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.
Skip to
- Show your skills and experience
- Interview questions and how to answer them
- In the interview
- Be aware of body language
- Talking about disability
- Video and remote interviews
- Types of remote interviews
- Preparing for a remote interview
- Asking for reasonable adjustments
- After the interview
- Help with interviews and finding work
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.”
| Situation | While 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. |
|---|---|
| Task | I was asked to take it over, with only a few days to learn about and complete the project. |
| Action | I formed a task force and created a plan to delegate the work. |
| Result | We 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 are your weaknesses?”
Working to improve your skills is a strength. Pick an area to highlight where you have done something to improve. You could talk about IT as a weakness, for example and what you did 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?
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.
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.
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)
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: 14/09/2023
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