Job interviews

When you have a job interview, try to be yourself.

Think about the questions they may ask you. Plan how you will answer.

Only talk about disability if you want to.

Asking for adjustments at interview

Look at the company website and job description. Make sure you can say:

  • 3 things you like about the company
  • why you want to work there
  • why you want the job It may help to have notes with you at the interview.

Show your skills and experience

You will need to give examples that prove you have the relevant skills and experience. These include things you’ve learned outside work.

Have an example for each required skill on the job description. You can use the STAR method which stands for:

  • situation
  • task
  • action
  • result

Situation

The time and place when you did something or faced a challenge. This can be from when you were working, volunteering or another relevant event. Be specific. This could be something like a group project.

Task

Say what you were responsible for in that situation. For example, perhaps you manage the group project yourself or worked with a colleague or team.

Action

Talk about what you did. What you were responsible for and how you dealt with the challenge. Focus on what you did, not what your team boss or colleague did.

Result

Talk about what you achieved and learned.

“Tell us about a time you had to complete a task under a tight deadline.”

  Answer by analysing the situation, task, action and result.

SituationWhile I usually like to plan my work out in stages and complete it piece by piece, I can also achieve strong results under a tight deadline. Once, an employee left my old company days before a big project of his was due.
TaskI was asked to take it over, with only a few days to learn about and complete the project.
ActionI formed a task force and created a plan to delegate the work.
ResultWe all completed the assignment with a day to spare. I tend to thrive under tight deadlines.

Interview questions and how to answer them

There are some questions that feature in most job interviews. It is good to prepare your answers.

“Tell me about yourself”

Follow the structure that you have in your CV. Begin with an overview of your highest qualification. Then run through the jobs or volunteering positions you’ve had so far. Give brief examples of the achievements and skills. Your interviewer will ask if they want to know more.

“What are your strengths?”

Pick 3 strengths that you think will get you the job. Give examples of how you have used them at work.

“What areas can you improve?"

Working to improve your skills is a strength. Talk about what you have done to improve your skills.

Never say “I do not have any weaknesses” or "I work too hard".

“Why should we hire you? What makes you stand out?”

Look at the job description again to find out what they’re looking for. Link this to your strengths and skills.

You could start by saying, “I have strong technical skills and I can build long-term customer relationships.” Then talk about something that you’ve done, and the benefit it brought to the business.

Finish your answer with something like, “Given the opportunity, I could bring this success to your company.”

“What are your goals? Where do you see yourself in 5 years?”

Show ambition and that you want to make the most of every job you have. Link these back to the job you’re interviewing for.

“Why do you want to work here?”

Show that you know something about the company, and link their values to your goals. Never say "I just need a job."

“What 3 good things would your last boss say about you?”

Say something to show that you're:

  • capable of doing the job well
  • committed to the work
  • a good person to have in a team

For example: "My boss has told me that I am the best designer she has ever had. She knows she can always rely on me, and she likes my sense of humour."

“What salary are you asking for?”

Prepare by researching how much someone with your skills gets paid. Do not say a specific figure. You can negotiate later.

Search salaries by job title or company (Glassdoor)

“Any questions for us?”

Prepare at least 5 questions about the company and role. Asking about a recent change in the employer's industry is a good place to start. Here are some examples:

  • Why has the position become available?
  • What measures do you use to judge how successful I am in the role?
  • What challenges might I face in the role?
  • What is the desired time frame for reaching the objectives of the role?
  • What can I expect from you in terms of development and support?

Google’s interview warm up helps you to practise interview questions and gives feedback on your answers, helping you to improve your performance in an interview. 

In the interview

Plan how you’ll get to the interview and aim to arrive at least 20 minutes early.

Dressing smartly can help create a good impression and make you feel more confident.

Remember to turn your phone off.

If you’re interviewed by several people, pay attention to each of them.

Be confident about what you know but show that you also want to learn more.

Try to stay calm and try not to fidget.

Listen to each question and take your time before answering. It’s OK to ask the interviewer to rephrase their question if you do not understand.

Be positive about your old job and the job you’re applying for. Tell the truth and focus on what you can do.

Managing stress and anxiety in job interviews

Be aware of body language

How you behave in an interview can make you look confident. It's as important as what you say. If you cannot do something on this list, you could try to explain why in a confident and friendly way.

