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Transcript of COM 417 Mairead McFadden .
COM 417Mairead McFadden
http://careers.ulster.ac.uk
Learning Outcomes Prepare for interviews Prepare for assessment centres
Interview Session
Preparing for Interviews
The purpose of an interviewFor the Interviewer To see if candidate matches application To assess candidates interpersonal skills To assess if candidate meets core requirements To check for team and organisational fit
For the Interviewee To find out more about the company and the job To demonstrate the key skills required for the job
Types of Interviews
Face to face “Pop in” for a chat Panel Interviews Second Interviews Telephone Group
Preparation Confirm attendance, understand the selection process,
plan your journey and what to wear.
Do your homework on the employerTheir aims and mission statementNumber of employees, locations?Products, services, turnover, plans, recent news?What the company offers placement students
Sources of information: visit website, company literature (annual report), Kompass Directory, ABI Inform http://bbc.co.uk, http://uk.news.yahoo.com www.reuters.co.uk
Clip: Peter Mann, Assistant Head of Transport, Oxfordshire County Council
Preparation cont.dDo your homework on the job. Ask yourself What are the main duties & responsibilities? Is there a
job description I can read? What skills and qualities are required – essential and
desirable? Could I talk to someone with a similar job? Can I identify questions that might be asked?
Against the job: What have I to offer What examples do I have that show evidence
Factors Assessed During Interview
Appearance Qualifications Poise Skills (ie Team work)Conversational ability Knowledge of Org &FriendlinessKnowledge of JobPersonality ExperienceDrive & Initiative
Overall Impression!
Answering Interview Questions
Identify the key skills being asked for
Reflect on your own experiences to find a suitable scenario which highlights these skills/competencies
Good approach - is to use STAR- Situation - describe the situation- Task - what did you do- Action - what steps did you take to complete the task- Result - what was the outcome
Try to draw on a range of experiences
EXAMPLE OF STAR TECHNIQUE
Remember Listen carefully to the whole question
Answer the question asked - provide relevant evidence and outcomes
If you need to - ask for clarification
If you are stumped – ask for a few moments
Telephone interviews http://gradnav.ulster.ac.uk/units/unit-int036.shtml
Employers and interviews http://gradnav.ulster.ac.uk/units/unit-int040.shtml
Body Language Messages
GRADNAV: Non-Verbal Communication Exercise
Positive Body LanguageSmiling, nodding, eye contact, sitting upright
Negative Body LanguageFidgeting, frowning, crossed arms, slouching
Questions to ask the interviewer The Organisation
What are the likely future developments? The work and training
What projects you would be involved in? Colleagues
Who would you be working with? Salary and prospects
Salary best discussed at second interview or when offer the postWhat career paths have other graduates taken in the organisation?
TimingHow long will you have to wait before
Unsuccessful Candidates Failed to prepare
Did not display a reasonable knowledge of the job/area applied for
Did not give direct answers to questions
Did not transfer their learning between contexts
Thought a good degree would be enough
Summary: Prep is Key
1. Know what you are offering
2. Identify key skills being asked for and have two examples for each
3. Find out some original things about the organisation
4. Identify questions you would like answered
5. Practise and get feedback
Be positive, enthusiastic, natural & honest
Special instructions You may receive special instructions with
your invitation to the second interview. Make sure you are happy with all the
arrangements and check anything you are unsure about.
For example, do you need to arrive early to sit any tests?
Are you required to give a presentation?
Application Forms
Employer applied to Preferred Functions Education – note prior to HR “List date /qualification/grade subjects A,
AS, Irish LC etc. Include all examination taken at this level Employment and Work Experience – do not confuse achievements with
responsibilities Personal Interests/Achievements – “describe with dates …Include
organising, lead or group activities. Those requiring creativity, initiative, or giving intellectual development are also of interest”
Notice each of the Specific Evidence questions has 4 or 5 subquestions. Specific Skills – notice that q1 asks ”list languages indicating level of
proficiency etc” Career Choice Why have you applied ? Evidence of Suitability and why
you are to be considered a strong candidate. Referees 1 academic, 1 work if possible Availability and declaration
CV
CVs are one of the primary means of submitting an application to an employer.
