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Hit me with your best interview tips!

10 replies

Pennyslot26 · 27/01/2024 21:23

Hi!

I have an interview for a programme manager role in a few weeks and really want to do well - please can you share your best interview tips?!

I tend to be quite forgetful and ramble so need to try and keep focused!

Thank you!

OP posts:
ohnohodeho · 27/01/2024 21:25

I'm not an expert by any means but maybe looking at typical interview questions and then prepare some answers highlighting your achievements and how you used your skills and experience. Also relating back to the job description and researching the company in advance so you can show you're interested in them. Good luck!

maddiemookins16mum · 27/01/2024 21:30

I’ve always used the STAR method.

WandaWonder · 27/01/2024 21:43

I have 3 questions to hand and try and the questions they ask

No I am not being silly by the last one it is something people forget because of nerves mostly

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SOxon · 27/01/2024 22:05

be well prepared
walk that line between confident and insouciant
good luck

ReadyForSeason · 27/01/2024 23:01

I always judge candidates more by questions they ask than their stock answers. So, given a chance ask big picture, strategic questions - you can find out about lunch breaks etc when you get to second interview. Do not fidget and over-smile. Read up about ways you can structure your sentences, so you come across assertive but not arrogant or subservient.

Get you kit ready the night before, research location, parking, toilets, so that there are no surprises. And practice in your head how you will walk in, greet, sit down etc.

Also watch out for idiotic questions and take a moment to think over your answer, you don’t have to go along with nuisance. Good luck.

RootVegAndMash · 27/01/2024 23:04

STARR (don't forget the extra R)
Situation
Task
Action
Result
Review (With hindsight, next time I would...)

sandrapinchedmysandwich · 27/01/2024 23:13

Be personable. As well as being knowlegable, you also want to be someone they will want to work with. This had worked very well for me in my last 2 roles

Pennyslot26 · 27/01/2024 23:21

RootVegAndMash · 27/01/2024 23:04

STARR (don't forget the extra R)
Situation
Task
Action
Result
Review (With hindsight, next time I would...)

Thank you I had forgotten about this ! Definitely need to plan my answers along these lines

OP posts:
Notthatcatagain · 28/01/2024 00:23

Dress smartly, even if it's the sort of place that expects you to wear jeans, clean and pressed, clean shoes too. First impressions count. I interviewed one girl for a professional job and she chewed gum right through the interview, revolting!

lemonsaretheonlyfruit · 28/01/2024 00:39

Sorry this isn't all necessarily in order but a large part of my job is preparing people for interviews.

Definitely STAR.. go through your answers with someone who will be will be honest with feedback (someone who knows the STAR technique) . Spend most of your answers speaking about the A (the action that you took) and don't forget the R (so many people do)

As another poster said .. the questions you ask say as much about you as how you answer the questions.

2 questions I always advise people to ask:

What do you think my biggest challenge would be in this role?

What do you (or employees) like about working here.

Ask them a wider business question Ie 'how is the business dealing with the current challenge of X '

Always look up your interviewer(s) on linked in - it's expected and to ask them about themselves (ie how did you find the transition into this business from your previous one)

Go through the job spec line by line and think about how you can demonstrate your competency in each one. For anything you haven't done or are less strong in then get across 'I have some / limited experience in x but I'm really keen to do more of x , one of the reasons I am interested in this role / keen to move on.

Make your reasons why you are interested in the company specific ie - something that you have learnt about the company from your research Ie awards they have won, their values (always know their values) or something else from the press or their website that you have seen.

Enthusiasm and energy go such a long way. You can teach the right person to do anything but you can't teach the wrong person.

Be positive about your current / previous employer when asked before you go on to say why you are looking to leave.

Good luck !

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