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Your Body Language May Shape Who You Are | Amy Cuddy | TED

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We have put togther some Ppt slides for you to have a look at to add to the interview practice during your time on course. Have a read of the Ppt slides and use as a reference for when you practice your interview skills.

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We have put togther some Ppt slides for you to have a look at to add to the interview practice during your time on course. Have a read of the Ppt slides and use as a reference for when you practice your interview skills.

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The top nine tricky interview questions and how to answer them

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Example situation

You have a job interview tomorrow and decide to travel into town in the morning so you can go to a coffee shop nearby to look over your notes. However, you sleep in on the day and have to rush to the interview without looking over your notes. During the interview, you did not know a great deal about the company and could not answer some questions.

Feelings: This stage in the cycle actively encourages you to consider your feelings during the experience and how they may have impacted the experience. You may consider:

What did you feel before this situation took place?

What did you feel while this situation took place?

What do you think other people felt during this situation?

What did you feel after the situation?

What do you think other people feel about the situation now?

The day before the interview you were excited but nervous for the interview, you felt tired after a long day at your current job so decided to go to bed early rather than prepare the night before. When you were rushing to the interview you felt panicked about the lack of time and frustrated you slept through your alarm. During the interview, you lacked confidence when asked about the company but were satisfied with your overall performance.

Evaluation: Now you can evaluate objectively what worked and what didn't in the situation. Consider the positives and negatives, what did you do to contribute to the situation?

You were able to give good insights into the role and put yourself forward positively. However, you were not organised and did not set enough time to look over your notes and research the company.

Analysis: This is where you can dig deeper into what happened, why did things go/not go well?

You were not able to dedicate enough time to the interview because you were working long shifts prior to the day. On reflection, you could have spent more time in the days leading up to the interview to conduct your research, so you wouldn't need to dedicate the day of the interview to do the bulk of the work. In doing this, you would have felt more confident in your ability and left the interview feeling positive.

Conclusions: At this stage you should summarise your learnings and note what changes you could action to improve the outcome in future. Consider what you have learned from the experience, what skills could you develop from this and what else you could have done to make this a better outcome.

You learned that your time management and organisation could be better in both work and life situations. You should create a plan of action before tackling a big event like a job interview and not leave things to the last minute.

Action Plan: Now, you should create an actionable plan for what you would do differently in a similar situation. Consider what you will do differently, how you will develop the skills to do this and how you will commit to taking this action?

When you applied for the job could have taken notes of for the role. This would have helped you to build up a base level knowledge and understanding of the job and business before the interview. You should begin to plan out your days, creating to do lists and allocate time to do each task to become more organised and liable for everyday tasks.

The Gibbs Reflective Cycle is a tool that may work for you to begin your reflective practice. Depending on your situation, you can use it to help process how you react to your experiences, so you can be more confident in your decisions and how you react to them in future.

There is no wrong path in life, your experiences shape where you go and how you move on personally and within your career. Reflective practice is one of the easiest things to drop when the pressure is on, yet it's one of the things that you can least afford to drop, especially under those circumstances. Time spent on reflective practice will ensure that you are focusing on the things that really matter and you will continue to adapt to new challenges.

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You have a job interview tomorrow and decide to travel into town in the morning so you can go to a coffee shop nearby to look over your notes. However, you sleep in on the day and have to rush to the interview without looking over your notes.

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Complete the Google Form 2 via the link given to you by Grant/James

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Complete the Google Form 2 via the link given to you by Grant/James

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This will help you to reflect on what you have learnt/experienced on course about your employability skills and how to make the next move.

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Work through the advice given by Skills Development Scotland to support your interview preparation

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Work through the advice given by Skills Development Scotland to support your interview preparation

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Your interview most likely will be competency based. That means the interviewer will ask you questions about your experience and skills.

Do not worry if you're worried about answering those types of questions - that's normal.

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Your interview most likely will be competency based. That means the interviewer will ask you questions about your experience and skills. Do not worry if you're worried about answering those types of questions - that's normal.

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Have a look at career management skills and their importance. Also work through the skills explorer tool and CV builder to get you started.

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Have a look at career management skills and their importance. Also work through the skills explorer tool and CV builder to get you started.

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We have put togther some Ppt slides for you to have a look at to add to the CV meetings during your time on course. Have a read of the Ppt slides and use as a reference for when you are writing your CV.

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We have put togther some Ppt slides for you to have a look at to add to the CV meetings during your time on course. Have a read of the Ppt slides and use as a reference for when you are writing your CV.

