How to stand out in interviews - Finding the right job L5 PSP 2 Module

Nikki Abbott

Bioscience and Chemistry Employment Adviser

Aims of session

Will look at: • Interview types • Interview preparation and evidencing your skills • Assessment centres and psychometric tests • Presentations • How to maximise chances of securing

placement/summer placement or relevant work experience

Types of interview

• 1:1 • panel • telephone • video • technical or competency

based • informal chat • part of an assessment

centre

Some examples from previous placements • Quotient Bioresearch: informal chat; tour of the facility • Sheffield Medical School, Clinical Oncology- Met supervisor in cafe for

informal chat • Hammersmith Medical Research: Panel interview, tour • Euromimmun: informal chat • Royal Hallamshire Hospital: informal chat; 1:1 and tour of facility • Uni of Sheffield: panel interview, presentation, tour • Sheffield Teaching Hospital: panel interview and practical test (error

spotting on patient samples) • Covance, Sample Management: Informal chat and telephone interview • Mordelez International, RSSL, Metals Laboratory: Assessment day- 1:1,

telephone, groupwork and presention • European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute: video/ skype

Top interview Tips

How to prepare

Why the company? Why the

role?

Why are you a good candidate?

What are the main themes of interviews?

How to prepare for your interview

Why the company... Look at their: • Core business and values • Culture and mission • Role or products • Look at info from your Employability Adviser Use its website, recruitment brochure, newspapers, trade journals and Careers Central. If it is a research or education institute look at published papers of supervisor or Department personnel

Researching the Job

Why the Job

•Pay close attention to the job advert – they vary in detail, length and clarity

• The Job Description and Person Specification contain requirements of knowledge/experience/skills/abilities • You need to prepare examples of how you match the person spec Prospects website explore types of jobs industry insights

Why you? Skills employers seek

Written and oral communication; decision making, time management; commercial awareness; research; laboratory; persuading, influencing and negotiating skills; leadership skills; computing skills; numeracy; striving for excellence; determination; adaptability

Teamworking

Communication Skills

Problem solving

Evidence skills using STAR

Employers often look for examples of specific skills: Prepare examples using: Situation - briefly describe the where/when/who Task - outline the task or objective (what you hoped to achieve). Action - describe what you did - focus on your role and your input. Spend most time on this part. Result - what the outcome was and what skills you developed. Reflection: What would you do differently next time?

Prepare by Evidencing Your Skills Activity Skills Acquired

Practical Degree project/module • Designed and conducted experiments • Wrote up and presented work to the department

• Biochemical techniques, PCR, culturing cells • Self-driven and motivated, communication skills (writing and presenting) • Interpretation and analytical skills, accuracy and precision

Voluntary work experience • Worked on a conservation project

• Team working and cooperation • Fieldwork skills and fitness levels • Understanding of ecology

Bar work during first year

• Excellent communication skills – negotiating and dealing with difficult customers •Accuracy under pressure-handling cash and dealing with orders

Science interview examples and hints

Prepare and practice answers to potential questions

• Think about which questions you may be asked - refer to the job description and person specification

• Prepare your 'ideal' answers, making sure your answers are relevant to the role and the company

• Provide specific examples about your experience that relate to what the employer is looking for - evidence your skills using the STAR technique

• Write your answers down to use as a 'crib' sheet to use to practice for the interview - practise saying the words out loud

• Contact Employment Adviser to have a practice interview

Research the types of questions asked by the employer and prepare answers Usual questions are.... • Open/Broad questions

• "Why did you apply for the role?" • "Why do you want the job?"

A real chance to sell yourself and your skills. Focus on the company, the role and what you have to offer- Examples at the end of the PowerPoint

Types of questions

• Competency based: • "Tell us about a time you have solved a

problem." • Use examples to build a mental picture • Structure using STAR

• Scenario/behavioural: – “What would you do if you were asked to

carry out a sample test quickly but were already busy?"

Types of questions

• Knowledge-based/Technical: • "How do you keep your sector knowledge up to date?"

Checking out what you know and how you apply it Commercial awareness

• Strength-based: • "What motivates you in the workplace?"

Trying to find out where you would best fit Be honest! (GSK)

Types of questions

• Extra tricky questions: • "What is your weakness?"

Checking out your self awareness Be honest - explain how you've tackled your weakness

• Curveball: • "Is life a comedy or a tragedy?"

How do you respond under pressure Rationale more important than answer

Uni of Sheffield (oncology and Metabolism)- Drug discovery • What interests you in the role?

• Describe a technique used in the first year

• Tell us about yourself

• What are your strengths and weaknesses

• What is your greatest achievement

• What are your career goals

Uni of Sheffield (oncology and Metabolism)- Lab Technician • Why do you want to work for the organisation

• Technical questions related to lab skills

Questions asked for trainee Biomedical scientist placement (Sheffield) Tell me about your course and how you are getting

on?

What are your interests outside University?

Where did you see this job advert and how did you apply?

Scientific / Technical Questions: Prepare

– research the company's main activities

– what techniques are mentioned in the job description

– ask students who’ve had interview

– Come and see me

Common Question topics:

• Calculations! (Molarities, dilutions, unit conversions etc.)

