INTERVIEWS - The Careers Service

INTERVIEWS Interviews are a crucial part of the recruitment process for all organisations. Their purpose is to give the interviewer(s) a chance to assess your suitability for the role and for you to demonstrate your abilities and personality. It is also a chance for you to find out about the organisation you are applying to work with. Generally, the selection process is: 1. Application form, CV and cover letter. Tests may also be required at this stage. 2. First interview at the employer’s office, on the phone or at a recruitment agency. 3. Further interviews usually held at the employer’s office or at an Assessment Centre (see the separate Information Sheet).

METHODS OF INTERVIEW As well as face-to-face interviews it is common, especially at earlier stages of the recruitment process to have telephone interviews or online interviews Online/ video interviews: virtual interviews are fast becoming more commonplace and as far as possible you should treat them as you would any other interview. Sometimes they will be “live” interviews with an interviewer, for example on Skype; alternatively they may be pre-recorded questions that you answer on video for review by the firm at a later time. Think about your setting and consider what will be seen on-camera during your interview. Think about the image you project and how your clothing will be perceived and bear in mind the distance you sit from the camera. Consider practising with a friend, asking them to feedback on how you and your surroundings appear on camera. Consider your interaction with the interviewer, look into the camera and take into account the lag between the visual and audio. If they are live follow visual cues from your interviewer so you don’t interrupt before a question has been completely asked. Dial or log in at the correct time – arriving 10 minutes early works in person, but not for a virtual interview. You should also have a backup plan (such as the correct phone number to call) in case your internet connection should suddenly go. It is possible to arrange Skype interviews at the Careers Service if you do not have your own facilities. Telephone interviews: Telephone interviews are increasingly used by companies as an integral part of the early recruitment process. The most important fact to remember is that the employer wants to find out the same information as they would face-to-face, so your preparation needs to be just as thorough. If the employer calls you for an impromptu interview, you are within your rights to ask to schedule another time when you are in a better situation to talk. When arranging the telephone interview, ensure that you have: • Privacy for the interview, away from noise and distractions. • Whenever possible use a landline, but if using a mobile make sure that the battery is fully charged and you are in an area with a good reception. • Your CV or application form is available as a prompt, as well as some paper and a pen for making notes. Although be careful not to have too many materials in front of you that may become a distraction.

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The questions that you will be asked will be similar to those in a standard interview. The main difference to a standard interview is the lack of visual cues, but your body language is very important: • Sit up straight or even stand, as it will help you to project your voice effectively. • Dress smartly, don’t just sit in your pyjamas as this will affect your overall attitude. • Smile! By smiling, you will sound friendlier and more confident • Try to avoid monotones and use gestures as you would in a normal conversation; they will tend to make your voice sound livelier. • For key questions such as ‘What are your strengths?’ it may be useful to signpost the interview how you’ll be answering this question e.g. ‘I have three major strengths relevant to this role, the first is...’ This will help you structure your time and alerts the interviewer when you will be coming to the end of a question. • If there are any long silences after you have answered a question and you are not sure whether to continue, you can always ask ‘Would you like me to expand further on that?’. Some organisations now use a fully-automated telephone interviewing system during the first round. You will receive a letter, which will invite you to ring a free-phone number from a touchtone telephone at a convenient time, at which point an automated system will ask you a series of questions, and you will have to press the telephone keypad with your responses. The time you take to respond to each question may be taken into account. TYPES OF INTERVIEWS There are various ‘standard’ interview formats which you will come across. It is a good idea to ask the organisation in advance what format the interview will take. Chronological interviews: these interviews will take you chronologically through your life to date, and are likely to use your CV or completed application form as a basis. You will be expected to be able to talk about anything that you have mentioned in your application, why you have made certain decisions, what achievement has given you the greatest satisfaction or what skills you have developed in particular positions for example. Structured/competency-based interviews: the questions asked at these interviews are structured to reflect the competencies sought by an employer for a particular job. You should be able to find out which competencies the employer is most interested in by looking at the recruitment pages of their website. The job description usually includes a 'person specification' or ‘essential selection criteria’, which will list quite clearly the competencies required for the job – the skills, experience, knowledge and other attributes that the organisation is looking for. For example, the employer may be looking for someone with organisational skills, and may choose to ask you a series of questions designed to steadily probe not only your experience in this area, but your understanding of the skills involved. The questions may follow a pattern such as:     

Would you describe yourself as an organised person? How have you demonstrated organisational skills? What did you do? What would you do differently next time? What makes a good organiser? Why are organisational skills important? Surely … (the interviewer challenges something you say in order to find out more)…?

