Interview skills

Source: https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/careers/how-to-apply/interview-skills/ Parent: https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/careers/how-to-apply/

Interviews are a key part of the application process. Employers use interviews to assess your suitability for the job and to explore in greater depth the skills and experiences you have talked about in your cover letter or CV.

If you're interested in using generative AI, like ChatGPT, to help you prepare for your interview, read the Careers Centre's advice on using generative AI.

Preparing for an interview

Graduates First

This resource provides free, unlimited access to:

• video interview practice
• personalised AI-based feedback and guidance
• competency and strength-based interviews
• industry and firm-specific interviews
• case study, business acumen, market estimation and logical Interviews
• advice on recording technology and how to put on a professional look in your video interviews.

Graduates First

Before the interview

• Research the job and organisation thoroughly.
• Use Saint Connect and LinkedIn to identify St Andrews alumni who could provide knowledge of the organisation's interviewing processes.
• Consider using Glassdoor to learn about previous interviewees' experiences.
• Be aware that interview questions and practices may change over time.

Prepare answers to the following, general questions, which most interviews are likely to explore:

• Why do I want this job, with this employer?
• Why should the organisation pick me?
• What are currently the biggest challenges and issues in the organisation’s sector?
• What are my strengths and weaknesses?
• What have I gained from my course?
• What skills have I developed from my work experience and extra-curricular activities?
• What are my longer-term career goals?

In addition, you should prepare a few questions to ask the interviewer at the end of the interview. This shows you are engaged with the opportunity and curious about the organisation. For example, you could ask things like:

• What would you like me to accomplish within the first six months?
• How do you provide feedback to your employees?
• Can you describe a current or past employee who was successful here, and what made them a success?

Try to avoid asking about things that are clearly stated in the job description. You should also avoid asking about holiday entitlement or pay.

During the interview

During the interview, try to relax: if you have prepared, then there is no need to worry. There are also some general things you should do to make the best impression on the interviewer:

• Be polite from the beginning, such as to whoever welcomes you into the building, before the interview formally begins. The interviewers may well ask the person who welcomed you what they thought of you.
• Dress professionally, unless the employer has specified a different, more casual dress code.
• Focus on the interviewers: listen to the questions carefully and make sure you answer what is being asked.
• If there is more than one person interviewing you, try to make eye contact with everybody, not just the person asking the question.
• If possible, try to create a dialogue with the interviewers, showing that you are also interested in them.

Types of interviews

There are several types of interviews an employer might use when interviewing you. Though the advice given above is relevant to all of these, there is additional advice applicable to specific interview types.

During an interview, an interviewer may ask questions from various interview types. For example, if you are told that your interview will be a competency-based interview, the interviewer may still begin the interview with a strengths-based question.

Open all

• Competency-based interviews

• Strengths-based interview

• Values-based interview

• Technical interviews

• Video interviews

Disability-related resources

• Resources for students with disabilities - find out about disability-friendly employers and how to request reasonable adjustments during the application process.
• EmployAbility – a non-profit organisation that supports neurodiverse and disabled students and graduates into employment. Register to access free support and a range of opportunities.

Additional resources

• Interview tips (Prospects)
• How to deal with job interview nerves (TARGETjobs)
• STAR interview technique (Career Connect pathway)
• How to take the guesswork out of your interview preparation (Career Connect pathway)