Interview Advice - Camden Careers
Interview tips
You’ve successfully made it through the application stage, so now it’s time to prepare for your interview.
Re-read your application and the job profile
Take some time to go back over your application, supporting statement and the job profile. The panel is likely to ask you about your experience, the examples you gave, and how your skills match the role. Having these details fresh in your mind will help you give clear and confident answers.
It is also worth thinking about the key responsibilities and essential criteria for the role, and preparing examples that show how you meet them.
Do your research
This is a good opportunity to learn more about Camden and the role you have applied for. You should have a good understanding of what Camden is trying to achieve, the communities we serve, and the values that shape how we work.
Reading about We Make Camden, our shared vision for the borough, can help you understand our ambitions and the kind of organisation we want to be. During the interview, try to show how your skills, values and approach connect to the role and to Camden’s wider aims.
Prepare examples
Interviews are your chance to bring your application to life. Think in advance about examples that show how you have handled different situations, worked with others, solved problems, or made a positive difference.
Try to choose examples that are clear, relevant and structured. It can help to explain the situation, what you did, and what the outcome was.
Prepare questions
Make sure you come to the interview with some questions of your own. You may want to ask about the team, the priorities of the role, the support available, or anything you were unable to find during your research.
An interview is not only an opportunity for us to get to know you, it is also your opportunity to decide whether Camden is the right fit for you.
Let us know if you need adjustments
We want all candidates to have a fair opportunity to do well. If you need any reasonable adjustments to take part in the interview or assessment process, please let us know in advance so we can support you.
What to expect at interview
Our usual interview process will be competency based, which is where we’ll ask you to talk about a scenario so we can understand whether you have the right skills to take the position on. Make sure you tell us what the situation was, as well as the action that you took. And what happened as a result. It’s not about your past experience or previous qualifications. It’s about how you step up in certain situations.
Ultimately, we want you to come to the interview and be yourself. Remember to give yourself plenty of time to get to the interview venue and come ready. Swat up on your notes you’ve made.
In the interview, remember to take your time. You may be nervous and the panel will understand, so try to listen carefully to the question, think about your answer and your example and then go for it. Don’t be put off if they ask probing questions, sometimes the panel may just need some extra information.