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It is important, when you are preparing for interviews, to anticipate such lines of questioning and to have thought about what you have done in this context. A range of examples from across your experience can help to provide evidence of your competencies. You might find the S.T.A.R. acronym useful – Situation, Task, Action and Result – when you are answering competency questions such as ‘when have you demonstrated organisational skills?’ When you use the S.T.A.R structure, make sure at least 50% of your answer focuses on the actions you took, demonstrating your skills. The S.T.A.R technique for interview questions: “tell me about a time when…” “Give me an example of …” S situation Briefly summarise the situation you were in, pick an example that is relevant and reasonably recent T task Describe the task in hand to demonstrate you were results driven and worked towards a clear target A action Focus on YOUR actions, what did you do that will be useful to a situation in the prospective job? R result Did you see it through? Did it work? How did you know? If not, what did you learn from the process or what would you do next time to ensure a better result?

Strengths based interviews: these are a fairly new style of graduate interview and are used at some professional services and finance organisations as they understand that employees will perform best when using their individual strengths. They aim to get the best out of you by focusing on your natural aptitude, what you enjoy doing and what engages you. They may ask a wide range of questions to get a good feel of your personal abilities. They may ask questions such as “when are you at your best?”, “what are you most proud of?”, “what do you do well?”. In order to prepare you will need to think about your personal achievements academically, professionally and in an extra-curricular capacity. What have you done that you particularly enjoyed – why did you enjoy it? Also, as with all interviews think about the organisation and the role you are interviewing for: does it allow you to use your strengths and natural talents? Technical interviews: used by engineering, scientific, IT, financial services and management consultancy firms. These may focus on your final-year project and why you are approaching it as you are, or on real or hypothetical technical problems. You will be expected to know general trends/theory, and you should be prepared to admit if you do not know the answer. Employers can tell when you are bluffing and will be just as interested in your thought process and logic. Case study interviews: used largely by consulting firms, these can take a number of forms, from straightforward brainteasers to the analysis of business problems. You will be evaluated on your analysis of the problem, how you identify the key issues, how you pursue a particular line of thinking and whether you can develop and present an appropriate framework for organising your thoughts. There is no single absolutely right way to solve each problem, and how you reach your solution will probably be more important than the solution itself. It is especially important you practice for this type of interview; start by reading our Information Sheet on case studies. Some consulting firms (e.g. Boston Consulting Group, and McKinsey & Co.) put example case studies on their recruitment pages for you to try, and others will hold case study workshops during Michaelmas Term at locations in Oxford.

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Academic interviews: For academic job interviews, large panels are common, with up to ten or more interviewers. Interviewers may be academics from your discipline but also from other departments, and from Human Resources. Try to find out who will be interviewing you so that you can research their interests. You may also have a number of ‘informal’ one-to-one interviews before or after your main panel interview from a number of academics. Treat these as part of the interview process but also see it as a chance to learn more about the department and job. To prepare for the interview, review the criteria and think about your evidence of how you meet each criterion. Try to talk to others who have experienced academic interviews and arrange to practice with your supervisor, a colleague or a careers adviser. Some general questions to prepare for: • • • • • • • • • • •

What attracts you to this position? What were the key achievements of your most recent research project? How does your research fit with the department’s research objectives? What opportunities for multi-disciplinary work does your research offer? Does your research have any potential to serve the wider community and how do you propose to measure impact? What are your plans for future research and how do you propose to fund it? What research support do you expect from the institution? What do you think makes a good supervisor? How does your teaching experience fit you for this post? What courses can you teach and develop? How can you contribute to administration in the department?

