Preparation

The interview is the ultimate test of your suitability for the job. Your appearance, manners, charisma, communication skills, strategic thinking and fit with the company’s culture will be examined and evaluated. It’s not surprising that just the thought of interviews gives most of us a severe case of butterflies!

But interviews don’t have to be as traumatic as you think. This section looks at guidance, tips, dos and don’ts to not only get you through interviews in one piece, but also help you to interview success!

Beating your nerves

There are four key reasons why you have nothing to fear during interviews:-

• 1. Interviews centre on the subject you know best: yourself!
• 2. If you’ve done your research you have a real advantage, you will know more about the interviewer and their organisation that they know about you.
• 3. Interviewers expect you to be nervous.
• 4. You have nothing to lose! You didn’t have the job before you went to the interview so you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. If you don’t get the job than you are no worse off than you were before.

Some Pre-Interview Essentials

Look at your application again. Identify points interviewers are likely to want to talk about- your qualifications, your last or current job, your skills and experiences. Think about ways to deal with any weaknesses or gaps in your qualifications or experience

Do more research. You may be able to update the research you did for your application by checking for new developments. It may be useful for you to be aware of current news or issues that affect NYCC.

Make sure you know where you're going, how long it takes to get there and what the parking arrangements are.

What to expect at your interview

Interview by a 'panel'

You will be interviewed by a panel; this will usually be made up of two officers and will be no more than three. It will be men and women wherever possible. The panel will be chaired by the manager who is recruiting to the vacancy. The recruiting manager will welcome you, explain what will take place and give an estimate of the time that the interview will take. They will then tell you a little about the post, about the team/ unit and North Yorkshire County Council before the formal questioning begins.

Listen carefully when the interviewers introduce themselves and try to remember their names and their roles. This will help you make a connection when you are talking to them.

Interviewers taking notes

This is normal, don’t let it panic and unnerve you.

Take advantage of the situation by using short, punchy statements and the key words used in the original job advert. This will make it easy for them to think

The opportunity to look around and speak to other employees

You may be given this opportunity; it gives you the chance to see what the place is really like. It's easy to tell whether staff are happy or harassed. The look of the actual office says a lot about the value the employer places on the workforce.