over-rehearsed. You might also be

tempted to make your answers fit, regardless of the question asked. Have some bullet points

for common questions and be ready to answer the unexpected. Check out the section on

‗Questions and Answers‘ on Page 12.

If you have a disability, you may wish to discuss any reasonable

adjustments you believe you will need for the interview or other

stages in the recruitment process. Do let the employer know in

good time.

Further information and advice on reasonable adjustments is

available from Futures Reception. For advice on the issues around

disability disclosure - ask for a copy of the Careers Futures Series

booklet: ‘Disclosing Disability’. You may wish to book an

appointment with our specialist Careers adviser to explore these

issues.

Clothes

What to wear for an interview is always an issue. Most people opt for the conventional suit

with blouse or shirt and tie for men. But in the media, advertising, creative work, fashion,

social work, these conventions are not always rigorously applied. To be ‗safe‘ dress in the

most conventional and comfortable way that you can afford. It is important to feel confident

and assured in what you wear.

Travel

Ensure you know exactly where the company is located and how to get there. Leave ample

time for your journey. If you are travelling a long way from home, it may be worth travelling

the night before, or if your interview has been scheduled early in the morning, you could ask

for it to be moved back to the late morning. If feasible, practise the journey beforehand.

Remember public transport can be unreliable. Aim to arrive with time to spare.

Practise Interview

It is possible to arrange a practise interview with a skilled interviewer. A mock interview can

be very useful, particularly if you have not had a recent interview or have never been

interviewed. Enquire at Futures Reception about arranging one.

In any case, you should practise answering typical interview questions before the real

interview. It can be enlightening to try this on audiotape or on video. Try practising in front

of a family member, friend or anyone who can act as an audience and whose opinion you trust.

There are many useful publications to guide you through interviews available from Futures, the

Library and bookshops (see ‗Further Information‘ on Page 16).

On the evening before the interview, simply think about why you want the job and how suited

you are to it. Remember, you are the expert on ―you‖, your skills and abilities and why you

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want the job. Get a good night‘s sleep and aim for the interview to be an enjoyable experience

or, at the very least, a useful one.

The Telephone Interview This type of interview is increasingly used by employers at the screening

stage of the selection process. It is less expensive than the face-to-face

option and saves both sides time. You must put in the same amount of

preparation as you would for a more conventional encounter.

Telephone interviews may take a number of formats:

The Unexpected

This is typically undertaken by a smaller company or recruitment agency

following submission of a CV or application form. You will be rung up and ask a few fairly

informal questions to confirm your qualifications and experience.

The Fully Automated

You will receive an invitation asking you to ring a free-phone number from a touch-tone

telephone at a convenient time. An automated system asks a series of questions and you have

to press the telephone keypad to respond. The time taken to respond may be taken into

account.

Screening

Here you may have a 10 minute interview to cover details on your CV or application form for

that particular job.

Structured

A mutually agreeable time is arranged for a number of questions to be asked by a trained

interviewer. The questions are usually structured to reflect the competencies sought by that

employer

Most employers are happy to be open about their selection procedures and will provide more

information, so do find out beforehand about the form the interview will take.

If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you will need to let the employer know

that a telephone interview is not appropriate. Suggest alternatives e.g.

Typetalk, e-mail, text phone or a face-to-face interview with the services

of an interpreter/lipspeaker.

An interpreter’s services at an interview can be funded by the Employment

Service. You should be prepared to explain the alternative methods as

employers may not be familiar with them.

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Tips

Be ready for the phone call at the prearranged time

Find a quiet place with no distractions

It is better to use a land-line if possible to ensure the line is free of interference.

Make sure the message on your answer-phone is suitable

Always answer the phone ―sensibly‖

Have a pen and paper to make notes e.g. interviewer‘s name

Keep your CV or application form in front of you for easy reference

Don‘t eat or smoke - the telephone amplifies noise

Be prepared at the end of the interview to say whether or not you are still interested in

the job

You won‘t have any of the usual visual cues so listen hard

Speak clearly and in a natural voice – you won‘t be able to keep up a fake accent but

don‘t get too relaxed and lapse into slang

Sound animated and enthusiastic – walk round and use your usual gestures if

necessary – remember they can‘t see you!

