i
nterviews:
in the hot seat
The information below applies to all
Make sure you get a good night’s sleep the
interviews – whether they are for a
night before and follow these simple relaxation
vacation program placement, scholarship,
exercises before the interview:
cadetship or graduate position.
• Take a few deep breaths, and then breath slowly
If you have a high-quality application
and calmly
• Visualise yourself answering the questions well
and the right skills for the job or vacation
and confidently
work placement, you may be invited for
• Tense up different parts of your body, and then
an interview. This is your opportunity to
slowly release the tension.
convince the employer that you are the
right person for the position.
Be prepared
If you are well-prepared the nerves
Spend time preparing for an interview – it is well
will not affect your performance.
worth it. If you are well-prepared, you will be
more confident and better able to respond to the
interviewers. To be prepared:
1. Compile a portfolio with job-related
Types of interviews
information, such as academic transcripts,
The most common interview types are: one-
references, and copies of your resume. on-one, panel, campus-based, case-style and
2. Review the recruitment information. behaviour-based.
3. Research the organisation.
In one-on-one and panel interviews, the style can
4. Read over your application.
vary from formal to relaxed, and will often reflect
5. Practise answering likely questions.
the personalities of the interviewers.
6. Ask the contact officer (if appropriate)
for information about the interview, such
In a panel interview answer the person who asked
as: what type of interview it will be, the you the question but use eye contact to respond
expected duration, if there is anything
to other interviewers as well.
specific you should bring, the name(s) and
position(s) of the interviewers.
Graduate employers often run preliminary
7. Know the exact place and time of the
interviews on campus, so seize the opportunities
interview, and organise travel arrangements
at your university. These interviews will give you,
well in advance. as much as the employer, a chance to see whether
8. Organise what you will wear in advance you are ‘well matched’.
(smart professional is the only way to go).
In case-style interviews applicants are
Countdown presented with a hypothetical work situation.
In the days before your interview you are likely As the interviewee, your task is to become the
to feel nervous; this is normal so don’t let it professional: you clarify the facts, present a
overwhelm you. If you are well-prepared the framework for thinking about the issues, and then
nerves will not affect your performance. come to conclusions.
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