Help with the Final Interview

Why are interviews used?

Interviews remain the most popular method of assessment for recruitment. They

• give both candidate and employer a chance to meet face to face
• allow you to question them as well as vice versa

What will the interview be like?

You will be interviewed by a panel of members from the relevant arm of the Defence Forces. There will also be a civilian present on the interview board.

You will go through a structured interview (also known as a competency based interview). In this interview you will be asked to give examples from your own experiences of life (school, hobbies, work, pastimes etc.) to demonstrate evidence in several of the areas from the relevant areas of competency.

What kind of questions will I be asked?

You will be asked questions that relate to particular abilities or styles:

e.g. Tell me about a time when you have had to organise a group of other people? What did you do? What was the outcome of this?

The interviewer will ask you specific questions about your previous experiences to try and understand whether your abilities and style are likely to be suited to a role in the Defence Forces.

It is in everyone's interest to make sure you are suited to the career so be as open and honest as possible when answering questions.

What else do I need to know?

Interviewers will probably take notes as the interview goes along.

You will need to come up with lots of detailed examples of situations from your work experience, leisure activities or home life.

The candidate is usually given an opportunity to ask questions at the end of an interview. You should give some thought to this beforehand, and ask any questions about the position that have not been answered in the application pack or on the web pages.

Hints and Tips

• Ask other people how clearly you come across when you're talking. Think about how quickly and loudly you speak. Are you able to change the way you speak to suit the audience?
• Before being interviewed, it is worth thinking of examples of times when you've displayed important attributes from the areas of competency. For example, have you ever organised a team or helped supervise younger people? Can you motivate people to do what you want them to? Can you keep the group working to deadlines? Can you define and prioritise tasks?
• Think about what to wear - be smart, to show that the procedure is important to you.
• Re-read the competency areas and your copy of your application form
• Be alert and aware throughout the interview. Recognise your non-verbal signals such as eye contact, facial expressions and gestures
• Don't make assumptions about the way you should respond. If you try to guess what the interviewers are looking for, you may be wrong. It is usually best to be yourself and respond honestly. Remember that it's not in your interest to get a job to which you are not well suited.