Job interviews

Some points to remember

Interviews can be dauting, but with preparation and practice, you can learn how to navigate this process. We have a number of resources available to help you present your best self at interviews to impress employers.

They can take place face to face or online, but whatever the method, preparation is the key to being successful. See our break down of the different types below.

Take a look at our guide, Preparing for interviews, which offers lots of useful tips and advice.

Types of interview

Interviews can take place in a variety of formats - a few examples are:

• 1:1 (informal chat)
• Panel
• Video (Zoom/Teams)
• Telephone
• Group

Watch our video for an explanation of types of interview.

Assessment centres

Assessment centres can form part of the interview process, they are group tasks and activities where you'll take part in group discussions, written tests and presentations to test your suitability for the job.

Read our guide to Preparing for an Assessment Centre.

Types of question

Employers can vary the interview questions they ask. Types of interview questions that you may come across are:

• Warm up
• Competency
• Behavioural
• Strengths-based
• Technical

Watch our video for an explanation of these question styles and how to answer them.

How to answer competency interview questions

Read our blog post written by our careers adviser, Adam Taylor, to learn how to answer difficult interview questions by using the STAR technique.

The STAR technique

The STAR technique is useful to follow when answering interview questions that require examples or evidence, such as competency questions. This is because it provides you with a comprehensive structure to best demonstrate your experience. See below for our explanation of the technique:

S = Situation. Begin by placing the example you are using into some kind of context for the reader, i.e. when and where the event took place.

T = Task. Describe what it was you had to do - what was the overall objective? Where there any constraints acting upon you as an individual, or as a group, e.g. budget.

A = Action. Describe what you did to complete the task. NB: even if you are describing a team situation, describe how you made a difference to the outcome and role you took within the team.

R = Result/Review. What was the outcome? What did you learn from the experience?

Mock interviews

Our careers advisers offer you the chance to practice your answers in a mock interview setting and provide feedback on how to improve your performance for the real interview. If you'd like to book a slot, please email careers&enterprise@salford.ac.uk, with a copy of the job description/person specification you would like to base your practice interview on and include your availability.

Appointments are available for current students and graduates of the University of Salford only.

Shortlist.Me

Unlimited on-demand mock interviews, providing students with instant actionable feedback.

Shortlist.Me is a fantastic opportunity to gain excellent interview practice through realistic interview simulations online, which have been accredited by a multitude of top graduate employers.

• Choose from a wide range of different industry-specific interviews including Admin, Engineering, Marketing, Finance, and much more!
• Rehearse your answers under the pressures of a real interview.
• Play your responses back, and learn how to improve based on expert guidance provided by Shortlist.Me.

Resources

Gain tips and ideas about how to prepare for job interviews to make you feel more comfortable and confident with the interview process, by attending one of our live masterclasses or using our Getting Interview Ready Linked In Learning Pathway.

• Preparing for Interviews Guide
• Prospects Interview Tips
• Target Jobs Interview Questions
• Prospects Assessment Centres