Category: Interview Advice

Interview anxiety is a common problem that many young people face when trying to secure their dream job. The pressure to perform well during an interview can be overwhelming, leading to nervousness, panic attacks and even physical symptoms such as sweating, shaking or nausea. 

As a parent, it can be difficult to watch your child struggle with this type of anxiety, especially if your son or daughter’s interview anxiety is hindering their graduate job prospects. However, there are ways that you can help your son or daughter to overcome their interview anxiety and succeed in their job search.

In this blog post, we will provide you with some tips, techniques and strategies to support your child with interview anxiety. From understanding the causes of interview anxiety to preparing for the big day, we will cover everything you need to know to help your child succeed in their job search. We will also discuss how external help in the form of a career coach can set up your child for a lifetime of interview success. 

Understanding Your Son or Daughter’s Interview Anxiety

The first step in supporting your son or daughter with interview anxiety is to understand the root causes of their anxiety. Interview anxiety can be caused by a variety of factors, including a fear of failure, a lack of confidence, a lack of preparation or a negative interview experience in the past.

Once you have identified the specific cause of your child’s anxiety, you can begin to work on solutions that will help them to overcome their fears and build their confidence.

Talking to your child about their interview anxiety can be a delicate matter, as you want to provide support and encouragement without adding to their stress and anxiety.

Here are some tips on how to approach the conversation:

• Start by letting your child know that it’s normal to feel anxious before an interview and that you understand how they feel. Maybe share a story or anecdote from your own experiences.

• Instead of asking yes or no questions, ask open-ended questions that allow your child to express their feelings and concerns. For example, you might ask “What are you most worried about when it comes to the interview?”

• As your child shares their feelings and concerns, make sure to listen actively and show empathy. This means avoiding judgment or criticism and validating their feelings.

• Let your child know that you believe in them and their abilities. Offer reassurance that they can overcome their anxiety and succeed in their job search. You might also offer practical support, such as helping them prepare for the interview or finding resources and professional help to support them and alleviate their anxiety.

• If your child’s interview anxiety is severe/ extreme or if they are struggling to manage their anxiety on their own, encourage them to seek additional support. This might include talking to a therapist or seeking the guidance of a career coach.

Some reasons why your son or daughter has interview anxiety

Here are some of the top reasons why your son or daughter is experiencing interview anxiety that is hindering their job prospects:

1: They have never been taught how to properly prepare for interviews

It is common for young adults to experience interview anxiety because they may not have been taught how to prepare for interviews.

For many, this may be their first time going through the job interview process. Without prior experience or guidance, young adults may feel overwhelmed and uncertain about how to prepare and present themselves in an interview.

Additionally, they may lack the skills and knowledge to answer interview questions effectively, which can further increase their anxiety. By providing education and resources on how to prepare for interviews, we can help young adults feel more confident and prepared when facing job interviews.

2: They are trying to memorise interview answers

Young adults may experience interview anxiety because they may try to memorise interview answers. While it is important to prepare and practice for an interview, trying to memorise responses to potential interview questions can create undue stress and anxiety.

Interviewers are typically looking for authentic, thoughtful answers that showcase an applicant’s skills and experience. Memorising answers can lead to a lack of flexibility and spontaneity during the interview, potentially causing the applicant to appear robotic or insincere.

Instead of focusing solely on memorisation, young adults should practice answering questions in a natural and conversational manner, while highlighting their unique qualifications and experiences. This approach can help alleviate interview anxiety and result in a more successful interview experience.

To get to this point, your son or daughter MUST practise answering interview questions aloud.

3: They see interviews as a test rather than a conversation

This mindset can create a lot of pressure to perform well and can lead to overthinking and anxiety. Interviews are meant to be an opportunity for both the interviewer and the interviewee to have a conversation and learn more about each other.

Young adults who see interviews as a test may focus too much on providing the “right” answer, rather than engaging in a meaningful conversation. This can lead to an impersonal interview, which can further increase anxiety. By viewing interviews as a conversation, young adults can approach the process more naturally and with less pressure, which can lead to a more positive and successful interview experience.

Naturally, there will be times in interviews when your mind goes blank, or you simply do not know an answer, however, with interview training, you can learn how to handle these situations confidently.

Actions you can take to support your son or daughter with interview anxiety

If your son or daughter is experiencing interview anxiety, there are several actions you can take to support them:

1: Hire an interview coach

Hiring an interview coach for your child can be a helpful way to support them through the interview process. Interview coaches are professionals who specialise in helping individuals prepare for job interviews. They can provide personalized guidance and feedback on interview skills, including body language, tone of voice, and answer content.

An interview coach can work with your child to identify their strengths and weaknesses and develop a plan to address any areas of concern. They can also provide practice interviews and simulate common interview questions, helping your child feel more confident and prepared.

Hiring an interview coach is an investment, but one that will set your child up for success throughout their entire career. An interview coach can provide your child with the tools and skills needed to succeed in the interview process and may help them secure a job quickly.

Get in touch with us for interview coaching – don’t wait until they have interviews lined up, let’s start helping them to prepare as early as possible.

2: Support them in their preparation

• Ask your son or daughter to share with you when their upcoming interviews are (day and time) so that you can help them accordingly.
• If their interviews are online, help them to find a location at home that is quiet with good lighting for them to focus during their interviews. Ensure that they have the right equipment such as a laptop and camera. Also, provide them with a bottle of water and a notepad and pen to have during the interview.
• If their interview is in person, help them to plan their route and pick out an outfit for their interview.

3: Be available after the interview for a debrief

Debriefing after an interview can be a valuable tool in helping your child succeed in future job interviews. It allows them to reflect on their performance, identify areas for improvement, and develop a plan to become more confident and successful in the interview process.

• Encourage your child to reflect on the experience
• Review the interview questions
• Provide constructive feedback
• Help them prepare for the next interview

More specific advice

My child has dyslexia & dyscalculia which is contributing to their interview anxiety, how can I help them to navigate the interview process and get a job?

If your child has dyslexia or dyscalculia, they may face unique challenges during the job interview process. Dyslexia is a learning disorder that affects reading, writing, and spelling skills, while dyscalculia affects mathematical skills such as number sense, calculation, and problem-solving.

Here are some strategies you can use to support your child with dyslexia or dyscalculia during the interview process:

• Your child may be eligible for accommodations under the Equality Act 2010 in the UK. Accommodations could include extra time, a quiet space, or the use of assistive technology. Be sure to speak with the interviewer or potential employer about the accommodations your child may need.
• Help your child to prepare for the interview by practising interview skills such as answering questions, making eye contact, and body language. You might also work with your child to prepare written responses to commonly asked interview questions.
• Assistive technology can be a helpful tool for individuals with dyslexia or dyscalculia. Tools such as speech-to-text software, spell-checkers, or calculators can help to alleviate some of the challenges associated with these learning disorders.
• Encourage your child to focus on their strengths and accomplishments, and to be proud of the progress they have made despite their challenges. Building confidence can help to alleviate anxiety and boost their overall performance during the interview.
• Consider seeking support from a career coach or employment specialist who has experience working with individuals with dyslexia or dyscalculia. They can provide additional guidance and support to help your child succeed in their job search.

My child is introverted and quite shy. Is there anything I can do to support them with their interviews?

If your child is an introvert, they may find the job interview process particularly challenging. Introverts tend to be more reserved and may struggle with networking, small talk, and self-promotion.

However, with the right strategies and support, your child can overcome these challenges and succeed in their job search. Here are some tips for supporting your introverted child during the interview process:

• Introverts often have unique strengths, such as their ability to listen, think deeply, and work independently. Encourage your child to focus on these strengths during the interview and highlight how they can bring value to the company.
• Help your child to prepare for the interview by practising their interview skills. This might include rehearsing answers to commonly asked questions, practising their body language, and preparing questions to ask the interviewer.
• The interview process can be draining for introverts, who may need time to recharge after social interactions. Encourage your child to practice self-care, such as taking breaks, meditating, or engaging in hobbies that they enjoy.
• Offer support: Be available to listen to your child’s concerns and provide support throughout the job search process. Encourage them to reach out to mentors or career coaches who can offer additional guidance and support.
• Encourage your child to explore alternative job search strategies, such as online networking, informational interviews, or applying for jobs through recruiters.

My child has social anxiety. How will they be able to succeed in their interviews? 