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Complete the Google Form 1 via the link given to you by Grant/James

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Complete the Google Form 1 via the link given to you by Grant/James

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This will help you to start thinking about your employability skills and how this course can help you.

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Five Ways To Boost Your Career Through Targeted Reflection

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To stand out in job searches, interviews, and while at work, you need to know how you perform best and what motivates you. These targeted reflection exercises can help you gain self-awareness that will set you apart from the crowd.

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Some things to think of when drafting your CV

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Some things to think of when drafting your CV

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Through our careers services, we are working to equip our customers with the skills and confidence they need to navigate the changes ahead and take advantage of opportunities that arise.

Our professionally qualified careers advisers do this by supporting all our customers to develop their Career Management Skills (CMS).

CMS empower individuals to identify the skills they have and the ones they need to develop, to help them realise their potential at any stage in their life.

A workforce with CMS supports economic growth by putting the right people in the right jobs connecting the needs of people and businesses.

Our approach focuses on four key themes:

Self - Achieving a clear understanding of who you are, what is important to you and how you fit into the world around you

Strengths - Developing an understanding of what you're good at and how you can use your strengths

Horizons - Learning to visualise, plan and achieve career aspirations throughout your entire working life

Networks - Understanding the importance of work and social relationships in building your career.

A Scotland-wide approach

The CMS approach is embedded throughout SDS services.

As well as delivering it through our careers advisers and careers web service My World of Work, we work in partnership with other organisations to deliver CMS in schools and colleges across Scotland.

The CMS Framework for Scotland was developed in partnership with Scottish Government, Education Scotland, Scottish Qualifications Authority and other professional guidance practitioners and academics.

Partners also include schools, training providers, colleges and universities, employers and Jobcentre Plus.

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Take control of your work with Career Management Skills

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Empowering people to take control of their job ambitions with Career Management Skills

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Use some of the example CVs to help construct yours.

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Use some of the example CVs to help construct yours.

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Complete the Skills Section on 'My World of Work'

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Complete the Skills Section on 'My World of Work'

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Skills are something we learn through experience and that we can apply to things we do.

What skills there are

Learn more about your skills, how you can develop them and demonstrate these to employers.

Using the Skills Explorer tool

Using our Skills Explorer tool will give you an understanding of what your skills are.

This will help you decide which job you want and what to include in job applications to showcase the skills you have to offer.

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Explore career options with our Skills Explorer tool

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Skills are something we learn through experience and that we can apply to things we do. Learn more about your skills, how you can develop them and demonstrate these to employers. Using our Skills Explorer tool will give you an understanding of what your skills are.

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I like 'Google Keep' as it syncs with my phone/laptop, what do you like? Have a look at the attached picture - Strategies to Support Reflection - to get ideas of how you think/take notes about what you are doing/learning and what you need to do next

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I like 'Google Keep' as it syncs with my phone/laptop, what do you like? Have a look at the attached picture - Strategies to Support Reflection - to get ideas of how you think/take notes about what you are doing/learning and what you need to do next

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Make a start with the CV Builder on 'My World of Work'

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Make a start with the CV Builder on 'My World of Work'

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A CV is what an employer reads before deciding whether to interview you for a job.

When you write one, you're highlighting all your great qualities into one easy to read document.

Your CV should include:

basic details like your full name and contact details

your qualifications

your skills

any work experience you have

your hobbies or passions

Usually, your CV will be supported by a personal statement and a cover letter.

It's also good to practice to keep your CV updated with any new work experience and skills you've learned. This means it's always ready for the next opportunity that comes along.

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A CV is what an employer reads before deciding whether to interview you for a job. When you write one, you're highlighting all your great qualities into one easy to read document.

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Use this template to help from your STAR example answers

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Use this template to help from your STAR example answers

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Guardian Jobs STAR technique template (1)

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Ben Chapman 14 The Park Smalltown Smallshire SM52 6ZN brchapman99@gmail.com 07889987987

Stan Stanislas International recruitment partner International Company International House Northtown PJ7 2LX

15th March 2021

Dear Mr Stanislas

Re: International business graduate programme

I would like to apply for your international business graduate programme which I have seen advertised on the Prospects.ac.uk website and on your company website. I am enclosing my CV.

I am in the third year of an English with drama degree which has equipped me with skills such as:

Being able to present to groups of all sizes in formal lecture settings as well as on stage.

Organisation (of myself and others) when staging productions, for my course and in extra-curricular activities.

Written and verbal communication through coursework, essay-writing and workshops.

Working with others on timebound projects in groupwork, presentations and productions.

Set-building, prop-making and lighting and sound.

