You're going for an interview. You know that the interviewer will throw some tricky questions your way - and you know you've got to stay calm and respond well to impress them. There's nothing to fear if you are well prepared. And this is the book that will make sure you are ready to handle anything.
Sneak peek
Chapter 2: More than an Educated Guess
Your education, to whatever level you have taken it, GCSEs, degrees, or professional qualifications, is always something in which employers are interested. Their degree of interest is dictated by how recent and how relevant your education is to the position for which you are applying. There are certain situations where it will form the basis for a significant portion of your interview. For example, if you have finished, or are about to complete a course at university or college, your potential employer will want to know something about your education - something more than the factual information you have provided on your CV or application form. Why did you choose the subject/course/university or college that you attended? What were you good at and what did you find more difficult? Above all, what did you gain from your studies that will be useful to your employer?
Here are examples of questions and some model answers to consider and adapt to your own situation. The interviewer's emphasis is likely to be on how you made your choice, how committed you are to it and whether it is something of specific use to their organisation.
Q. I see you went on to do a Master's degree immediately after your first degree - wouldn't some work experience have been more useful?
A. I did weigh up both options, but in the end I decided to complete the academic part of my education and have the extra qualification to offer to employers. I like the idea that I can now concentrate on my job 100%. I have done several part-time jobs in a whole variety of places and these have certainly given me a good grounding in the basics of work. Also, my particular Master's course put a strong emphasis on solving practical business problems.
Q. We were hoping for someone with a degree - can you convince us that although you don't have one, you are the right person for the job?
A. I am very confident I could do the job. I did look carefully at the skills you mention in your advert and your job description and they seem to match up very well with my experience. My time in administration at the hospital has given me very good organisational skills and a lot of experience of dealing with the public. I worked with some graduate management trainees there and we got on very well. Having a degree, or not, did not seem to be a barrier to working together really constructively. Of course, I would be happy to do an evening course in any aspect of management if you felt that this would be useful.
Q. Why did you leave school as soon as you hadfinished your GCSEs? Why didn't you stay on at school?
A. I did consider staying on, especially as my GCSE results were quite good, but I had really enjoyed my work experience at one of your hairdressing salons, so I decided I would do well to start on work I enjoyed as soon as possible. I like the idea of learning through work and I know this is a job I want to do.
Regardless of the level to which you took your education, employers will look at how it has contributed to your choice of career and your career progression as well as what skills it has given you that you can use effectively in the workplace. Questions around these two themes will underpin much of what you are asked about your education when you are being interviewed.
The above chapter extract was taken from Brilliant Answers to tough Interview Questions, 2nd edition, by Susan Hodgson.For more model answers, advice and helpful questionnaires purchase a copy at your local bookshop today!