Just the word can send a shiver up your spine ‘Interview’. Oh help. This week we have 5 practical tips to help prepare you… including 3 free online workshops to invite you to!

Are you ready? Let’s go for it.

1. Come along to our Interview Preparation workshop, run by our very own Careers Advisor, John this week. We’ve also got an Interview Techniques in the Digital World workshop run by HSBC. Finally, we’ve got the Camera Confidence & Virtual Meeting Etiquette workshop – really handy for an interview! They’re all online and free. Just click on the title of the workshop above and it’ll take you through to the booking page. Once booked on, you’ll receive the joining information the morning of the workshop.

2. Have you tried out our new Interview360 tool? It’s very snazzy. It’s a mock interview simulator on our Careers & Enterprise Hub, and it gives you Artificially Intelligent (AI) feedback. This includes how frequently you use filler words (umm… er… like), camera positioning, smiles and much more. If you want to find out more about it, just watch this video we’ve made for you. You can also browse the question bank, to find out how to (and not to) answer a whole range of interview questions just like this one…

If you were a biscuit, what biscuit would you be and why?

GOOD QUESTION, RIGHT?!

3. Our Careers Advisor John also recommends checking out online forums. He says: ‘See if anyone has had an interview with the same recruiter as they may offer you helpful hints and tips and even tell you the type of questions they were asked at their interview to help you best prepare. It is worth creating a free login account as you can start your own forum threads and post to the websites asking for advice and guidance on named recruiters. ‘Wikijob’: and ‘the Student Room’ are good forums to use.’

4. Fail to prepare, prepare to fail. It’s a horrible phrase, but it’s unfortunately true. Before you go into the interview, research the company, the team, the post, and the interviewers themselves! Make sure you’re completely ready to answer ‘why do you want to work for us?’ and give your elevator pitch. To read more on preparing for an interview click here to read another of our recent blogs.

5. What about after the interview? We can’t ignore that! If it’s a rejection (re-direction, depending on your outlook) then get yourself some feedback! Ask what you could improve for a future interview. Give yourself a pat on the back for making it through to the interview stage, and listen hard to the feedback you’re given, it could be the path to success in your next interview.
If it’s good news and you’ve been offered the job, congratulations! It’s time to request your contract (which you need to read carefully) and start date, and get ready for this new adventure!

And don’t forget – we’re here for you throughout your time studying at CCCU, but also for 3 years post-graduation. So do come back if you need any more support, and/or to tell us all your career successes!

Getting further support from The Careers and Enterprise Team at CCCU

You can get ongoing careers support via the following ways:

• Email careers@canterbury.ac.uk
• Log onto the Careers and Enterprise Online Hub to access resources such as CV360, Interview Simulator and more. Our Live Chat function is also available for you to speak to us 10-12 and 2-4 Monday to Friday
• Check out our YouTube channel for more advice and signposting
• Don’t forget our workshops – all online and free and for all current students and recent alumni (up to 3 years post-graduation).