Best interview tips and advice please!

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I've got an interview tomorrow for an internal promotion, these very rarely come up, so quite a big deal.

I'm trying to do some research just now, but struggling due to the internal factor. I've worked there for 12 years, so not sure what to read up on really.

My best work friend also has an interview and we share an office just now, so that will be fun waiting to see if my phone or her phone rings first with an offer!! (or one of the 13 other people get offered it and our phones stay silent!! )

So your best interview advice please!!

My top interview tip is to be yourself and to show what you know already. Focus on appearing confident but let your personality shine through! A smile and eye contact along with feeling confident really helps - avoid wearing anything your feel self conscious in but also make sure you add a few personal touches. Look at newly publicised research in your field and try and google your interviewers to see what they are up to! I my experience if the people who interview you are left feeling that you are positive and likeable and hardworking they are willing to forgive and holes in your cv. Good luck!

Don't just concentrate on the skills aspect, also look at the area / department's aims and what they are and how you can help fulfil them. Be able to articulate the area / department's goals and / or strategy. If I asked you to name X department's goals for the coming year, could you answer?

Use the STAR method for answering questions and prepare answers based on strong examples of where you have shown what they are looking for in the job description.

Practice your answers with colleagues who you will allow to be critical of you. Sit up straight, dress well and smile while making good eye contact.

Thank you both, great advice.

Unfortunately, I have only been told who one of the 4 people on the interview panel is, so I can't do much research there. But definitely have on the department and systems.

I also wasn't aware of STAR, so I am going to take a look at the just now. Then go and plan and outfit and have everything read for the morning so I have no rushing about. I'm first in (not sure if this is a good or bad thing!)

Make sure you talk about what you did in certain tasks. It easy when in a team to say 'we did' but they are really interested in what you did. Jot a couple of examples down against criteria on the job spec.

Honestly - the decision could already be made. What you do or don't do may be irrelevant. Remember that if you get a rejection and feedback is often rubbish too. They can't write the real reasons sometimes, the reasons are too subtle.

Thanks that's a good point, it's very easy to say we/our dept/team etc so I'll look out for that.

Also agree that there could potentially be someone in line for it anyway, there often is in my place of work but usually if that's the case there's whispers/rumours but no one has heard anything about this post. It's newly created which I think is making a difference. But it's a fair point.

Last minute cramming!! Wish me luck!! 🤞🤞

Good luck!

Good luck!

Thank you! It went quite well I think, felt I got everything across that I wanted to. Now the long wait until Friday!!