If you have been invited to interview for a lectureship you will likely be asked to give a short presentation on your research, or a mock lecture for students. Here are some general tips for preparing: • • • • • • • • •

Keep to the brief you are given and ask if you are unsure – e.g. timing, audience, topics Anticipate your audience - try to find out as much as possible who will be present and their interests Practice with colleagues and invite questions/constructive criticism Have a clear structure and make sure you have enough detail Engage the audience with regular eye contact Use audio-visual equipment if appropriate and make sure to test any movie files etc. beforehand Consider taking prepared handouts for the audience Invite questions Thank your audience

Portfolio-based interviews: if you are interviewing for a creative role and you have enough experience to create a portfolio of your work, you may be asked to bring it with you to the interview, and to have an in-depth discussion about the pieces you have chosen to include. Group interviews: this is where several candidates are present and will be asked questions in turn. A group discussion may be encouraged and you may be invited to put questions to the other candidates. For further advice on group activities or exercises, please read our Information Sheet on Assessment Centres.

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Sequential interviews: these are several interviews in turn, with a different interviewer each time. Usually, each interviewer asks questions to test different sets of competencies. However, you may find yourself answering the same questions over and over. If this does happen, make sure you answer each one as fully and enthusiastically as the time before. Interviews with presentations: presentations help selectors assess a range of competencies such as verbal communication skills, ability to persuade, logical thinking and self-confidence. They are particularly common in academic interviews where you might be asked to present an aspect of your research, but in other sectors invitations to make formal or informal presentations are quite common. Selectors may give advance notice of the topic and give details of the presentation (length, visual aids available, the audience to expect) or they may not. The style and content of your presentation should always be tailored to the audience. Presentations are also commonly used at assessment centres – for more information see the Information Sheet on assessment centres. PREPARING FOR INTERVIEWS The key to making a good impression, and to a successful interview, is preparation. This may seem obvious, but many candidates rely just on 'being themselves' or 'winging it' on the day. This is understandable when you have so many other pressures on your time, but preparation is likely to make the difference between being successful or unsuccessful. Be prepared to answer questions about yourself and the position you are going for. Ask yourself:             

Why do I want the job? Why am I a suitable candidate? What have I gained from my academic/employment/extra-curricular activities? What are my ambitions? What prompted me to make particular decisions/undertake certain courses of action? What was my best/worst decision? Would I make the same decision again, if faced with the same situation? What did I learn about myself when I...? What would I identify as my main strengths/weaknesses? What do I know about this type of work? What attracts me to this type of work? What relevant work experience have I done? What kind of training/additional skills am I hoping to gain? What have I done to find out more about this kind of work?

Additionally, be aware of the world you are seeking to enter. Most employers will expect you to display some understanding of their business, its size, its products/services and the sector in which it operates. Ask yourself:        

What do I know about this organisation? What attracts me to this organisation? Who are the organisation's competitors? How does this organisation relate to its competitors? What have I done to find out more about this organisation? What issues are affecting, or are likely to affect the sector? Is the sector in a state of growth or decline? How is the market changing or developing? How are the organisations in it responding?

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An interview won't be a general knowledge test, but you should have an understanding of what is going on in the world at large. It is a good idea to watch/listen to good news programmes or read a quality newspaper every day in the lead up to your interview, and to think, or talk with friends, about current news stories and issues of importance, in case they come up on the day of interview. It is always a good move to prepare two or three questions that you would really like the interviewers to answer, as this will demonstrate confidence and a genuine interest in the job for which you have applied. Be careful, however, to avoid asking questions which have already been answered in the graduate brochure or other literature sent out with the invitation to interview, also avoid asking about holidays or other benefits, as these are generally inappropriate at this stage of the recruitment process. You might want to ask:       

How will I be assessed/my performance appraised? What factors distinguish successful employees from less successful ones? What has happened to previous post-holders? I see (for example) that you are expanding into Europe - what would be the chances of my working there at some point? I read that you might be merging with X – how, in your view, would that affect the current workings of the organisation? How has the post come about? Do you have any particular concerns about my application at this stage in the selection process?

