Interview FAQ's

1. How should I look/what do I wear?
2. What should I take to the interview?
3. What sort of questions will they ask?
4. How long are interviews?
5. Will the interview be very formal?
6. What should I prepare for the interview?
7. How will I know how I got on?

1. How should I look/what do I wear?
Dress smartly, make it clear that you have made an effort. However, there is no need to go over the top. A suit is rarely appropriate. It will depend very much on the job you are going for and the culture and dress code for that particular company. We can give you guidance on that. Obviously, if you are going for a job as a VT Librarian you will not necessarily need to dress in the same way as an Account Executive who meets clients all the time.

If you are going straight from work and changing is going to be difficult and would arise suspicion, let us know, and we will alert the interviewers. A general guide might be - dress as if you taking someone you didn't know very well out for dinner and wanted to impress.

Remember, don't smell of cigarette smoke and don't wear powerful colognes or perfumes.

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2. What should I take to the interview?
An A-Z or map, the address of the company you are visiting and the names and job titles of the people you are seeing. Also a good idea to take a couple of spare copies of your CV, just in case there aren't enough to go round or they have been misplaced. You might also want to take some prepared notes to jog your memory and a copy of the Job Specification. A pen and paper is no bad thing either - you never know.

Do not arrive laden down with bags. You need to look as though you are tidy and organised.

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3. What sort of questions will they ask?
The interviewers will be seeking to assess your suitability for the job and what skills and experience you can bring to the company. (See link Possible Interview Questions). They will probably run through your CV and ask about your previous jobs, your strengths, why you want to leave your current job and what you think makes the role suitable for you. They will also want to know about your career objectives and what you envisage doing in the future.

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4. How long are interviews?
It is hard to be specific but typically 25 minutes to one hour. Depends on the job and whether or not they wish to go to 2nd or 3rd interviews

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5. Will the interview be very formal?
This will depend on the company and the position. Some interviews will be very informal, possibly on a one to one basis. Others may require you to complete a written test and be seen by a panel of 3 or more people. We can give you more information about specific interviews and what to expect. Even if the interview is relatively informal, don't get too relaxed and let your guard down; you are still being assessed and need to impress.

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6. What should I prepare for the interview?
Research the company carefully, find out exactly what they do - not just about the channel/department you are being interviewed to work in. Make sure you have looked at:

1. their website(s) and other related sites
2. target audience/demographics
3. ratings
4. programmes/content
5. other related business activity, enhanced, interactive, broadband activity etc.
6. future plans - things you have read or heard about expansion or new business
7. their culture - what sort of company is it?

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7 How will I know how I got on?
Normally speaking the interviewer will give you an idea of how long the process will take and if they have still got people to see. They will get back directly to us as soon as they have come to some kind of decision. This may be to hold second interviews or it may be that they need to consult others in the organisation. Or, it might be to make an offer. In any event, we will get back to you as soon as we have some feedback to give you. There is no need to for you to deal directly with them.

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