The University of Sheffield
Careers Service

Interviews

If you have been invited for interview then the employer is serious about your application and is looking to build upon an already positive picture. Interviews test out this positive impression and assess your suitability for the job. They also indicate whether you will fit in with colleagues, present a confident and professional image with clients or customers and cope with the pressures of the job.

Interviews vary a great deal. Interviewers may be trained, experienced and astute judges of character or inexperienced, untrained and as nervous as you.

Some employers use just one interview as the basis for their decision. Most employers recruiting graduates use a multi-stage process involving two interviews and possibly a selection of recruitment exercises to build up a full picture of your suitability for the job. A typical first interview lasts about 45 minutes; an 'assessment centre' can cover up to two days.

Interviews are also your opportunity to find out more about the job and the organisation. Employers want you to have enough information to make your decision to accept a job offer with confidence.

Preparation

Thorough preparation is essential if you are to arrive at your interview ready to make the most of the opportunity and with enough self-confidence to conquer inevitable interview nerves.

  • Read over your CV or application form. Think about your personal skills, motivation and personality.
  • Read the job description and think about how your skills and experience match what the employer is looking for.
  • Researching Employers. Use the link on the left hand menu to research the organisation thoroughly.
  • Decide what to wear. Make sure it's appropriate for the job and comfortable.
  • Find out how to get there and allow plenty of time for your journey.
  • Make use of the Careers Service which holds a number of books and videos on interviews, presentations and assessment centres.

Interviewer interactive software

Make use of the Interviewer interactive software held at the Careers Service, 388 Glossop Road. You can work through a series of interview questions, video your responses and practice them again and again, comparing your answers with what the interviewer is looking for.

Laptops with Interviewer installed on them are available for loan to current students for a £5 deposit. For further information contact the Careers Service on 0114 222 0910.

Briefing booklets
Online talks and DVDs