Social anxiety can cause fear and nervousness in social situations, such as job interviews, which can make it difficult for your child to present themselves in the best possible light. Here are some tips for supporting your child with social anxiety during the interview process:

• Help your child to practice interview skills, such as speaking clearly, making eye contact, and engaging in small talk. Role-playing with your child or practising mock interviews can help to build their confidence.
• Let your child know that it’s normal to feel nervous during job interviews and that many people struggle with social anxiety. Provide reassurance that they can overcome their anxiety and succeed in their job search.
• Encourage your child to use relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing or visualisation, to calm their nerves before and during the interview.
• If your child’s social anxiety is severe, they may benefit from accommodations during the interview process. This might include requesting a quiet space for the interview, using a script or notes during the interview, or having a support person present.
• Consider seeking professional support for your child’s social anxiety. A therapist or counsellor can provide guidance and support to help your child manage their anxiety and build their confidence.
• The interview process can be draining for those with social anxiety, so it’s important for your child to practice self-care. Encourage them to take breaks, engage in activities they enjoy, and practice relaxation techniques to manage their anxiety.

My child has received several rejections after interviews. I think this has negatively impacted their confidence and self-esteem. How can they regain interview confidence?

Rejection after job interviews can be discouraging, especially if it happens repeatedly. As a parent, it’s important to offer support and encouragement to your child during this challenging time. Here are some strategies you can use to help your child cope with job interview rejections:

• Rejection is a normal part of the job search process, and it’s important for your child to keep trying. Encourage them to apply for new positions, attend job fairs, and network with professionals in their field.
• If your child receives feedback after a job interview, encourage them to use it constructively. Help them to identify areas for improvement and work on building their skills and experience.
• It’s easy to get bogged down in negative feedback or rejection, but it’s important to focus on the positives as well. Encourage your child to celebrate their strengths and accomplishments, and to remember that rejection does not define their worth as a person.
• If your child is struggling with job interview rejections, consider seeking additional support from a career coach or therapist. These professionals can offer guidance and support to help your child cope with rejection and build their confidence.
• If your child is struggling to find success in their current field, encourage them to explore alternative career paths or job opportunities. They may discover a new passion or find a career that better aligns with their strengths and interests.

Summary 

Interview anxiety can be a difficult obstacle for young people to overcome, but there are many ways that parents can support their children in their job search.

By understanding the root causes of interview anxiety, preparing thoroughly for the interview, managing nervousness and anxiety, and potentially seeking the guidance of a career coach, parents can help their child to feel more confident and prepared for their interviews. With the right support and strategies in place, your child can overcome their interview anxiety and find success in their job search.

Featured image: Juan Pablo Serrano Arenas

Wearing perfume can help to enhance your confidence, boost your mood and help you to express your personality or individual style. But should you wear perfume to an interview?

This post explains why wearing perfume to an interview might not be a good idea, and what to consider if you do decide to wear a fragrance. 

Why wearing perfume to an interview may not be a good idea

Perfume preferences are subjective, and what smells good to you might not be appealing to someone else. 

When attending an in-person interview, it’s best to err on the side of caution and avoid wearing a strong fragrance. Remember, you want the focus to be on your skills, qualifications and attributes, not your perfume!

Here are some reasons why it’s not a good idea to wear perfume to an interview:

#1: The Interviewer might have Allergies to your Perfume

Your interviewer may have allergies or sensitivities to certain scents. Wearing a strong perfume could cause them to have an allergic reaction, causing symptoms such as sneezing, a runny nose, a headache or itchy, watery eyes to develop. This could make it harder for them (and you) to concentrate on the interview. It might even result in the interview being terminated early. 

Furthermore, you may have an adverse reaction to your perfume, especially if it’s a new scent that you have not worn before. This could distract you and drastically hinder your interview performance. 

#2: Your Interviewer might find your Perfume Overpowering 

Wearing too much perfume could be overwhelming for the interviewer, which could distract them from focusing on your answers. Additionally, strong scents could be perceived as unprofessional or distracting in a professional setting. 

#3: It may show a lack of cultural awareness

In some cultures, it may not be customary to wear strong scents to formal occasions or job interviews. It’s important to consider the cultural norms of the organization you’re interviewing with and the person conducting the interview.

Some cultures perceive strong fragrances as being overly assertive or even aggressive. Additionally many cultures refrain from wearing strong perfumes to avoid distracting others in public spaces. 

#4: It could clash with the company culture or policies

Some companies have policies about fragrance usage in the workplace, and wearing a strong perfume may be perceived as a violation of those policies. For example, it could violate a health and safety policy as some people may have a serious allergic reaction to it, as mentioned above. 

#5: It could trigger negative associations floor the interviewer 

Scents are powerful. Familiar scents can trigger memories of people or experiences. 

If your interviewer has had a negative experience associated with the particular scent you are wearing, it could trigger negative feelings or associations, which could impact their perception of you.

#6: Your perfume could overpower the space you are in

In some interview settings, such as a small conference room or a shared office, wearing strong perfume can make the space feel more enclosed, which could be uncomfortable for the interviewer.

What to consider if you do decide to wear perfume to your interview

Ultimately, it’s your choice to wear perfume to an interview or not. However, the potential down-sides to wearing perfume to an interview may outweigh the benefits. If you do decide to wear a fragrance consider the following points. 

• Choose a subtle scent: Opt for a subtle scent that won’t overpower the interviewer or the space. Light floral or citrus scents are generally safe choices.

• Apply sparingly: Apply the perfume sparingly to avoid overwhelming the interviewer. One or two sprays are usually sufficient.
  
• Apply the perfume in a subtle area:

Here are some subtle places to spray your perfume:

Behind the ears: This is a classic spot to apply perfume, as it is close to the face and neck but not as easily noticeable as other areas.

Inside the elbows: This is a warm area of the body that can help to intensify the scent without being too overwhelming.

Behind the knees: This area is often overlooked, but it can be a good spot to apply perfume as it is a pulse point that generates heat.

On the chest: Applying perfume to the chest can create a subtle scent.

• Test it beforehand: Make sure to test the scent beforehand to ensure that it is not too strong or offensive. Apply it in the morning and see how it wears throughout the day.

• Be aware of your surroundings: If you are interviewing in a small, enclosed space, such as a conference room, be aware that the scent may be more noticeable and adjust accordingly.

• Consider the industry: Some industries, such as healthcare or education, may have stricter policies around fragrance use due to the potential impact on patients or students. Be sure to consider the industry and adjust your scent accordingly.
  
• Consider a perfume alternative: eau de toilette is a lighter and more subtle fragrance than perfume. Eau de toilette has a lower concentration of essential oils than perfume, typically around 5-15% compared to perfume’s concentration of 20-30%. This means that eau de toilette will have a lighter and more delicate fragrance that is not as long-lasting as perfume.

Final thoughts on wearing perfume to an interview

Going back to the original question: Should I wear perfume to an interview? It seems compelling to argue that you should not wear perfume to an interview. Instead, ensure that your clothes are clean and that your personal hygiene is maintained. A strong fragrance might be distracting to you or your interviewer, and even worse, your perfume could trigger your interviewer’s allergies, re-surface bad memories or even cause offence. If you do opt to wear a perfume, select a subtle one such as an eau de toilette, apply it in inconspicuous areas and use it sparingly. 

Got an interview coming up? We can help you to prepare for it with our interview coaching.

Featured image credit: Dids on Pexels

Have you got an upcoming informal chat interview? If so, you’ve come to the right place.

We’ll explain what an informal chat interview is, how to prepare for it, what to wear and ultimately how to impress the interviewer. 

What is an informal chat interview?

An informal chat interview is a casual conversation between an interviewer and a candidate that is less structured and less formal compared to a traditional job interview. It is typically used to get to know the candidate in a more relaxed environment, to see if they would be a good fit for the company culture.

In an informal chat interview, the interviewer may ask you questions about your interests, hobbies, and background, as well as your experience and qualifications for the job. The conversation may include personal topics, such as your life and career goals and aspirations.

What stage of the Interview Process are they held?

Informal interviews are usually held at the beginning of the interview process, before the formal interviews that focus on your competencies and hard skills. However, informal interviews can be held at the end of the interview process before an offer is made. At smaller companies, it is not uncommon to have an informal interview or chat with the founder or CEO at the end of the interview process. 

The aim of an informal chat interview is to allow both the candidate and the interviewer to gain a better understanding of each other and if the job and company is a good fit.

Is an informal interview a good sign?

