Job Interview

Job Interview

Job interviews are the main step in the recruitment and selection process for prospective employees in both government and private institutions.

The Job Interview Session is a good opportunity for job applicants to get to know the institution or company better and vice versa, the company can get to know the applicant's qualifications and competencies more thoroughly.

Job Interview Sections

1.     1.      Draw attention to your education and qualifications, or any formal training you may have received:

·          I graduated from (university/college etc) in (the year)… 

·          I studied at (university/college)… 

·          I got a diploma in…. and then went on to study...

2.      2.      Focus on your work experience and your career so far:

·         I worked for (company name) as a (job role)…

·         I worked in (sector) for (period of time)…

·         c.) I was promoted to (job role)…

·         d.) I was responsible for...

3.      3.      Describe your best features and what motivates you:

·         I am hardworking/ organised/decisive/patient/easy going/a team player/committed/focused/proactive and methodical.

·         I am proud of...

·         I perform well under pressure.

·         I am self-motivated.

4.      4.      Use intensifiers to make stronger statements:

·         I am very organised and extremely focused.

·         I am really good at showing initiative/presenting information/problem-solving/controlling budgets/achieving objectives/motivating colleagues/meeting deadlines/creating ideas.

·         I have very good people skills/management skills/organisational skills.

5.      5.      Make sure you highlight your language skills:

·         I have effective communication skills in English, both verbally and in writing.

·         I’ve been using English in my professional life for the past ……years.

·         I’ve got a good grasp of the specialised English needed in this post/industry.

 

6.   6.      Include any technical expertise or projects that might be relevant to the role:

·         I am very proud of (the last project I was involved in) because...

·         I have (say how many years) experience working in (the sector)...

·         I have worked in (sector) for...

·         I developed some important skills when I (what role or function did you do)...

7.    7.      If appropriate, talk about your background, where you are from, and where you grew up:

·         I was born in (country) and grew up in (country).

·         I relocated/moved to (country) when I was (age).

·         I speak (number) languages.

·         I currently live in (country/city/ town).

·         I currently live in (country/city) however I would consider relocating if the company required me to do so.

8.     8.      If you are asked questions that test your technical skills, the STAR approach will help keep you focused on your answer. STAR stands for: Situation, Task, Action, Result. Here are some examples of expressions you can use with the STAR approach.

Situation:

·         When I worked for...I sold/set up/ created/implemented/controlled/managed/ designed...

·         A good example that comes to mind is...

·         I worked in the...department for (period of time) and had to manage/oversee/control/create/ liaise with/prepare/provide/organise/support/lead/review...

·         I have several years’ experience in...

·         I have worked in (sector) for (period of time)...

·         As I mentioned earlier, I have a diploma in... and I am a qualified...

·         I perform well under pressure which was one of the main reasons why I was asked to...

Task:

·         As part of my role as a (job) I also had to (what)…

·         I was asked to...

Action:

·         I held a meeting with...

·         I created a...

·         I liaised with...

·         I designed...

Result:

·         We won the contract/the tender/the award…

·         I was able to resolve the situation/find solutions/negotiate a better…/move from ……. to……

·         We won a new contract/the pitch…

·         We achieved our sales targets/the desired result…

9.      9.      Demonstrate you can solve a problem:  

·         A good example that comes to mind is...

·         In my role as…. I was responsible for...

·         Due to (the situation e.g. COVID 19) our company was under a lot of pressure to implement new health and safety measures.

·         Our team was under pressure to meet new deadlines.

·         I was asked to...

 

1110.      It is always a good idea to give examples of how you use your skills in a work setting:

·         I was involved in several projects…

·         I have managed a large number of projects over the years….

·         I set up several new systems.

·         I was responsible for implementing the new safety measures…

·         This involved……

1111.      You may be asked to talk about how you’d like to develop and where you see yourself in the future:

·         I would like to take on more responsibility.

·         I’m looking to further my career.

·         I would like to further my career, so opportunities for professional development would be important to me.

·         I would like to add to my skill set, so training would be important to me…

1212.      Some interviewers may want to know what other interests you have outside of work. Here are a few suggestions:

·         I like/love going to art galleries/museums…

·         I like/love playing football/tennis…

·         I watch a lot of...

·         I like to keep fit and active so I…

1313.      Finally, ask the interviewer questions to find out if the job and the company is the right one for you. You could ask:

1.      Finally, ask the interviewer questions to find out if the job and the company is the right one for you. You could ask:·      Where do you see the company in 5 years?

·         Can you describe the working culture of the organisation?

·         Can you tell me more about the team I would be working in?

·         What training programmes are available to your employees?

·         What do you enjoy most about working here?

·         When are you hoping for someone to fill this position?

·         What are the next steps in the interview process?  

 

video interview