They are often your first chance to makea good impression.
A focused, well presented CV will grab the reader's attention and make them want to find out more about you.
A poor CV could mean no interview and no further chance for you to impress anyone.
Be sure you are doing the right CV for your faculty –
CV and application forms are the main routes to getting shortlisted for an interview. Make sure yours are presented well.
Targeting Use the language and competencies on
their website in your covering letter and on career choice
What do employers want?
Someone who can do the jobThey need someone with the right set of skills, attributes and experience to handle successfully the duties and responsibilities of the post.
Someone who will do the jobThey want someone who appears keen and committed and worth the investment in their training and development. An employer will not want to replace someone six months into the job because they couldn’t do it or they left to do something else.
Someone who will fit inThey need someone that they can picture doing the job, working within the team, meeting clients, if appropriate, and fitting into the culture of their organisation. This means complementing rather than replicating existing staff.
Demonstrate that you can be this person
How can you persuade employers that you can tick all three boxes?
Think about the skills and examples you would include in your CV or application form and the words you would use to describe yourself.
Employers will make their final decision at the interview stage, but keeping these three areas in mind when completing applications should improve your chances of getting there.
The Employer’s Perspective on the Recruitment Process
Job and Person Specification
Application (CV) Scan
Close Match Little/No Match
Shortlisted Rejected
The Interview:Commonly asked Questions Why are you applying for this job What do you know about our company?
Commonly asked questions
Why did you choose to study your university course?
Apart from your academic knowledge, what skills have you gained from being at university?
What would you say is your greatest strength? What would you say is your area of weakness?
LABOUR MARKET TRENDS
20 YEARS AGO Job for life with its planned careers
structure and company training scheme Clear functional identity and progressive
rise in income and security Large recruiters would take on 300
graduates through the national Milkround Process
Most graduate jobs would have been from 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday
LABOUR MARKET TRENDS
PRESENT AND FUTURE World of customers and clients Life Long Learning Portfolio careers Self Development An overwhelming need to stay employable Organisations have far larger and more
influential networks, many of them on a global scale
LABOUR MARKET TRENDS Today’s market is open 24 hours a
day, straddles a number of different time zones and recognises no geographical boundaries
Extended customer services to include banking, loans and insurance
Expanding use of IT Growing concern for environmental
issues
Why Bother with Placement?POSITIVE ASPECTS
Relevant /real life experience Develop the skills employers are
looking for Provide career insight Paid a salary Made sense of what had been
already learned Challenges/new opportunities Help with project
NEGATIVE ASPECTS No time off during the day Deadlines had to be met Had to report in every day Thought I would have
been paid more It was hard coming back to
university Starting something new Missing friends from
university
What we’re looking for….
You’ll understand the importance of great customer care You’ll need to have the ability to grasp new ideas and technological
concepts You’ll be able to learn fast and to adapt easily to changing
environments You’ll be motivated and enthusiastic, with a great sense of humour You’ll also be a genuine team player happy to lend support and
take advice
ReferencesIt’s a small world but when it comes to IT
professionals in NI, it is very small indeed!
WHERE TO LOOK Career Development Service website
http://workexperience.ulster.ac.uk Your Faculty
vacancies notified to you on PDSystem COMPANY
check their websites NEWSPAPERS/MAGAZINES
Local/National LOCAL CONTACTS/ NETWORKS
Family/Friends/Part-time Job
Microsoft job
http://microsoftirishjobs.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!2F13761BB2121A86!206.entry
Seminar Group Please come to MF226 E at 11.15.
Evaluation Forms Please complete and pass back to me