This document provides guidance on interview skills. Modern interviews can include multiple parts and activities to assess candidates. Employers evaluate competencies like communication, problem-solving, and working with others depending on the job. Common interview activities include group exercises, practical tasks, presentations, role plays, and psychometric testing. Candidates should research the company, prepare answers to common questions using the STAR model, make a strong first impression, communicate clearly, and dress professionally. Practicing commonly asked interview questions is advised to feel confident and prepared.

1. Destination: Aspiration
Interview Skills

2. Introduction
• Modern interviews can take many different forms.
• Employers use the time to get to know potential employees
and test their skills before making the decision of a job offer.
• In this session, we are going to look at some of the tasks that
you may be required to do in an interview and how to make the
best impression.
• Read through the slides and answer the questions.
• This session will help you with the mock interview that you will
be doing as part of your next assessment.

3. Interviews
• Interviews are often no longer as simple as a 30 minute
conversation where you answer common questions.
• Interviews now often have multiple parts using different
activities so that the interviewer can obtain a much
rounder picture of the person they are meeting.
• Some employers use assessment centres.
• These can last anywhere from 2 hours to a whole day.
• Employers will assess your skills, competencies and
traits to see if you are suitable.

4. Competencies
• Competencies are skills that employers require you to have:
• Communication
• Influencing others
• Problem solving
• Decision making
• Building relationships
• Planning & Prioritisation
• Time Management
• Working Under Pressure
• Working with People
The competencies an employer
is looking at will depend on the
job role you are applying for

5. Types of Activity Used in Interviews
Group
Exercises
Practical
Tasks
Psychometric
Tests
Role Plays Presentations

6. Group Exercises
• Employers use group exercises when it is important
how well people work together.
• This is particularly useful when establishing a new team
or employing several people at once.
• You may be asked to design, create or build something.
• The employer will be looking to see what role within
the team you fulfil.

7. Practical Tasks
• In any job that involves a lot of practical aspects, you
may be asked to attend a session where you carry out
some practical tasks.
• In the animal industry, some employers may ask you to
spend a morning or even a whole day working with
their team as a “taster” to see how you get on.
• If this is the case, you will be informed ahead of time so
that you can dress appropriately.

8. Psychometric Testing
• Psychometric testing is a way of assessing an candidate
to determine whether or not they will be suitable for
the job.
• Questions may cover numerical reasoning, verbal
reasoning, logic, error checking and comprehension.
• It is unlikely that you will be assessed in this way in the
animal industry!

9. Role Play
• When a job involves dealing with customers or clients,
role play is an excellent way for companies to
determine how you would cope in certain situations.
• You may be asked to role play what you would do in
certain situations to see if you can use your initiative to
solve problems.

10. Presentations
• In any job where you might need to present
information, you may be asked to demonstrate your
skills by presenting information to a panel.
• You will usually be given a topic to write about but
occasionally may be given the choice.
• If you are given the choice of presentation topic, try
and keep it relevant to the job.
• When you have to deliver a presentation, make sure
you practice, practice, practice!

11. First Impressions Count!
• Enter the room confidently
• Shake hands firmly and introduce yourself
• Smile
• Make eye contact
• Dress appropriately
• Be punctual
• Don’t sit down until invited

12. During your Interview
• Speak clearly so that you can be heard
• Speak slowly so that people can understand what you
are saying
• Make eye contact
• Sit up straight
• Don’t fidget!

13. Answering Questions
• Before your interview, do your research!
• Find out about the company you are planning on working for!
• Research the sort of questions you may be asked.
• Many employers will use the same sort of questions regardless of
industry.
• Write down practice answers and practice them with other
people.
• There is nothing wrong with taking a few notes with you to
make sure that you remember the key points that you want to
make.

14. Answering Questions – The STAR Model
1.Situation
Describe what was
happening & where
2. Task
Explain what you were
doing
3. Actions
Describe what actions
you took and the skills
you used
4. Result
Describe the outcome
and what you achieved

15. Answering Questions – STAR Example
1.Situation
I was working on a farm
2. Task
We had to create an
information display on
H&S
3. Actions
I helped design the display and
decide who would do each bit. I
then did my share and helped
other people do their bit
4. Result
We created a great display that
was informative and fun. It helped
to answer people’s questions and
keep everyone safe.

16. Dressing for Success
• Even if you are going for a job in the animal industry,
you should still dress appropriately for your interview.
• Shirt, tie and suit make a much greater impression than
jeans and a pair of trainers.
• If the employer can see that you have made a real
effort, it shows that you are keen!

17. Summary
• If you are well prepared for your interview, you will
come across as confident and relaxed.
• There are many different activities available online that
you can use to help you prepare.
• Ask people to “test” you by asking you some of the
common interview questions to give you a chance to
practice.
•Work through the activities in this session to help you
prepare for your mock interview.