Home Glossary FAQ How to apply Interviews Employability Case studies Gallery Credits Quick find menu -------------------------- Home Search Courses Employers -------------------------- Glossary FAQ How to apply Interviews Employability Case studies Gallery Credits -------------------------- Log in Log out -------------------------- Register -------------------------- Lesson 1 Lesson 2 Lesson 3 Lesson 4 -------------------------- Lesson plans

It is very important to create a good impression at an interview. Write down the date, time, and place of the interview so that you don't forget. Keep it somewhere you can find it!

Turn up early at the interview venue, and dress in a sensible way. For school pupils school uniform is suitable. You should avoid too much jewellery, body piercing, or make up.

Prepare for the interview by finding out about the type of work. You can do this by asking relatives or friends who might know about that kind of job. Do some research on the internet or in the school library. Use this website to find out more about your chosen course.

See if you can find information about which questions may be asked and try to have suitable answers in your mind. Be prepared to give examples of your experience in that area of work. For example for engineering you might mention helping someone with car maintenance or for child care any baby sitting you may have done.

Be able to say why you would like a place on that particular course, what interests you about it, and where you see it leading you in future.

Be prepared to talk about your interests outside school, youth clubs or organisations you attend, and sports or hobbies which you may have. Give any examples you have of working in teams, as teamwork is very important in most jobs.

All vocational courses include employability skills. Find out about these from this web site and through its links to other websites.

Create a positive impression of yourself so that you interest the interviewers. Make good eye contact with the interviewers – look at the person who asks you a question and speak back to them, but cast your eyes to others on the interview team as you speak.

Common interview questions ...

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.
2. What interests you in this type of work?
3. What experience do you have of working in ..... ?
4. What are your favourite subjects in school?
5. What are your best subjects in school?
6. Where do you wish to work when you are older?
7. What experience do you have of working in teams?
8. Tell us about your sports and hobbies.
9. What do you do to relax?

Interviews in action ...

Watch the video above. You will see that the student in the video is not dressed smartly, and doesn't make a very good impression throughout the interview. Can you pick out ten things that she does wrong? Can you pick out any things that she does correctly?