Preparing for your interview

Firstly, congratulations for securing an interview with The National Lottery Community Fund. 

To help you to get the most out of your interview, please do take a look at the web links below. They will help you to understand what we do at the Fund and how we support people and communities across the UK to thrive. 

How you prepare for your interview really does make a difference. Apart from making you stand out to your interview panel, it will help you to feel ready and relaxed. 

We want you to be yourself, so whether you’re an experienced interviewee, or feel worried about how you’ll do in an interview situation, please remember that you have made it this far because you’ve already demonstrated you have the capability. Please enjoy the process, and if you have any concerns or additional needs that have not already been discussed and agreed, please contact peopleteam@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk  

We want you to have a good experience interviewing with us; we are committed to being fair and inclusive. We are looking forward to meeting you and finding out more about you and your experience and we would encourage you to find out what you can about our work and people.  

• Read your interview confirmation email in detail. For Welsh speaking applicants, check in which language (Welsh or English) your interview will be held.  
• Research the Fund – look for recent news articles, use search machines (Google, Bing etc), use links above and have a read of the Annual Report and Corporate Plan
• Know your CV, be prepared to talk through your career to date
• Research your panel of interviewers – use LinkedIn for this, this shows you are interested in their background
• Dress code – Smart/Casual – tidy and prepared
• Practice answering a few questions using the examples in this pack
• Give yourself time - Research route to office/have the software downloaded if online, and check you’re happy with your position on camera if you’re being interviewed online.
• Be prepared 15 minutes ahead of the interview and just take a minute to control your breathing.  Before every answer take a breath and think before answering
• Smile and engage with the whole panel
• Ahead of the interview – Have a notebook with the names of the panel written down (just in case you have a mental blank) and prepare some questions for them (3-5)  These questions might get answered throughout, but at least you can say you had prepared some.  Take this notebook into the interview with you.
• If you are doing a presentation, ensure you know how to share your screen and practice a couple of times to ensure you stay within the allotted time. Allow time for questions at the end if possible.

• Ensure your device is charged and correct software is downloaded ahead of interview 
• Check the set up of camera and background including correct lighting
• No distractions.

• What are the key challenges of the role, particularly in the first six months? 
• How many people are in my team and what are their roles?
• How would you describe the culture of the company? 
• Now you have met me, what do you see being my biggest challenge if I was to be successful?

• When preparing for this style of interview, apply the examples to the job responsibilities within the job description.
• Be yourself when answering competency-based questions. Use real-life examples as this will help you communicate them confidently.  
• It is very common to be asked to describe a time you demonstrated a particular skill within a certain situation.
• Apply the STAR rule and be as concise as possible:

1. Find a suitable example
2. Explain the situation
3. Highlight the task
4. What action/s did you take?
5. What results did you achieve?

• Describe a situation where you managed multiple demands and deadlines and how you delivered these on time.
• How do you, or would you, approach projects you are responsible for?

• Tell me about a time you led a group to achieve an objective.
• How do you motivate your team to achieve their goals?

• Tell me about a time when you identified a new approach to a problem.
• Describe a time you found it difficult to make a decision at work. How did you arrive at a solution?

• Describe a situation where you got people to work together.
• Tell me about a situation that required you to use a different approach to communication.
• Tell me about a time you had to deal with conflict with a stakeholder.

• How do you define success in your role?
• When did you work the hardest and feel the greatest sense of achievement?