Interview Techniques for Barristers a Bar Council CPD seminar Wednesday 18 April 2012 Padraig Love, Public Appointments Service & Conor Dempsey, Director, Slattery Communications
Presentations By: Padraig Love, Public Appointments Service and Conor Dempsey, Director, Slattery Communications
Applying for roles with the Public Appointments Service Pádraig Love Head of Corporate Services 18 th April 2012
PAS Clients
Some Legal Posts Recently Handled Chief State Solicitor Assistant Chief State Solicitor Bureau Legal Officer, CAB Advisory Counsel in the AG s Head of Legal Affairs in Garda Síochána Head of Directing Division, DPP Chief Prosecution Solicitor, DPP Assistant Parliamentary Counsel Law Agent in Galway and Kerry County Councils Military Judge ALSO advertise posts on www.publicjobs.ie for universities and International Bodies including EPSO Lawyer Linguists
Overview of typical competition Job outline and description agreed with client Essential and desirable criteria set Vacancy is advertised through www.publicjobs.ie and other media, e.g. Newspapers, journals etc; Applicants are asked to either submit a structured application form or a CV with a covering letter; Application forms are shortlisted and successful candidates are invited to the next stage of the assessment process which may include: Interview against pre-defined competencies Personality Questionnaire Presentation on a relevant topic Final Interview
Overview of typical competition Typically there is a very high calibre of candidates for roles and therefore all stages, in particular shortlisting, are highly competitive Shortlisting may be carried out against the required competencies drawn up by reference to the essential and desirable criteria For management posts, the level and extent of experience in leadership and management will be a factor Applications are reviewed by the full panel of assessors Those shortlisted are invited to the next stage The competition normally generates an order of merit Background checks are done prior to appointment
Advice on the application process Never enter a selection process lightly Reflect on the requirements for the job, the essential criteria and the skills/competencies identified as important and objectively consider whether or not you meet all the requirements; Think about your career and key achievements over the last year/ three years/ five years which are relevant to the role you are applying for; Document these examples for use either in a structured application form, your supporting letter or during the interview; Consider how best to present your work to convince the Board that you have the required level of managerial experience, i.e. responsibility for resources, staff etc.
Advice on the application process, contd. Think about the new tasks and responsibilities involved in the new post; Consider the step up for you personally and how you can communicate your ability to do this; Reflect on the context in which the job you are applying for exists and the strategic issues impacting on it. Source additional information if required to help inform you; Think about what the interviewer will want to know and the questions they might have about you.
Completing the Application form Remember that your Application form must bring you through the shortlisting process and is a first impression for board members; You need to convey key information about your experience concisely You may be asked to provide an example under each of the required competencies that demonstrates your skills/ experiences; Describe the context/ situation, the key stakeholders, your particular role, the outcome and key learning; There may be a word limit which you must abide by; a concise description but one understandable by non-legal assessors; If no examples are required, tailor your CV to emphasise the experience/skills most relevant to the role.
Problem areas identified in applications Generic approach to each post big problem Insufficient information/too much information Application forms with large numbers of errors; Getting dates wrong so that there are large gaps on the application form or inconsistencies; Using tiny fonts to fill in required text boxes: impossible to read and very annoying for interviewers; Using the same example for most/all competencies; Only using examples that are several years old; Using large amounts of jargon or technical language; Completing the application form at the very last minute and then encountering difficulties submitting it.
The Interview Successful candidates are invited to interview which may comprise a preliminary and main interview; Interviews are typically semi-structured; the required competencies will be explored and candidates are likely to be questioned on their vision for the role, the key challenges within it etc. There are typically 3-5 interviewers on the Board and the Chair will give you an overview of the process and the roles of the different board members; Notes will be taken during the interview.
Key Advice during the Interview Listen to the questions that you are asked If you re not clear what is being asked, look for clarification; Gather your thoughts before answering; don t worry about a short pause but make the best use of your time; Don t rely on your experience/ application form to do the selling for you; If you don t know an answer, it is better to be honest than try to bluff unconvincingly; Expect a challenging interview the Board will have the flexibility to ask the questions they feel are important and follow up on any element of your answers that they wish;
Mistakes made during interviews Candidates jumping in with an answer rather than answering the question asked; Some candidates demonstrate clear skills in their current role but do not give evidence of the ability to work in the role they are applying for or have a clear rationale for why they are applying for the role; As at the application stage, candidates must convince the board that they have the required skills and experience to perform effectively in the role, particularly if the role is different to their previous experience.
