Interview tips for graduates - originally presented at the University of Northampton in 2008.

1. Job Interviews – Advice for Graduates….. Idealpeople on tour at Northampton University, 2008

3. To grow the company into new markets and regions

4. To deliver new and different services

5. To replace someone who’s lefti.e. TO SOLVE A PROBLEM……………

7. Companies use interviews to assess who is best to solve that problem

9. Identify what the company’s problem is, and identify how you can solve that problem

10. Remember that interviewers get nervous too

11. Make a great first impression by looking your best, and make sure your greeting / handshake conveys your personality.

13. Talk achievements

14. The company is on interview too!

15. Be on time (not too early, not too late)

16. Ask intelligent questions

18. As much as possible about the person interviewing you

19. As much as possible about the company’s products, services and marketHaving this information helps you understand what the problem is the company are looking to solve.

20. TASK How long does it take to find out this information? Using just the internet, who can find out the most (or can suggest how to find out about) MY professional background? HOT TIP: Sign up to www.linkedin.com HOT TIP: Read up on Boolean Searching & Google…the power of internet search is HUGE.

23. How many of you would like to?

25. Ask about the company, its products, its market.

26. Ask about the role and the prospects within it. Ask about career path and where the job is going.

28. Don’t ask what the working hours are

29. Don’t ask how many holidays you get

30. Don’t ask how long you get for lunch

32. Tough Interview Questions you’re bound to hear What are your strengths and weaknesses? This is a stupid question. If you get asked it, try this response: “Well, my strengths are A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M…etc. Oh, and I haven’t got any weaknesses.”

33. Tough Interview Questions you’re bound to hear Give me an example of a time when you did X This is a competency-based interview question designed to avoid a “Yes” or “No” answer to a question like “have you done X before?” (The most common one is “an example of a time when you worked really hard on multiple projects”) To answer these, always stick to the truth. These are hard in graduate interviews, but stick to simple examples. Don’t make stuff up – you’ll only fall over later on.

34. More examples of tough questions?

35. The Company’s on interview too… By then end of an interview, you should be at the point where you could confidently accept the job if you were offered it. Remember that the company must impress you as much as you must impress them.

38. For more hints, tips, help.... Go to www.idealpeopleblog.com – full of hints, tips, insider secrets Or e-mail me: nick.gallimore@idealpeople.net