An informal chat interview can be a good sign as it suggests that the interviewer is interested in getting to know you better and exploring whether you would be a good fit for the role and company.

While a traditional job interview may be more structured and focused on evaluating your skills and qualifications, an informal chat interview is more about getting to know you as a person and seeing how you would fit into the team dynamic.

If you have been invited to an informal chat interview, it means that the company is interested in you as a candidate and is considering you for the role. However, it is important to remember that an informal chat interview is just one step in the hiring process and does not guarantee that you will be offered the job.

An informal chat interview can also be a positive sign that you are moving forward in the hiring process, but it is important to remain professional during the informal chat and continue to prepare for the next steps in the application process.

Why are informal interviews beneficial to the employer?

Informal interviews can provide valuable information to interviewers that may not be available in a formal interview and can help to make the recruitment process more efficient and effective.

Here are some benefits to employers:

• It helps to build rapport: Informal interviews provide an opportunity for the interviewer to establish rapport with the candidate. This can help to make the candidate feel more comfortable and subsequently make them more open with their responses.
  
• It helps the interviewer to get to know you: Informal interviews can provide insights into the candidate’s personality, work style, and interests. This can help the interviewer determine if the candidate is a good fit for the company culture and the job.
  
  As well as being competent to do the job well. The interviewer wants to know if you will be an interesting and likeable person to work with. Feel free to share your hobbies and interests to show that you are a well-rounded individual with a healthy work-life balance.
  
• It can uncover additional information: Informal interviews can provide additional information that may not have come up in a formal interview, such as the candidate’s hobbies or interests. This can help the interviewer to get a more well-rounded picture of the candidate personally as well as professionally.
  
• It can help to save time: Informal interviews can be used as a pre-screening tool, similar to a telephone interview, to determine if a candidate is worth inviting for a formal interview. This can help to save time by eliminating candidates who are not a good fit for the company or the job.

How should I prepare for an informal chat interview?

Preparing for an informal chat interview is important, even though it may be less formal than a traditional job interview. 

Here are some tips to help you prepare:

• Research the company: Review the company’s website, social media channels, and any news articles to learn about its culture, values, and goals.

• Review the job description: Make sure you understand the requirements of the position and how your skills and experience match up with what they are looking for.

• Prepare for personal questions: Think about your interests, hobbies, and career goals so you are prepared to answer any personal questions the interviewer may ask.

• Practice answering common interview questions: Even though an informal chat interview may be less structured, it’s still a good idea to practice answering common interview questions.

• Prepare questions to ask the interviewer: Prepare a list of questions to ask the interviewer about the company and the position to show your interest in the company and the role.

• Dress appropriately: Although an informal chat interview may be more casual than a traditional job interview, you should still dress appropriately and professionally.

• Arrive on time: Make sure you arrive on time or be ready for the scheduled time if it’s an informal video interview.
  
• Get interview coaching: Getting interview coaching is the best way to not only prepare for an interview but to also practice responding to interview questions. 

What are some examples of questions asked at an informal chat interview?

Since informal chat interviews are less structured and more casual than traditional job interviews, the questions asked may vary depending on the interviewer and the position.

Here are some examples of questions that may be asked during an informal chat interview:

• Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?
• What are your hobbies and interests outside of work?
• What inspired you to apply for this position?
• What is your favourite thing about working in this industry?
• What do you consider to be your greatest strength?
• How do you handle stress or difficult situations at work?
• What is your ideal work environment?
• How do you prioritize your tasks and manage your time effectively?
• What is your experience working in a team environment?
• Where do you see yourself in five years?

Remember, these are just examples and the questions may vary depending on the interviewer and the position. The goal of an informal chat interview is to get to know the candidate on a more personal level and see if they would be a good fit for the company culture.

Questions to ask in an informal interview

Remember, an informal interview is typically less structured than a formal one, so you might also ask follow-up questions based on the conversation. 

This can help you gain a better understanding of the company and position and also show that you are engaged and interested.

One of the main reasons people fail interviews is not asking the interviewer the right questions. 

Here are some examples of questions you can ask during an informal chat interview.

• What are the day-to-day responsibilities of this role?
• What do you think are the most important qualities for someone to succeed in this position?
• How do you see this position evolving over time?
• Why has this position opened up within the company?
• What will I have been expected to achieve in the first 6 months?
• Can you tell me more about the team I’ll be working with?
• How does the company support the professional development of its employees?
• Can you tell me more about the company’s culture and values?
• How does the company encourage work-life balance?
• Can you describe any upcoming projects or initiatives that the company is working on?
• What do you like most about working for this company?
• Is there anything else I can provide to further demonstrate my fit for this role?
  

What to wear to an informal chat interview?

For an informal chat interview, it’s important to dress comfortably but presentably, while also keeping in mind the company’s culture and the job.

Here are som tips to consider when deciding what to wear:

• Dress comfortably, but avoid wearing anything too casual. Gym clothes, shorts, or flip-flops are a no-no.

• Consider the job position and company culture when deciding what to wear. For example, if you’re interviewing for a creative or startup company, you may have more leeway with your clothing choices, whereas if you’re interviewing for a corporate position, you may want to dress more formally.

• Keep accessories and makeup simple and understated.

• Pay attention to grooming, such as having clean hair and nails and avoiding overpowering perfumes or aftershaves.

Tip: aim to strike a balance between comfort and professionalism, while keeping in mind the company culture and job position. If you are unsure of what to wear have a look at the company website and see what employees are wearing in company photos for inspiration.

How to impress at an informal chat interview?

Here are some tips on how to impress at an informal chat interview:

• Be yourself: An informal chat interview is an opportunity for the interviewer to get to know you as a person. Be authentic, personable, empathetic and enthusiastic.

• Show interest in the company: Show that you have done your research on the company and the industry. Ask thoughtful questions that demonstrate your interest in the company and the role.

• Demonstrate your knowledge: Showcase your knowledge and experience in the field by discussing relevant topics, sharing your thoughts on industry trends, or describing successful projects you have worked on.

• Highlight your soft skills: Soft skills, such as communication, teamwork, and adaptability, are important in any job. Show how you have used your soft skills in previous roles and how they will be an asset to the company. If you do not have any work experience, talk about your extracurricular activities, hobbies or other life experiences that have helped you to develop your skills.
  
• Be prepared: Make sure you are prepared for the interview by reviewing the job description, researching the company, and practising your answers to common interview questions.
  
• Structure your answers: Responding to the interviewer’s questions in a clear, structured way will help you to get your points across and demonstrate your verbal communication skills. Use the STAR interview technique as a framework to structure your responses.
  
  If your mind goes blank, or you do not know how to respond to a question, ask clarifying questions and respond to the best of your ability, remember, this is an informal discussion, so feel free to ask follow-up questions to gain more clarity instead of making assumptions.

• Be positive: Stay positive and enthusiastic throughout the interview. Avoid negative comments about previous employers or experiences. Demonstrate that you have a growth mindset, and are keen to continually learn and develop your skills with a can-do attitude. 

• Follow up: After the interview, send a thank you email to the interviewer expressing your appreciation for the opportunity to chat with them.

What should I expect at an informal chat interview?

At an informal chat interview, you can expect a more relaxed and casual conversation compared to a traditional job interview.

Here are some things you may expect at an informal chat interview:

• Casual environment: Unlike a traditional interview setting, an informal chat interview may take place in a more casual setting, such as a coffee shop or over the phone.

• Personal questions: The interviewer may ask you more personal questions, such as your interests, hobbies, and aspirations, to get a better sense of who you are as a person.

• Cultural fit: The interviewer may ask you questions about your work style and how you would fit into the company culture.

• Opportunity to ask questions: An informal chat interview is also an opportunity for you to ask the interviewer questions about the company, the position, or the hiring process.

• Shorter time frame: An informal chat interview may be shorter than a traditional job interview and may not cover all the topics that a formal interview would cover. 

Final thoughts 

In conclusion, informal interviews can be a valuable tool in the hiring process. They provide a more relaxed and casual environment for the candidate and interviewer to get to know each other and discuss the job and company.

Informal interviews can provide insights into the candidate’s personality, and interests, and can help to determine if they are a good fit for the company culture, job and industry.

They can also help to save time by eliminating candidates who are not a good fit before inviting them for a formal interview.