Thank you
Getting & Preparing for a Job Interview 18 th April 2012 Conor Dempsey Slattery Communications
CV Preparation Personal details Name, address & contact details Education and professional qualifications Professional experience Languages Personal Information References Avoid gimmicks
Cover Letter Tailor your letter & CV to each application Short, pithy, incisive...perhaps provocative
Recruitment Consultants Merc Dalriada KPMG Yeaton & Associates HRM
Preparing for Interview
Research the Employer Employer history Products & services available Future projections Sales figures Information about the employer s customer demographic
Other Pre-interview Preparation Research the Industry & Competitors Form Opinions Whom are you meeting? Company dress code
Rehearse x 10!!!
Get in the Zone!
The Interview
THE OPENING Interviews are won and lost in the opening. You have up to 1 minute and 15 seconds to state your case, backing it up with examples. This is your only opportunity to set out your stall uninterrupted. Do not stop speaking until the interviewer stops you.
The Interview Friendly yet professional rapport Positive body language, position Tone & colour of voice Address all people in room eye contact
Body Language Interest - Disinterest Interest: head up, voice up, palms of hands open as arms in an upward direction Disinterest: head down, voice down, arms and palms down
Body Language Defensive Hands tightly folded across chest; leaning backwards in chair distancing space from speaker; ankles crossed; head down on chest
Body Language Anxiety / Uptight Wring hands or clenches fist
Body Language Attempts at Self Control Jacket buttoned up, hands held together in front in immobile stance; sometimes trying to avoid eye contact or staring into space Sitting with hands clenched on knees; in chair with arm supports, tightly grips both arm rests; ankles crossed
Body Language Negative change in attitude Sudden lean back in chair, touching the nose, folding arms Fingers to corner of the eye; head inclined downward; fingers to the lobe of one ear
Body Language Change in Mental Attitude A pronounced change in physical body movement or a new seating arrangement of arms and legs
Body Language Negative evaluation of Proposal or Idea Rubs or touches nose with knuckles of index finger
Body Language Frustration / Exasperation Rubs back of neck with palm of hand or runs fingers through hair. Hissed intake of breath through clenched teeth
Body Language Awakening Interest Head up and an open look on face, head inclined indicating to you that I am interested
The Interview / 2 Present the highs and not the lows Communicating information about yourself is your responsibility Try identify their needs...and get them talking! Be prepared for questions Have your own questions
EDITORIAL CONTROL Editorial control is the technique of setting the agenda for the interview. Use the interviewer s questions to lead on to the key messages you want to deliver. Don t use editorial control to avoid questions but use it to link or bridge to the messages (supported by examples) which you intend to get across in the interview.
DEALING WITH INTERRUPTIONS Mentally note the point you are talking about Acknowledge the interruption Finish your point Deal with the interruption Go on and start another point
Common Interview Questions Tell me about yourself. How would your contemporaries describe you? What makes you different from the other candidates for this position? Describe the accomplishment of which you are the most proud. Why should we hire you? What strengths and attributes could you bring to this position? Why did you choose the law? How did you become involved in your extracurricular activities? What are your career goals? What would you like to be doing five/ten years from now? What interests/impresses you about this company? What do you believe are the key issues and problems in our industry today? What do you think it takes to be successful in this field? In what kind of work environment do you do your best work? With what kind of people do you like to work? What kinds of tasks and responsibilities motivate you the most? What is your ideal job? What is your greatest weakness? What has been your greatest challenge? What do you enjoy doing outside of work in your free time? If you had six months ahead with no obligations and no financial constraints, what would you do?
Competency based questions Can you give me an example of when you had to work under a great deal of pressure? Can you give me an example of when you felt that you were out of your depth? How did you handle this? Tell me about some risks you have taken in your working or professional life? How did you go about this? When you have managed a project can you take me through how you have approached it When have you had to go against general feelings or policies to accomplish a goal? Tell me about it.
Have Questions for the Interviewer
Closing the interview Ask about next stage in process & timelines Thank them for the opportunity
Post-Interview Liaise with the recruitment consultant Consider direct follow up ENDS
Negotiating the Job Offer Know your objectives Know the company scales/norms Know the market