Toolkit for Life

The Sixth Form College interview

2007-02-26T13:45:00.000Z

You've got past the first two minutes and are now seated. Relax your shoulders, smile and hold eye contact throughout. Speak clearly. Once you've answered a question, stop speaking and wait for the interviewer. Don't try to fill the silence by adding more (unless you missed something out in your answer). At the end, thank your interviewer for their time and shake their hand, if offered (firmly, not limply!).

While you can't anticipate every question that you might be asked, here are some that you should prepare for:

Why have you decided to apply for XYZ College?

Ideas: reputation, facilities, you were impressed at the Open Evening

What are you hoping to gain from the course?

Ideas: building on an existing interest/skill, hope to pursue further at university

What can you offer the College?

Ideas: enthusiasm, join band/choir/orchestra, representation in sports

Where do you see yourself in 2/4/7/10 years?

If you know, fine. But it's also okay not to know what you want to be in ten years time - "I'm not sure at the moment. I'm interested in a number of things including science and music. I want to get three good A levels in Biology, Music and Psychology that keep my options open while I decide my next step after college."

What do you think is you best characteristic/talent/skill/achievement?

Ideas: trustworthy/kind/considerate, good footballer, school prefect. This question can also be asked as "what are your strengths and weaknesses?" in which case give two or three strengths followed by one weakness. If you state a weakness, also describe how you are improving in that area e.g. "My time management has been poor while doing coursework. I now plan what I need to do at the start of an assignment and write myself a to-do list which I then follow."

Do you have any questions for me?

Ideas: which universities do you have links with? if I find I'm not getting on with any of my chosen subjects, can I transfer in the first term? if you make me an offer, what should I do if I just miss the grades in that offer?

Does the handshake really matter?

2007-03-05T13:40:00.000Z

Remember when you last got a limp handshake or a bone-crusher? What was your immediate impression of the person? Exactly!

The handshake is a very important physical greeting when meeting someone, whether for the first time or as part of your regular contact with them. Knowing when to shake hands and how to shake hands confidently is vital to forming a good first impression. The can be hardest for young women, so the answer is to practise with friends and family until you're comfortable.

When
You should shake hands when you initially meet someone, for example when you walk into the interview room and greet your interviewer. A hand shake at the end of the meeting or interview is also good practice.

What if my interviewer doesn't me offer their hand? My advice is to wait to catch their eye and then offer your hand, before sitting down - sometimes, in showing you into the room and to a seat, they can forget the hand shake themselves.

How
A firm handshake, and with eye contact at the same time, communicates self-confidence:

Extend your hand and grip the other person's hand so that the web of your thumbs meet.
Shake just a couple of times. The motion is from the elbow, not the shoulder.
End the handshake cleanly, before the introduction is over.

If you want to count, a good handshake is held for three or four seconds.

One other thing... avoid a "clammy hand". It says to the other person "I am nervous", which undermines the good impression you want to give (even if you are nervous!).

If you have a tendency for have cold hands, stick your right hand in your pocket to warm it up as you approach a situation in which you'll have to shake hands. And, if you can feel that you're nervous, take a quick swipe of your right hand on your skirt or trousers, so that when you present it, it's dry. You can do so quickly and gracefully, and no one will be aware that you made the gesture.

And a final tip - if you are prone to sweaty palms, try rubbing antiperspirant (unscented!) on your hand before going to that important interview or meeting.

You don't get a second chance to create a good first impression

2007-02-20T19:40:00.000Z

Some schools only provide education up to GCSE level, after which students have to travel to a Sixth Form college (or another school with an integrated sixth form) if they want to do 'A' levels. The application to a college is often accompanied by an interview. Even for students who stay in the same school, their application for work experience in late Year 10 or early Year 11 will often involve an interview. Doing a little preparation will go a long way to improving your chances of success.

The first two minutes of an interview are often the most crucial. The interviewer will often form an impression of you in this time and then spend the rest of the interview seeking to confirm that first impression.

Our school runs mock interviews, to give students some practise. These are the common points that I feed back to those students:

before you leave home, make sure your shirt has been ironed, your shoes are polished, your jacket and trousers/skirt have been brushed, your tie goes all the way down to your belt, and you've looked in the mirror (hair/face/teeth all okay?)
check your appearance when you arrive. The easiest way is to give yourself 5-10 minutes before the interview and ask to use the toilet. Hair tidy / top button done up / tie straight / shirt tucked in?
while you're waiting for the interview, if your hands are clammy, now's the time to dry them casually on your trousers/skirt
knock (loudly enough to be heard), wait to be called in, and enter cautiously if there is no reply (your interviewer could be on the phone, so watch for their signal to carry on entering or wait outside until they've finished)
walk positively, holding yourself upright. Smile and offer your hand to them
a firm handshake, not a bone-crusher, and not too limp. This can be difficult for girls, so practise at home or with friends. Boys have no excuse - it must be firm! No one likes a limp, clammy handshake.
you may have said nothing up to this point, but the interviewer will already have formed an impression based on what they've seen
now be prepared to talk about the weather or your journey for a minute. It's small talk time. This allows you both to settle, for them to pour you a glass of water etc (always accept water if it is offered, just in case you dry up). But the interviewer is also looking to see if you're relaxed and can hold a polite conversation. Smile. Look at them. Listen to what they say. Reply courteously.

And that's two minutes. You haven't even started talking about the college, the business or what you've applied for. But unless they're a professional interviewer (and most people aren't), they've formed an impression that will positively shape the rest of the interview.

Appearance. Handshake. Smile. Small talk.

And a little practise.

Ask great questions - you never know where they might lead you

2007-02-06T13:37:00.000Z

Once a year I go into our local secondary school to be quizzed by groups of Year 10 students about my career. How many GCSE's did I take? Which A levels? Which degree? What did I want to do when I was their age? How many jobs had I had? Why did I change jobs?

Each group of students would ask the same questions and each group would get the same answers:

- 12.
- Maths, physics, geography.
- Civil Engineering.
- To be an architect or a civil engineer.
- 6.
- For more money, for more experience, to change career direction, to become my own boss.

Until...

One young lady asked me if there was anything I'd wanted to be before I'd wanted to be an architect or civil engineer. GREAT QUESTION. Because, of course, the answer was "yes". When I was nine, I'd wanted to be an astronaut.

They looked at me. "An astronaut?".

"Yes", I said. "Neil Armstrong had just set foot on the moon, and I wanted to be an astronaut. But there were two problems with wanting to be an astronaut in 1969. Firstly, the UK didn't have a manned space programme. And secondly, the two countries that did - the USA and the USSR - only took people from their respective airforces.

"So I couldn't be an astronaut.

"But you could be..."

Puzzled looks. Sideways glances to their friends. And then a light bulb moment. Because, of course, they could be, if they really wanted to.