Here at Penguin Recruitment, we track and monitor Geo Sector first interviews and these are our findings to date.
We asked our graduate interviewees a series of questions to see if we could uncover the inner workings of the all-important first interview.
Were Graduates well prepared?
We wanted to know whether the candidate felt that they were well prepared for the interview. Looking at websites, LinkedIn and reading our booklet is a good start, but did the candidates actually act on the advice and feel well prepared?
On a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the most prepared, our graduates averaged 3.96 out of 5 stars
This shows that graduate candidates feel pretty well prepared, but there’s no room for complacency. You can never do too much in terms of interview preparation!
Interview Format
The world has changed so much with COVID-19 and technology advancements, so perhaps not surprisingly it is more likely that your first interview will be online:
Exactly 2/3rd of first interviews were conducted on-line, with 1/3rd
Face to Face.
Be sure to have the relevant online software downloaded and have a quiet space with good wifi well in advance of your interview. Also consider that all-important background – keep it professional!
How many Interviewers were Present?
As a rule, you can expect just 1 or 2 people interviewing you at first stage.
- 45% had one interviewer
- 44% had two interviewers
- 11% had three interviewers
Try to find out in advance who will be interviewing you and be sure to research their role in the company.
How long does the Average First Interview last?
Taking into account a number of our interviews which were very quick first phase meet and greets, and removing them from the equation, we found that:
The average interview lasted 53 minutes
This may be useful to know in terms of scheduling your day. You definitely don’t want to be the one cutting an interview short.
Was HR Involved in the Interview Process?
Taking into account that most of our clients use Penguin Recruitment as a trustworthy specialist recruiter, our findings were unsurprising
An HR person was present in only 8% of interviews
Who Talks the most at First Interviews?
We asked graduate interviewees how they felt the conversation was split between them and the interviewer
Our graduates reflected that on average they spoke 52% of the time
This sounds about right. A good interview is one that neither party dominates.
Do Graduate Interviews in the Geo sector Follow a Formal or Informal Structure?
56% of graduates thought their interview was formal / very structured
Be prepared for a formal interview, but don’t be surprised or concerned if it is a relaxed and somewhat casual affair. Either way, remain professional and courteous throughout.
How did our Graduates Rate the Employer’s Interview Process? (Gathered prior to knowing the outcome).
Our graduates rated our clients interview process an average of 3.73 out of 5
A pretty good score, but this serves as a reminder that you may find you are being interviewed by somebody that is very busy or is not an experienced interviewer. Focus on performing to the best of your ability whatever the interview set up.
How did our Graduates Rate their own Performance at Interview? (Gathered prior to knowing the outcome)
Our graduates rated our clients interview process an average of 3.74 out of 5
We asked Graduates if the Employer Adequately Described the Company and Role
87% of our graduates thought the interviewers thoroughly explained the company and job
We Asked What Types of Questions our Employer Clients Asked at Interview
The results were wide ranging, but a couple of areas stood out, as you would expect from a graduate interview for a technical role.
74% were asked technical questions
71% were asked questions about their education to date.
34% asked about their career aspirations
We Asked What Types of Questions our Graduates Asked
61% asked about career progression
57% asked about project details
34% asked about work culture
19% asked why the role was available
16% asked about travel requirements
We Asked Graduates their Level of Interest in the Company and the Role (prior to knowing the interview outcome)
On average our graduates stated that their interest levels were 3.62 out of 5.
This was an interesting result as many stated they gave a 3 out of 5, because didn’t want to tempt fate by saying they were a 5.
Superstition definitely affected the results for this question!
We Asked Graduates if Salary Came up at First Interview
During 36% of interviews a clear statement of salary range was provided
During 64% of interviews salary was not mentioned
Finally, we Asked how the Interviewers Closed the Meeting. i.e. Next Steps
45% were told they would soon hear whether they had been successful or not (a one interview process)
41% were told they would hear if they were required for 2nd interview
1.5% were offered on the spot
1.5% agreed the role was not right for them
It will be interesting to see how this data develops over time. If there are any other specific areas you would like to know about, please contact me and I can add future questions.
