Prepping for your first interview 

A piece for apprentices and first interviews 

Your first interview can be nerve racking, I am writing this as someone who has gone through 8 so far in my life and I still get nervous, and when you really want the job, it can add that layer of extra pressure. We wanted to create a piece to help settle your nerves and give you some insight to interviews so that you can be yourself and smash that interview and hopefully get the job! 

First things first well done on getting the interview it’s a big deal and should be treated as such, your CV must have shown promise and something the company is looking for. Celebrate that! Now let’s get prepped for the interview. 

1. Company research, it’s more important than you think, the company want to know that you know what they do and are invested in what they do. They want to see you have taken the time to research as this shows you have incitive and have applied for the job because you want to not because you had too. Make sure you have also researched your role, again showing you want the job, also find examples that show you match the job description “I did this…so I have experience in…”
2. Prep your travel, you want to make sure you arrive calm and collected not sweaty and stressed because you missed the bus or weren’t aware of traffic. Plan your travel ahead of time so you arrive a little early and have a back up if you are relying on public transport. As make sure to check if its online of telephone as if they are you don’t want to turn up to the business when you are meant to be at home! (also check what you need to bring sometimes they will ask you to bring your CV or Certificate or Overalls and PPE)
3. Questions, The interview is all about getting to know you, your experience and how you may fit into the role and the company, they may ask about hobbies and things you like to settle you too. They will likely ask what drew you to the role and if you have done research on the role and company you can speak on this and then balance it out with some of your talents and morals. “I am a newly qualified EV technician and was looking for a role that not only was able to use my skill set but that also matched my personal feelings, I saw that you invested in reducing your carbon footprint and also loved that you started a Youth football team in the area!” (or what ever is important to you!) You may also be asked about accomplishments, where you see yourself in 5 years, how do you resolve conflict, what was the hardest part of your apprenticeship, what would you do with the role over 3 months these are all common interview questions so you can prep for these and even practice using the STAR Method. You may also get asked about salary (this is why research in the role is important!)
4. The Star Method a method to help you answer questions clearing and memorably
   Situation - The context. Describe the situation you faced and the backround. The who/what/when/where/why.
   Task - What did you need to accomplish in this situation?
   Action - How did you solve the problem? What was involved in the execution? What options did you consider? What were the pros/cons of each? Who else was involved? What was your thought process?
   Result - Was it resolved? What was the outcome you achieved? How did you measure success for this project? Quantify to understand volume, size, scale.
5. Dress appropriately for the interview, it doesn’t have to be a three-piece suit or a floor length gown, but you do need to look presentable, you want to leave a lasting impression, so dress smart like you want the job, smart, clean and fresh! And if there is a practical part to your interview (you will have been told before) bring you correct work clothing with PPE so you are ready to get stuck in. 6. Body language is important, make sure you look engaged, not all slouching in the chair, if you struggle with eye contact don’t worry, try to focus just above the eyes or around month and nose so the person who is interviewing you feels like you are engaged and making eye contact. This all being said make sure you sit comfortably as you don’t want to be uncomfortable throughout your interview.
6. BE YOURSELF, you are unique and your specific personality and work ethic is important to the company as they will want to see if you are a good fit for them but also a good fit for you. And interview is about you finding out if this job is right for you too, so at the end when they ask if you have any questions, ask them!
7. After the interview whether you get the job or not, it’s always okay to ask for feedback, every interview is helpful for helping you to grow and you can learn so much from interviewers feedback, they may not always give it but always good to ask! If you are offered the Job incredibly well! Make sure to ask for a written confirmation of the job offer and get all the information on start date and start wage. Whatever the outcome you have taken the first step into a career in the Automotive sector and that’s amazing. Commented [BA1]: Could we make this IMI style