Some people like to wear their interview clothes to get in the mood

Smile and your interviewer will ―hear‖ it

Take your preparation seriously – you have the advantage of being able to spread out

in front of you key information about the job or company

Practise with a friend or try taping possible answers to check how you sound

Have your diary handy – also, keep a list of job applications, a copy of your CV, pen

and paper, questions for potential employers by the phone in case…

The face-to-face interview

First Impressions The first moments of the interview have been found to be very important. Interviewers

subconsciously assess the applicant in this very short time span. It is therefore vital to make

the right impression immediately. How you behave and come across is critical - almost as

important as what you say.

The first impression you have of someone when you meet them for the first time is based on

experiences of similar encounters and is therefore quite subjective. So when you meet your

interviewer, be aware of how important first impressions are. There are some things within your control that can help you make the best impression:

Enthusiasm: It can sometimes be difficult to come across as enthusiastic at interview,

mainly because of nerves and the fear of making a mistake. However, you will be not

be successful if you do not come across as enthusiastic to the interviewer from the very

start. The interviewer needs to know that you are very committed and you must give

that impression.

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Chris Phillips in his booklet, ―First Interviews - sorted!‖ published by GTI, talks about

‗the vocabulary of enthusiasm‘. He suggests using phases like “I really enjoyed….” and

“I had a great time….” which he says can have the effect of introducing an element of

enthusiasm to the interview. So language and how you express yourself can be

critical.

Handshake: If you feel comfortable you can offer your hand; otherwise wait and see if

the interviewer offers theirs. Practise handshakes with a friend. Aim for a firm grip

that does not crush the other person‘s hand. And do smile.

Smoking: don’t!

Refreshments: If you are relaxed and in control, accept coffee providing the

interviewer is also going to have some. There is nothing worse than sitting trembling

with a cup of coffee you dare not drink for fear of spilling it. Water is the safe option if

you‘re offered that!

Behaviour: Try to make a good impression on receptionists, administration staff and

others. Only sit down when you are invited to. Be aware of the interviewer‘s personal

space; for some people their desk is their personal territory – don‘t encroach on it.

Body language: Be aware of this. Moderate hand gestures are fine but if you are the

sort of person who illustrates everything with extravagant hand gestures, recognise it

and try to tone it down a little. Arms that are folded across your body close you off

from the interviewer. Go for a more ‗open‘ posture that is less defensive.

Attempt to make a connection with the interviewer. Smile and make eye contact. Good

eye contact shows good listening skills, confidence, trust and interest.

Settle down, try to control your nerves as best you can, concentrate and focus on the

experience. The interviewer wants you to perform well, so they will do their best to make you

relax. However you don‘t want to be too relaxed—you will perform better with some

adrenalin pumping!

Remember all candidates will be in the same boat. The recruiters are not there to embarrass

you or catch you out. They simply want to assess your suitability for the job you have applied

for and to work for their organisation

Interview Models There are three models of selection interview that are most widely used:

1. Standard chronological or biographical interview This type is more often used by smaller organisations. It is based on the premise that

past behaviour will predict future behaviour. This structure will attempt to gain a

comprehensive picture of the interviewee by taking you through your life from

education to the present day and the future. It tends to be based on your CV or

application form, asking you to explain and expand on what you have written.

Typical questions are listed in Page 12.

2. The behaviourally based criteria interview This highly structured interview consists of a structured series of questions aimed at

gaining information about your behaviour against specific job-related criteria. This is

often sent out to applicants in written form as a ‗person specification‘. In this type of

interview you are more clearly being measured against a set of competency-based

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criteria required for the post. All candidates are asked similar questions. While all

interviews are seeking to see whether you have the qualities, skills and knowledge to

do the job, this kind of interview examines whether or not you have the evidence,

based on your past behaviour, to match the selection criteria.

In its purest form this type of interview seeks to persuade you to provide descriptions

of ‗critical incidents‘ in your past and for you to describe your specific behaviour,

thoughts and actions. You could be asked to describe in detail up to 6 of these

situations where you felt you were being particularly effective or when things were

going well (or not going well, for that matter) in order to illustrate specific criteria /

types of behaviour.

