|
Durham University - Interview Tips
How to impress from the start...
Maybe you are trying to land your first job. Perhaps you are returning to the workplace. Or maybe you are fully skilled and experienced taking another step in your career. Whatever you situation, making a success of the job interview is vital.
Why do you want to work for Durham University?
To answer this question you must have researched the University background and values, visit their website and speak to someone you may know who works there. Reply with the University’s attributes as you see them. Cap your answer with reference to your belief that the University can provide you with a stable and happy work environment – and that such an atmosphere would encourage your best work.
How do you feel about your progress to date?
This question is not geared solely to rate your progress; it also rates your self-esteem. Be positive, yet do not give the impression you have already done your best work. Make the interviewer believe you see each day as an opportunity to learn and contribute, and that you see the environment at the University as conductive to your best efforts.
What would you like to be doing in five years from now?
The safe answer contains the desire to be regarded as a true professional and team player. As for promotion, that depends on finding a manager with whom you can grow. Of course, you will ask what opportunities exist within the University before being any more specific.
What are your biggest accomplishments?
Keep your answers job related. If you exaggerate contributions to major projects, you will be accused of “coffee machine syndrome”, the affliction of a junior clerk who claimed success for an Apollo space mission based on his relationship with certain scientists, at the coffee machine. You might begin your reply with: Although I feel my biggest achievements are still ahead of me, I am proud of my involvement with….. I made a contribution as part of that team and learned a lot in the process.
The real you...
Tell me about yourself?
This is not an invitation to ramble on. If the context isn’t clear, you need to know more about the question before giving an answer. Whichever direction your answer ultimately takes be sure that it has some relevance to your professional endeavours. You should also refer to one or more of your key personal qualities, such as honesty, integrity, being a team player or determination. For example if you choose “team player” you can tell a story about yourself outside of work – perhaps as a member of a sports team – that also speaks volume about you at work.
How do you feel other people rate your job performance?
This is one very sound reason to ask for written evaluations of your work before leaving a company. You should also ask for a letter of recommendation whenever you leave a job. Don't thrust these under your interviewers nose, but when you are asked the question, you can produce them with a flourish. If you don’t have written evaluations, try to quote verbal appraisals, such as "my boss said only a month ago that I was the most valuable administrator in the work group, because..."
What is your greatest strength?
Isolate high points from your background and build in a couple of your key personal qualities, such as pride in your work, reliability and the ability to stick with a difficult task, yet change course rapidly when required.
What is your greatest weakness?
This is a direct invitation to put your head in a noose. Decline the invitation. If there is a minor part of the job at hand where you lack knowledge you will obviously pick it up quickly – use that. For instance: "I haven't worked with this type of spreadsheet before but, given my experience with six other types, I should be able to pick it up in a few days". Another option is to design the answer so your weakness is ultimately a positive characteristic. For example: "I always give each project my best shot, so if I sometimes feel others aren't pulling their weight, I find it a little frustrating, I try to overcome this with a positive attitude that I hope will catch on". Also consider the technique of putting a problem in the past and showing how you overcame it.
Under the spotlight...
You want a company where your talents and experience will allow you to contribute to their business. Avoid saying what you want the company to give you; you must say what you want in terms of what you can give to your employer. The key word is "contribution".
Why do you want to leave your current job? Or why did you leave you last job?
You should have an acceptable reason for leaving every job you have held but if you don’t, pick one of the six acceptable reasons from this employment industry CLAMPS formula:
Challenge - you weren't able to grow professionally
Location - the journey to work was unreasonably to long
Advancement - there was nowhere for you to go
Money - you were underpaid for your skills and contributions
Pride and Prestige - you wanted to be with a better company
Security - the company was not stable
What is your salary expectation?
The question is asking you to name a desired figure but the twist is that it also asks you to justify that figure. It requires that you demonstrate careful analysis of your worth, industry norms and job requirements. You should have looked at the grade and salary structure available on the University website.
Do you have any questions?
Almost always, this is a sign that the interview is drawing to a close, and you have one more chance to make an impression. Remember the adage: people respect what you inspect, not what you expect, Create questions from any of the following:
- Find out why the job is open, who had it last and what happened to him or her?
- How many people have held this position in the last couple of years.
- To whom would you report? Will you get the opportunity to meet that person?
- Where is the job located? What are the travel requirements, if any?
- What type of training is required and how long is it?
- What would your first assignment be?
- What are the realistic chances for growth in the job?
- Where are the opportunities for greatest growth within the company? What are the skills and attributes most needed to get ahead in the company?
- What has been the growth pattern of the company in the last five years? Is it profitable?
- If there is a written job description, can you see it?
- How regular do performance evaluations occur? What model do they follow?
Always bear in mind that every interviewer is trying to evaluate you on three criteria:
1. Are you able to do the job?
2. Are you willing to put in the effort to make the job a success?
3. Are you manageable?
back
|
