It sounds a simple thing to say, but, in my experience working with clients preparing for job interviews, it must still be said: know the challenges facing the sector.
Employers need you to be knowledgeable about the sector. If you’re going for a Deputy Principal’s job, you must know about the recent Literacy and Numeracy Strategy – and you must know it in some depth.
What is the strategy trying to achieve? Why was it brought in? How might it roll out in this school?
Knowing the sector can also mean knowing the competitors. What are they pushing? How are they pushing it? How do we differentiate from them? These are all questions you must answer – even if you are not asked them. You volunteer your sector and company knowledge every chance you get during the interview,
Have legislative changes made things difficult or easier in the sector? How? Why? Sometimes the morning papers on the very day of the interview itself will contain news of relevance to your sector: it would not be good to go in there without knowing the impact of this news.
It can be easy to get sucked into fretting about your own ‘stuff’ – but for a really great interview, you should know plenty about the sector. It adds depth to your interview and convinces them you have a genuine passion for this sector.
And employers crave people with passion.
Sabina Trench is a Career Coach with Sli Nua Careers and works out of Westport, Co. Mayo. You can read more abouther, and make a booking HERE for CV Preparation and Interview Training.
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