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Graduate Interview Coaching

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What does graduate interview coaching involve?

Why do graduates benefit from interview coaching?
  1. As the assessment process for students and graduates is so competitive today it is essential that students receive some interview coaching to maximise every interview opportunity they have. Being rejected at many interview lowers confidence and causes interview anxiety.
  2. Often there is only a short window of opportunity to apply to leading internship and graduate schemes such as the Civil Service Fast Stream or legal Training Contracts so graduates need to be fully prepared in advance of the deadlines.
  3. As well as being very competitive the application process is very long and includes a series of online tests, video interview and an assessment day. If the applicant gets rejected they may need to wait for another year before they can reapply or look elsewhere for an internship or job. Ideally, a student should aim to get through to at least 3 assessment days to maximise their chances of success.
  4. Interviews are no longer just competency based but include competency and strength based questions. Many organisations such as Magic Circle law firms put a greater emphasis on strength based questions so knowing how to handle both types of questions is important.
Recent review

I am emailing you to let you know that I have received a job offer from Arup for the Graduate City Economics position! I am so happy that things have worked out so well – I can’t believe it! Thank you so much for all your help!! I honestly don’t think I could’ve done it without you. This job means so much to me as it was my first choice since the beginning and, in fact, the more I got to know the company and learnt about the role, the more I liked it.

Read hundreds of reviews added by clients.

Graduate & student interview coaching

Interview coaching works and at Interview Skills Clinic. We see great results with leading organisations such as KPMG, Deloitte, CapGemini, Earnst & Young, John Lewis, Goldman Sachs, Atkins to name but a few.

One to one coaching is tailored to each client; the role you applying for, the organisation and application stage.  It often involves two stages:

  • Interview Preparation Coaching. A student would not expect to get a high mark in their university essay or assignment without understanding how they are being marked but most students attend interviews without understanding what organisations are looking for. Preparation coaching is tailored specifically to the internship, placement or graduate role students are applying for. Learn to prepare for competency interviews and strength based interviews.
  • Mock Interview Coaching. Most students practise for an interview by looking for typical questions and writing out their answers. This is the wrong approach and at best results in a wooden response and at worst leads to brain freeze. Students and graduates need to learn how to adapt their answers to a variety of different questions aloud, project confidence and good communication skills.
Interview coaching is tailored to the application stage

Interview coaching is tailored to each stage of the application process:

  • CV and application
  • Video interviews are increasingly being used at the first interview stage rather than telephone interviews. It is a particularly challenging interview as the interviewee needs to answer text or video recorded questions. Many applicants get rejected at this early stage.
    Read this article to prepare for some typical video interview questions.
  • Telephone interviews
  • One-to-one assessment day interviews, competency interviews and strength interviews
  • Assessment day presentations
Interviews for first year & second year students

It’s the early bird that catches the worm! Ideally first year students need to spend time securing a place on an Easter Week or Spring Week Internship. This is a ‘stepping-stone’ to getting a summer internship. A summer internship is very important as many organisations such as Goldman Sachs offer a proportion of their interns a permanent job at the end of the internship. A lucky student might start their third year at University knowing that they have a job when they finish! Either way an internship or placement is going to give a student excellent experience which will help them prepare for competency and strength interviews in their final year.

Where is coaching available?

Coaching is available Monday – Saturday in:

You can decide whether you want face-to-face coaching, available in London or Bournemouth or Skype coaching.

Coaching fees

A one to one coaching course can be designed for you or you can choose coaching in 1 hour sessions as your application progresses.  Click here for details on coaching fees. A discount is available for students.

Free consultation

The best approach is to schedule a free consultation so that we can discuss your objectives. Click the Free Consultation button below or click Contact.

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Fred on September 20, 2019 at 15:18 pm

Absolutely fantastic consultant. I had struggled significantly in the past with civil service applications and interviews and had completed lost my confidence but after just two sessions I got two job offers straight away. She tailored the approach specifically to my needs and even the specific job and it’s specific requirements. At the end of the process I felt like I knew exactly what to say and how to say it, and the results speak for themselves. I’d strongly urge anyone who has struggled in the same way as me to speak to Elizabeth, what she taught me was totally transformative.

Susannah on August 21, 2019 at 11:39 am

I cannot thank Elizabeth enough for the confidence, knowledge and skills she provided me to succeed at getting a promotion within Government. I loved the flexible approach of using skype and face to face and continual encouragement. Elizabeth enabled me to score highly on a Government application form which was invaluable and the skills learnt will be very useful in the future. Elizabeth's passion and drive certainly motivated me to succeed and get this job. It is still sinking in and I’m feeling totally overwhelmed, but excited and happy.