Difficult Questions: Questions often perceived as particularly difficult include those which appear to be an invitation to shoot yourself in the foot or those which ask you to think about yourself in a different way, such as: what is your biggest weakness? What would you say has been your greatest failure? How would your friends describe you? If you were an animal/biscuit, what would you be? When answering these questions relax, be honest, and emphasise the positive. Remember - no employer expects you to be completely perfect and self-awareness is preferable to blind arrogance! You might, for example, in answer to the question, “what is your biggest weakness?” say that, although you think well independently, you wouldn't be entirely happy in an environment where there was no teamwork, although you would develop coping strategies. Alternatively, you might say that your strengths lie in your ability to think problems through clearly, and that you can sometimes be frustrated with people who don't work logically, though you have learnt to appreciate the different insights that they can bring to a project. These answers outline the weakness in each case, but turn the question around, so that you are able to stress both your strengths and your ability to learn from your mistakes. If asked to compare yourself to an animal or biscuit (or colour, or piece of furniture), think about the personal qualities that you want to emphasise, and explain your choice. A plain chocolate digestive might suggest a professionalism that a strawberry wafer possibly does not. Questions to ask: This is the chance to ask those questions you prepared earlier. If your questions have been answered during the course of the interview, say exactly that. If you are not invited to ask questions, assert yourself politely and say that you have a number of things you would like to raise, asking if this is the appropriate time to do so. You may also feel that there are key points you have not been given the chance to make. If this is the case, you may like to say, for example, “I hope that

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you don't mind my saying so, but I do think that my work experience with company X is extremely relevant to my application. Would it be appropriate to talk about it now?” Asking for an adjustment: Increasingly interviewees will be invited to discuss their needs prior to an interview. If you require an adjustment to be made or would like to declare a disability, and you are not informed how to do so at the application stage or in the letter inviting you to interview, you may want to take the initiative and contact them in advance of the interview. An employer will need time to make appropriate arrangements. Depending on your views regarding disclosing your disability, interviews can be an opportunity to expand on the positive effects your disability has had on your life, and how it has enhanced your employability. You can allay any concerns that an employer might have by addressing what the job needs and how you can meet that effectively. Talk your situation through with a Careers Adviser, if you feel it would be helpful. The end: End on a positive note. Thank the interviewer for his/her time, and reiterate your enthusiasm for the job for which you have applied. If the employer has not already made the next step clear, in terms of when they expect to let you know the outcome, go ahead and ask them. Psychological preparations: Many people feel nervous when invited to interview. Ensuring that you have prepared yourself in practical and mental terms will go a long way to making you feel more confident on the day, as will reminding yourself that you have already done very well to get this far. It is important to remember that interviews are not interrogations, and that selectors are not aiming to embarrass you, to demonstrate their superiority, or to expose your weaknesses. Selectors dream about streams of well-qualified, highly motivated candidates appearing before them - and it is in their interests, as well as yours, to bring out the best in you. Approach the interview with confidence and a positive frame of mind. The selectors like to see enthusiasm but they will not expect a word-perfect performance. Relaxation techniques: 

Breathing: breathe deeply, and silently repeat the number “one” at every exhalation. By slowing down your breathing you will feel calm.

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Visualisation: relax, and visualise yourself being enthusiastic and successful at the forthcoming interview. Preparing for success can make success a more likely outcome.

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Positive affirmations: identify your main concern about the interview, e.g. “Everyone else will be better than me”, and write yourself a positive statement to address it. In this situation you might come up with, “I am the strongest candidate for the job”. Say your positive affirmation out loud at the start of the day, and repeat it whenever you are feeling nervous. Don’t rush it; think about what you are saying.

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PRACTICALITIES As well as making preparations for the interview discussion, it is important that you prepare the practicalities as well. Work through this checklist to make sure you have everything you need:         

Correct time of interview (plan to arrive 15 minutes early) and exact location Directions/map and, if using public transport, bus/train timetables and (money for) tickets If driving, an idea of where to park and money for parking meters if necessary Format of the interview and how long it will last Letter inviting you to the interview with the name of your interviewer The organisation's telephone number A copy of your CV or application form A list of the key points you would like to make, and the questions you would like to ask ID or proof of permission to work if the organisation has asked you to bring these along.

