Interview & CV Tips
Interviews can be a daunting experience, but with our help and your determination the interview process can be a positive experience.
An interview is a discussion between you and an employer to find out if you can do the job. However, there are certain rules and conventions to follow in interviews.
Remember that you are being interviewed because the employer wants to hire people – not because he/she wants to trip you up or embarrass you. Through the interactions which will take place during the interview, the employer will be searching out your strong and weak points, evaluating you on your qualifications, skills, and intellectual qualities. The employer will also aim to determine your attitudes, aptitudes, motivation and maturity.
Preparation is key when it comes to interviews, so ensure you give an excellent first impression and follow our helpful hints and tips.
Do:
- Speak clearly and confidently, look bright and attentive. Practice your answers by staging mock interviews with friends, family and your teachers.
- Dress smartly and get your outfit ready the night before, this will help you stay calm on the day.
- Take time to research the company, look through their website and read up on any recent news stories. Find out where the company is located beforehand, how to get there and how long it takes.
- Give real examples of when you've used certain skills; just saying you've got a skill isn't enough. The interviewer wants to know more about you and your experiences.
- Take your time when answering the questions. Make sure you understand the question and take your time if you need to think.
- Turn off your phone. Treat the interviewers with respect and give them your undivided attention.
Don't:
- Don’t be late. This will show the employer your time management skills are not a priority to you.
- Don't slouch in your seat or do anything else that makes you look disinterested. The employer is looking for someone who has interest in the industry.
- Don’t lie! The interviewer may see through you. It is best to answer the questions as honestly as you can. Even if you get the job, your employer can dismiss you if they find out you have lied in your application or interview.
- Don't interrupt the interviewer
- Don't assume the job is instantly yours. The employer may be interviewing a number of candidates. Ensure you are respectful and polite to the interview panel.
Writing a CV isn't easy, especially when you're starting from scratch, so we've compiled a handy guide to help you get started.
A CV allows you to summarise your education, skills, experience and hobbies enabling you to successfully sell yourself and stand out from the crowd.
How long should a CV be?
A standard CV should be no longer than two sides of A4. As a school leaver, your CV may only take up one page and that's okay! You can include any relevant work experience, hobbies or interests relating to the type of job you're going for and include any special roles or projects you were involved in at school.
What do I include in my CV?
- Contact details - include your full name, home address, mobile number and email address.
- Profile - at the top of your CV, the profile acts as a statement that summarises you as a person. You can include your interests, achievements and what kind of job you're looking for, but keep it short and brief.
- Education - include where you've studied, for how long long, and what grades you got. If you haven't got any results yet, put your predicted grades. You don't need to include your primary school results.
- Work experience - at this stage, employers won't expect you to have lots of work experience, but they'll be interested in any that you do have. This could include a part-time job you have, any work experience you undertook during school or volunteering in family businesses.
- Skills and achievements - if you were a class representative, on a sports team or School Council member, mention it all! You may not realise that these responsibilities will showcase transferable skills, such as time management, reliability, communication and people skills, all of which are qualities employers look for in a potential candidate.
Do:
- Use a suitable email address. Don't include anything like 'badboy27@gmail.com'. This can send the wrong impression to the employer.
- Make sure your text isn't larger than font size 14. If you're trying to fill space it'll stand out straight away.
- Add as much relevant work experience as possible, including volunteering and shadowing, showing what skills you developed. Aim to sell yourself in the first paragraph.
- Ensure your punctuation and grammar is correct. This shows attention to detail.
Don't:
- Don’t lie about any work experience or skills you have. You will get caught out!
- Don't write in long paragraphs. Keep it short and snappy to intrigue would-be employers.
- Don't add private information such as sexual orientation and religious beliefs.
- Don't use colourful text and creative fonts - especially not Comic Sans.
- Don't fear the gaps. Even if you think your CV looks bare, as long as you include relevant skills and any applicable attributes you hold that make you the ideal candidate, you needn't worry.
To help you get started, we have created a CV template for you.