• Job specific (theory, practical)

• Discussion of practical work done at SHU

Practicals

• Uni of Sheffield, Lab tech: Health and Safety test; Calculations to decide how many cells per flask are required for a project

• Uni of Sheffield, Department of Oncology, Lab Assistant: given a chance to dissect a mouse; molarity question

• Heaton Manor School- Lab Tech- Titrations/ making correct dilutions

• Abbott Diabetes Care- Student Scientist- maths skill- standard deviations/ %; making up solutions (glucose PBS)

• Penistone Grammar School-Making Dilutions; constructing a reflux condenser; making a 250 ml flask of 0.1M acid from1M stock

Others • Basic mathematics • Dilutions using a pipette • Situational judgement with reagents • How to calculate the number of cells in a solution • Forensic Handwriting- examination of old case • Calculation of concentrations • Conversion of units • Calibrations • Informally tested on macrophage markers and some key facts about

them

Cont Lab based:

Give an e.g. of where you have practised manual dexterity in a lab.

Give an example of a practical in your lab classes and what skills you gained.

What are the sub disciplines of microbiology?

Professional:

What does IBMS stand for and what are their values?

If successful how will you balance a F/T job and completing IBMS portfolio?

Examples of how to answer key questions

• Abintegro: interview simulator (shuspace>my university>careers central)

• Example interview questions- science

My favourite website for building up skill examples https://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/sk/skillsmenu.htm

How would you go about solving a problem

Give an example of where you have worked as part of a team

Tell me about any projects done.

Technical questions on science e.g. What is entropy? What does HIV stand for?

Other 'Awkward' Questions our Students have Faced:

• Topical questions

• Weaknesses

• Meeting deadlines

• Recovering from a ‘bad’ question

– Try to be enthusiastic – Show other strengths

Questions for you to ask

Range of interview assessment methods...

Telephone interviews

Telephone interviews are increasingly popular and are often used to: • screen out candidates at an early stage • conduct a follow up or final stage interview • interview candidates from wide geographical areas • the questions in a telephone interview are often exactly

the same as in a face-to-face format and you should prepare in the same way.

Telephone interviews Additional things to consider include: • make sure you have a quiet space to take the call • have your notes and drink nearby but try and keep notes

organised (no paper shuffling!) • avoid long silences and use active listening skills - words are all

you have!

• http://targetjobs.co.uk/careers-advice/interview-types/273645-how-to-handle-a-telephone-interview

Video interviews

• 2nd stage application filter

• Telephone interview replacement (typically)

• Fast and flexible for recruiters to administer

• Flexible for candidates, reduces waiting times

• Tend to be competency/situational questions

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0dmjQRA5Is

• Look at Abintegro on the interview section of Careers Central

Assessment other than ‘the interview’: activities our students have faced • Informal assessment – coffee, lab tour, meeting current students (including

ours) VERY COMMON!! remember you are being assessed on this • Group activities:

– Problem solving – Leadership / team working – Listening – Motivating – Discussing

• Oral presentations • Aptitude tests (eg.s on www.prospects.ac.uk) Career Central- Practice!!!!

Assessment centres

• Usually for the bigger companies

• A number of candidates present

• A number of company representatives may attend

• Assessed against selection criteria rather than competing with other candidates

• See careers central http://careerscentral.shu.ac.uk/cv-applications-interviews/assessment-centres-0

What do they involve?

• Presentations

• Group exercises

• Psychometric tests- for companies such as GSK

• Some form of technical test

• Interview(s)

• Social time

Psychometric tests • Psychometric – or aptitude – tests are a way of assessing

your skills in certain areas. They tend to be online and will typically test your numerical skills, verbal reasoning, diagrammatic reasoning and data interpretation skills within a time limit.

psychometric tests

• practiceaptitudetests • Numerical Reasoning • Can do practice mode or test mode

Profiling for Success

• Careers and Employability Centre has subscription for SHU students only - Your personalised report

• PFS Assessments • Aptitude tests . First 3 (numerical ,verbal and abstract reasoning

all timed - do them when no distractions) • Personality - not timed • Learning Styles Indicator type dynamics • Values based Indicator of motivation • Client code tflhe • Access code shu • Password shu041012

Presentations • Usually 10 - 15 minutes

– STAB VIDA- presentation based on a project topic from university – Uni of Sheffield- 10 min presentation on area of novel research

interested in (plus 5 mins questions )

• May be able to use visual aids • May be able to prepare previously or might have to do on the spot Employers are looking for; - How you organize and use information - Whether you can communicate effectively - How you cope under pressure See Careers central http://careerscentral.shu.ac.uk/assessment-centres/presentations

During the interview

• It is common to feel nervous • Be appropriately presented, first impressions do count! • Be aware of your body language, try to appear relaxed and

confident - be friendly, smile and maintain eye contact! • Focus and concentrate on the conversation • Be enthusiastic about the position, the company and the

industry • If you don't understand a question, ask for clarification • Be positive about yourself: remember on paper you are right

for the job!!! • If there is a lab tour wear sensible shoes

How to succeed - the 3 Ps

Rob Yeung, Business Psychologist

"An interview is all about the three Ps. You need to prepare, you need to practise, and then, on the day, you need to perform.”

Other ways to get relevant experience

• Get a Part time job or campus job - Shuspace>University LifeTab>Part time or campus jobs

• Volunteer http://careerscentral.shu.ac.uk/getting-experience/volunteering

• Careers Central> Options with your subject

Specialist Biosciences and Chemistry Careers & Employment Advice

• Interview preparation, including practice or 'mock'interviews

• Information on specific companies • Preparing targeted CV's and applications • Gaining work experience • Jobsearch

Make appointments by contacting me at N.Abbott @shu.ac.uk or book in at the Bioscience Helpdesk Owen Level 7.

STEM Graduate Jobs and Placement Fair 2016

City Campus| 26 October |10am - 3pm

Meet with top local and national employers with career opportunities for you! For more details visit unihub.shu.ac.uk/students/events

Employers at the Fair include: