Work placement: Interview
Task: Prepare and participate in an interview regarding a work placement experience you have had. You will need to provide evidence that enables the interviewer to assess the skills, training
and experience you gained in your work placement. You will also be assessed on the
communication and self-management skills you demonstrate in the interview process.
Suggested working time: 60 minutes preparation/25 minute interview
___________________________________________________________________________
Part A: Preparation for interview
? View and discuss interview videos, participate in practice interviews.
? Discuss interview skills—communication, body language, posture and presentation.
? Practise answering questions to demonstrate what you can do and have done, not what
you think you can do.
? Prepare answers to questions provided.
? Research the organisation in which you completed your placement e.g. what they do, how
they do it, the management structure, your job role.
? Present written responses to interview questions given prior to interview.
Part B: Participate in interview
Participate in interview and demonstrate effective self-management skills:
? arrive on time, give appropriate introduction and greeting
? dress appropriately, including personal grooming and hygiene
? show confidence.
Participate in interview and demonstrate effective communication skills:
? use positive body language
? listen and speak clearly
? ask for clarification of questions
? provide extended answers to questions
? ask relevant questions of the interviewer.
Part C: Complete a self-evaluation of your interview performance
Part D: Discuss interviewer assessment of your interview performance
Part E: Complete a self-reflection of your interview performance
See relevant interview documents on following pages
2009/15949[v3] English Language Competence Task: Work placement—Interview 1 Maps to WACE ELC Criteria: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7
Preparation for interview
Task: Prepare answers to the questions below regarding a work placement experience that you
have had. This information can be taken into the interview with you.
Suggested working time: 60 minutes
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Interview questions
1. You completed your work placement in the ____________________ industry area.
Why did you choose this area? What information about this industry did you have prior to
attending the workplace?
2. Tell me about the business/organisation you worked in. What exactly does it do and what were
your responsibilities?
3. Could you see yourself working full-time in this industry in the near future? Give reasons for
your answer.
4. What did you like and dislike about aspects of the position you were placed in? Give examples
of each.
5. Identify two skills that you developed whilst on work placement. Explain three situations you
experienced on-the-job that best explain your competence in these skills.
6. Explain the outcome of your work placement—for the business and for you.
English Language Competence Task: Work placement—Interview 2 Maps to WACE ELC Criteria: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7
Interview: Interviewer assessment
TO BE COMPLETED BY THE INTERVIEWER:
Assess the interviewee’s responses to the questions asked regarding the skills, training and experience they gained in their work placement. Assess the communication and self-management
skills demonstrated by the student in the interview process.
______________________________________________________________________________
Student name: ______________________________________
Key: S—Satisfactory; H—High; VH—Very high
Preparation S H VH Interviewer/teacher comments
All responses to questions completed
Preparation of supporting material
e.g. logbook, examples of work completed
in placement
Relevant supporting evidence
Interview content S H VH Interviewer/teacher comments
Personal presentation
Grooming Punctuality Confidence/body language Overall presentation rating Interview technique
Professionalism Knowledge of workplace organisation Quality of responses to questions Knowledge of employability skills Reference to supporting documents Overall interview technique rating
_____________________ _____________________ _____________________
Name of interviewer Signature of interviewer Date of interview
(please print)
English Language Competence Task: Work placement—Interview 3 Maps to WACE ELC Criteria: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7
Interview: Self-evaluation
TO BE COMPLETED BY THE STUDENT:
Task: Complete a self-evaluation of the interview. How well did you respond to the questions
asked regarding the skills, training and experience you gained in your work placement? Did you
demonstrate sound communication and self-management skills?
Suggested working time: 5/10 minutes
______________________________________________________________________________
Student name: ______________________________________
Key: S—Satisfactory; H—High; VH—Very high
Preparation S H VH Student comments
All responses to questions completed Preparation of supporting material e.g. logbook, examples of work completed
in placement
Relevant supporting evidence Presentation
Grooming Punctuality Confidence/body language Overall presentation rating Interview content
Professionalism Knowledge of workplace organisation Quality of responses to questions Knowledge of employability skills Reference to supporting documents Overall interview content rating
___________________________ __________________________
Signature of student Date completed
English Language Competence Task: Work placement—Interview 4 Maps to WACE ELC Criteria: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7
Interview: Self-reflection
Task: Complete a self-reflection of your interview performance. Select one criterion assessed from each of the three interview feedback sections completed by the
interviewer i.e. preparation, presentation and interview content. Compare the rating given by the
interviewer against the self-rating you applied. Identify where there has been a difference between
your self-evaluation and the evaluation of the interviewer. Explain how the rating and feedback was
different and give a strategy on how you could improve your performance in this area the next time
you go for an interview. An example has been provided.
Suggested time: 30 minutes
Criterion assessed Strategies to improve
How the rating and feedback was different Example
Reference to support I rated myself very high in this area and the interviewer rated me as satisfactory. I
material thought my portfolio was really good as it had lots of stuff in it. The interviewer
said my portfolio was not easy to follow. He also said that my portfolio included
stuff that was not relevant and that having a big portfolio doesn’t mean that it is
good.
Strategy to improve
I am going to go through my portfolio and include a cover page and section pages
for my documents so it is easier to follow. I will remove documents that I got from
primary school and include only recent certificates and reports. I will include a
reference I got from my workplace supervisor.
How the rating and feedback was different 1.
Strategy to improve
How the rating and feedback was different 2.
Strategy to improve
How the rating and feedback was different 3.
Strategy to improve
English Language Competence Task: Work placement—Interview 5 Maps to WACE ELC Criteria: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7