It’s important to keep in mind that even though an informal interview may be more relaxed, it’s still a professional setting and candidates should still prepare and present themselves in a professional manner. Likewise, interviewers should treat informal interviews as an opportunity to gain insights into the candidate’s fit for the position and the company.

Informal interviews can be a valuable tool in the hiring process when used appropriately and can help to make the hiring process more efficient and effective for both the candidate and the interviewer.

Featured image: Alexander Suhorucov Pexels

You’ve managed to impress your future employer with your CV and you’ve been invited for a sit-down interview. Congratulations! You don’t want to embarrass yourself, so you spend an hour before the interview practising your lines and doing extra research on your dream company. After speaking with the interviewer for almost an hour, you’re exhausted but glad you got it done. A few days later, you receive an email you dreaded seeing:

“After careful consideration I regret to inform you that on this occasion we have decided not to progress your application any further…”

However, there is another possibility. Where you did everything right, from the creation of your CV to how you portrayed yourself in the interview. You wait for days, knowing you aced the interview and that you will soon be accepted into your dream job. Instead, you receive an email that says,

“Hi, and thank you for taking the time to talk to us about the position. We enjoyed getting to know you and we’d like to invite you for a second interview at our office.”

Even if you do well in the interview, you’re hit with the surprise that it was only the initial interview. So if you succeed, you have to deal with another interview before you’re finally accepted for the job. If you fail the interview, you have to go through the whole process again as you apply somewhere else. Just how many interviews does it take to get a job? The answer is a little more complicated than you would think.

How many interviews will I need to do to get a job?

The number of interviews required to get a job can vary depending on various factors such as the industry, the job level, the employer’s recruitment process, and the competition for the position. However, in general, it is not uncommon for final-year students and graduates to have to attend multiple interviews before being offered a job.

While there is no set number of interviews required to get a graduate job, it is common for graduates to attend two to three interviews before being offered a position. However, it is important to note that each recruitment process is unique, and some employers may require more or fewer interviews depending on their needs and the number of qualified candidates.

Typically, the recruitment process may involve a phone or video interview, followed by one or more in-person interviews with different members of the hiring team or the senior leadership team. The purpose of these interviews is to evaluate a candidate’s skills, experience, personality, and cultural fit.

Why does it take so many interviews?

If you’re one of the lucky few who made it past the second interview, there is a big chance you’ll be called in for your third (and usually final) interview. But that is if you’re able to get past the initial interview. 

Here is a fun statistic for you: on average it takes a UK graduate 4 to 5 different interviews before they’re able to even get to the second or third interview. Rejections occur for many reasons, from a lack of apparent confidence, to a weak voice and even a weak handshake. Very petty reasons to make your life difficult, right? Wrong, there is a reason why employers have such high expectations for their applicants.

But why? Why do employers make you go through such a nerve-wracking gauntlet before they’re able to make a decision on you? You must look at it from their perspective, it is as nerve-wracking for the employer as it is for you. They are looking for someone capable of doing the job and not causing issues in the workplace. So, they need to find someone perfect for the job, otherwise they would have wasted effort on someone they would have to let go.

The way companies do this changes, depending on the industry, but on average the interviewees attend 3 rounds of interviews. The first will occur over the phone (or Zoom, in our current age), followed by two face-to-face interviews. Each interview is designed to weed out employees who would not fit into the company for any reason. From embellishing their CV to simply being unable to get to the office due to commutes. To make sure they’re making the right decision, employers will be as demanding as they feel they need to be. They put their applicant through the gauntlet in order to find the perfect person for the job.

The skill of an interview

At this point you’re either incredibly worried or dealing with a compound anxiety attack with the info you just read. But don’t worry, while the interviewing process is difficult, it is not impossible. You can do this, because ultimately interviewing is a skill, and all skills can be mastered. The reason why it takes four to five attempts for most graduates to get past the sit-down interview is that, through their experiences, they have gained the skill of interviewing. 

But what do employers want? How can you convince them that you’re the person they want to hire? 

The easiest way would be to seek interviews for jobs which you don’t even plan to work in. As mentioned, interviewing is a skill, and all skills require practice in order to master them. But even then, practise can only get you so far if you don’t know what skill you’re trying to refine.

The skill aspect when it comes to interviews, is figuring out how to portray yourself as a perfect employee. This doesn’t involve introducing your personality to your employer, rather it involves adding more dimensions to your CV. You were brought to the interview because of the apparent skills already listed on your CV, but you need to prove in an interview that you actually know how to use these skills. But how do you do that? While there are many auxiliary techniques, such as being confident in your words and looking your interviewer in the eye, there is still one base technique you need: the S.T.A.R Technique.

Preparing for an interview

The S.T.A.R technique is useful for showing you know how to use the skills you listed in your CV. This technique has four components, and to explain them, here is the example of a content creator.

Component 1: Providing a Situation

Let’s say that you once were working on a plan with a team to market a product. But you felt that the team were not properly including the younger audience of the product’s marketing plan.

Component 2: Explaining the Task

You needed to figure out how to steer the marketing team toward including a younger audience.

Component 3: The Action

Through your own personal experience with a younger generation and your usage of social media, you were able to utilise the current memes, as well as your skill in writing to make advertisements, which would get the attention of younger audiences.

Component 4: Displaying Results

Thanks to your work, you were able to persuade the rest of the team to follow your example, allowing the marketing plan to get the attention of more people.

So you have the technique, you know what to expect and you have the experience, but have you properly prepared? Most graduates don’t spend enough time preparing for their interview. Unfortunately, that leaves most people woefully unprepared for the interview.

Usually, graduates spend between 30 and 40 minutes preparing for an interview. In reality, they should spend between 30 and 40 hours. Daunting indeed, but the necessary research and preparation for the interview makes the 40 hour requirement essential.

Want to read more about interviews?

• All you’ve ever wanted to know about answering interview questions.
• Benefits of drinking water during an interview.
• Feeling sad after interviews? How to beat post-interview blues.

Featured photo by Christina Morillo from Pexels

Written by Ohiozoje Aig-Imoukhuede

If you’ve ever been to an interview, then you know they can be nerve-racking. You worry about coming up with impressive answers to your interviewer’s questions, so you can give the best possible impression of yourself. But did you know that the questions that you ask in a job interview can be crucial to your success?

At the end of a job interview, it’s common for your interviewer to ask whether you have any questions for them. It’s easy to forget about this aspect of an interview, but many successful candidates get their job offers at least in part because of the questions that they asked. The type of questions that you ask can tell an interviewer as much, or more, about you than your answers. They can help to demonstrate how your mind works, what you value, and even how you might perform in a particular role.

Why ask questions at an interview?

Interviewers typically see many qualified candidates for each role, so you want to make yourself stand out positively if you can. Since the difference between gaining a job offer or just losing out on one can often be marginal, it’s important to think carefully about what questions to ask at an interview. They could make all the difference.

Your aim, when thinking about questions to ask in an interview, should be to show genuine engagement with the role and the organisation. You want your interviewer to be interested in your question and really think about it. You don’t want it to be one they’ve heard in every interview. Thoughtful and sincere inquires will differentiate you from other candidates and show that you care about the job.

Asking things that you are actually interested to know isn’t just about coming across well to the interviewer, it’s important for you, too. Job descriptions often don’t give you a great deal of information about what the role would entail, so getting a clearer picture during your interview can help you to prepare in the event that you get the job. This makes it easier to hit the ground running when you start.

We can group questions to ask at the end of an interview into three main categories: questions showing your interest in the role, the wider company and its culture, and the interviewer’s own experiences and opinions.

This can be a lot of information to process, so if you want to get a bit of practice before your next job interview, why not enrol in Graduate Coach’s online Nail that Interview course? Use Module 4 (‘Asking Insightful Questions’) to narrow down which of your questions could help you end your interview on a high note.

Questions that show your interest in the role:

The first thing that you want to show in an interview is that you are excited about the role and have the right attitude to succeed in it. You could be incredibly talented, but if you clearly don’t care about the role, you are unlikely to make the interviewer want to hire you. The questions you ask are the best way to show your interest in the job and what it will involve. Questions such as:

• ‘What challenges do you imagine I will encounter in this role, particularly in the first few months?’

• ‘What will be the main priorities in the first months of this job?’

• ‘How is performance measured and how often is it reviewed?’

• ‘What qualities should a candidate have in order to advance in the organisation?’

• ‘What skills do you look for in successful candidates?’

• ‘What are your main proprietary analytics tools (or insert appropriate tool for role)? Will I have the opportunity to train with these?’

