Career Development Programme

Getting a Placement

Gill Clarke – Careers Adviser

Getting a Placement sessions

1: Written Applications

2: Interviews, Tests and

Assessment Centres

Useful resources• www.careers.lboro.ac.uk - for information,

advice, workshops and employer events• Careers Centre leaflets• AGCAS booklet “Going for Interviews”• Video – “Why ask me that?”• Practice aptitude test sessions / booklets• Quick Advice Desk (15 minutes)• Mock interviews

What happens next?One or more of the following – the order can vary

• Pre-screening• Telephone interview• On-line psychometric tests• 1st interview• 2nd interview• Assessment centre

Types of interview

• Face to face or telephone

• 1:1 or panel

• Formal or informal

• Technical or personnel

• Criteria or situational

• Case study

• 1st, 2nd or as part of assessment centre

Skills employers seek• Analytical ability• Commercial

awareness• Computer literacy• Decision-making• Influencing• Initiative• Leadership• Negotiation• Networking• Oral communication• Planning

• Presentation• Problem-solving• Self-awareness• Self-confidence• Self-management• Team-working• Tenacity• Time-management• Willingness to learn• Written

communication

The interviewer’s agenda

• Can the applicant do the job?Qualifications / experience / aptitude

• Will s/he do the job?Attitude / approach / motivation

• Will s/he fit in?Personality / style / flexibility of approach

Your agenda

• Gather information to determine:

Can you do the job? / Will you enjoy

the work? / Will you feel at home in the organisation?

• Emphasise your key selling points

• Ask questions at the end

Preparing yourself

• Research the placement / career area

• Find out about the organisation

• Re-read your written application

• Prepare outline answers to basic questions, but don’t have a script

• What would you want to know if you were the interviewer?

Preparing for the day

• How much do you know about the timing / format / structure of the interview and what it will involve?

• Where are you going and how are you getting there?

• Will you take anything with you?

• What will you wear?

Making a good impression• Be yourself – at your best• Dress appropriately• Give a firm handshake• Keep calm and positive• Look and sound interested and

enthusiastic – smiling helps a lot• How you come across is as

important as what you say

Answering the questions!The QuestionHow good an organiser are you?

The EvidenceHow have you demonstrated organisational skills?

The Personal ContributionWhat was your contribution / what did you learn / whatwould you do differently next time?

The General SituationWhat makes a good/bad organiser / why is it important torecruit people with organisational skills?

Interview exerciseIn pairs, ask each other the following

1. Why did you choose your degree subject?

2. What do you enjoy most about university?3. Tell me about 2 of your strongest

skills.4. What do you hope to gain from your

placement?

Typical interview questions1. Why did you choose engineering?2. What have you gained from your course so far?3. Why do you want to work for us?4. What do you know about our company?5. How would your friends describe you?6. How do you approach a project?7. Tell me more about your part time job.8. What makes you the best candidate for this

placement?

Summary

• Getting an interview means you are well on the way to getting a job

• Interviewers want you to succeed

• Interviews are never perfect

• Reflect on your performance and learn from it (obtain feedback where possible)

Second interviews and assessment centres

• One or two days• Social events• Group activities (discussion, role-play,

business games, case studies etc.)• Individual tasks (in-tray exercises,

report writing, aptitude tests, etc.)• Presentations• Interviews

Psychometric / aptitude tests• Evaluate how people perform / react• Standardised scores against a norm group• Aptitude tests• Personality questionnaires• Listen to instructions• Watch the clock and work quickly• Don’t worry if you don’t finish• Practice if you can

More help?

www.careers.lboro.ac.uk > Applications and Interviews

Aptitude tests – advice, links to useful websites where you can practice and further reading

www.careers.lboro.ac.uk > Choosing a career

Profiling for Success

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