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Ace the Interview! Effective Interview

Preparation

Jill McAlisterCareers and Employment

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Activity: First Impressions Count!

Step 1: Introduce yourself to somebody - shake hands

Step 2: For 1 minute, explain. . .

Key information about yourself

Your career goals

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First Impressions Count!

• Tone of Voice

• Start the interview

confidently

• Opening lines

• Handshake

• Body language

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Three-step process

The Interview Itself

Pre-Interview Preparation

Post – Interview Activities

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Pre-Interview Preparations

Know the Job and Organisation– Organisation: structure, culture, values,

recent developments– Job: purpose, criteria, daily duties,

terminology

Know and Critique Yourself– Why do you want the job, & why in that

organisation?– Familiarise yourself with your resume,

cover letter / application form– What do you have to offer?– Prepare answers to typical questions

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Pre-Interview Preparations Know What to Expect

– Structured v.s. unstructured

– One to one, panel, group

– Who is interviewing you? Names and roles?

– Face to Face / Telephone / Online / On Campus

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Purpose of the InterviewFor the interviewer

– Can you do the job?

– Will you do the job?

– Do you fit?

Confirmation of their impressions

For the interviewee– To present your abilities, knowledge, aspirations

and experience

– To gain a further insight into the position, employer and organisation

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Interview Question Types

Standard (Open-ended) questions

Situational questions

Behavioural questions

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Standard (Open-ended) Questions

General questions used as ice-breakers. Eg:

• What attracted you to apply to our organisation?

• What are your strengths? And your weaknesses?

• Tell me about yourself.

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Standard (Open-ended) Questions

General questions used as ice-breakers. Eg:

• What attracted you to apply to our organisation?

• What are your strengths? And your weaknesses?

• Tell me about yourself.

Address the essential criteria Focus on your achievements Ask if you should expand on any of the points made, if you are worried that your answer is too short

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Situational QuestionsHypothetical scenarios to see how you would

respond.

• How would you handle a difficult customer if your boss was away?

• Here is a problem we faced recently ... How would you have dealt with this?

Understand how situational questions are developed Take the time to think about your answer Make assumptions Address WHAT you would do and WHY

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Behavioural QuestionsQuestions for you to describe previous experiences

• Describe a complex problem you have solved recently.

• Have you been in any situations where you were required to perform as part of a team? What was the situation, what part did you play in the team and what was the outcome of the exercise?

Choose relevant, recent and special examples Use the STAR Approach:

S T A R

S

A

TRituation

ask ction esult

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Sample Behavioural Answer

Where have you previously demonstrated high-level organisational skills?

(S) I have shown strong organisational skills as a project

assistant while assisting a research team.(T) One time, I helped the team to schedule some clinical

trials. (A) That involved booking facilities and equipments plus

arranging for participants to attend. I developed aspreadsheet where I could record and track information.

(R) Doing this ensured the trials ran smoothly, despite the tight schedule. I was invited to join the team again when

they received funding for a new project.

S

A

TR

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Sample Interview Questions

1) What would you do if you disagree with your supervisor in a meeting?

2) Have you ever been responsible for the generation of a new idea or suggestion? Describe and explain.

3) What do you see yourself doing five years from now?

4) Describe how you have coped with a new or difficult situation.

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Activity -

Practice makes

perfect . . .

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Questions For You To Ask• How much scope will there be for …?

• What are some of the current projects being undertaken? What could my first project be?

• What do you see as the immediate goals of the position? How will you measure performance?

• What do you see as the future for the position?• Daily routine, specific demands and challenges

for a graduate employee (day in the life)?• How does this position relate to the others

within the organisation?• Opportunities for career progression, training

and advancement?• Growth plans for the organisation?

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Post Interview Activities

Constructive thinking– Review and analyse what happened– What went well/not so well and why?– Use this for future reference

Follow-up action– Quick call / Email to the interviewer– Express your appreciation for their

time – Reinforce your interest and enthusiasm

in the role in as few words as possible

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Post Interview Activities –

What is Next?Invitation to the next round

– Assessment day / centre– Psychometric testing– Panel interviews– Reference checks

“Rejection” letter– Use interview feedback to

your advantage

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?

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www.careers.unsw.edu.au

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