Questions about challenges that you might face in the role, along with consideration about potential priorities, demonstrate that you are looking ahead to the job itself and thinking about how best to approach it. Questions about performance and the qualities or skills needed to excel in the organisation show that you are keen to succeed and have ambition. They also indicate that you are thinking about what the organisation values in its employees and how your strengths align with this. Meanwhile, asking some technical questions, such as the final one above, can show that you are keen to get to grips with the specifics of the role.

It’s essential that you tailor your questions to the specific role for which you are applying. The more you can demonstrate that you understand what the role involves, the better.

Questions that show your interest in the organisation, its culture and its field, and your understanding of them:

One of the most fundamental things that an interviewer is looking for is interest in their organisation or company. If you go into an interview with little understanding of what the company does, that immediately gives a bad impression. Some prior research into the company is crucial and can help you devise questions that your interviewer will be keen to answer. After all, they work there already, so they probably have a lot to say about the organisation!

Questions that show your engagement with the organisation can also reassure the interviewer that you would care about your job and fit into their workplace culture. They’re more likely to hire you if they think you would be motivated to excel in the organisation. Questions like these can help you show interest:

• ‘What are the main projects that the organisation/company is currently working on?’

• ‘What are the biggest challenges currently facing the organisation, and how are you addressing these?’

• ‘How do think your organisation differs from (insert peer organisation)?’

• ‘Where do you see the company in 5 years?’

• ‘How do you keep clients/ consumers engaged and satisfied with your organisation?’

Questions about current projects and challenges facing the organisation demonstrate interest in the specifics of the organisation’s work and thoughtfulness as to its direction. Questions about the organisation’s place in its field and divergence from competitors allow you to show your awareness of the industry or field. Asking about where the organisation sees itself in several years can suggest that you are interested in being part of the organisation’s future. In turn, questions about approaches to client satisfaction indicate interest in the organisation’s ethos and its approach to its consumer or client base.

Make sure to include your knowledge of the organisation in your questions, mentioning specific projects or focuses of which you are aware.

If you’re thinking particularly about questions to ask in an interview in the UK, you could inquire about how the organisation has adapted and changed over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic and several lockdowns. Consider asking questions like:

• ‘How has the way your employees work changed over the pandemic and do you see it remaining that way?’ 

• ‘Have your organisation’s priorities or its direction changed since the pandemic started?’

Questions to help you build empathy with your interviewer:

Building a rapport with your interviewer can help you stand out from the crowd of applicants. Asking your interviewer questions about their experiences and opinions may just put you over the top when it comes to a successful interview. Consider questions such as:

• ‘What advice would you give a new employee, based your experience?’

• ‘What do you find most fulfilling about working here?’

• ‘How do you find the organisational culture here?’

These kind of questions can make the interviewer feel valued and lead to a genuine conversation, building a connection. Just remember to keep it professional and not to ask overly personal questions!

With all your questions, remember to prepare them in advance and write them down. It’s good to respond to things that come up in the interview itself, but do have your list of researched questions ready to go as well. Being well-prepared always makes a good impression!

Questions not to ask in an interview:

Lastly, now that you know what sort of questions you should be asking, let’s cover a few things that you probably shouldn’t include in your questions.

• You shouldn’t ask a question purely to show off your skills and experience. If you don’t care genuinely about the answer to your question, the interviewer will probably sense this.

• Don’t ask things about the role or organisation that you should already know from basic research, or about things that were already covered in the interview. This can make it seem like you didn’t prepare properly or were not paying attention to your interviewer.

• Avoid asking too many closed ‘yes’ or ‘no’ questions about the job. These are often questions to which you could have found the answers through your own research. Additionally, this type of question formation rarely delivers fulsome answers ripe for further discussion!

• Don’t ask too many ‘me’ focused questions, i.e. ‘What could I expect my salary to increase by in two years?’ There are, of course, things of that nature that you may wish to know, but try to use your questions to demonstrate enthusiasm about the organisation and what you can contribute to it, rather than asking what you can expect from it.

Further Resources:

If you want to learn a bit more about questions to ask at a job interview, take a look at this short video from Graduate Coach:

Have a look at this free resource regarding questions to ask in an interview.

Written by Nathalie Lahiri

Photo by Edmond Dantès from Pexels

The interview process can be a stressful and uncertain time for candidates, with employers holding their cards close to their chest. It may be difficult to judge how well you’ve done after an interview, which can be hugely frustrating. So how do you know if an interview went well? If you know what to look and listen out for, there are actually a few ways you can tell. 

1. Interviewer Body Language

One key observation to look out for during an interview is the interviewer’s body language. The employer’s general demeanour will give you a good indication of how interested they are in you as a potential employee. If you’re not sure what positive body language to look out for, here are some common indicators:

• The interviewer is smiling, holding eye contact and sitting up straight throughout the interview.
• The interviewer seems interested and engaged in what you’re saying, possibly leaning forwards when you speak and nodding their head along.
• The interviewer is conversational and energised when they are talking and encourages you to speak.

As well as affirmations from the hiring manager, did you feel you had a strong connection with them? Having a good connection can sometimes be important because interviews are as much about discovering the personality of the candidate as it is about their credentials. Ideally, you want your interview to flow naturally like a conversation and avoid it stopping and starting with blunt answers. If the interviewer speaks to you like you’re already part of their team, then that is a great sign the interview went well.

Body language isn’t always a guarantee the employer is interested however. Certain interviewers may be trained to conduct all interviews energetically, while others may naturally seem more relaxed while still being very interested in you as a candidate. Of course, this isn’t a useful sign for interviews conducted via Zoom, as body language can be difficult to interpret on camera. Something that is easier to interpret, however, is what the interviewer speaks about.

2. Interviewer Informed And Sold You On The Job

It is a bad sign if you leave the interview not knowing more about the role than you did going into it. The hiring manager should be informing you of the important information about your role and the business itself. If you are a primary candidate for the role, the interviewer should balance talking about your experiences with your potential specific responsibilities. This is because they want to know if you will be comfortable with your tasks, should you be given the role. Not being informed of these responsibilities is a sign the interview did not go so well

A true sign your interview was successful though, is if the employer attempts to sell you the role. If you’re the candidate they want, then they will make the effort to get you excited about working for that company by selling the benefits of the role and the company culture. They will try to make it clear why it’s better to work there than somewhere else. If they have done this during your interview they will be doing it because you are the candidate they’re after. Because they’re not rolling out the red carpet for every applicant.

3. You Were Asked Many Questions And Yours Were Answered In Full

Another way of knowing if an interview went well is whether your questions were answered in full and how many questions the interviewer asked you. Going into an interview, you should have a number of questions ready to get a better understanding of the role and show the hiring manager you’ve done your research. On the interviewers part, these questions being fully answered positively and in detail is another sign they are trying to sell you on the role and want to make sure you don’t leave the interview with any doubts.

Of course, in any interview, lots of questions will be asked about your work history, skills and the role itself in order to test your critical thinking and comprehension skills. You can tell the interview is going well if you receive an extensive amount of affirmative questions, as this is the interviewer trying to build a detailed profile about you. They wouldn’t waste their time doing this if you weren’t a stand-out candidate.

A positive sign that the employer is interested in hiring you is if they enquire about any other positions you have applied for. They ask these questions because they want to know who their competition is when hiring you. As a result of a successful interview, they will not want to lose out on you to competitors and will be more likely to make a quicker offer.

Closing questions such as possible start dates are also a positive sign because an uninterested employer is unlikely to discuss the post-interview process. 

4. They Talk About The Future

If during the interview, the person you’re speaking to starts to share information on a career path for you in the company and what potential advancements you could make, this is a forward-looking signal. They are trying to assure confidence in you that this role will take you places. As previously mentioned, the employer selling you the job is never a bad sign.

This sign can be taken with a pinch of salt, as interviewers may be instructed to brief you on the next steps of the application process. Generally speaking however, you should be encouraged if a timeline beyond the interview is brought up.

If the interviewer introduces you to potential future colleagues, it may be an indication they are trying to settle you into the company and have already made up their minds about hiring you. 

5. The Interview Lasted a Long Time

A successful interview will never be cut short. If the employer is genuinely interested in you as a candidate then they will want to get as much out of you in the interview as possible. This may mean that your 45-minute interview ends up running for an hour. An interviewer taking their time and not rushing through the meeting is a sign that they want to learn a lot about you and are clearly interested in you for the role.