Simone on August 14, 2019 at 16:46 pm

Following several unsuccessful interviews I had a 90 minute coaching session with Elizabeth. Her insights and coaching on how to articulate my experience and tools for tackling difficult questions were invaluable and I can happily say I was successful in my next interview. Elizabeth was also available for a phone consultation at short notice before my second interview and helped me frame my responses based on feedback I'd received from the first round.

Rosie on August 07, 2019 at 16:57 pm

What a difference Elizabeth and Matthew have made. I had applied for many roles but was not getting any interviews, and getting rather discouraged. Elizabeth's constructive and incisive comments were so useful in helping me fundamentally restructure my application forms. In a couple of weeks, I received two offers for interviews. I met Matthew who coached me through an interview and the new Success Profiles. He gave me the confidence and the tools to succeed. I now have a new and more senior role in the Civil Service. Thank you!

Rachel Holmes on August 07, 2019 at 08:30 am

I had worked in the private sector for over twenty years, when I applied for a job in the Civil Service. I was aware that Civil Service interviews focused on personal behaviors rather than technical knowledge and experience. The Interview Skills Clinic helped me to understand the type of questions that would be asked and how to answer them using the STAR system. This allowed me to prepare appropriately for the interview. As a result, I was able to respond confidently at the interview and I was offered a senior role within the Civil Service.

Ana M on August 06, 2019 at 05:45 am

Having been in a technical role for several years I wanted to take my career to the next level and apply for a leadership position. I knew I had the skills for the job, but I was not sure what to expect in an interview. A friend told me he had attended an interview training course which proved very useful, so I decided to try as well. I opted for the services of Interview Skills Clinic because of the favourable reviews and because they were able to accommodate my request at very short notice-a few days before my scheduled face-to-face interview. I had two 90-minute sessions with Matthew and they were some of my best investments ever. Thanks to Matthew’s advice and guidance I was offered the job within days of the interview and I’m now preparing for my first leadership role. He understood precisely the requirements of the job and helped me focus on my most relevant experiences. I will definitely contact him again when I decide to change jobs.

Michelle Greene on August 04, 2019 at 18:42 pm

I found the interview preparation and advice with Matthew really useful. The way he helped me phrase and focus on answers meeting the personal spec was second to none.

Edward on July 24, 2019 at 08:21 am

I knew I had the experience, knowledge and skills for the roles I was applying for. Recruiters told me that my CV was great. I was getting first round interviews. But that’s where I came unstuck… I’d never get past the first or second round. I couldn’t work out why it was, and that’s where Elizabeth came in. Elizabeth transformed my interview technique. She taught me to be more confident in articulating my abilities, helped me to target my answers effectively, and took time to show me how my body language can play a crucial role in building rapport with the interviewer. As I happily write this from my office at my new employer, I will always be thankful that I got in touch with Elizabeth for her help, and I would certainly seek her advice and input again in the future.

Alliyah on July 22, 2019 at 11:29 am

I sought Elizabeth's coaching in preparation for an interview that consisted of a technical interview and a group activity. Elizabeth suggested an initial 90 minute in person session which uncovered areas where I needed to make improvements to my responses. This first session was followed by a 60 minute Skype session where she conducted a mock interview and provided strategies and techniques for answering technical questions that may have caught me off guard. She also provided strategies to use during the group activity that allowed me to contribute without being too aggressive. The strategies and techniques Elizabeth taught me definitely allowed me to be successful in the interview and I was offered the position I interviewed for. I would say that if you're a recent graduate, the investment is certainly worth it.

James W on July 21, 2019 at 19:59 pm

I had coaching sessions with both Elizabeth and Matthew and can’t thank them enough for all the valuable help they provided. I’d been looking to progress to the next grade in the Civil Service and had been to a number of interviews but had failed to be successful. I therefore contacted Interview Skills Clinic and spoke to Elizabeth. As soon as I explained my problem, Elizabeth picked up on where I might be going wrong and set out what interviewers we’re looking for at that grade. I had two 90 minute coaching sessions; one with Elizabeth and one with Matthew and they were both brilliant. Both provided effective but easy to follow advice and guidance on how I could develop my scenarios to sell myself more and match what was being looked for at that particular grade. They also gave useful tips on how I could present myself well at interview, deal with awkward questions and handle the “strength” based questions that now form part of the interviews. All this was done in a friendly and supportive environment. I had an interview shortly after my coaching sessions and by applying what I’d learned from Elizabeth and Matthew I was successful. I’m so pleased that I used Interview Skills Clinic and would definitely recommend Elizabeth and Matthew.