Interview Tips and Mock Interviews

In the world of job interviews, the saying holds true: “fail to prepare, prepare to fail.” Our resources make sure you won’t be left kicking yourself post-interview because you weren’t prepared.

Preparing for interview questions

Structuring your answers is key. Our employment team has sat on many interview panels, witnessing candidates mess up because they didn’t structure their response. That’s why we recommend the STAR interview method, a tried-and-tested technique that works.

STAR Interview Response Technique

Mastering the “tell me about yourself” question

Crafting a good answer to this tricky question is an art. Follow this simple plan: talk about your current job, your journey to this point including past jobs that matter, and where you want to go in the future.

Don’t forget to show enthusiasm. Whether it’s a charity or a company, explain why you’re excited to work there. Keep it short; the interviewer doesn’t want your life story. You can practice your answer, but don’t memorise it word for word. You can even record yourself or get help from our employment team. Stay positive and don’t dwell on past problems at work.

Dealing with interview nerves

Feeling nervous is normal, but you can deal with it. Here are some tips:

• Take a walk: Go for a walk outside before the interview to clear your mind.
• Eat well: Make sure you eat a good meal before the interview so your stomach doesn’t make noise.
• Listen to music: Put on your favourite songs with headphones to get pumped up and calm down.
• Call an “uplifting” friend: Talk to someone who can boost your confidence and give you a pep talk.

Remember, interviewers get nervous too. They want to impress you just as much as you want to impress them.

Preparing for the interview

There are two important tasks to get ready for your interview:

1. Prepare examples: Use the STAR method to match the job requirements with your examples. Write down your answers and practice until you feel confident.
2. Practice interviewing yourself: Write some practice questions, record your answers, and then listen to them. Pay attention to:

• How you sound: Think about the tone of your voice when you speak.
• Structure: Check if your answers are well-organised and make sense.
• Confidence: Consider how sure you sound when you talk.
• Saying “I”: Make sure you say “I” when talking about what you did.
• Answering the question: See if your answers fit the questions and if you explain your past work clearly.

Mock Interviews

You can boost your confidence by practicing with us. Mock interviews with our employment team are a great way to prepare.

• We have experience: Our team members have been on both sides of interviews and know what works.
• We give constructive and honest feedback: Our feedback is helpful and points out what you can do better and how to make improvements. We will also tell you what you did well.
• We get results: Many blind and partially sighted people have gotten jobs after our mock interviews as they are more prepared for what to expect.

How It Works

We do all our mock interviews over the phone or online using video chat. If you’re not used to video chat, don’t worry; we’ll help you get set up.

Arrange a Mock Interview

If you have an interview coming up, email us at employment@pocklington-trust.org.uk. Tell us when your interview is, share the job description, and send us your CV or application. We’ll do our best to help, but we can’t always guarantee a session.

You don’t need to have been offered an actual interview to benefit from this though. If you want to improve your interview skills, email us with three jobs that match your skills, your CV, and any recent application forms.