Top tips for Great Interview Questions
When you go for an interview for a Job, Apprenticeship or a place at College or University it is IMPORTANT to be really well prepared.
- Selection process- find out whatever you can about the interview process so there are no surprises. Sometimes in addition to an interview there may be a group activity which will be observed or you may be asked to deliver a short presentation. Additionally prior to a face to face interview there may be a telephone interview.
- Do your research –find out whatever you can about the company/organisation through researching online and speaking to people. This is where most people fall down, as they are unable to show any knowledge of who they are applying to and therefore why they are applying.
- Get personal -Think about why YOU want that Job, Apprenticeship or College/University place and why YOU would be the most suitable applicant!
- Why them- be specific and tell the interviewer about why you want to go to that college or work for that particular employer – this might mean you need to do some research about the college/employer and find out why they have a good reputation, start online and by talking to people
- Be self aware -prepare some answers to the most commonly asked interview questions and practice saying them out loud. Why not get someone to listen to you or even ask you the questions. The following are the most commonly asked interview questions for teenagers.
Tell me about yourself or tell me something about yourself that I don’t already know from your CV or application form?
You should prepare a 1 or 2 minute introduction which could include information about your family/hobbies/interests/pets/ main achievements and specifically anything that is relevant to the job!
Tell me why you want this job?
Give 2 or 3 reasons why you are interested in that type of work and possibly include why you might be good at it
Tell me why you want to work for us/here?
This is so important and where most young people go wrong! Make sure you have done your research and tell them why you want to work for their company specifically! e.g. the have a great reputation, they have been in business for a long time, they are the best at what they do, you like their company image, you have heard they are a great employer, you know there are good opportunities for promotion or progression through the company, they have good staff training, DON’T MENTION THE PAY!
What skills or qualities will make you good at this job?
You need to know the difference between a skill and a quality;
A SKILL is something you have learnt to do and can get better at e.g. keyboard/computer skills, team working, artistic skills, negotiation and organisational skills
A QUALITY is usually part of your personality and is something you are born with e.g. caring, honest, patient, kind, friendly etc.
Sometimes they can overlap e.g. your friendly personality may naturally make you a good communicator but you can also work hard to improve this as a skill
What can you bring to this job?
This is your opportunity to shine and sell yourself in a positive way, identify a list of things that you can do that you think an employer will be looking for e.g. get on with different types of people easily, work well as part of a team, work well on my own without supervision, reliable and punctual, honest and trustworthy, creative and good at problem solving, caring and patient and where possible try and give examples of how you have shown this in the past
Can you give me examples of;
- When you successfully worked in a team and what was your contribution?
Talk about something you have achieved as part of a team e.g. dance show/won at a festival/improved position in football league/hiked up a mountain/camping expedition/raised money for charity and identify what your role was in the team and how you helped achieve success
- When you solved a challenging problem and how?
Find an example of a challenge or change you have had to deal with, this could be from your school or personal life, and talk about how you dealt with it effectively, e.g. moving to a new area/new school, lost homework/coursework, babysitting when a child has nosebleed or gets ill, aggression on football pitch, arguments amongst friends, getting lost, taking lots of exams (GCSEs) simultaneously
- When you have coped under pressure or used your initiative?
Find one or two examples of when you have been under pressure e.g. exam preparation, undergoing an operation, illness within the family, in a part time or voluntary job and talk about how you coped/how you were able to think on your feet/find a solution
- An achievement you are proud of?
Talk about something you have achieved e.g. Captain of a sports team, an award you have won in school, a competition you did well in, learning a new skill, coping with challenge/change well, holding a position of responsibility in school/outside of school, coaching younger children, caring for an elderly relative
- How you demonstrate effective communication skills?
This is a skill all employers want! so think about what makes you a good communicator e.g. good listener, empathetic which is an understanding of someone else’s situation, able to get on with different types of people, confident and outgoing, friendly, a good speaker, articulate which is able to speak clearly and get your point across well
Why should we employ YOU for this job?
It is important to get personal here! Try and talk about things you haven’t had the chance to say, you must talk about your best bits! Talk about the best skills/qualities/experience you have and why they will give you an advantage in the job. Never say anything negative or put down the competition.
Where do you see yourself in 3 or 5 years time?
An employer might be looking for someone who has ambition and wants to stay with the company for a long time. Give some thought to how you might progress within the company, what promotions might you be able to apply for. If an employer is going to invest time and money in training you, then they will usually want to see that you are committed to them. However this doesn’t mean you have to stay with the company for that length of time.
Do you have any questions to ask me?
An employer will usually allow you to ask questions at the end of the interview. It is useful to prepare a few questions beforehand e.g. Could you tell me a little about the training please? Will I have the opportunity to go to college? Could you tell me about the team I will be working with? What are the opportunities for promotion like? Try and avoid asking about pay and conditions of employment at this stage.
If you find they have answered the questions during the interview then say this and thank them for their time.
TOP TIP Smile and shake hands it makes a great lasting impression!
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