Preparing for the Interview
The interview enables the employer to assess your suitability for the specific position. Good preparation is the best predictor of a successful interview.
At the interview, you should:
- Present your experience and abilities to the employer in the most coherent manner possible
- Check whether your needs and wants are going to be met in the job
- Get the panel excited about the possibility of hiring you
Interviewers will want to be convinced that you have given this position considerable thought. They will expect specific examples of how you have achieved things in the past, and how you will build on these to deliver benefits to the organisation.
As with writing your competency statement, prepare to discuss specific examples that highlight how your skills and approach match the competencies. Remember SBO:
- Describe the Situation,
- Describe your Behaviour, explain the actions you took,
- State the Outcome – this does not always need to be successful, providing your Behaviour matched the relevant competency and you were able to learn from the situation.
Before the Interview:
- Think about what the interviewer wants to know: your past experience and achievements – with specific examples.
- Think about the reasons why there is a good match between your skills and what the employer is looking for. - Refresh your familiarity with your CV and competency statement; take them with you to refer to (if you are nervous you can forget things).
- Think about what you enjoy doing, where you want to head longer-term and where this position fits for you.
- Prepare the questions you will ask during the interview. It is important to determine through questioning whether this position meets your career needs. Your questions are also a way to show the panel how much thought you have given to the role.
- Dress in clothes that are appropriate for the position. If in doubt err on the conservative side, clean and tidy are a must – details can make an impact e.g. remember nails and shoes.