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        Prepare for your STEM Interview

        How to make a great impression

        Congratulations! you have landed an interview. Your CV jumped out and caught the attention of the hiring company, you’re one step closer to landing that dream job. Now its time to prepare for that interview and make a lasting impression.

        We have got you covered, below we have tips on how to make that lasting impression. We have broken it down into three steps

        • Before the interview
        • During the interview
        • After the interview

        Part of our jobseeker service offering at STEM Recruitment Partners and Martina Quinn Finance Recruitment is interview preparation.

        Prepare for your STEM Interview

        Before the interview.

        Research The Company

        Its obvious but its something that should never be overlooked. Know everything on their website from their about us page, latest news. product and services they provide and everything in between, know their website inside and out.

        Don’t forget to check out their social media and take note of key milestones, events, updates, or announcements. This will give you a greater understanding of what the goals of the company are and will cover you for the inevitable ‘’What do you know about us’’ question.

        Research The Interviewers

        Often you might have information on who will be interviewing you. Make use of LinkedIn and find out where they studied, where they were employed previously and what groups they are members of.

        This will help you build a rapport with your interviewer or interviewers. Building a rapport early makes you stand out helps make a lasting impression.

        Prepare Questions and Answers

        ‘’Fail to prepare. Prepare to fail’’ A famous quote from Roy Keane, spoken in a different context but it also applies for interview questions. Common interview questions such as

        ‘Tell me about yourself?

        Why do you want to leave your current role?

        What interests you about our company?

        Will allow you to demonstrate who you are your experience, knowledge and value that you can bring the hiring company. Here is 21 common interview questions from Pass my interview.com

        Know the job description

        Read the job description multiple times and highlight what skills it emphasises. Match skills you have with the job description and have examples of how you used those experiences in past and current roles.

        Use the STAR model to explain technical situations

        STAR is an acronym for

        • Situation
        • Task
        • Action
        • Result

        In the world of Engineering, Manufacturing, Life Science and Supply Chain its very easy to get bogged down by the technical details when answering a question. By using the STAR model, you can explain how your technical capabilities helped the company overcome a problem or situation.

        Prepare examples of your work

        It is common to be asked about specific work you have carried out in previous roles such as projects completed. Think of work you have done in the past that is relevant to the job description.

        Gather a list of intelligent questions to ask the interviewer.

        It’s not all one-way traffic when it comes to interviews, they provide a platform for you to understand the company better and understand the people in the company better. Interviews allow the employers to know if the candidate is serious about the position. The interviewer will be expecting you to ask them questions, here is a list questions compiled by the Business Insider to ask the interviewer it may help you on the day.

        The interviewer will be expecting you to ask them questions, here is a list questions compiled by the Business Insider to ask the interviewer it may help you on the day.

        During the interview

        Get Your Outfit Ready

        Make sure you have your formal outfit ready the night before the interview. Don’t be scrambling around the house looking for your belt just before your about to leave. Have everything ready, you have enough to be thinking about.

        Bring Copies of your CV and a Notebook

        Take five copies of your CV to the interview with you just in case there are multiple interviewers. This shows your organised and considerate. Having a notebook allows you to take notes of key information that the interviewer is telling you. This shows you are interested and serious about the role, however, don’t use a tablet or phone to take notes as this may be seen as ignorant or rude.

        Arrive Early

        Be at the interview 10 – 15 minutes before the interview. Do a recon of the commute a few days before the interview so you know where the building is, how busy is the traffic, where you can park and how long of a walk you have to get there.

        Make a great first impression

        First impressions last, people say it for a reason. Make sure you look professional check your clothes for stains and your shoes are shined etc. Try and display confident positive body language, give a firm but not too tight handshake and remember to smile throughout the interview.

        Treat Everyone As If They are The Hiring Manager

        This goes without saying but nerves can interfere. Just remember to treat everyone with respect including front desk staff, security personnel cleaning personnel, security etc. Your potential employer may ask for feedback from other employees and as we said earlier first impressions last.

        Respond Honestly to Questions

        It may be tempting to decorate your skills and achievements in our experience interviewers find honesty respectable and refreshing. Focus on key strengths and again use the STAR model to deflect questions you may think show weaknesses.

        Bring Them Back to your Skills and Achievements

        When asked a question use it to your advantage by bringing to examples of how your skills and experience helped your past companies. Keep your answers focused and concise as your time is limited in an interview.

        Do Not:

        Speak negatively about past roles or employers as this makes you come across as adverse in an interview. If you feel your not getting what you want out of your current role, try focus on the skills and experience you have gained and what you want in the short and long term.  

        After the interview

        Ask About the Next Stage

        Ask the interviewer about what the next stage in the process is. This shows enthusiasm for the role and will allow you to prepare for the next stage in the process.

        Send a thank you email.

        Send a thank you email to the interviewer, showing your appreciation for taking time out of their busy schedules. This shows that you are considerate.

        We provide free jobseeker consultation to ensure you are placed in a role that fits your needs and values.

        View more market insights

        We specialise in the following career categories:

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        Engineering Roles

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        Testimonials

        • 1

          "STEM Recruitment Partners are brilliant at what they do! Throughout the application process, CV prep, Interview prep, communication, and organisation all top notch couldn't recommend them more."

          - John O Dwyer

        • 2

          "Can't recommend STEM Recruitment Partners enough. Very helpful and will answer all your questions. "

          - Jp Rawle

        • 3

          "I would highly recommend STEM Recruitment Partners for the engineering job opportunities in Ireland and I couldn't give anything less than 5 Stars. I had a wonderful experience they really supported and guided me through each and every phase of th..." Read more

          - George Baby

        • 4

          "Excellent service and the support STEM RP provided was great throughout the application process. Would highly recommend STEM RP!"

