The Importance of Structure in Interview Responses
Picture this: you’re in an interview, the interviewer leans forward, asks you a question…and your mind races. You know you’ve got a good example, often more than one, but as you start talking it comes out in a jumble. Halfway through, you realise you’re rambling. By the end, you’re not even sure if you answered […]
Eight interview tips on how to show you’re more than just a smooth talker
Q: I am talkative, and I think quickly on my feet. People would say I am rarely stuck for a word. I sometimes feel that people think this means I am flighty or lacking in depth – in fact, as I’ve shown throughout my college years, I have great focus and attention to detail. Just […]
How to strike the right tone in community work interview
Q: My friend is going for an interview in a fortnight as a community development worker with a youth organisation. The role will involve helping young people growing up in difficult circumstances to get involved in activities such as sport, drama, art, volunteering and the like. She is newly qualified in this area but hasn’t […]
Figuring out the lie of the land in SME interviews
Following on from our recent advice column written by an executive with vast experience of interviewing candidates in the public sector, we thought it might be useful to complement that with a view from the private sector. We sourced the following from a successful businessperson in the midlands. It is based on years of hard-won […]
How to fit the bill in public service interview
Q: I’m going for a job in the public service next week. I’ve been in the private sector for many years and I far I may not be able to persuade them I have the adaptability to make the change. Could you give me some tips? (RT, email). A: Well done RT, fail to prepare… […]
Seven common job interview errors – and how to avoid them
Not letting them know you really want the job. It’s crucial to show a genuine desire for the position during the interview. While it’s important to remain professional, don’t be afraid to express your excitement about the opportunity. You can do this by asking informed questions about the company and the role, and by sharing […]
Confessions of a job interview candidate
This isn’t a question. It is my own personal experience from a job interview I did last week. I hadn’t done one in about six years, and I was nervous beforehand, not least because I really want to escape my current incarceration, sorry, job, writes “Regular Reader, CP”. I tried to avoid putting a lot […]
How CV walk-through can be a winner
Q: At the start of the interview, they asked me to “walk us through your CV”. I probably rambled on. It’s not today or yesterday that I started in the workplace. Eventually they cut me short before I’d even got to my current role. I realised then I’d probably made a hash of it. The […]
Seven tips to shine in a recorded job interview
Q: I’ve been called for a job interview in a fortnight’s time. But this is not any ordinary interview: I’m being interviewed by a camera. Yes, it will be recorded, and then judged by someone else and I will then learn my fate. The process is devoid of human interaction. How cold! I’m spooked. Ease […]
Eight things not to do in a job interview
Q: Can you give me some ‘must not do in a job interview’ pointers? I fear that I have built up some bad habits over the years and I would like to start eradicating them. It almost feels like I need a total reset. Your pointers might kickstart me? (OK, email). A: My pleasure. Here […]