Lesson Objectives: |
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So you progressed to the interview stage - what can you expect now?In an interview you are presenting an image of who you are and what you stand for, which employers will use to judge whether you are what they are looking for. If you have progressed to this interview round, you have piqued the employer's interest enough for them to want to meet you in person. Your cover letter made the first impression, now it's time for you to make a lasting impression.
They also would be able to see what vibe they get from you, and whether you would fit in with the company culture. Since some people are gifted with words, their cover letter may have been very effective in impressing employers, so it's only fair that they get to see what that applicant is like in person. |
Discuss:
What are some of this mistakes Penny made at the beginning? How did she turn that interview around?
Top tip: At the end of the interview, when they ask if you have any questions for them - use this time to get to know your employer. This tactic only works if you have had a successful interview - if you know you've interviewed terribly and they can't wait to get out of the interview room, then this tactic only serves to waste their time.
Ask them questions about themselves (believe it or not, people love talking about themselves!), such as:
- how did you get to the position that you're at now?
- the company was recently in the news for this - what do you think about it?
- if I were to succeed in getting this position, what would be some key tips you'd give newcomers to the company?
- what is it about working here that you enjoy most?
- you recently wrote a paper/statement/article on this issue - what do you feel about ...?
What are some of this mistakes Penny made at the beginning? How did she turn that interview around?
Top tip: At the end of the interview, when they ask if you have any questions for them - use this time to get to know your employer. This tactic only works if you have had a successful interview - if you know you've interviewed terribly and they can't wait to get out of the interview room, then this tactic only serves to waste their time.
Ask them questions about themselves (believe it or not, people love talking about themselves!), such as:
- how did you get to the position that you're at now?
- the company was recently in the news for this - what do you think about it?
- if I were to succeed in getting this position, what would be some key tips you'd give newcomers to the company?
- what is it about working here that you enjoy most?
- you recently wrote a paper/statement/article on this issue - what do you feel about ...?
Preparing for the Interview: |
You never get a second chance to make a good impression, let alone a lasting one (unless you save the employer from getting hit by a bus after your interview). So good preparation takes the pain out of the process and can make you more confident and less stressed the night before.
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Commonly Asked Questions in an Interview:
Click here to see some of the most commonly asked questions you can expect to hear in an interview:
And here are some "common responses"....try to avoid these because you do not want to be "common"! You want to be DIFFERENT. These are the type of things to avoid saying, because even if you mean well you may come across to the person sitting on the opposite side of the desk, sort of like this.
Click here to see some of the most commonly asked questions you can expect to hear in an interview:
And here are some "common responses"....try to avoid these because you do not want to be "common"! You want to be DIFFERENT. These are the type of things to avoid saying, because even if you mean well you may come across to the person sitting on the opposite side of the desk, sort of like this.
Key Question: do you think it is ok to ask about money during the initial interview process? Why/why not?
Answer: If you get an open vibe from the interviewer, then yes, feel free to ask about salary/pay. However, word it in a way so that you do not sound expectant or pushy e.g. can you give me an idea of the salary range for this job position, or can you please clarify the wage for this position? As opposed to, how much do I get paid for this job?
Behavioural Questions:
Behavioural job interview questions are based on the premise that past behaviour is the best predictor of future behaviour – and that’s why they are so often asked by employers when assessing candidates during a job interview. These types of competency-based interview questions typically begin with the phrase, “Tell me about a time when…”
The golden rule when you’re answering behavioural interview questions is to adhere to what’s called the CAR principle: Context, Action, Result.
Context is about describing a situation and setting the scene for a relevant example. The key here is to choose your example well – one that clearly demonstrates the quality or skill the employer is asking about.
Action is about explaining what action you took. Be really specific rather than making vague statements and outline your steps and rationale.
Result is about detailing the outcome of your action. Offer specific facts relating to the result. For instance, quote figures and statistics that back up your declaration.
Source: http://au.hudson.com/job-seekers/career-advice/behavioural-interview-questions
Example Questions:
yr_10_iaf_example_behavioural_questions.docx | |
File Size: | 90 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Activity #1:
Copy and paste the list of commonly asked interview questions and write a detailed and effective response that you would say in an interview. While it is good to prepare a response, try to avoid memorising your answer as it can sound a bit rehearsed. So at the end of your answer, hashtag or dot point the key words of your answer to help you remember just the essence of it.
Practice writing your responses using the CAR principle for any behavioural questions in that list.
E.g. Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
Ideally, if I am successful in getting this position I would like to see myself committed to this company and helping to expand my department. I know this company has separate headquarters in London, so if the timing is right, I'd love to strengthen the relations between the two offices somehow. As I am a keen traveller, I'd love to incorporate this into my job. #expansion #commitment #travel
Copy and paste the list of commonly asked interview questions and write a detailed and effective response that you would say in an interview. While it is good to prepare a response, try to avoid memorising your answer as it can sound a bit rehearsed. So at the end of your answer, hashtag or dot point the key words of your answer to help you remember just the essence of it.
Practice writing your responses using the CAR principle for any behavioural questions in that list.
E.g. Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
Ideally, if I am successful in getting this position I would like to see myself committed to this company and helping to expand my department. I know this company has separate headquarters in London, so if the timing is right, I'd love to strengthen the relations between the two offices somehow. As I am a keen traveller, I'd love to incorporate this into my job. #expansion #commitment #travel
Final Tips: |
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