We want you to feel as comfortable as possible when interviewing for a job at Hedyn.
Taking time to prepare will help put your mind at ease and put you in the best position to perform well at interview.
The practicalities
Make sure you know where you’re going for your interview – see ‘how to find us for your interview’.
Check the parking facilities and public transport routes.
Know who you’re meeting and note their contact details, just in case you need to contact them before you arrive.
Give yourself plenty of time to get to your interview. Aim to arrive around 10 minutes early to allow yourself time to settle and gather your thoughts.
Know what to expect
Interviews generally involve you being asked a series of questions.
Some will also include an exercise, such as giving a presentation or completing a written task. We’ll tell you about any exercise in advance.
Read through any interview guidance shared to make sure you understand everything.
Contact our recruitment team if you’re unsure if you need to prepare anything in advance, or have any other questions before the interview date.
Research the role and employer
We don’t expect you to know everything about Hedyn, but we recommend you read about any organisation you’re interviewing for.
This includes, information like their:
- vision
- values
- purpose
- organisational structure.
Read through the job description and role profile as well as your application, to refamiliarise yourself.
How to find us for your interview
We have various working locations, your interview location will be detailed in your invite to interview email. If you’re unsure where your interview is being held, or have any other queries, please email recruitment@hedyn.wales and we’ll be able to help.
- Address: Nexus House Mission Court, Newport NP20 2DW
- Parking: Car park at Asda, opposite (free for three hours)
- Nearby: Asda, Greggs, and Costa
- Building accessibility: Disabled access with ramp at front and back of building. Lifts to all floors.
- What to do: On entering the building you’ll need to sign in at reception and ask for the interviewing manager as detailed on your invite email.
- Toilets: Toilets, including disabled access, are available.
- Address: Tŷ’r Felin, Lower Mill Field, Pontypool, Torfaen NP4 0XJ
- Parking: Car park at the office
- Nearby: Harvester, McDonald’s, Aldi, petrol station including other food options.
- Building accessibility: Disabled access at front of building. Lift to first floor.
- What to do: On entering the building you will need to sign in at reception and ask for the interviewing manager as detailed on your invite email.
- Toilets: Toilets, including disabled access, are available.
- Address: Malpas Depot, Malpas Rd, Newport NP20 5PP
- Parking: Outside of the building
- Nearby: Tesco Express, Greggs, Subway, Domino’s and chemist.
- Building accessibility: Disabled access with ramp at front and side of building. Lift to first floor.
- What to do: On entering the building you will need to sign in at reception and ask for the interviewing manager as detailed on your invite email.
- Toilets: Toilets are available on the first floor (no disabled access).
Prepare questions and answers using STAR
Using the knowledge and experience section of the role profile, we recommend you think of some questions that you might be asked.
For example, if an essential point on the knowledge and experience section is:
“Excellent customer service skills”
A question that you could be asked is:
“Can you give an example of when you have had to deal with a difficult customer?
“How did you handle it and what was the outcome?”
The STAR technique is a structured method you should use when responding to interview questions:
- Situation – the situation you had to deal with
- Task – the task you were given to do
- Action – the action(s) you took
- Result – what happened as a result of your action and what you learned from the experience
We recommend you use this method for drafting your answers to potential questions. Read more about the STAR method on GOV.UK.
10 top tips for your interview
- Practice answering some questions with someone beforehand. Treat it like a real interview situation, ask them to make notes of your responses and provide feedback.
- If giving a presentation, make sure you have answered the presentation question or met the task in full.
- Practice delivering your presentation with someone – to make sure you’re familiar with it and can stick to the time allocated.
- Try and maintain eye contact with the interview panel when delivering your presentation. It’s ok to have notes to refer to, but don’t be reliant on them, find the right balance.
- Prepare for potential follow-up questions at the end of your presentation.
- Check with the recruitment officer / hiring manager if you’re able to take notes into the interview with you. Stick to one piece of paper and keep your notes concise to help you scan them easily.
- Take your time in answering the questions, a few moments of silence are ok. Take a sip of water to gather your thoughts.
- Listen carefully and answer the question in full. Ask for clarification if you don’t understand the question or aren’t sure what exactly is being asked.
- Be yourself. Be honest, positive and enthusiastic, and don’t be afraid to sell yourself and your achievements.
- Prepare questions to ask the panel at the end of your interview. Ask questions related to the role, such as what induction/training there may be – and you might also want to ask when a decision will be made and how it’s communicated.