Planning Steps

Decide on the audience

Audience2.jpg
If you plan an interview or presentational situations , it is important to think about the possible audience. The following questions may help you:

• Is the learner's presentation a private one or should it be heard by a larger audience?
• Is the possible audience interested in the presentation?
• Does the learner have a good reason to give his presentation in front of this audience?
• How much stress for the learner is produced by the audience? Should it be more or less?
• Must the audience be briefed before the presentation? (About special questions to ask or not to ask or a special behaviour)
• If you have no ability to chose the audience (e.g. in school) try to brief both the performing learner and the audience (in case they don't know each other)

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Competency based interview questions

• You have developed a ‘competency’ when you can consistently apply your skills and knowledge to complete a particular task. It is the ability to use your skills and knowledge to ‘do something’.
• Many employers use a competency-based interview, in which the questions are based entirely on gathering evidence of your competencies. The employer produces lists of competencies required for each job. The interview consists of a set of questions designed to find out whether you have the set of competencies required for the job. The set of competencies will be made up of ‘core’ competencies Key Skills/Employability skills AND some skills specific to the job.
• Also, think about, and have an example of the following sorts of situations and scenarios:
  o A situation where you resolved conflict with a colleague
  o A time you worked to a tight deadline
  o The project or piece of work you are most proud of
  o A time when something went wrong and what you did to resolve it
  o An example that demonstrates good leadership skills
  o An example of working as a team to achieve a common goal
• Interview questions will focus on past situations and your behaviour and performance in those situations. Questions are likely to start with:
  o Please give me an example when. . .
  o Please describe an occasion when
  o Tell me about a time when
  o Describe a situation where
  o What would you do if
• When you give your answer or present your evidence, the interviewer will probe deeper and ask about the detail such as:
  o How exactly did you do that?
  o Tell me exactly what steps you took to resolve that
  o What was the basis for that decision
• By investigating further the interviewer is trying to discover more about your skills as well as looking for clues which may suggest that you are exaggerating your part in the process.

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Create the environment

To create an appropriate environment is important for the purpose of the interview or presentational situations and for the learner's and the audience's comfort. Think about the following points:

• what size room is needed to accomodate the Learner and audience?
• consider the position of the room relative to the 'assembly'/briefing room
• will the learner or audience be distracted by noise or movement?
• what equipment will be needed, Data projector, screen, laptop, flipchart, whiteboard etc
• how should the room be set out, position of tables/chairs, position of screen etc

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Brief the learner

To brief the learner :

• remind them of the purpose of the interview or presentational situations - use the job advertisements, person specification or briefing notes
• encourage them to think about
  o the content and structure of their presentational ePortfolio
  o the audience
• remind them of the format and timing of the interview or presentational situations

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