So, you’ve filled in the application, answered the questions, completed the tests, maybe taken part in an assessment day and now you have an interview! You may have made many many applications so to get this far is a big achievement but you’re not there yet!
There are different types of interview –
You may have already had to record yourself answering questions. This is a bit strange, but any companies that do ask you to do this will give you the opportunity to practise your answer and play it back to yourself before you submit it. Remember to dress smartly (not just from the waist up – someone I know had to stand up in their video interview, so ditch the tracky bottoms – you’ll feel more business-like if you dress the part) to record your answers and be aware of your backdrop! There are some links at the bottom of this page with excellent advice. What you must remember is that the point of the interview is to see how you present yourself and how well you communicate, so make sure you are feeling calm, have prepared your answers and speak clearly. Try to make eye contact with the camera! Keep a glass of water to hand and make sure you have adjusted the lighting in the room so you can be clearly seen.
If you have been invited to an online video interview where you are meeting your interviewer remotely, the same preparation applies, but you won’t be able to practise your answers beforehand. Make sure you have read over your prepared answers that I spoke about in the application process – maybe surround your screen or behind it with post-it note prompts. Make sure you have researched the company you are interviewing for and completely understand the position you have applied for. It is a good idea to have some questions to ask them too. Sometimes you will have been given an idea of the format of the interview and what sort of questions you will be asked.
Remember, that the interview is to see if you will fit in to their organisation, so answer clearly and politely. It is also your opportunity to see how you feel about the employer – you may decide it’s not the role for you. You need to smile and be ready to talk about your hobbies and interests, however irrelevant you think they may be. A lot of your time spent working with colleagues is about social interaction so if you enjoy playing a sport, or socialising with friends, travelling, going to the gym, cycling, etc etc, mention it – this could be valuable common ground and it makes you more human. It is never irrelevant, it is what makes you you, and that is what they want to see.
Good luck!
Here are some tips from the National Careers Service on all types of interview – https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/careers-advice/how-to-do-well-in-video-interviews/#pre-recorded
A Blog from the excellent Not Going to Uni –
https://www.notgoingtouni.co.uk/blog/how-prepare-online-interview
and from Barclays Life Skills
– https://barclayslifeskills.com/i-want-to-prepare-for-an-interview/sixth-form/virtual-interview/
and from other sites –
Apprenticeships UK 