What to wear
Many organisations in the field of childcare, particularly smaller organisations, will not expect you to wear a formal suit to the interview. You should dress comfortably and smartly and feel confident in what you are wearing. Remember this is the employer’s first impression of you ‘face to face’.
Check out your route
Make sure you know exactly where the interview will be held and how to get there. Leave plenty of time for your journey. Remember public transport can be unreliable so you should always aim to arrive with time to spare.
The interview
Try to start off positively and relax as you approach your interview. If you feel comfortable you can shake the hand of the person(s) interviewing you, but take your lead from them. If you are offered a handshake, return it confidently. When you first enter the room, be aware of how many people are in the room and where they are seated.
Make brief eye contact with each of the people in the room to let them know you are acknowledging their presence in the room and their role in the interview. Remember interviewers can feel nervous too.
Answering questions
Listen to the questions and take your time to respond — do not panic and rush. If you don’t understand the question ask the interviewer to explain or ask them if your interpretation of the question is correct. Speak clearly and confidently. Pause briefly after every question to give yourself time to formulate an answer. Avoid 'yes', or 'no' answers (unless necessary).
If you are asked long questions with many parts don’t be afraid to break it down and answer each in turn. Answer to the person who has asked the question but try to maintain eye contact with everyone else in the room by glancing at them time to time as you answer.
Typical interview questions
- What experience do you have of working with children?
- What qualifications or training do you have?
- Why have you chosen to apply for this job?
- What do you know about this organisation?
- Why have you chosen to apply to this organisation?
- What do you understand by equal opportunities?
- What are your ambitions?
- What do you hope to be doing five years from now?
- What skills do you think are needed for this position?
- What are your hobbies and general interests?
- What is your greatest strength?
- What is your greatest weakness?
- Why do you consider yourself an appropriate candidate for this position?
- What experience of supervising/ managing staff do you have?
- Can you tell us about your understanding of equal opportunities when working with children
Ending the interview
At the end of the interview you will usually be asked if you have any questions. Interviewees often panic when they hear this. It is not a trick — the organisation only wants to make sure that you know all you need to help you decide whether you want the job or not. It’s best not to ask about salary, holidays or perks etc at this stage. ‘Safe’ subjects include training, opportunities for personal development, supervision, appraisals or more information about any aspect of the job you would like to discuss further.
When you leave you may wish to shake hands if it seems appropriate. Don’t forget to smile and always thank the interviewers for their time.