I am particularly proud of initiating a workshop production of Grease in a local special needs school, as my final-year project. With three other students, I worked with 13 to 19 year olds who had never performed for an audience - increasing their self-esteem, concentration and life skills. As you will appreciate, this involved a lot of negotiation with the school, parents and young people as well as nurturing to bring out unrealised talent. We won the department drama prize for this project.

Before starting at university I took a year out to work and travel. I was pleased to be able to use (and improve) my language skills - French in the Far East and Spanish in South America. I spent some of the time travelling alone which exposed me to local culture and developed my self-reliance and resilience. I also did some casual work, in a bar and a hostel, while in Australia.

Travelling and working abroad has whetted my appetite for an international career. I can see how different parts of the world can learn from each other and work together. I look forward to putting this into practice on your international graduate programme - and with your company in the future.

Yours sincerely

(Sign your name here)

Ben Chapman

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Ben Chapman 14 The Park Smalltown Smallshire SM52 6ZN brchapman99@gmail.com 07889987987 Stan Stanislas International recruitment partner International Company International House Northtown PJ7 2LX 15th March 2021 Dear Mr Stanislas Re: International business graduate programme I would like to apply for your international business graduate programme which I have seen advertised on the Prospects.ac.uk website and on your company website.

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Questions that an employer should not be asking at interview

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Questions that an employer should not be asking at interview

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Employment law- Interviews

If at interview, you are asked questions that relate to a "protected characteristic" under the Equality Act, (namely age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation), and you are then treated less favourably because of your answers, then you are entitled to make a claim of unlawful discrimination at an employment tribunal. This would apply where, for example, you were not offered a job because you replied to a question in the positive about whether or not you had, or were planning to have, children.

In particular, if you have been rejected in favour of someone of the opposite sex or of a different racial group (even though you have the same or better skills) and you can show that you were materially disadvantaged by the way in which the interview was conducted, you will have a strong argument that the selection decision was discriminatory.

This is not to say that it is unlawful to actually be asked questions that relate to your age or marriage etc, but that your employer is at risk of an allegation of discrimination after the question has been asked.

If you decide to take the matter to tribunal and can prove facts from which the tribunal could conclude that the employer has discriminated, the burden of proof then shifts to the employer. This means that if the employer cannot provide a credible non-discriminatory explanation for its actions, the tribunal will uphold the complaint.

Even if the discrimination is done unintentionally and for which the employer would say it wasn't sanctioned, this is no defence to the act of discrimination. The employer's knowledge or approval is irrelevant.

So, what shouldn't a prospective employer ask you at the interview stage?

It follows that you should not be asked any questions that go against the spirit and aim of the Equality Act which states that you should not be discriminated against in relation to the "protected characteristics".

1. Health

You generally should not be asked about health or disability related questions either at interview stage or on an application form - including how many days' sickness you had in your previous employment. This is unlawful under the Equality Act 2010.

However, you can be asked about your ability to carry out a function which is essential or intrinsic, to the role that you are applying for. If you have a disability that could impact on your ability to do the role, your employer should consider whether you can still do it if reasonable adjustments were made.
For example, if you apply for a role in a distribution warehouse, where you will need to carry heavy boxes, a prospective employer is entitled to ask you whether you have any health condition which may impact on your ability to perform this task. The ability to carry is essential to the role, so the employer is allowed to ask you this question.
Health inquiries can be made after you have successfully landed the job, but only to ensure that there are no obstacles to being able to carry out your role, and to address whether reasonable adjustments are necessary. Your employer cannot ask for a medical report on you without your knowledge or consent.

There are some limited situations when an employer is allowed to ask questions about your health or disability before offering you a job. These include:

questions to monitor diversity in the range of applicants, although the monitoring form should be kept separate from the main application form;

questions to establish if you're able to benefit from positive action measures the employer has in place - for example, a guaranteed interview scheme;

if the job you're applying for requires someone with a particular disability where this is an occupational requirement of the job.

In all these situations, the employer needs to make clear why they're asking these questions and what will be done with the information.

2. Age

You should not be asked your age or date of birth. Crafty employers do try to get round this by posing related questions, such as asking an older applicant how long he or she sees herself working until retirement, but this would also be unlawful.

3. Marital status/children/pregnancy

Prospective employers should avoid asking questions about your marital status, whether you have children, or are planning a family soon. It is acceptable, though, to be asked whether there are any responsibilities that could interfere with your attendance at work. You should furthermore not be questioned about your sexual preference.

