Preparing for Interview

Young people in Sixth Form need the benefits of continuous practice in rehearsing key interview techniques given that demand for entry into competitive third level courses requires them to demonstrate motivation and commitment at interview level.
Writing in the nijobfinder.co.uk supplement of the 'Belfast Telegraph,' week ending 27th September 2009, Symon Ross suggests that simple interview questions are likely to be the ones that make or break an applicant's chances of securing the place. Quite often at interview the selectors are looking for that something extra special from the person they are interviewing. It is important to stress that preparation is key for success at interview. University selectors may well want to know why the student has applied to their particular university faculty, so assiduous research by the student is strongly recommended. Ross's article has been written to coincide with the publication of  new book on interviews published by the consumer organisation Which? Should you wish to purchase a copy, details of the title and author are listed for you:

'Tough Interview Questions and How to Answer Them' by Rachel Adamson

Here's one suggestion for those Careers Teachers preparing Year 14s for university interview. It worked well for me when I was preparing Year 14s for interview. Post an invitation on the careers noticeboard for Year 14 to enter dates of their upcoming interviews. Arrange with the Careers Adviser (DEL) when he/she would be available for ONE hour in the week to sit with you in a mock interview session. To complete the interview panel each time invite TWO Year 14 students whose names have appeared on the noticeboard to join you. For one of the Year 14s their task is simply to keep a record of the performance of the interviewee for plenary discussion either at the end of the session or in a further individual guidance session.  The other Year 14 student will join you and the Careers Adviser in asking appropriate questions.

 I found this worked well as it gave potential interviewees for HE courses experience on both sides of the 'table'. The Careers Teacher should build up a bank of potential questions for him/herself by asking the Year14 student to provide a copy of the questions asked at the actual interview on their return to school. Before that, however, as part of their research, the Year 14 coming for the mock interview should be asked to devise their own set of questions. These question can also be retained by the Careers teacher as a potential bank of questions for any future sessions. The Higher Education Academy, together with the Council for Industry & Higher Education, launched a series of Student Employability Profiles for over 50 university courses back in 2006. More than likely it's been updated.  If not the original is still an excellent resource.  The material provides terrific potential for building up a bank of questions for your mock interviews.

 Check out  Student Employability Profiles  at www.heacademy.ac.uk