Planning to succeed – Make the best impression at your first interview

Advertorial: You’ve spent the last three years studying for an automotive qualification and have now secured your first interview. Understandably, this may feel a little daunting, but Autotech Academy have devised a series of tips to support your transition from student to automotive employee and ensure that your interview is a success.

• Firstly, do your homework. Research the company so you are familiar with them. Most automotive businesses, including garages and dealer groups, will have a website and potentially social media channels so have a look at these as they offer a snapshot of the business and its employees. If it’s a larger organisation it will also give you a good understanding of their culture and values.
• Homework will also enable you to build a picture of the interviewer and enable you to prepare questions to put to them such as how long they have worked for the company and how they progressed up the career ladder.
• Secondly, research the role. Look at what sort of tasks someone in that position carries out and match your skill set so you can demonstrate your knowledge to the interviewer.
• Prepare yourself for interview questions by using the STAR technique – Situation, Task, Action and Results. Think about times where you may have worked in a group, had success, and overcome challenges by using this method of answering.
• Plan ahead – how long will it take to get to the interview? Will you need to allow time for traffic? Practice the route a couple of times to make yourself familiar with it.
• Dress to impress! First impressions count so make sure you are ready from the moment you arrive and don’t forget to maintain eye contact and smile, and that’s with both the person who greets you and the interviewer!
• Be open and honest about your experience and any areas of automotive that you are particularly interested in.
• Don’t forget that practice makes perfect so sit with a willing friend or family member to run through potential questions.
• Finally – try to relax and enjoy the experience!

Autotech Academy works with colleges and automotive employers to create internship opportunities for newly qualified automotive students. Interns are provided with a tool box, which is theirs to keep if they make the transition to permanent employment, uniform and placed on a 3-12 month internship with an automotive employer where they are paid above the minimum wage.

For more information visit www.autotechacademy.co.uk