4. Race

If, on the basis of your name or appearance, an interviewer were to ask about where you were born, your race, native language, or religious views or affiliations, this could be seen as potential discrimination if you are not offered the role. You should be interviewed on the merits of your expertise only, for the role you are applying for.

5. Previous convictions

The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) allows most convictions and all cautions, reprimands and final warnings to be considered "spent" after a certain period. This period - known as the rehabilitation period - is determined by the sentence or disposal given, rather than by the type of offence. The ROA gives people with spent convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings the legal right not to disclose them when applying for jobs.

For custodial and community sentences, the rehabilitation period will start from the end of the total sentence imposed by the court - not from the actual time served in custody (i.e. the day of release).

It is against the law for an organisation to obtain information about an individual's spent cautions or convictions unless the law specifically states that they can ask an exempted question; usually when someone is applying for a job or role that is exempt from the ROA (such as the police force). If you apply for a job that is exempt from the ROA, an employer is entitled to request details of spent and unspent convictions and cautions that are not protected and is entitled to take this information into account when determining your suitability for the role.

What counts as a spent conviction?

Convictions with a sentence of 4 years or less will become spent after a certain period of time ( the "'rehabilitation period'). Its length depends on how severe the penalty was.

Rehabilitation periods for England and Wales

Custodial sentence Rehabilitation period (from end of sentence):
0 - 6 months = 2 years
6 - 30 months = 4 years
30 months -4 years = 7 years
more than 4 years = never
Non-custodial sentence Rehabilitation period (from end of sentence):

-community order = 1 year
-fine = 1 year (from date of conviction)
-absolute discharge = none

Am I entitled to written reasons for why I was unsuccessful at the interview?

There is no legal obligation for an employer to respond to your request. But a failure to do so may be enough to satisfy you, and in turn an employment tribunal, that there was a discriminatory reason why you did not get the job.

Can you be disciplined because you are applying for a new job?

You are entitled to look for a new position and you cannot generally be disciplined for doing so. It is certainly not a reason to dismiss you. If your job performance suffers because your attentions are diverted and you no longer have interest in the job, that is a different matter and you could be disciplined on capability grounds. Similarly, you may subsequently find yourself more isolated by your employer if you are working on specific matters and where loyalty to the business is essential.

Where you do need to be careful is where you are using work computers in your search for a new role. This personal use of your employer's IT systems could amount to a breach of company policy, and some employers will be more lenient than others in this regard. Even if you are conducting your search during lunchtimes and after work hours, the fact that you are using work computers and telephones in your job search puts you at risk.

Does my employer have to agree to let me have time off for interviews?

Not normally, so you may need to take a whole or part of a day off as part of your annual leave.

An exception, however, is where you are being made redundant. You are entitled to be paid for reasonable time off during your notice period to look for another job, provided that you have been continuously employed for 2 years by the date your notice expires (although there are exclusions to this for certain employees). What is 'reasonable' depends on your circumstances including where you live, the type of work you do and how far you are willing to travel for that work. If your employer refuses to allow you to take time off for this purpose or does not pay you, you could bring a claim in the employment tribunal.
Sex Discrimination Race Discrimination Disability Discrimination Age Discrimination Employment Law FAQs Contact Form

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Interviews-what employer's can't ask- Landau Law Solicitors

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If at interview, you are asked questions that relate to a "protected characteristic" under the Equality Act, (namely age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation), and you are then treated less favourably because of your answers, then you are entitled to make a claim of unlawful discrimination at an employment tribunal.

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Interview preparation explained in depth

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Interview preparation explained in depth

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In order to put in a good performance and secure the job you need to make sure you're prepared. Take a look at these tips to get you interview ready

Types of interview

There are different types of job interview. In some cases, you'll only need to succeed at one of these to land the role. In others, particularly at large graduate employers, you may face several interview formats throughout the application process.

Face-to face - the traditional and still most common form of interview. You'll attend the employer's office and be questioned on your suitability for the job by an individual or panel. Face-to-face interviews usually last between 45 minutes and two hours, and may be preceded or followed by tests and exercises. Questions may be strength-based or competency-based.

Telephone - often used by employers early in the application process to filter large numbers of applicants. If you're successful, you'll typically be invited to a face-to-face interview or assessment centre. Expect a telephone interview to last around half an hour.

Video - increasingly popular among large employers, particularly for applications to graduate schemes. Video interviews can be live or pre-recorded and tend to last around half an hour.

Assessment centres - lasting a full day they enable employers to compare the performance of lots of candidates at the same time. You'll attend an assessment centre with other applicants and take part in tasks such as presentations, team exercises and psychometric tests.

