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Interviews
A selection interview is a "conversation with a purpose". It is also a two-way marketing exercise - although employers have probably done most of their "selling" in their publicity before the interview starts. There should, however, still be questions you want to ask – a part of the interview not to be overlooked in the pressure of the situation.
As a candidate, therefore, you have two clear roles - to present yourself as a strong contender for the position being discussed and to make sure that you know enough about it to be able to accept or reject it, if it is offered you.
Questions ...the good; the bad; the ugly
Preparation
Much of your pre-interview preparation will be familiar – it is similar to the processes you worked through when making your applications. Need reminding? Consult the AGCAS booklets ‘Making Applications’ and ‘Going For Interviews’ and the CEEC publication ‘Your guide to Completing Application Forms’ - all available in the Information Resource Centre. You may also like to visit CEEC to view the AGCAS video ‘Why Ask Me That’.
Read the employer's literature - especially graduate recruitment hand-outs and web-site contents; also annual reports and any available background material on the site, or in the relevant white label files in the Information Resources Room. If the employer is a big player, check the business press for any recent reports.
Make notes of any significant points you feel you may forget, or want to raise on the day - especially of things you don't understand or are uneasy about in connection with the job for which you are applying.
Review your personal file and copy of your application form. Have you omitted anything important? Do you want to stress some quality or qualification you have perhaps under-written? Is there anything new you could usefully add (several weeks may have elapsed between submitting the form and having the interview)? Note these down too.
If, on your application form, you have claimed to possess certain skills or qualities, think through how you can provide additional examples of these. Facts are more convincing than airy statements. And your interviewers won’t expect a simple regurgitation of your application material.
You can try to predict some of the questions you might be asked by looking at job descriptions and other material supplied by the organisation. If you can't find any, then look at other material in CEEC e.g. a job description from a similar type of organisation may be available.
By going through the literature you will be able to note key points and identify the kinds of topics relevant to the interview. Some of these topics are likely to revolve around 'transferable' skills (teamwork, communication, interpersonal skills, leadership and so on – see separate CEEC briefing sheet). For specialist or technical jobs, expect related technical questions. Examples of typical interview questions are listed at the end of this section.
Check that you know the time and place of the interview, how to get there and how long it will take. Allow yourself time to arrive unflustered and cool, at least half an hour or more before the scheduled time – less if on campus.
Ensure you have a neat, fairly formal and clean outfit available to wear, in which you feel comfortable, well-dressed but not self-conscious. Clean shoes, tidy appearance also help you create that vital positive first impression.
During the first interview
Interviewers are human too! Remember this and do what you can to make it an enjoyable experience for all concerned.
Interviewers are usually optimists - your application has impressed them enough to invite you for an interview and they hope you will be exactly the person they are seeking - try to meet them halfway. They want you to be successful.
Answer the questions you are asked, but not in monosyllables. Don’t feel the interviewer is trying to trap you with their questioning. Appreciate the questions are designed to find out something about you as a person and respond positively. Avoid being negative or apologetic as far as possible, but if, for example, you are asked about a failed examination or an unsuccessful project explain what positive lessons you learned from it - and try to see how these might be relevant to your present application.
Be positive and enthusiastic. Be prepared to shake hands, meet the interviewer's eye, speak clearly, try not to fidget, don't smoke unless invited to do so - and, if it's still possible after all this, relax!
Before the end you will be asked if you have any questions - this is the chance to use your notes and clear up outstanding areas of greyness. The payment of e.g. travel expenses can be clarified by mail or telephone ahead of time, rather than in the interview itself. (See below.) Interviewers should tell you when you will hear more from them as part of the closing of the interview.
So, at this stage, concentrate on questions relating to the post: training, promotion, responsibility, mobility and such topics. If you genuinely have none to ask - say so, or say that you did have but that they have been answered during the interview. This is the time to take the opportunity to mention something advantageous to you, or revisit some aspect of your application which has been passed over too lightly or quickly.
Questions ....The good, the bad and the ugly
These questions are real and Lancaster graduates have been asked them in the past.
How would you cope?
How did you decide which university to apply to - and why Lancaster?
Why did you choose to study X at university?
What have you got out of your academic studies?
What do you think of Lancaster University? Are you glad you went there?
Why did you decide on X as a career?
What other career options have you considered in the past?
What have you got out of your vacation work/previous work experience? What have you learnt from your work experience?
What do you regard as your major achievement?
What are your strengths?
What are your weaknesses?
How did you go about finding vacation employment?
What are you looking for in a job?
What problems or challenges have you had to face in your vacation jobs/previous work experience, and how did you cope with them?
Tell me about the work and people involved in X job.
What do you think you learned from this job?
How has your work experience affected your job aspirations?
Tell me about yourself.
What will you be doing in 5 years time?
How would your friends describe you?
What has been your biggest failure?
Why do you want the job?
Why should we give it to you?
What interests you in our organisation?
How have you benefitted from your time at university?
What skills do you think you will develop in this post?
What makes a good marketing manager / librarian / accountant / teacher etc?
Who do you respect (historical figure, politician, musician, sportsman etc.) and why?