It is not always possible to attend an interview on the day stipulated in your invitation. Recruiters will understand that you have academic or family commitments, which sometimes can't be changed. If you are really unable to attend the interview, contact the person who has issued the invitation and ask politely whether it would be possible to reschedule. What to wear: Appropriateness is the key word here, and you will be expected to wear clothes that constitute a smart version of the items usually worn by people in the role for which you have applied; and the dress code in different industries can vary considerably. If you are unsure of the industry norm for the role you are applying to, think back to what representatives were wearing at careers fairs, presentations or event, look at images of employees on the firms website, talk to an Alumnus working in the same sector or talk to a careers adviser. TOP TIPS FOR CLOTHING Most candidates will wear a suit of some  Take a spare pair of tights or stockings in case description, but do check the letter of you get a ladder! invitation carefully, particularly if there is a social element to the interview  Don’t forget your umbrella – it’s not good to (perhaps a dinner for candidates the arrive drenched! night before), and be guided by any instructions that are given to you.  Avoid wearing strong scents/perfume. The following tips from employers should help:

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Avoid designer logos on your clothing or handbags – it looks like a sign of insecurity and it also looks excessive.

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Practise wearing your outfit and your shoes if you don’t feel comfortable in it at first. Breaking your new shoes in is a good idea!

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Ensure that your shoes and clothes are scrupulously clean and maintained. Unpolished shoes and missing buttons will not create the desired impression.

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Avoid inappropriate jewellery. Unless you are entering an extremely unconventional environment, the interview is not the place for nose rings, ankle chains or personalised necklaces. Men should restrict any jewellery to cuff links, and a signet or wedding ring.

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Men should avoid short-sleeved shirts and gimmicky ties or socks. Socks worn with a suit should never be white!

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Women should avoid short skirts or very high heels, avoid appearing overly made up, and wear a jacket to look fully dressed.

PERFORMING ON THE DAY The fact that you have been invited to interview is a sign that the employers are already impressed with what you have to say. The next step is to show them that you are as good, if not better, than your application has suggested. All your preparation will stand you in good stead, but there is a lot you can do to improve your chances on the day itself. First impressions: make the most of these first crucial minutes, with a confident smile and a firm handshake, to show you are enthusiastic, assertive and professional. Body language: what you say will obviously be crucial to the success of your interview, but it is also important to think about how you say it. Think about the non-verbal signals that you give off. Consider the following aspects: 

Relax and listen: show that you are actively listening by maintaining eye contact, nodding, inclining your head to one side, and smiling or agreeing with the speaker where appropriate.

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Posture: keep your shoulders back and you will appear and feel more confident.

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Sit comfortably: the recommended position is to sit reasonably upright, but comfortably, in the chair, and it sometimes helps you to feel more relaxed if you sit at a very slight angle to the interviewer rather than face on. Leaning too far forward can be interpreted as an aggressive stance, but slouching or leaning too far back can give the impression that you are too casual or laid back. Crossing your legs, and especially your arms, can make you appear defensive. Although it is polite to do so, you do not necessarily have to wait to be asked before sitting down – in a more informal interview, the interviewer may expect you simply to take a seat as they take theirs.

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Stop fiddling: avoid any personal idiosyncrasies, such as fiddling with your hair or jewellery, or any potentially irritating mannerisms.

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Eye contact: eye contact is essential if you are to convey your interest in the job. If you encounter a panel of interviewers, eye contact becomes more difficult, but it is usual to look at the person asking each question while acknowledging the others with a glance from time to time. It is natural to look away every so often too, perhaps, gather your thoughts before answering a question, and this will prevent you staring at the interviewer.

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TOP TIPS ON HOW TO PERFORM IN AN INTERVIEW 

Be yourself: if you adopt a new persona for the interview, the result is likely to be insincere and transparent.

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Honesty is the best policy – and if it is discovered later that you have been dishonest, you are very likely to be dismissed. Admitting, for example, to a period of poor motivation during your ALevels shows more integrity than blaming someone else for poor grades, so don't feel that you should 'cover up' these incidents - present them positively as learning experiences.

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Be prepared to talk: avoid "yes/no" answers and expand as often as possible, but don't overcommunicate. Take your cue from the interviewer. Ask, ‘should I continue?’ or ‘does that answer your question?’ if you unsure if you have said enough.

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Pace yourself and try not to talk too quickly.

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Think about the structure of your answers: you might summarise at the end rather than trailing off. Use S.T.A.R and emphasise your actions if describing a situation.

