Guidance InterviewsSarah Frend

Manager, Professional Development

Overview

• Structure

• Skills

• Clips from interviews

Definitions

Interviewing is about people talking to each other with a purpose or outcome in view.

An interview is a positive exploration in which an interchange of information leads to new perspectives and consequent action.

What makes a successful interview?

• SETTING

• RAPPORT

• STRUCTURE

• SKILLS

Setting the scene

• Privacy

• Room layout

• Access to relevant materials

Rapport

• Empathy

• Respect

• Genuineness

• Tone of voice & body language

• Where are you now?

• Where do you want to be?

• How are you going to get there?

Interview Structure

Explore

Understand

Action

Skills

Core• Contracting

• Active Listening

• Questioning

• Target setting

Specific• Reflecting back• Paraphrasing• Summarising• Being specific• Focusing• Clarifying• Challenging

Contracting

Agreeing with the student the nature & scope of the discussion, so both are clear about the purpose & have realistic expectations

• Student’s agenda

• Time available

• Scope of interview

• Expected outcome

Active Listening

A fundamental skill in guidance which requires total concentration.

• Have an open mind

• Find areas of interest

• Use appropriate non verbal language

• Allow silences

• Resist distractions

• Clarify understanding

• Summarise

Do not talk too much!

Questioning

• Open

• Focussing

• Clarifying

• Hypothetical

• Sharing

• Challenging

• Reflecting

• Summarising

Target Setting

Targets should be SMARTThey are the steps needed to achieve broader goals or aims and

might include:-• Subjects or courses

• Learning style

• Development of skills

• Career or educational aims

• Personal goals

Guidance Interviews

Video clips from guidance interviews with four very different

students & interviewers

Interview Skills

Sarah Frend

Manager, Professional Development