If you're considering applying for an Apprenticeship you should definitely brush up on your interview skills. This presentation is packed full of tips on communication and presentation skills for successful interviews.

1. INTERVIEW SKILLS
For Apprentices

2. Interview Skills
• Learn how to get ready for an Apprenticeship interview
• Find out how to respond to some crucial questions
• Review your interview performance and be able to nail it
every time.

3. Preparation is VERY important
• Wear something that’s smart and professional
• No headwear – you’ll look like you’ve got something to
hide (except religious headwear)
• No flesh on show
• Wacky ties – NO.
Appearance

4. Preparation is VERY important
• Accessories – less is more
• Subtle makeup
• Odours – be careful of too much perfume or too little
deodorant
• Facial hair – clean and trimmed
• Piercing and tattoos may deter an employer.
Appearance continued

5. The Arrival
• Important to create the right impression with everyone
you meet
• Be polite and introduce yourself to the receptionist.
Remember you are on show from the
moment you are seen

6. Confidence
• Try to calm your nerves – breathing exercises can help
• Create a positive state of mind before you arrive
• Think of your biggest strength – the main reason why you
should be chosen for this job.
As you’re waiting to go
into your interview,
you’re probably going
to feel a bit nervous

7. Confidence
• Proper
• Planning and
• Preparation
• Prevents
• Poor
• Performance.
(the 6 Ps)
One of the best ways to boost
confidence is within your own control

8. Confidence
• Know about the job and the company
• Anticipate the questions you will be
asked and practice your answers
• Have some questions you could ask
• Practice your communication skills –
mock interview
• Practice positive body language – look
the part.

9. The Start of the Interview
• Walk and stand up straight
• When you stand make sure your
weight is balanced firmly between both
feet
• This will help encourage a strong, but
relaxed posture.
Entering the room & getting settled

10. The Start of the Interview
• A firm but not crushing handshake is the one to go for (no
wet fish!)
• Eye contact – look at the interviewer when you shake
their hand and smile
• Sit up straight – don’t slouch in your chair, it says I don’t
care.
Entering the room & getting settled

11. The Interview
There are many typical questions that
can trip you up, but with pre-planning
you can answer with confidence

12. The Interview
1. What is your biggest weakness?
The interviewer wants to see that you are self-aware and how
you are working to improve yourself. When you left school, did
public speaking make you nervous? However, you’ve since
practiced making speeches, thus improving your comms skills
and becoming more comfortable speaking in front of groups.
Acknowledging how you’ve learned from the past shows that you
can turn a weakness into a strength.

13. The Interview
2. Why should we hire you?
They are asking what makes you special and where do
your major strengths lie. You should be able to find what
they are looking for from the job description. “I have a
unique combination of strong technical skills and the ability
to build a rapport with customers” is a good opening
sentence, but then you need to back it up with specific
examples.

14. The Interview
3. Why do you want the job?
They are listening for an answer that indicates you’ve given
this some thought. If you’ve prepared properly you should
have a good idea of the company’s values, mission
statement and products. Use this information to explain
how your goals matches their company’s ethos and how
you would relish the opportunity to work for them.

15. The Interview
4. Tell me about yourself
Often the first question you are asked and can really throw
you off guard if you’ve not prepared. Give a good balanced
answer not your life story. Begin with an overview of your
highest qualification and your time in the academy. Go over
any jobs you’ve had, you can roughly follow the structure of
your CV. Give examples of achievements and skills you’ve
picked up along the way.

16. The Interview
Tell us more
The interviewer will probably take notes and ask you to
expand on any areas that they would like more information
on.

17. The Interview
If its your first job
Focus on those areas of study that you most enjoyed and
explain how this has led you to wanting this role. Explain
what you’ve done outside of school or college to show an
interest in the type of work you’re applying for.

18. Marketing yourself successfully
• Nerves will make you speed up, so make sure you
slow down when you speak
• Use pauses to help you do this
• Make sure you say every word clearly
• Try and smile as well
• Practice reading out aloud to improve your
vocals and learn to emphasise different
words.
Your voice is one of your greatest
assets

19. Marketing yourself successfully
• Eye contact will help you build a rapport and give you
confidence if used in the right way
• Always look the questioner in the eye, but not in a way that
scares them
• Be confident and don’t stare past your questioner or at the floor
• Avoid glancing nervously around the
room it’s a sign you’ve got something
to hide.
Eye contact is very powerful

20. Marketing yourself successfully
• If there is more than one interviewer make sure you look
at them all in turn when answering the questions.
• The most powerful moment to use eye contact is at the
end of your sentence. Make sure you hold the
interviewers attention by not looking away.
Eye contact is very powerful

21. Marketing yourself successfully
• Gesturing with your hands can give your voice more
energy
• Don’t overdo it – you’re not directing traffic!
• Imagine that you’re moving in slow motion - this will help
you control hand movements
• Don’t fidget and play around with your hair, pen etc.
Use your hands to increase your
personal impact

22. Marketing yourself successfully
• Practice
• Practice
• Practice… all of this in front of a mirror.
It’s a good idea to:

23. Marketing yourself successfully
The more you practice, the more
comfortable you’ll feel and the more
confident you’ll be in your interview

24. If you don’t get the job
• However, try to make the most of the experience
• Analyse your performance
• Ask the interviewer for feedback
• This will help you improve your performance next time
If you don’t get a job you really want, you
can feel quite depressed

25. Reasons why apprentices don’t get
the job
• Limit your answers to ‘yes’ and ‘no’?
• Talk too much/not enough?
• Find questions too difficult to answer?
• Give answers that didn’t seem to satisfy the interviewer?
• Provide recent and relevant evidence?
• Feel able to discuss your strengths and weaknesses?
• Show that you were listening to the interviewer?
After an interview, check if these apply to
you. Did you:

26. Reasons why Apprentices don’t get
the job
• Say why you wanted to work for the organisation?
• Seem confident, interested and enthusiastic about the
job?
• Dress and behave appropriately?
After an interview, check if these apply to
you. Did you:

27. Reflect on key learning points
• What have you learned?
• What have you realised about yourself?
• What are you going to do now to bounce back and be
prepared for your next interview?
There will be a number of actions you
want to take, but try to focus on the most
significant points:

28. Find out more at
www.socialmediaapprentice.com