          - Bismay Kumar

        • 5

          "We worked with Teresa in 2022 to help fill our requirement for new project engineers within the company. Teresa’s approach to understand our business needs was fantastic and coupled with her positive attitude Teresa delivered some great candidates..." Read more

          - John, Engineering Manufacturer, Cork

        • 6

          "''I cannot praise STEM Recruitment Partner's services enough. Derek, in particular, has supported me through the entire recruitment process and I am now due to start the job I have ever dreamed of.''   STEM RP are a re..." Read more

          - Costanza Sirabella | Senior QA Engineer

        • 7

          "''Derek and the team at STEM were excellent to deal with. They gave me great support. The whole process was straightforward and efficient. Thanks, Derek and team.''   STEM RP are a recruitment consultancy, specialisin..." Read more

          - Nigel McElligott | Senior Engineer

        • 8

          "‘Teresa placed me in a position a number of years ago and every step of the recruitment process (and aftercare) was flawless. Teresa took the time to understand my background and personal circumstances, and ensured the position I sought was aligne..." Read more

          - Kevin Hosford | Senior Mechanical Engineering

        • 9

          "“Teresa Tyler is an exceptional Recruiter and Account Manager, having known her for many years. Her attention to the unique detail of the organisation so as to get the right person for the position is to me, her hallmark. I totally recommend her t..." Read more

          - John Cahill, | HR & H&S, Weener Plastics Ltd

        • 10

          "In my opinion Derek & Teresa are the best recruiters I know and have previously worked with. I recommend them highly to those making a career move and to employers looking for staff!   STEM RP are a recruitment consultancy, speciali..." Read more

          - Service Delivery Manager | Stephen McNally

        • 11

          ""Derek Perill is an outstanding recruiter and in addition his business consulting experience, adds real competitive value to companies looking to improve their internal hiring processes. We look forward to working with Derek and the team at ST..." Read more

          - Unison Engineering | Colm Ring

        1

        John O Dwyer

        STEM Recruitment Partners are brilliant at what they do! Throughout the application process, CV prep, Interview prep, communication, and organisation all top notch couldn’t recommend them more.

        2

        Jp Rawle

        Can’t recommend STEM Recruitment Partners enough. Very helpful and will answer all your questions.

        3

        George Baby

        I would highly recommend STEM Recruitment Partners for the engineering job opportunities in Ireland and I couldn’t give anything less than 5 Stars. I had a wonderful experience they really supported and guided me through each and every phase of the recruitment process

        4

        Bismay Kumar

        Excellent service and the support STEM RP provided was great throughout the application process. Would highly recommend STEM RP!

        5

        John, Engineering Manufacturer, Cork

        We worked with Teresa in 2022 to help fill our requirement for new project engineers within the company. Teresa’s approach to understand our business needs was fantastic and coupled with her positive attitude Teresa delivered some great candidates.

        Our aim was to fill one role but due to the high level of candidate’s provided we filled two engineer positions, and both are still with us today in late 2023 and proving to be an integral part of our company. We look forward to working with Teresa again in the near future to assist us in the recruitment of critical engineering roles within the business.

        6

        Costanza Sirabella | Senior QA Engineer

        ‘I cannot praise STEM Recruitment Partner’s services enough. Derek, in particular, has supported me through the entire recruitment process and I am now due to start the job I have ever dreamed of.”

         

        STEM RP are a recruitment consultancy, specialising in the placement of candidates into Manufacturing, Life Science, Supply Chain & Engineering Businesses nationwide.

        See our candidate recruitment solutions for your business here

        Stem Navy Logo

        7

        Nigel McElligott | Senior Engineer

        ”Derek and the team at STEM were excellent to deal with. They gave me great support. The whole process was straightforward and efficient.
        Thanks, Derek and team.”

         

        STEM RP are a recruitment consultancy, specialising in the placement of candidates into Manufacturing, Life Science, Supply Chain & Engineering Businesses nationwide.

        See our candidate recruitment solutions for your business here

        Stem Navy Logo

        8

        Kevin Hosford | Senior Mechanical Engineering

        ‘Teresa placed me in a position a number of years ago and every step of the recruitment process (and aftercare) was flawless. Teresa took the time to understand my background and personal circumstances, and ensured the position I sought was aligned with my expectations’’

         

        STEM RP are a recruitment consultancy, specialising in the placement of candidates into Manufacturing, Life Science, Supply Chain & Engineering Businesses nationwide.

        See our candidate recruitment solutions for your business here

        9

        John Cahill, | HR & H&S, Weener Plastics Ltd

        “Teresa Tyler is an exceptional Recruiter and Account Manager, having known her for many years. Her attention to the unique detail of the organisation so as to get the right person for the position is to me, her hallmark. I totally recommend her to employers looking for real talent solutions”

        10

        Service Delivery Manager | Stephen McNally

        In my opinion Derek & Teresa are the best recruiters I know and have previously worked with. I recommend them highly to those making a career move and to employers looking for staff!

         

        STEM RP are a recruitment consultancy, specialising in the placement of candidates into Manufacturing, Life Science, Supply Chain & Engineering Businesses nationwide.

        See our candidate recruitment solutions for your business here

        Stem Navy Logo

        11

        Unison Engineering | Colm Ring

        “Derek Perill is an outstanding recruiter and in addition his business consulting experience, adds real competitive value to companies looking to improve their internal hiring processes. We look forward to working with Derek and the team at STEM Recruitment Partners as we scale up”

        STEM RP are a recruitment consultancy, specialising in the placement of candidates into Manufacturing, Life Science, Supply Chain & Engineering Businesses nationwide.

        See our candidate recruitment solutions for your business here

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