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Job Interviews Workshop
May 2015
Theresa Li
Dilani Rasanayagam
Peter Folino
Careers Consultants, Melbourne Careers Centre
http://careers.unimelb.edu.au/
Today’s objectives
• Provide a framework to answer interview
questions
• Practice answering general and
behavioural interview questions
• Provide further resources for interview
preparation and practice
Format of session
Introduction to
general/behavioural job
interviews:
Why use job interviews as a recruitment tool?
What is general/behavioural type interviewing?
Examples
Interview practice:
Students form groups of 3 and rotate roles as:
Interviewer, Interviewee and Observer
General interview tips:
Presentation, body language, research, follow-up
after interview
Questions and feedback:
Student questions; formal feedback forms
Why use job interviews?
Top executive recruiters agree there are only three
things employers want to know about job applicants:
1. Can you do the job?
2. Why do you want the job?
3. Can we tolerate working with you?
Job interviews help employers answer these questions
Competencies assessed by employers
Cultural fit 79%
Teamwork 75%
Interpersonal skills 70%
Motivational fit 63%
Communication 63%
General vs Behavioural
General
What is it about this position that interests you?
How will you contribute to the workplace?
Behavioural
How did you act in specific situation?
Hypothetical
How would you act in a specific situation?
Expect a combination of all three!
General interview questions - Examples
Motivation for applying/Interest in the position or program
What interests you about this particular position?
Why have you chosen to apply for this position?
Career direction
What are your career goals? Is there an area you’d like to specialise in?
Where do you see your career going over the next 5 years or so?
How will this program/position help you achieve your goals?
What influenced you to study _____ or pursue a career in _________?
Strengths/What you would bring to the role or program
In what ways have your study/experience prepared you for this role/program?
What are your strengths which are relevant to this role?
Why should we hire you? / Why should we accept you in the program?
Why do you think you would be effective in this role?
General interview questions - Examples
Life outside uni
What do you do in your spare time?
What community activities or voluntary work have you been involved in?
Understanding of the program / field
What are some of the challenges you see facing our industry at present?
What do you see as some of the strengths of our organisation/program?
What do you believe your greatest challenge will be if you are accepted into this
role/program?
Weakness
What weakness do you have which may be relevant to this role / program?
Mock Interviews
Form groups of three (3)
Stage 1
Student 1 - asks interview question
Student 2 - answers question
Student 3 - observes
Students 2 and 3 provide feedback
5 mins
(3 mins)
(2 mins)
Stage 2
Alternate roles
5 mins
Stage 3
Alternate roles
5 mins
All room feedback
10 mins
Behavioural Questions - Examples
Teamwork
Can you tell me about a time when as part of a successful team?
What do you think contributed to the team’s success and what role did you play?
Interpersonal & Communication skills
Tell me about a recent situation in which you had to deal with an upset patient,
customer or colleague.
Describe a situation where you’ve demonstrated high level communication and
interpersonal skills when relating to people from diverse backgrounds?
Coping with work pressure
Tell me about a time when you had too many things to do and had to find a way of
managing. What strategies did you use? And what have you learned about
managing work pressure?
Behavioural Questions - Examples
Using initiative and resourcefulness
Tell us about a time when you used your initiative in dealing with a
challenging situation.
Influencing and leadership
Give me an example of a time when you motivated others. How did
you do this? And what happened as a result?
Goal setting and determination
Give me an example of a time when you set a goal and were able
to meet or achieve it (last 12 months)
Behavioural Questions – STAR
Frame your response in a four-step process: S T A R
Situation
Task
Action
Result
What was the context?
What was the problem?
What did you do?
What was the outcome?
“Can you give me an example of …”
“Describe your experience with …”
“Tell us about a time when …”
Write out 2-3 real life examples of success stories
Teamwork - STAR example
Last year as part of my course, I was involved in a group project to research
and design a low cost, low energy residence for students. There were three of
us working together, two architecture students and a landscape design
student. (SITUATION)
We divided the tasks up according to our skill areas and prepared a framework
brief, and also decided on who we needed to talk to gain some additional
expertise. (TASK)
We met regularly to discuss progress and assisted each other with problems
as they arose to ensure the project was on track. Once we all completed our
individual tasks, we then worked together to present the project outcomes in
front of the assessment panel and peers (ACTION)
We successful presented our project which not only got us all a distinction, but
also it has been entered in the end of year exhibition of the best student
projects (RESULT)
Hypothetical Questions - Examples
What would you do differently at University or in the past two years
to achieve your career goals?
What would you do if your supervisor asked you to do something
that you felt was unethical?
A client/customer calls and complains about the service from your
department. The customer is really angry and shouting. How would
you handle such a situation?
Your supervisor has given you a deadline for an important project
and you are certain that you will not be able to meet it. What do you
do?
Mock Interviews
Form groups of three (3)
Stage 1
Student 1 - asks interview question
Student 2 - answers question
Student 3 - observes
Students 2 and 3 provide feedback
5 mins
(3 mins)
(2 mins)
Stage 2
Alternate roles
5 mins
Stage 3
Alternate roles
5 mins
All room feedback
10 mins
Preparing for Interviews
• Do your research – know the organisation, it’s values, it’s
challenges, it’s clients…..employers expect this and often comment
that this is what sets applicants apart. Show you match
organisational culture.
• Anticipate topics/issues e.g. based on selection criteria,
resume/skills gaps, common interview topics
• Create ‘mental dot points’ for range of topics (don’t prepare full
responses); use STAR for behavioural questions
• Practise out loud responding to sample questions, working from
mental dot points
Common interview mistakes
• Arriving late
• Not knowing enough about the job or the organisation
• Lacking enthusiasm, motivation, self-awareness
• Not building rapport or failing to engage with the Employer
• Dressing inappropriately
• Poor body language
• Poor first impressions
Interview resources
• Melbourne Careers Centre Website
careers.unimelb.edu.au/student/interviews
• Interview Stream
unimelb.interviewstream.com
• Videos - real students/graduates being assessed
careers.unimelb.edu.au/student/online_career_tools/preparing_
for_next_steps
• Careers Drop In
careers.unimelb.edu.au/student/come_and_see_us
Questions and feedback
• Final questions?
• Please complete feedback form
© Copyright The University of Melbourne 2011