UCL CAREERS SERVICE Succeeding at interview and assessment

UCL CAREERS SERVICE Succeeding at interview and assessment centres Dave Carter UCL Careers Adviser

Aims of today’s session • • • gain an insight into what to expect identify the 3 key areas of preparation understand the typical ‘interview dynamic’ learn how to create a good first impression identify types of question and how to tackle them • know where to look for further support 2

Accuracy of Selection Methods Graphology 0% 0% Astrology 0% 25% References 12% 50% Typical interviews 15% 75% Biodata 38% 100% Work sample tests 55% Assessment Centres 68% Personality Tests 38% Ability tests 54% Structured interview using job analysis 63% 3

Public sector recruitment process Pre-assessment centre • Self Assessment – realistic job preview questionnaire – numerical/ verbal reasoning Q’s • complete online application form (20 K) • online reasoning and competencies testing (10 K) • test centre e-tray (3 K) Assessment centre: (1 K) • written exercise – policy recommendation • group exercise – role play • briefing exercise • competency-based interview (350 successful candidates) 4

Psychometric Tests Aptitude: verbal, numerical and diagrammatic. • • administered under exam conditions or online strictly timed – approx. 30 Q’s in 30 minutes multiple choice: right/ wrong answers verbal tests depend on comprehension of the passage not outside knowledge. Personality questionnaires • explore the way you react or deal with situations • not looking for rigid ‘typical’ personality profile • may receive feedback and form basis of discussion at interview 5

Aptitude practice test answers • Verbal reasoning – 1: B 2: A 3: B • Numerical reasoning – 4: B 5: E 6: D 6

Succeeding at psychometric Tests Aptitude: • brush up on arithmetic, fractions and ratios, practice crosswords etc. • ‘How to pass’ books available to ‘loan’ from careers service • practise in test conditions at the careers service Personality questionnaires: • be as honest as you can • practise in test conditions at the careers service (see website for details). 7

Preparation • re-read your application – what might interest/ worry an interviewer • familiarise yourself with job description/ person specification – what skills, qualities and experience are they looking for? what examples can you give? • research the company and the sector – usp’s, customers, competitors, ‘swot’, values – website, annual report; industry press – company presentations, talk to people working in related fields, (LINX alumni website) 8

Creating a good impression • know where to go and be on time – location – journey time • be pleasant to everybody • dress appropriately – better to be overdressed and conservative – pass the office to get an idea • know who you’re meeting • prepare yourself mentally 9

Interviews: Primacy and Recency The Perfect Interview – Max Eggert, Random House Business Books, 1999 10

Performance - impact The impact we make is based on… - what we say (7%) - how we say it (38%) - unspoken signals (55%) 11

Performance - body language • walk confidently into the interview and shake hands. • make eye contact and smile • use mirroring techniques – e. g. leaning forward, laughing • stay alert – sit upright, nod • don’t stare or look down • slow your movements • breathe 12

Types of questions • Biographical – What aspects of your degree are you enjoying? – Tell me about yourself? – What are your main strengths and weaknesses? • Motivational – Why are you interested in this role within our organisation? – Who else have you applied to and do you have any other job offers? – How do you keep up to date with developments in this industry sector? – Follow-up: Tell me something you have read recently. Why did this interest you and what do you think are the key issues? • Behavioural/ competence – Tell me about a time when you worked within an effective team and what was your role? – When have you shown good organisational skills and the ability to prioritise effectively? 13

Types of questions • hypothetical/ brainteasers – How could I estimate the number of dentists that operate in the UK? – How would you persuade doctors to listen to you if you were a business manager? (NHS) – What would you do if I asked you to do something you disagreed with? • Technical – Give an example of where you have demonstrated your (specific) technical knowledge to overcome a complex problem? – Why might a company be worth more to another company than it’s present market valuation? (Corporate finance) • Inappropriate - Questions which you feel are potentially discriminatory. - Ask yourself –’Would someone of a different sex, age, race or religion be asked this question? 14

Answering questions • listen carefully! - answer the question asked. • treat a closed question as though it were open: – are you enjoying your degree? – Tell me about your degree course and what you are enjoying? • talk openly and with enthusiasm about your achievements, but… – don’t waffle – keep answers to a maximum of 1 to 2 minutes – don’t overstate them and avoid apologising or being negative. • structure your stories: – S: Situation – T: Task – A: Action – R: Result 15

Typical interview scoring schedule ‘Tell me about a time when you showed good organisational skills and the ability to plan effectively. ’ Unacceptable: Scores 1 & 2 Above average: scores 3 and 4 • took action without developing a • evidence of planning and plan and prioritising • unable to prioritise • tools you used to achieve eg. set objectives & milestones/ daily schedules/ project software need for resources and • failed to evaluate and manage • anticipated used them effectively eg delegation resources appropriately to others/ resources required • missed important deadlines • failed to cope with difficulties • consistently beat tight deadlines requiring extra commitment • cope when things don’t go according to plan 16

If it seems to be going wrong…. • the interviewer is aggressive or doesn’t seem to like you • you don’t understand the question – ask for it to be rephrased • you go blank or you don’t know: – ask for “a few seconds to think about it” – admit it, but offer instead some intelligent reasoning/ a sensible guess (based on assumptions) – a clue • try not to panic - it’s unusual to fail on one question 17

Closing the sale • thank them • if the job genuinely interests you then let them know • your questions - examples: – what are the possibilities of using my --- skills? – What sort of career progression have other graduate trainees experienced? – how will my work and training be monitored and appraised? – (context) what do you enjoy about working for the organisation – ‘Thanks I think everything I wanted to know has now been covered’. • make sure you know what the next step is 18

Interviews – summary • • prepare thoroughly for every interview first impressions count competency questions - STAR review your performance and ask for feedback 19

Further resources and Careers service support • Careers. Group: ‘How to succeed at interviews’ booklet • 1: 1 practice interviews – on confirmation of ‘real employer interview’ • video guides: – how to suceed in interviews and assessment centres • ‘Top answers to tough questions’ – Matthew J Deluca/ John Lees • employer/ CA led interview skills workshops sign up at www. ucl. ac. uk/careers - forthcoming events: – Practice aptitude tests – 15/21/27 Nov, 3 Dec, 14, 21 Jan…… – JP Morgan: Interview skills – Tue 13 th Nov – Accenture: What to expect at assessment centres Wed 21 Nov – Employer led mock interviews/ assessment centres - Jan to mar 08 20

UCL Careers Service : 4 th floor ULU Building Malet Street, London WC 1 E 7 HY www. ucl. ac. uk/careers telephone: 0207 866 3600 Email: careers@ucl. ac. uk Opening times (term & vacation): Mon - Thurs 9: 30 -17: 00 Friday 11: 00 - 17: 00 21