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Ask for clarification if you need it or request a moment's thinking time, before tackling a particularly difficult question. You might also take a sip of water to create a natural pause. This is better than saying the first thing that comes into your head.

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Be balanced in your answers, and try not to sound too obsessive about any one aspect of your life.

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No-one is allowed, by law, to ask you about your marital status, ethnic background, disability, sexual orientation or religious affiliation, unless it is a bona fide occupational qualification, so be aware that you can politely decline to answer such questions, by saying for example, "I don't see what relevance my sexual orientation has to the job for which I have applied, and I must ask that you withdraw the question" or "I really don't see my marital status as having any affect on my ability to do this job, or my commitment to the organisation should I be appointed".

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Smile… yes, you can!

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Be positive. Playing down the negative and accentuating the positive is the best way forward.

AFTER THE INTERVIEW

Review the day: when you get home ensure you record all the questions you remember being asked at the interview. It would be helpful to keep an ‘interview notebook’ where you can jot down your experience and how you might answer them differently with a little more time to prepare. It would also be extremely useful for other students in a similar position to you, if you were able to fill in an interview feedback form on the Careers Service website. Rejected after first interview?: if you have been invited to interview and subsequently rejected, you can safely assume that on paper employers consider you capable of doing the job for which you have applied, but that at interview their opinion has changed in some way. Consider whether you have substantiated the messages you have given in your application, and whether you are presenting a professional, confident image at interview. Replay to yourself some of the answers you gave – particularly the ones you found more difficult - while they are still fresh in your mind. It is always worth asking an organisation for feedback after an interview; at worst they will say no, and at best you will receive a detailed critique of your performance. If it isn’t obvious how you can improve your performance in future interviews, talk with a Careers Adviser.

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RESOURCES AVAILABLE The Careers Service has an extensive resource centre at 56 Banbury Road, Oxford, where you can drop in to browse during opening hours (visit our website for details). FILES 

Skills, Interviews and Assessment Centres / Interview Feedback A-Z

DVDS 

DVD - Making an Impact: The Graduate Job Interview

BOOKS           

101 great answers to the toughest interview questions, Ron Fry Great answers to tough interview questions, Martin John Yate How to succeed at interviews, Dr Rob Yeung Knockout interview answers, Ken Langdon and Nikki Cartwright The interview book: your definitive guide to the perfect interview, James Innes The essential phone interview handbook, Paul J Bailo Brilliant interview: what employers want to hear and how to say it, Ros Jay The interview expert: how to get a job you want, John Lees Brilliant answers to tough interview questions, Susan Hodgson The consultant interview, Sarah Vincent Tackling interview questions, Mo Shapiro and Alison Straw

WetFeet WetFeet’s website provides career-related and comprehensive company research information. The WetFeet Insider Guides series consists of company and industry profiles (US-based), and has always been a highly-valued resource at the Careers Service. The WetFeet Insider Guides can be downloaded through your CareerConnect account (relevant titles below).            

Ace Your Case II: Mastering the Case Interview Ace Your Case III: Market-Sizing Questions Ace Your Case IV: Business Strategy Questions Ace Your Case V: Business Operations Questions Ace Your Case: Consulting Interviews Ace Your Interview Ace Your Interview: Accounting Ace Your Interview: Brand Management Ace Your Interview: Consulting Ace Your Interview: Information Technology Beat the Street II: I-Banking Interview Practice Guide Beat the Street: Investment Banking Interviews

Please note that we still maintain a library of the WetFeet Guides at the Careers Service, if you prefer to read these Guides in an alternative format, or have problems accessing them online. Vault Vault has over 200 downloadable e-books (relevant titles below) and is accessible through OxLIP+. To access electronic copies please go to SOLO and login using your single sign-on username and password. Click on OxLIP+ (2nd tab along, below) and search for Vault. Once you have reached the login page please create a personal account and go to ‘Guides’. © Oxford University Careers Service, September 2013, www.careers.ox.ac.uk