So be ready with some examples that illustrate each criterion. Find those examples

from different parts of your life. Look at the key events in your life and your own

contribution to them. The interviewer wants to know what you did, what you thought

and what you learned.

You might be asked a series of questions similar to the ones above related to, for

example, your problem-solving skills and they might start off by: ―Can you give an

example of a problem you have had to overcome?‖

There would then be further probing questions designed to find out more about your

problem-solving skills and your ability to transfer those skills to the job that you have

applied for.

Your response to this initial question should really be detailed enough so that the

interviewer may not need to ask further probing questions

Do not be surprised if your ideas are challenged. You are not being criticised for your

views. The interviewer is seeing how well you can justify what you say. Keep calm

and explain your reasoning. Do not take it as a sign that the interview is going badly.

Questions in the same vein may seek examples of other skill areas or criteria e.g.

leadership, planning and organising, working as a team member, decision making.

You may anticipate what these are from the person specification, job description,

company information and your own application form or CV.

Other examples are given below. Employers will be looking for specific evidence to

back up the responses to this type of question.

Think about these questions and how you would answer them before the interview.

Turn to Page 12 for further advice on questions.

Key questions in this model of interview will be:

What was the event and what led to it?

Who was involved?

What did you think, feel or want to do in the

situation?

What did you actually do?

What was the outcome?

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This type of interview is likely to be lengthy as each person is taken through each of

the criteria.

Think of a situation where you were a member of a team.

Describe your contribution to meeting the team‟s objectives.

Give an example of a situation where you led a group of people.

Try to include what the group was trying to achieve and how you

dealt with different members of the group.

Describe a situation where you had to use your powers of

persuasion to influence a certain course of action.

Demonstrate your time-management/prioritising by giving a

recent example when you had too many things to do.

3. The situational interview

This is an even more highly structured model designed to reduce potential bias and

subjectivity as far as possible. Responses by you as interviewee to a series of pre-

determined hypothetical job-related questions are evaluated against a set of example

answers.

Do be aware that increasingly, employers are combining these different types

and approaches within a single interview.

More than one interviewer You will often find that you are being interviewed by more than one person. These ‗panel

interviews‘ can be easier and sometimes fairer than a one-to-one. If you do not know who to

look at, the safest thing is to respond to the person who has asked the question with a few

brief glances to the others.

Do not be alarmed if one of the panel members seems uninterested. Some of them may not

be experienced interviewers, so do not let it affect you.

You may be told who is who and that can sometimes be helpful. Knowing who they are, and

what their particular role is, can help you to answer their questions.

Applying for a technical/scientific post If you apply for a technical or scientific position, you may well be asked a high proportion of

technical or scientific questions. An interviewer could give you a visual aid, a diagram or a

piece of equipment for analysis by you.

Whatever happens, they will ask in-depth questions about your course and relevant modules.

As a final year student you may find it difficult recalling what you learned in previous years.

Try your best to remember and make notes during your interview preparation. You have put

details of the course in your application; so be prepared to answer questions about any

relevant parts of your course, not just the final year of it.

If you have a piece of project work or work experience that is highly relevant to the position,

produce a synopsis of the information and take it with you to interview. You can use it to

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illustrate answers or leave it with the interviewer at the end.

The interviewers will still be looking for other personal skills. Few jobs need only technical or

scientific expertise.

Questions and Answers

a) Some tips

Listen to the question. If you do not understand what is being asked, request the

interviewer to clarify or reflect back the question in your own words as a check e.g. ―Do

you mean ...?‖

Sometimes it may be difficult to understand the interviewer‘s accent or follow what

they say if they speak too fast. Don‘t be afraid to ask them to clarify their question. It

is likely that other candidates will find the same problem.

Modulate your voice. When nervous it is easy to fall into the trap of speaking too

quietly, rushing, talking incessantly or in a monotone, all of which give a bad

impression. It is however, acceptable to pause for thought, particularly after a difficult

question.

Do not answer in monosyllables. If the interviewer should ask a closed question, such

as „Do you think higher education develops skills for work?‟ give your reasons for

saying ‗yes‘ or ‗no‘.

