19.04.2024
So, you’ve applied for one of our current vacancies and submitted your job application using our top CV writing tips for job hunters, and now you’ve secured that all important interview. Congratulations! You’re one step closer to progressing your career with us.
The one thing candidates often don’t realise is that interview panellists can be just as nervous as you. If you get anxious or nervous about interviews, remember someone on the panel probably feels the same.
To help you on this journey, I’d like to share some general advice on our interview process and some handy preparation tips to help you perform at your best on the day.
Prepare for your interview
1. Research, research, research – make sure you know who we are and what we do.
2. Don’t be afraid to ask if you need adjustments made to the process. We’re proud of our Disability Confident Leader status and candidates who need support or more time, will be assisted throughout the recruitment process where we can.
3. Know your CV - our interviews are based on competency questions, as we want to find out about your knowledge, skills and abilities through real-life examples. This is your chance to sell yourself and tell us about you. Use the STAR method – Situation, Task, Action, Result – to give examples in a structured way.
4. Come prepared to ask questions – this is a two-way process for you to learn more about us and what it's like to work here. Asking questions also helps show us that you're interested.
5. Follow up - If you didn’t cover everything in your interview or need to clarify something, contact us and we’ll make sure your message reaches the interviewers.
Your interview will either be at our office in East Croydon or central London
We’re currently operating a hybrid interview process, so you’ll either come to our head office in East Croydon, our Canon Street office in central London if the interview is for an investment-related role, or we’ll talk to you remotely via video conferencing.
Whether your interview takes place at home or in our office, my advice is to approach it in the same way. Act professionally, maintain good posture and strong eye contact. If you’re at home, then make sure you’re comfortable and your internet signal is reliable.
The wellbeing of candidates is important to us
Here at the PPF, the wellbeing of all candidates is important and we want to create an environment where we see you at your best. We will always try to explain the process for the role and if there is going to be more than one interview, a written exercise, or technical assessment, we’ll tell you prior to the interview.
We'll contact you with the outcome
Once all candidates have been interviewed, we will then assess all interviewees using the job description and skill requirement as a guide. Once this process is complete, we‘ll then contact the successful candidate.
We would also love to hear your views on the process, whether you’re successful or not, so please send us your feedback or leave a comment on Glassdoor. And lastly, good luck!
Shaun Hilley is one of our recruitment partners. He has been a recruiter for over ten years, with 5 of those being at the PPF.
