About the process
Applying to jobs seems to be a daunting experience, however undergoing the process is very beneficial, knowing what to expect and how to better prepare. When I applied to my university course, I just knew I wanted to also do a year in industry as this would allow me to really gain some hands on experience, developing my skillset whilst being able to contribute the skills I have gained at university.
At first I was a little concerned about the process, but as I did more and more, I’ve become better at expressing myself and have a solid idea of the examples that I wanted to talk about. Even now when I need to do any video interviews, I still feel a little nervous, however I take a couple of deep breaths and have water beside if I ever need to pause for a moment and think.
Utilising different resources for research and keep on top of checking emails is very essential. Sometimes companies may have a preparation call with other candidates which offers important information such as what to expect. Any questions can also be answered there. Making sure that you are in a quiet space with no distractions will help with focus; the last thing you would want would be sounding applications that may trigger distraction.
If I was to give myself advice, it would be to listen carefully and really apply the question. The STAR (situation, task, action, result) technique is also really great for breaking down an example. Be sure to include the key transferable skills such as communication, time management etc in any examples, however try not to go off track. As always, have one or two questions at the end to ask your interviewer, relax and be yourself. Being able to mention key points about the company or the job role is essential.
Angela C – 30/05/23