If you are asked ―multiple questions‖, don‘t be nervous of breaking them down and

answering each in turn. It is worth remembering that not all interviewers are highly

skilled. You may need to help them out.

Know when you have completed an answer and stop.

If you feel that one of your answers has been in some way inadequate, do not let it

throw you. Like a driving test, you do not fail if you make some minor errors. You are

allowed to be less than perfect.

b) Some Typical Interview Questions

There is a limited range of questions that an interviewer can possibly ask you. Once you

have considered these and practised responses to them, you will be well prepared for your

first interview. (Please see following examples)

The job:

Why have you applied for this job?

What do you understand by (the job you have applied for)?

The employer:

Why have you chosen this organisation to apply to?

What do you know about this organisation/company?

University/Course:

Why did you apply to study at your chosen university?

Why did you apply for the course you are studying?

Tell me about your course.

- 13 -

Which part of your course did you enjoy/dislike most and why?

What was your dissertation/special study topic and why did you choose it?

Why did you do a degree/HND?

Work Experience:

What positions of responsibility have you held?

What benefits have you gained from work experience? (This can be interpreted as

any work experience including voluntary and informal)

Your ambition:

What are your ambitions?

What do you hope to be doing five years from now?

Your skills and qualities:

What skills do you think are needed for this position?

If a friend of yours were asked to describe you, what would they say?

Tell me about your interests/hobbies/extra-curricula activities.

How do you get on with others?

What has been the greatest challenge in your life and how did you overcome it?

What is your greatest strength?

What is your greatest weakness?

At the end:

If you were offered this position, would you take it?

Have you any questions for us?

c) Guidelines to more difficult questions:

How do you cope under stress?

Give specific examples of when you have had to meet deadlines, deal with many

problems at once or cope with new and difficult situations.

Tell me about yourself.

This is not an invitation to tell your life story. Your response needs to be related to

key achievements/events, making connections with the skills/experience/qualities

needed by the employer. Think about yourself and those aspects of your

personality and/or background that you would like to promote at interview.

Why do you want to work for this company?

This is an opportunity to show that you have a thorough knowledge of what the

company offers. Link your response to specifics e.g. If the company offers

opportunity to travel, answer in a way that shows you are aware of this and it

attracts you.

What do you dislike doing?

You should respond by saying that you like doing most tasks but if there is an

unpleasant task to do you will tackle it first.

- 14 -

What magazines/newspapers do you read?

What are they trying to find out about you? Is it your political views, your personal

interests? Be aware, when answering, that conventional companies take

conventional viewpoints!

What are your short, medium and long-term aspirations?

In reply to this question you should relate your career plans where possible to the

opportunities within the company. Sometimes it is enough simply to have

considered the question.

How long do you intend to stay with us?

Is it worth the company devoting the time and resources to your training. Assure

them that it is.

Are you ambitious?

Be positive without sounding too pushy or aggressive.

How do you react to criticism?

This is a good opportunity to ask about the company‟s appraisal procedures.

You welcome criticism if it helps you to do your job better.

What salary would you expect?

If the employer has not stated in its recruitment materials the starting salary, use

publications like ‗What do Graduates do?‘ in the careers library to find out average

new graduate salaries. You might look at the starting salary for similar posts with

other organisations of similar size.

Why should we appoint you rather than any other applicant?

Be concise and positive. Briefly outline your major selling points. Some people find

it very difficult to talk about what they are good at, but all you are being asked to

do is assertively state your strengths

Ending the Interview It will normally become quite clear when the interview is ending. The interviewer may say

“Finally, I would like to ask you if you would accept the job if it was offered?” It may simply

become evident that they have finished asking the questions they want to cover.

Asking questions You will almost certainly be asked if you have any questions. Interviewees often panic when

they hear this. It is not designed to trick you but to check that you have understood the

company brochure or the information you have received at the interview and have taken an

intelligent interest in it. It‘s always as well to have some questions to ask that you prepared

earlier.

―Safe‖ subjects might include training, appraisal and professional development, opportunities

for further study, promotion prospects, location, the department in which you would be

working and more information about any aspect of the company or job you would like to

discuss further.

Some companies are quite happy to discuss salary but not as the first or only question.

Obviously if there was no mention of starting salary in the job advertisement you will need to

- 15 -

ask about it.

In your enthusiasm don‘t ask too many questions. Remember there are other candidates

waiting to be interviewed. Also if you have had a company tour or presentation before your

interview, don‘t ask questions that have already been covered. If you find that all the

questions you prepared have been answered during the interview, then do say so.

When you leave the room you may wish to shake hands if it seems appropriate. Don‘t forget

to smile and always thank the interviewer politely. Good manners are very important in

formal situations such as interviews.

Your body language as you leave is important; it is the final impression the employer will have

of you. However the interview has gone, remain looking confident until you have left the

building!

After the Interview Try not to get into endless post-mortems. But it is a good idea to write down some of the

questions you found harder to answer or that took you by surprise.

A Further Stage? If you have been successful in your first interview and receive a letter congratulating you, the

likely next stage will be a second interview or assessment centre. It can be quite off-putting

to think that you have to go through the whole process again. Remember though that the

company must be genuinely interested in you to call you for the second stage because

assessment centres are very expensive and time consuming to run.

For advice about the next stage, see the Career Futures handout on ‗Assessment Centres‘ in

the Futures library; also the AGCAS video on ‗Assessment Centres‘.

If you have a disability, you may wish to discuss any reasonable adjustments

with the employer. Further details on reasonable adjustments can be found

on the Equality and Human Rights Commission website at

http://www.equalityhumanrights.com

If you would like to talk through the issues with a Careers Adviser, book a

careers appointment with the Adviser for students with disabilities.

Accepting the job It is a marvellous feeling to receive a letter accepting you for the job of your choice.

Most letters include the formal offer of the post, details of the salary, the starting date and other conditions of employment. If you are happy with this information, it only

remains for you to write a letter accepting the job offer. Your offer may well depend on satisfactory medical examination and references.

Rejection and how to cope If you are not accepted after an interview, try not to let it affect your optimism and

enthusiasm. If you have done the best you can on the application form and in the interview,

you must put it down to experience and keep trying.

- 16 -

Ask for feedback on your performance from the employer. If you are made aware of factors

that may have had an impact on the employer‘s decision, address them now and try to

improve.

Quite often it is impossible to assess why you have been rejected. You may never know all the

criteria the employers were using to assess you. Also it may just be that there was a very

strong field of candidates.

It sometimes helps to speak to a sympathetic and supportive friend. Review what has

happened with them and see if they can pinpoint where you might improve.

It might be worth reconsidering the area of work to which you are applying. Is it very

competitive? Is it possible to enter this job indirectly? Is there another similar area of work

which is easier to enter? Perhaps you need to broaden your outlook.

The main thing is not to take rejection too personally. You have many good qualities, valuable

skills and individual attributes which will be recognised. It is often found that the employer

who rejects you may not have been suitable for you. There is always another opportunity

around the corner and, when you are accepted, it is usually for a job which you will find

satisfying and rewarding.

If you feel you may have been discriminated against because of a

disability, discuss it with a Careers Adviser or ring the

Equality and Human Rights Commission Helpline on 0845 604 6610;

Text-phone 0845 604 6620; Fax: 0845 604 6630;

or visit www.equalityhumanrights.com

Further Information A wide range of information about interviews and interview skills is available from the

University Futures Centre. This includes handouts to take away, reference material, books and

videos. They include:

‗Going for Interviews‘ (an AGCAS information booklet)

‗Great Answers to Tough Interview Questions‘ (published by Kogan Page)

‗Why have you asked me that?‘ (an AGCAS video)

‗Assessment Centres‘ (a Futures booklet)

The Futures website contains a range of careers booklets, offering advice and tips to help you,

at www.uclan.ac.uk/careersbooklets. You can also find information on the site about

relevant events, elective modules and the Futures Award.

You might also want to check out the recorded online events, covering a number of topics at

www.uclan.ac.uk/futuresondemand

Realistic practise interviews with a skilled interviewer can be arranged to give you experience of a graduate job interview.

If you would like further help or want to speak to a careers adviser please call at

Futures Reception in the Library Building, ring us or use an online form on our website to email us with queries.