This is a simple but important indicator that your interview has gone well. Even if you do not end up getting the role, it demonstrates that you are not only a competent candidate but also a likeable and interesting personality too. Which will serve you well in your future applications.

6. You Received a Fast Response

Finally, once the interview is wrapping up, if the interviewer lets you know when you’ll be notified about the position, take that as a gesture of confidence. The hiring manager acting quickly after an interview is a sign they’re ready to move onto the next stage of the hiring process. 

If the employers reach out to you via a call or email in the few days after the interview, even if it is just to thank you for attending, it’s likely you interviewed well. As long as it isn’t a rejection message, quick follow up responses let you know that the hiring company are interested in you and the interview has put you in contention for the role.

If you want to leave a good impression once the interview is finished, a small piece of advice is to send an email thanking the interviewer for their time. This will help demonstrate your desire for the role and will give the hiring manager something to remember when reviewing the candidates later on. 

Noticing these signs will help you know if an interview went well for your future applications. These signs should reduce your anxiety and offer encouragement that your interview was successful but is not a guarantee. Try not to assume you are the front runner for any role after an interview until the company tell you that you have the job. Confidence is good, but cockiness isn’t. Still haven’t landed that dream interview yet? Check out StudentJob and start browsing their 1000’s of vacancies today!

Written by Jack Curtis

Featured photo by fauxels by Pexels

Now that we’re all advised to stay at home, video job interviews are becoming increasingly common. You should prepare for video interviews in the same manner that you prepare for in-person interviews. The key is to appear confident and show your true self.

And although the goal is the same as in a traditional interview, there’s a major difference in the setting. It’s important to ensure that the environment will allow the interviewer to focus on your best qualities and not on the noises in the background.

If you have a video interview coming up, you should be familiar with all the variables involved to ensure a successful outcome. To help you with this, here’s the ultimate guide to nailing your video interview.

#1: Always Over Prepare

You need to be overly prepared for the job interview by doing enough research beforehand. Find out more details about the company and learn about the company culture and work environment so you will know the most appropriate answers to the interview questions.

It’s also a good idea to research the possible questions for applicants who are applying for the same position. Listen to interesting recruitment podcasts and gather ideas and tips from the HR recruitment experts that know everything there is to know about interviewing via the medium of video.

Understanding the history and background of the company you’re applying to is one way to make a good impression on the interviewer. Spend some time reading about the company through its official website.

Follow its social media accounts so you will be updated about the latest happenings in the company. Read news reports and press releases so you will have a solid understanding of the company’s operations. Familiarize yourself with the company’s goals and find out how you can contribute to help achieve these goals.

#2: Create Anchor Points 

Consider making pre-interview notes. Prepare possible answers to the most common questions, such as “tell me about yourself”, “why are you interested in working for this company”, etc. Make bullet points about the key things you want to get across when answering these questions, so you will have something to refer to in case you get lost or go blank.

The notes should be off-camera and don’t make it too obvious every time you need to check the notes to pick up some important points.

Review the job description and familiarize yourself with the roles and responsibilities of the position that you are applying for. Think of the previous work experiences that you have that are related to these roles. Include this in your notes because you will most likely be asked about your previous work experiences.

To minimize the need to look up your notes during the interview, practice answering the questions beforehand. When asked to talk about yourself, the idea is for you to communicate who you are and what about yourself you think you can contribute to the company. Ask a friend or family member to run through the possible interview questions and practice answering them confidently.

#3: Set the Scene

The biggest difference between an in-person interview and a video interview is the environment. Instead of going to the company for the interview, you will not have to leave your home.

This is an advantage for those who often get nervous and anxious when going for in-person job interviews. Since you are in control of the environment, it is your responsibility to make it more appropriate for the interview. Remember that a proper environment is a key factor in the overall success of your job interview.  

Look for a quiet and well-lit area in your home where you can sit down in comfort and not get distracted. But just because the interview will be on Skype does not mean that you can take the call from your bed. Remember, this is a job interview, so make your background look as professional as possible.

Choose a neutral colour for your background and avoid crowded places so your interviewer will not be distracted. More importantly, double-check your Internet connection, audio quality, camera angle, and computer battery, you don’t want to be running around your house mid-interview.

#4: No Interruptions 

When preparing your space for the interview, look for a quiet place that’s free from any form of distractions. Sure, things could happen in life that we cannot avoid, but that is why you have to prepare ahead to avoid any distractions.

For instance, if you have small kids at home, ask someone to look after them, so you won’t be interrupted during your interview. Put your mobile phone in silent mode so you will not be disturbed in case someone calls.

Turn on your laptop at least 30 minutes before the interview. Make sure it’s fully charged and that you are connected to the Internet. Close all unnecessary windows or apps that could cause distraction.

Make sure you won’t receive irrelevant notifications, such as live updates of your favourite shows or the latest sales and promotions from your favourite online shops. Above all, dress appropriately in the same way that you would dress for a traditional in-person job interview.

#5: Strong Internet 

It is crucial to ensure that your Internet connection is strong when preparing for a video interview. If your Internet is not reliable enough, you should get it replaced as soon as you can.

Look for a dependable Internet provider to ensure excellent quality on audio and video feeds. Remember that the last thing you want is to get cut off while you are trying to demonstrate your skills and abilities.

Electronics and embedded systems recruiters know that everyone can suffer from internet issues at some point but it’s one of the most frustrating issues for recruiters of video interviewing when a candidate’s internet cuts out, especially when they have a client on the call and they are interviewing for a tech or electronic position. 

To avoid this test the speed of your Internet using websites like speedtest.net. This will provide both a download and an upload speed. If the interview is through Skype, the recommended speed is 1.5 Mbps for download and upload speed.

If your Internet connection at home is not reliable, you can also consider going to places with excellent Internet access, such as in the public library or Internet cafes.

Don’t forget to bring a headset if you’re going to have an interview in another place. Again, look for a place that’s quiet and free from any distractions. Avoid coffee shops, cafes, and other communal places because these places are obviously too noisy.

If you want to refine your interview technique, enrol in this online interview course.

Featured image credit: Photo by Anna Shvets from Pexels

Telephone interviews are increasingly used by companies as a way to narrow down candidates for a traditional face-to-face interview. It is a way of quickly and easily evaluating if an applicant is suitable for the role and determining whether to keep them in the recruitment process or not. If you have never had a telephone interview before you may be wondering what the protocols are and how you should prepare. In this article, we share our top tips and techniques for a telephone interview to help you prepare.

Research

As with any interview, it is crucial to have researched the company beforehand. You should know several key details about it, such as it’s size, structure, products and services, and the markets and industries it’s involved in. The employer’s website will usually have most of this information. But searching beyond the company’s own website is always a good idea. You might be able to find reports on growth and expansion online through news articles or journals. Also make sure to have a look at some competitors, to give yourself more context on the industry.

If you know who is going to interview you, it is worth googling their name and finding out about them, such as checking their LinkedIn.

You will also need to know the skills and experience that the job specification requires of you. Make sure to scan through your CV and highlight key experiences that you can as examples in the interview if you are called on to demonstrate a certian skill.

Write Down Your Questions

As in in-person interviews, a phone interview is an opportunity for you to find out more about the job and the company. Interviews go both ways; you need to know as much as you can about the role and company to know if you want to take the job. Have some questions written down, as they will ask you at the end if you have any. It is a way to show the employer that you are interested and enthusiastic about the role.

The questions can be about the culture of the company or opportunities for progression. Really ask yourself what you want to know when brainstorming. If you want some more ideas, here is our guide to the best questions you can ask. Resist the urge to ask about the salary, benefits, and holidays. If the interviewer hasn’t mentioned any details about the next step in the process, you should ask them about what to expect.

Have Your CV at Hand

You should have your CV next to you and be prepared to talk through it. They will often ask you about your experience at the start and having your CV to hand as a point of reference will make this easier. Practice talking about three or four key experiences from your past that exemplify certain skills you know will be relevant to the position. Having these stories at the ready in the interview will better prepare you when they ask about your CV.

Be Ready for Competency Questions

Competency questions will often ask about soft skills such as communication, teamwork, and leadership. For graduate jobs teamwork, adaptability, and being able to learn quickly are popular skills.

A possible example is: “Describe a time when you were put under a lot of pressure at work. How did you cope?”

