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What is an interview

An employer will ask you to go for an interview if they think you might be the right person for the job. The interview helps them to find out more about you.

What is an interview?

An interview:

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Is a chance for an employer to meet you and see if you are the right person for the job

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Gives you the chance to tell the employer why you would be good at the job they are advertising

What are the different types of interviews?

Employers do interviews in different ways.

You could have an interview:

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In a workplace with one member of staff

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In a workplace but with more than one member of staff

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On the phone.The employer will call you to chat and ask you questions

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On a video call. This is where you use a computer, maybe at home, and the employer calls you over video to do the interview

What happens in an interview?

What happens will depend on how the employer wants to do the interview. The employer will give you more information when you are offered an interview.

Your interview may be:

  • An informal chat to find out more about you and your skills
  • A formal interview where you are asked questions. If the employer is interviewing anyone else for that job, they will ask the same questions.

Sometimes the employer may ask you to take a test or talk to a group of people as part of the interview. For example, you might have to show an employer you can do a part of the job you are applying for, such as:

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Typing on a computer

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Answering the telephone

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Talking about a topic

What happens at the end of an interview?

At the end of the interview the employer will thank you for your time. You can thank the employer too.

They may let you know straight away if you have the job. Or the employer will contact you in a few days to let you know if you have been offered the job.

Remember, even if you don’t get the job, having an interview will give you experience that will help you prepare for other interviews you may get.


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