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          

Vault Guide to the Top 10 Technology Consulting Firms, 2013 Edition Vault Finance Interviews Practice Guide Vault Guide to Finance Interviews Vault Guide to Resumes, Cover Letters and Interviews Vault Guide to the Case Interview Vault Case Interview Practice Guide 2: More Case Interviews Vault Guide to Private Equity and Hedge Fund Interview Vault Guide to the Top 25 Consulting Firms, 2013 European Edition Vault Guide to the Top 10 Consulting Firms, 2013 Asia Pacific Edition Vault Guide to the Top 50 Management and Strategy Consulting Firms, 2013 Edition Vault Career Guide to Consulting

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES  Read fellow students interview feedback reports - http://www.careers.ox.ac.uk/theapplication-process/interviews/interview-feedback-database/  Interview advice from the UK’s official graduate careers websitehttp://www.prospects.ac.uk/interview_tips.htm  Be my interviewer – practice typical interview questions and hear what recruiters want from videoed experts - http://www.jobsite.co.uk/bemyinterviewer RELEVANT SKILLS SESSIONS  

Improving your Interview Technique How to demonstrate commercial awareness

GENERAL RESOURCES CAREERS ADVISERS Sometimes you just need a little help – whether it’s feedback on your CV, preparation for interviews, or figuring out what to do next. Our Careers Advisers have direct experience in a wide range of sectors (eg, in banking, medicine, consulting, teaching, charities, research and many more) and each has a special interest and shares their knowledge so that any of them can help you with your initial enquiries. We offer up to thirty-six 15 minute 1:1 sessions every day between 10:30am and 4:30pm (late night on Thursdays in term time) that you can book online on CareerConnect. Some extra sessions run in departments, colleges and Exam Schools. Our new Career Lounges run every day; you can drop in and discuss anything from assessment centres to applying for internships – see the website and newsletter for further details. In the vacations we can also give advice by phone or Skype. See http://www.careers.ox.ac.uk/our-services/see-a-careers-adviser. THE CAREERS WEBSITE www.careers.ox.ac.uk is the central source to download all our publications (including this one), find links to other useful sites and much more. For example, you can see what’s on at the Careers Service, read tips about interviews at different companies, listen to podcasts, and find out what alumni have gone on to do. CAREERCONNECT The password protected area of our site is your portal to contact over 2,400 alumni mentors, book workshops and advice sessions, upload your CV, download books and search for jobs and © Oxford University Careers Service, September 2013, www.careers.ox.ac.uk

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internships – almost 8,000 opportunities were added during the last academic year. To find out more and log-in, see http://www.careers.ox.ac.uk/our-services/careerconnect/. THE RESOURCE CENTRE At 56 Banbury Road you can browse books in our careers library; read the latest sector periodicals; take away leaflets, booklets and brochures from national careers publishers – and see a Careers Adviser. We’re open every weekday, except university and bank holidays, generally 9am-5pm, with 10am start on Thursdays and 7pm finish on Thursdays in term time. To check opening times, see our website at www.careers.ox.ac.uk. E-NEWSLETTER We email everyone a weekly newsletter in term-time - giving a summary of the next week’s events by sector, further study opportunities, special events, fairs, highlighted job of the week and hints and tips on how to boost your CV. There’s always something for everyone, so keep your eye on your inbox! SOCIAL MEDIA FACEBOOK Join us at www.facebook.com/oxfordcareers to get reminders of our major events straight to your newsfeed, as well as last-minute news from employers. TWITTER Want to know what those in your chosen field are talking about? Use Twitter to listen in on the conversation, find out about opportunities or ask questions. Start by following us at www.twitter.com/OxfordCareers to get careers related news and tips, and check out our lists to find a ready-made batch of interesting Twitter feeds for your chosen field. Twitter is also a great way of demonstrating your interest in a sector - there’s a reason it’s called ‘micro-blogging’! LINKEDIN If employers search for your name and university, a LinkedIn page ensures they find what you want them to know. It’s a place to showcase your skills and qualifications, and to get publically recommended by those you’ve worked with. It’s also a phenomenal research tool to find people to contact, and learn about the background of those in your ideal job. We run a regular talk on how to create a profile on LinkedIn, and how to use the site to network. If you already have a profile, join our group: www.linkd.in/OxfordCareers.

© Oxford University Careers Service, September 2013, www.careers.ox.ac.uk

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