The best technique to use to prepare for this is the STAR technique. STAR is an acronym of situation, task, action, and result. Preparing stories in this format will provide a strong and coherent structure to your answers. This will mean your responses to the interviewer will come off prepared, confident, and professional. You can read more on the STAR technique and how to use it here.

Establish a Personal Connection

The most successful interviewees are the ones who are able to make a personal connection with the interviewers. Always remaining professional, ask the interviewers how they are once the call begins. Make the interviewers laugh and show genuine interest in them as people beyond their roles in the company. Establishing a personal connection early on will impress the interviewers and get them on your side for the rest of the call. It is this social connection that will work in your favour if you are up against equally qualified candidates.

Practice

As with most public speaking, practicing helps lower nerves and strengthen your responses. Ask a family member or friend to give you a practice run. Have your CV and research ready in order to make it as close to the real interview as possible. If you are practicing solo, record yourself giving mock answers to see how you sound and how you come across on a phone.

Find a Quiet Spot

Find somewhere with strong signal and make sure your phone or laptop is charged. Double-check who is going to be calling and at what time and be ready 15 minutes beforehand. You should be in a quiet room where you can talk freely, a place where nobody is going to barge in unexpectedly. If there are family members around, let them know not to bother you for the next hour.

Sit at a desk or table and not slouch on a sofa or bed. Make sure the only things on the desk are relevant to the interview. Make sure there are no apps on your phone that are likely to disturb the call with notifications, and of course, turn off any distractions such as a TV or radio. If you are easily distracted, you might not want to sit near a window where something might catch your eye.

Finally, do not eat anything during the interview. Drinking water is absolutely fine, especially if your mouth dries from nerves, but make sure you have eaten well beforehand.

Listen Actively

Listening is crucial in any interview. But make sure you listen carefully. Active listening is more than just keeping silent while another person talks. Listen to fully undertstand their questions. Take notes. The interviewer will want to know that you are attentive and that you pay attention to the details. If anything sticks out as important, write it down. Ask a question related to it when you can. You will come across as agile and thoughtful doing this.

Listening also helps you to not dominate the conversation. Interviews are two-way conversations, and you do not want to come across as rude or oblivious. You need to find out about the employer, and the interview is the best time to do so. Ask questions. Listen to their responses. Always allow the interviewer to control and guide the conversation.

Do Not Interrupt

This should not come as a surpose, but never interrupt the interviewer. You are trying to impress them. While interviews are often about competency, hiring managers are looking for social and cultural fit too. Interrupting them will not help you give a good impression. Make sure to let them finish what they’re asking, and do not jump in too early just because you think you are ready to answer the question. Be polite and allow them to have the dominant role in the conversation.

Smile

Though the interviewer cannot see you, it is still important to smile. It helps boost your mood, lower anxiety, and will help you sound more enthusiastic and alert. You might be surprised how simple this trick is, especially for how big an impact it can have. You do not want to come across as bored or uninterested in the role, so make sure your body language reinforces the attitude you want to express.

Don’t Sound Bored

As how smiling can affect the way you sound and the mood you’re in, so can boredom. Allowing yourself to be distracted or letting boredom slow your thoughts will come across in the way you speak. If you feel your attention moving away from the call during your interview, snap yourself back into it. Interviews aren’t always exciting, but they’re important and you need to sound engaged the entire time.

Be Professional

You are not having a casual chat, so your speech should reflect this. Do not use informal phrases or slang and try to maintain a professional tone.

When the call, answer the phone promptly. During the call make sure you are aware of the speed of your speech. Often in interviews candidates are nervous and speak too quickly, so avoid rushing your responses to come across as more relaxed and confident. Be concise and to the point.

Allow a few seconds after a question has been asked to respond, to avoid talking over the interviewer and to have some time to think. Having a brief pause will also let the interviewer know that you are considering the question and not just saying whatever comes into your head.

You also might want to dress as if you were going for a face to face interview. This will help you get into the right mindset and reinforce a professional attitude. It will be harder to take it seriously if you haven’t changed after waking up.

Be Confident

Most important of all, keep confident. At this point you have prepared for the interview, you have your research, you’ve practiced your responses, you know what the role is and what kinds of skills the interveiwers will be asking for. You have no reason to be nervous because you’ve done all that you can to prepare. So now just breathe, remind yourself you are fully capable and a strong candidate, and let that confidence come out as you speak.

Ask About Next Steps

As the call winds down the interviewer should mention what the next steps are in the interview process. This includes when you can expect to hear back if you will move forward. If they don’t bring it up on their own, ask. This is routine and will show you are invested in the interview process and want the role.

Conclusion

Succeeding in a telephone interview requires many of the same things as succeeding in a face-to-face interview. Do your homework, prepare answers, and practice. The more you do the more confident you’ll come across. Refer to this guide whenever you need to, but if you are still struggling and want more support we are here to help. We offer 1-to-1 interview coaching to help you nail that next telephone interview.

Featured Photo by Hassan OUAJBIR from Pexels

STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result. The STAR interview technique is a really useful method of answering certain types of job interview questions, ensuring that you cover the major elements of what the employer is looking for. In this article, we will explain in detail what the STAR method is, how and when to use it, how to prepare for interviews with it and some examples of questions and answers.

What is the STAR interview method?

The STAR method is a way of answering interview questions and setting out how you resolved an issue in a way that demonstrates your skills. It creates a four-part response that is easy to follow, with a problem and a clear resolution. Here is an explanation for the four-letter of STAR:

Situation

Provide context for your response by explaining the situation you were in and the challenge you or your team had to deal with.

Ideally, you want to talk about experiences at work. However, if you can’t think of a relevant example from work or if you lack work experience then you should give an example from university or from volunteering or internships.

You don’t want to spend too much time outlining the situation, as the action you took and the resolution are more important.

Example: “A customer phoned us to complain that they had not yet received their package which was now far outside our normal delivery times.”

Task

For this part of your response, you should detail your role or responsibility in regard to the situation. Basically, talk about the task set for you to resolve the situation.

This part of the response should also take little time to describe the situation.

Example: “I had to address the customer’s complaint, find out what had happened to the delivery and ensure that their package got to them as soon as possible.”

Action

Here you should clearly explain what actions you took to resolve the problem. This part of your response should be the longest, as the interviewer is most interested in how you deal with difficult situations. You need to tell the interviewer the most important steps you took to fix the situation.
It is important to emphasise your personal actions, even if you were involved in a team effort. Make sure to say “I” instead of “We” when discussing your actions, after all the interviewer is looking to hire you, not your team.
Example: “I apologised to the customer and asked for their details. By checking our system and contacting our delivery firm, I was able to find out that the cause of the problem was an email inbox being neglected by our company and the address misspelt by the customer. I then called the customer for the correct delivery details and ensured their package was with them the next day. I also offered them a discount on their next purchase.”

Result

Here you need to describe the positive result of your actions. This is also an important part of your response so make sure to give some detail.

Tell the interviewer two or three of the outcomes of your actions to demonstrate that you had a positive impact on the situation. You could also talk about what you learned and how you’re now a wiser employee.

Example: “I recommended a new system to my manager, that would lead to all of the company’s email inboxes being checked more frequently. I contacted the customer a week after, they informed me that they had used the discount and had given us a positive review on google.”

The STAR method is one of the best behavioural interview tools, but we’ve also got tons of interview advice for all stages of the process: All You’ve Ever Wanted to Know About Answering Interview Questions.

Why is the STAR technique important?

During interviews, you want to provide a detailed and coherent answer that explains your strengths. The STAR method gives your answers a clear and memorable structure. If you stick to the STAR method, you won’t forget anything important, and it also ensures you don’t go off track.

Many companies now train their interviewers to give competency-based interview questions, often having the STAR method in mind. They will be listening intently to see if you use the framework in your answers, as a sign that you have understood the question and answered appropriately.

They may continue to question you if part of your response is lacking, for example, if you don’t adequately outline the results of your actions. Giving coherent STAR answers will impress them and improve your chances of proceeding further in the recruitment process.

How to prepare for an interview with the STAR method

It is important to learn how to use the STAR method when preparing for your interviews, in order to give yourself the best chance of success. But first here is some background on behavioural or competency-based questions to help you better understand how to apply the STAR method to answer them.

What are behavioural interview questions?

Interviewers use behavioural interview questions to learn how you have worked in previous roles. They want to know about specific examples in the past that will give them an idea of how you will deal with problems and what you will bring to the company.