How do you like to socialise? What do you do in your spare time?
Why should we employ you?
What was your worst ever moment?
Do you like yourself? Why?
Do other people like you?
What do other people see as your faults?
What would you like to be better at?
How would you describe your relationship with your family?
Sell me this table. (From an interview for a sales and marketing job.)
What are you aiming for in life?
What is the best/worst decision you've ever made?
What do you know about our competitors?
Have you applied to any other organisations in our business?
What did you think of your school?
Were you pleased/disappointed with your 'A' level results?
Would you take the job if we offered it to you?
How would you motivate people?
How did you get on with other people in your last job?
What motivates you?
What do you not like doing?
Can you work under pressure?
What is your opinion of the last organisation you worked for?
What are your short, medium - and long-term goals?
What's the toughest job/thing you've ever had to do?
How do you organise your time - lectures, studying, projects, sport, leisure. socialising?
Are you a leader?
Do you like to compete?
Do you consider yourself successful?
What attracts you about this job?
These are all questions of a general nature. Many job interviews will contain technical questions or post-specific ones, especially if you are being considered for a job which relates to your degree discipline. For instance a Computer Science graduate applying for a Software Engineering job may be faced with questions on computer programming.
Likewise, an interviewer from a high-street bank might ask what parameters you would consider in deciding whether to give a loan to a business customer. You must expect job-related questions. Such questions are likely to revolve around current issues of importance and may require lengthy answers.
Most interviews are based around the application form or CV, but some organisations virtually ignore it and others will put the same group of questions to all candidates being considered for the job. You are most likely to meet this approach in the public sector, in fields like social and probation work, as part of equal opportunities practices.
Panel interviews
You may be invited to meet a panel of perhaps three or four people at the same time, all of whom will have some interest or knowledge of the post for which you are applying. They will include a chairman who will normally introduce the members to you. It is difficult to assess your own performance as seen by each of the panel members separately, but remain calm, respond to questions as you would in a one-person interview, and try not to address them as though you were a public meeting. Whoever asks you a question, answer them directly - if you try to meet the eye of everyone as you answer you may look shifty! You are especially likely to have a panel interview in the public sector (central and local government, the NHS, teaching, VSO for example).
Other selection activities
Apart from further one-one interviews - often related more specifically to your degree subject where this is appropriate, you may be given a tour of the establishment to let you see the environment in which you would work, and to meet some of your potential colleagues. You may be introduced to some recent graduates on the staff, and personal anxieties, such as accommodation, social life, the cost of living etc can often be best introduced in discussion with them, possibly over a meal or drink when you will get an unofficial and more informal point of view. Again, you can ask for such an opportunity if it is not included in the programme.
Expenses
These are normally paid on the spot, in cash, but if in doubt, contact the employer beforehand and ask about their policy or consult your Career Adviser. Rail travel should be assumed to be standard.
N.B. solicitors, teacher training establishments, some local authorities and some smaller firms do not normally pay travel expenses.
Offers
A lapse of one to four weeks is not uncommon before you hear the result, although sometimes the offer is made on the spot - eg teaching posts. You can ask for time to decide if you need it. You can otherwise ask about the likely delay before you leave. If this period is exceeded by say, more than a week, a polite note or ‘phone call to ask whether a decision has yet been made is quite in order. In case of difficulty consult your Career Adviser.
If you receive more than one offer, or are waiting for other decisions which might be more attractive to you, you can ask for time to consider (within reason). Do not accept and later turn it down if something better crops up - this could leave you in breach of contract, and in any case 'sours' that employer for other graduates from Lancaster for a surprisingly long time.
Things to avoid….
Why do interviews go wrong? Here is a list of deficiencies; a combination of several of these may well prevent you from getting the job!
Physical characteristics
Poor personal appearance, first impression
Lack of eye contact
Slouching in chair
Trouble in communicating
Monosyllabic answers
Lack of energy, enthusiasm, commitment
Protocol
Arriving late without calling ahead
Interrupting interviewer
Neglecting to thank interviewer
Sarcasm or rudeness
Over-familiarity
Defensive attitude.
Objectives
Unclear purpose
Only interested in what the organisation can do for you
Indecisive
Unprepared.
Background
Critical of university or past employer
Poor references
Name-dropping
Too many excuses for any deficiencies.
Attitude Concerning the Job
Too aggressive
Indecisive
Ignorant about job
Lack of interest in job
Lack of confidence.
If you prepare well and don't fall into any of the above traps you should acquit yourself well.
Useful reading & other resources
Great Answers to Tough Interview Questions, M J Yate, Kogan Page.
Killer Interviews, F.W. Ball and B.B. Ball
Successful Interviews Every Time, Dr. R. Yeung
24 Hours to the Perfect Interview, M.J.Deluca and N.F. Deluca
CEEC Interview Experiences page and printed files – details of interview questions asked of Lancaster students, together with the hints and tips they would give to others preparing for interviews for the same job/organisation.
Take advantage of the opportunity to attend a CEEC Interview Workshops which run regularly during term time. Discuss your forthcoming interview with a Careers Adviser by booking a Duty appointment.
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