Interview research

Your performance in an interview depends, to a significant extent, on how well you prepare. Don't leave this until the last minute. In the days leading up to the interview, focus your research on the:

Employer - you need to show that you understand the business beyond the basics. What sector does it operate in? What challenges does it face? Who are its competitors? What major projects has it recently completed? What are its culture and values? This kind of knowledge demonstrates a genuine interest.

Role - read the job description again and, if you completed an application form, go over it to refresh your memory of how your skills and qualifications match the job. It's vital that you can explain why you want the job, that you understand the role and, even more importantly, why the employer should choose you over other candidates.

Interview panel - try to find out who will be interviewing you. The email inviting you to the interview may include this information. Use LinkedIn and the 'About us' section of the company website to find out more about their professional interests and experience. This may help you to connect with your interviewers and create a positive impression during the interview.

Questions - consider how you'll answer common interview questions, as well as preparing some questions you'd like to ask the interviewer.

There are also some practical things to plan. When and where is the interview taking place? Have you planned your journey and checked the timetables for any public transport you need to take? Does all your equipment work for video and telephone interviews?

Getting a good nights sleep and having a healthy breakfast on the morning of your interview will stand you in good stead. If your interview is scheduled after lunchtime, make sure you eat something even if you're feeling nervous - you won't put in your best performance on an empty stomach.

Practice job interviews

It's a good idea to do at least one mock interview before the real thing. Your university careers and employability service will help you to practice your interview technique.

You can also write and practise answers to common interview questions with someone you trust - possibly even recording yourself and then reviewing your performance.

It's also worth testing your telephone connection and making sure that your laptop, microphone and any other technical equipment you need is working, and you know how to use them.

What to take

pen and notebook

your CV and interview invitation

your academic certificates and work examples if requested

photo ID

breath mints or gum

a bottle of water

money for transport and food.

In addition, for online interviews you may also need:

laptop/computer

headset/earphones

microphone

log in for the software you need to use.

What to wear to an interview

While many employers expect candidates to dress smartly, a growing number encourage casual wear at work, making it trickier than ever to choose an interview outfit.

What you'll be expected to wear depends on factors such as the size of the company, the industry it operates in and the culture it promotes. For example, a small creative agency may have different standards to a major accountancy firm.

If you're unsure on the dress code, ask before attending the interview. The key point to remember is that it's better to be too smart than too casual. Only opt for a more casual outfit if you're certain that's acceptable - if there's any doubt, go for smart business attire. Whatever you choose, make sure that your clothes are ironed and your shoes are clean.

For telephone and online interviews make sure you dress as though the interview is in person. Sitting in your tracksuit bottoms trying to act professional probably isn't going to go too well.

4 ways to make a good impression

As you're preparing for the interview, think about ways you can show yourself in a positive light:

1. Punctuality - arriving late will increase your stress levels and give the employer a bad first impression, so do your best to arrive in good time.

2. Positivity and enthusiasm - be polite and professional with any staff you meet before or after the interview and, if you're feeling particularly nervous, remind yourself that the worst thing that could happen is not getting the job. During the interview, respond to questions with positive statements, be enthusiastic about the job and avoid badmouthing your previous employers or university tutors.

3. Body language - give a firm handshake to your interviewer(s) before and after the session. Once you're seated, sit naturally without slouching in your chair or leaning on the desk. Throughout the interview, remember to smile frequently and maintain eye contact.

4. Clarity - answer all questions clearly and concisely, evidencing your most relevant skills, experiences and achievements. It's acceptable to pause before answering a difficult question to give yourself thinking time, or asking for clarification if you're unsure what a question means. When answering, don't speak too quickly.

After the interview

As your job interview comes to an end, make sure you find out when you'll be informed of the outcome - and thank the interviewer for giving you the chance to attend.

Make some notes about the questions that were asked and how you answered them while the interview is still fresh in your memory. This will help you prepare even better for future interviews.

There are three potential outcomes:

Success - if you're offered the job, make sure it's right for you by discussing it with friends and family, and double-check details such as the salary before deciding whether to accept.

Rejection - if you're unsuccessful, don't be too downhearted as graduate employers receive large numbers of applications for every role. Email the company to thank them for the opportunity and request feedback from your interview so that you can improve your performance next time.

Further steps - interviews are typically the final stage in the application process, but if the employer has not been able to make a decision you may be asked back for a second interview.

Written by Rachel Swain, Editorial manager

Prospects · May 2022

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Discover all you need to know about interview techniques including what to take with you, what to wear and four ways to make a good impression.

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How Can Volunteering Help You Get a Job?