The questions will often ask about soft skills such as communication, teamwork, and leadership. For graduate jobs, teamwork and being able to learn quickly are popular skills.

You won’t know the exact questions ahead of the interview. Most interviews however will concentrate on past work experiences that demonstrate a variety of skills.

There are several specific categories that behavioural questions all fall into:

• Teamwork
• Problem Solving
• Initiative/Leadership
• Interpersonal Skills
• Pressure

When preparing for your interview, review the role you are applying for and try to think about what types of questions they will focus on. If it is a customer-facing role, they will be most interested in your interpersonal and conflict resolution skills.

By focusing on the skills that the company is looking for in the role, it will help you prepare appropriate answers from your work experience.

STAR interview question examples

Here are some examples of common behavioural questions you might be asked during an interview:

• Have you ever made an unpopular decision? How did you and your team handle it?
• Describe a time when you were put under a lot of pressure at work. How did you cope?
• Describe a mistake you’ve made. How did you handle it?
• Give an example of a time you had to make a difficult decision. What did you do?
• Tell us about a time when you disagreed with your boss. What happened?
• Describe a situation when you had a conflict with a colleague. How did you handle it?
• Describe a situation where you used data or logic to make a suggestion.
• Tell us about a time when you had to persuade a co-worker to do something.
• Share an example of a time when you failed. What did you learn?
• Have you ever had to motivate others? What did you do?
• Share an example of when you set and achieved a specific goal.
• Tell us about a time you collaborated with other departments to complete a project. How did it go?

How to prepare for an interview with the STAR method

Photo by Startup Stock Photos from Pexels

Review the job description

Re-read the job description and reflect on what sorts of skills are required and what challenges you might have to face in the position.

Go over common behavioural interview questions 

The list above is a good place to start. The questions will not be exactly the same, but the themes will be.
The interviewer might ask about a situation where you have had a tight deadline or they might ask about handling stress at work. Their goal in either question would be to understand how you perform under pressure. It is invaluable to go over the question and prepare answers for them so that you will not be caught out on the day.

Write down examples

Make sure to write down examples of situations you’ve had in your professional life that would display the sorts of skills you’ll need to gain the role. Again, make reference to the example questions to help. Prepare each example using the STAR structure.

Practice giving your answers 

Practice speaking your replies out loud to make sure each story is clear and coherent. This will also help you to feel more confident and relaxed during the interview.

Be quantitative

Recruiters and managers like hearing about numbers. If you can quote tangible results to support your STAR stories, they will be impressed. For example, maybe your actions increased productivity by 10%. Having facts and data to support your stories will always be welcomed.

Be concise

You want to keep your stories short and to the point. You don’t want to lose yourself in unnecessary details or bore the interviewer. Always have the STAR structure in mind and don’t spend too long on one section of the answer.

Be honest

Companies want to hire somebody who is genuine and honest. You don’t want to bother impressing the interviewers with false stories. They may pick up on it or it could be revealed later on in your employment, either way, it will not reflect well on your character.

How to use the STAR interview technique effectively

Here are the steps to using the STAR interview technique effectively when you are in an interview:

1. Listen carefully to the question: Pay attention to the interviewer’s question and think about specific situations from your past experience that could be relevant. Ask the interviewer to repeat the question or ask clarifying questions if needed.
2. Choose an appropriate example: Select an example that best fits the question and demonstrates your skills, experience, and accomplishments. Take some time to think of the best response before answering.
3. Use the STAR method to structure your answer: Break down your response into Situation, Task, Action, and Result, and provide specific details and examples to support each component.

Examples of STAR interview answers

Question: Describe a situation when you had a conflict with a colleague. How did you handle it?

Response: Yes, in a previous role there was a colleague who took against me early on. She would ignore my suggestions in meetings and on more than one occasion gossip about me in the office cafeteria.
I decided to deal with the situation in a mature way. I understand that you cannot get on with everyone in the workplace, however, situations like this can negatively affect the whole company. Therefore, my aim was to find out if I had annoyed her in the past and try to find a solution.

I approached her and asked her if we could have a private meeting when convenient. We sat together away from our colleagues. I calmly explained my concerns about our professional relationship in a non-confrontational manner. At first, the conversation was difficult but then she relented and apologised for her obtuse behaviour.

We both agreed that we should foster a professional and cordial relationship for the benefit of both us and the department. I think it is crucial to tackle interpersonal conflicts in a professional manner before they develop into larger problems.

Question: Describe a situation when you were asked something by a customer and you didn’t know the answer.

Response: When I was volunteering in a charity shop, I was asked by a customer if we had any more stock of a certain product. 

I could not see any on the shop floor, but I knew that there might be more stock downstairs and that the manager would know both if we had any and where it was. However, I was not allowed to leave the till unattended while I was working there.

I asked one of the other volunteers who were on the shop floor to cover the till for me, while I went downstairs to ask the manager if we had any more stock left.

I returned with the extra stock, and the customer purchased it, and thanked me for my help.

Common mistakes when answering STAR questions

Not answering the question

If you are asked a behavioural question and you can’t think up an answer on the spot, then it is better to come out and say that. This is always better than trying to invent a story.

You shouldn’t ask the interviewer to move on though. You could instead explain to the interviewer what you would do in the given situation, maybe with reference to your previous answers.

Not being well prepared

An interviewer will be able to tell if you haven’t done your homework. If you are coming up with an answer to every question on the spot your answers will likely also be less clear and concise.

Make sure that you have prepared well and it will come across to the interviewer. It will also help you relax.

Prepare about four or five STAR stories that demonstrate a range of your skills and the behaviours an interviewer is looking for.

Appearing too prepared

You don’t want your responses to come across as being overly rehearsed or robotic. They need to seem organic. Do not memorise your responses exactly word for word, but make sure you know the key points to build your responses around.

Giving a response that is not a success

Make sure you stick to giving responses that have positive outcomes for the company and for your own growth.

The interviewer might try to inquire into your story in order to pry extra details out of you. So be aware of this and make sure the examples you cite do not have traces of details you don’t want to reveal or bad outcomes.

Giving an irrelevant response

Giving a response that does not refer to the question asked tells the interviewer that you are not focusing, or that you just want to give a well-rehearsed response even if it’s irrelevant. Either way, it will not come across well.

Over-exaggerating

You might be tempted to exaggerate your responses to make yourself sound better to impress your interviewer.

Don’t give a response where you are a superhero who saved the company from financial ruin. You do not need to exaggerate your actions or the results, the interviewers are looking for competent and truthful candidates. Also, it will not reflect well if you belittle the efforts of your past co-workers or make it seem like you were the only employee getting things done.

If you’ve just graduated and don’t have a long work history to draw from, you can consider examples from volunteer work, internships, or group work you completed for university. Sometimes you will be asked for an example from outside work, so also think of challenges you’ve tackled in your personal life. You can click here if you are struggling because you are a graduate with no work experience.

The key to all your responses is to make sure they have a clearly defined Situation, Task, Action and Result. This is the best way to demonstrate your skills and abilities that relate to the role.

Key points to remember

The fundamental points when remembering how to use the STAR interview technique are the following:

Memorise

Having the STAR acronym memorised will help you put your thoughts in order to answer a list of behavioural interview questions. Also, remember the proper order to give a clear answer and tick all the interviewer’s boxes.

Practice

Devote some time to writing out STAR responses to practice questions before the big day. Make sure all the points have enough detail for the story to be coherent, but not too much that the important points get lost.

Prepare

Prepare well for your interview and avoid panicking on the day by studying the practice questions above.

Conclusion

Learning how to use the STAR interview technique will pay off in your interviews.

Standing out to your interviewers at a behavioural or competency-based interview relies on you giving clear and concise responses to their questions. You don’t want to leave any doubt in their mind that you are a competent employee who can overcome a range of challenges. Add quantifiable data to your answers when possible to support your claims.

It’s okay to add on some mistakes that you made in order to come across as relatable and human. It will also help convince the interviewer that you are being truthful. Do not focus on mistakes and make sure your responses have positive outcomes.

Do not over-learn your responses so that you find yourself reeling them off word for word. You need to come across naturally. Keep your responses natural and conversational and you will find that the STAR technique is invaluable in helping you demonstrate your skills in an ordered and easy to remember way.

For more advice on interviews and the recruitment process, you can visit Graduate Coach. We also offer one to one interview training.

Featured Photo by Gustavo Fring from Pexels