  • shake hands firmly
  • sit up straight
  • keep eye contact
  • smile
  • keep your hands still
  • focus

Do not:

  • chew gum
  • put your hands in your pockets

Talking about disability

You do not have to 'disclose' your condition or impairment in your job interview. You can always bring it up later, but talking about it could be the start of a conversation about getting the support you need.

Talking about disability at a job interview

Video and remote interviews

Remote interviews are when you are not in the same place as the people interviewing you. This can be a voice call or a video call.

You might be invited to a remote interview because it’s:

  • the first of several interview stages
  • cheaper and easier for employers

Warning Find out about the interview

Get advance information about the remote interview format, including clear instructions about how to access video calls. This will help you to prepare and work out if you need reasonable adjustments to make the interview accessible.

Types of remote interviews

There are 3 types of remote interviews.

Voice calls

Where you have a conversation with the interviewers. This is often a telephone call.

Video calls

Where you have a conversation on camera. The interviewers will be able to see you. Some employers use free apps that you will need to download like:

How to join a Zoom meeting (YouTube)

If the employer uses Microsoft Teams, you can sign in as a guest using the link in the meeting invitation. You can ask for a test meeting in advance if that would help.

How to join a Teams meeting (YouTube)

Remote assessments

Some employers use assessments during remote interviews to test an applicant's skills. Assessment tasks vary. These will depend on the skills needed for the job.

Tasks can include:

  • role plays
  • presentations
  • case study exercises
  • email inbox exercises
  • using spreadsheets

Preparing for a remote interview

The employer should give you the information you need when they invite you for a remote interview. Ask for more details if you’re not sure.

Know the interview arrangements

Make sure you know:

  • the date and time of the interview
  • whether it is a telephone or video call
  • how to access the interview
  • if you need to prepare anything before your interview, like a presentation

You could also ask who is going to be interviewing you.

Set up the room for a video call

Try to make the room as quiet and private as you can. This may mean talking to the people you live with or helping children to play somewhere else. Shut the doors and windows.

Make sure that you have a reliable internet connection. This could mean checking that no one else in your home is using the internet for anything that might slow it down. For example, video streaming. Also, try to have:

  • a stable surface to keep your device still
  • a comfortable chair
  • good lighting
  • a neutral and tidy background
  • smart interview clothes
  • a drink nearby

If you cannot find a space with a neutral or tidy background, you may be able to blur your background or use a background image.

Google Meet: How to change background (YouTube)

Microsoft Teams: using background images (Office 365 blog)

Skype: How do I customise my background (Skype support)

Zoom: Virtual backgrounds (Zoom)

Get to know the technology

Before a video call, get to know the technology you will be using.

If you can:

  • install the video call platform to your device
  • check how to switch on your camera and audio
  • have a practice call with a family member or friend
  • share your screen if you need to do a presentation

If you cannot use the same video call platform as the interviewer, use a different one so you can test your microphone and camera.

How to set up and test microphones (Microsoft)

Fix microphone problems (Microsoft)

Control access to your microphone on Mac (Apple)

Asking for reasonable adjustments

Under the Equality Act 2010 (GOV.UK), employers must make reasonable adjustments for disabled applicants. This means you have the right to ask for changes that will enable you to access the remote interview process.

Examples of reasonable adjustments might include:

  • extra time to complete assessment tasks
  • another person to assist you with setting up technology
  • changing the interview time
  • having a personal assistant (PA) or friend there to support you

A different video conferencing app

If a different video conferencing app would be more accessible to you, this could also be a reasonable adjustment. You could also ask to have a telephone interview instead.

Best video conferencing apps and software for accessibility (Scope for Business)

Live captions and sign language interpreters

If your condition makes it hard to hear what people are saying, live captions or a sign language interpreter could be a reasonable adjustment.

Some systems have live captioning. You can ask for this to be turned on during the interview. These include:

  • Microsoft Teams
  • Google Meet

If you have a hearing impairment, adjustments could include live captions or an interpreter from a service such as:

After the interview

At the end of an interview, the interviewer will usually tell you when they will contact candidates with their decision. If they do not reply by this date, try contacting them.

Help with interviews and finding work

Support to Work is our free online and telephone support programme for disabled people in England and Wales who are applying for jobs.

We ask you about the roles you are applying for so that we can support you. We offer:

  • coaching on interview technique
  • mock video interviews
  • advice on preparing for different types of interviews and assessments

Last reviewed by Scope on: 02/10/2024

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