Help! I’ve got my first job interview!

• Research the job – read the job description if there is one. 

• Research the business – look at their website or social media to get a feel for them and how they work. What are the core values of the organisation? Does it seem like a good fit for you? Even a part time job can be stressful if it is not the right fit. 

• Ensure you are 5-10 minutes early, it sets a good example. You also want to make sure you allow plenty of time for travel – do some research beforehand so you know what the traffic is like at that time of day and if there is nearby parking! 

• Dress appropriately for that role. Your jeans don’t always cut it.  

• If you are going for job with a lot of competition, find ways to make yourself stand out. If you feel comfortable use your Ngāi Tahutanga and add your pepeha to the start of your introduction. 
• Have some prepared answers to commonly asked questions. It’s important to be yourself – be authentic and personalise your answers to your own experiences. If you’ve never worked before – say that! There is nothing wrong with it but try and find an example from school or University or from your whānau that applies to the situation – what about that time you talked your Mum into buying you a PS4 as a learning opportunity – see you’ve got skills! 
• Commonly asked questions include: 

1. What are your strengths?  
2. What are your weaknesses? 
3. Describe a time where you have dealt with conflict? 
4. Why do you want to work here? 

• For behavioral based questions you can use the STAR technique.  A behavioural question is asking how you will react or did react in certain situations and can show some of your behavioural characteristics.

Situation – Describe a situation that you were in, it could be an example of a past job experience, or anything relevant to the situation.  

Task – What was your task/objective? 

Action – What actions were taken to complete the task. What steps did you perform to address the situation. Be specific with your words, target your explanation to provide a clear and concise answer. 

Result – Describe the steps you took to directly influence or contribute to a positive outcome. Likewise, you could use a negative outcome to explain how you overcame it. 

• Prepare some questions to ask at the end of the interview, these could be about the role, the organisation or the team you may work with. 

Some ideas are: 

1. What are your expectations for me in this role? 
2. What is the career path? Is there potential for career growth? 
3. When does the job start? 

You got this! Be confident and enjoy yourself. It’s a great learning experience even if you don’t get the job. It’s so important to find a job where your mahi is valued!