The key to a successful interview is preparation. We have put together a guide to help you prepare for your interview:
Questions to ask yourself before the Interview
- What is the reason you want to work in the automotive industry?
- What is the reason you applied to Mercedes-Benz?
- What do you know about the company? Obtain as much information as possible in advance of your interview – use the company website, company literature and try to obtain some product knowledge
- What do you know about the apprenticeship you have applied for? More information can be found on the Institute of Apprenticeships website - Light Vehicle Technician, Heavy Vehicle Technician , Retailer (Parts) Level 2, Retail Team Leader (Parts) Level 3, and Customer Service Specialist. Researching the role is key. You can also find out more about each on our website at www.mercedes-benztraining.co.uk/apprenticeships
- How committed are you to this apprentice programme?
- What do you expect to be doing in the future? What are your career plans?
- Where do your strengths lie (Try to think of things related to the position you have applied for)
- What are your weaknesses? (Can you turn that into a positive point, or explain how you have now learnt to overcome it – what have you done to overcome it?)
- What did you like about school?
- What personal qualities do you feel you can offer an employer?
- What interested you in this position?
- How do you cope under pressure?
- How do you cope when you have to prioritise?
- How do you work within a team?
- How do you work using your initiative?
- What challenges have you faced and how did you overcome them?
- What have you achieved that you are proud of?
- Why should they employ you rather than anyone else?
The Interview –Face to Face
- Plan your route to get to the place of your interview. Check the travel times and make sure you have left enough time to find the premises
- Always dress as smartly as possible. Wear a suit if you have one. Wear shoes, not trainers. Try to remember that appearance at an interview is usually always considered
- Try to arrive about 10 minutes before your interview time
- Always shake hands firmly (don’t feel afraid to initiate a handshake!), establish eye contact and smile on introduction with the interviewer. This will make you appear confident, eager and friendly
The Interview - Virtual
- Make sure you allow yourself plenty of time to get set up before the interview
- Log into the interview before it is due to start – if possible do a test in advance to ensure you know how to access the interview
- Consider the background – make sure you do the interview somewhere with a suitable background
- Ensure you are alone and in a quiet room with good lighting and with no disturbances or distractions. Tell people not to disturb you if necessary
- Dress formally, as if it were a face to face interview (see comments above)
- Ensure you have a good internet connection
- Ensure you look at the camera, maintain eye contact (via the camera) and smile
The Interview – Both styles of Interview
- Answer questions concisely and to the point. Do not volunteer irrelevant information
- Always be positive about yourself and your abilities – concentrate on things you have done, can do and enjoy doing
- Negative responses are not received well, either about yourself or previous employers. Try to think of the positives of something
- It is advised to not talk about salaries or benefits on a first interview
- Remember; an interview is a two way thing - you need to decide if you would like working at the Retailer/Dealership
You should also be prepared to ask the interviewer questions throughout the interview so you can gain a greater understanding of the company, role, team and what it will be like to work in the dealership. This also shows that you have been proactive in thinking about the role and preparing for the interview.
Questions You Could Ask
- When was their business established?
- How many staff do you have?
- What other sites do you have?
- What is the working environment like?
- Who would I be reporting to and what are they like?
- What is the team that I would be working with like?
- What type of person do you feel would fit in with the existing team?
- Have you apprentices have you had before and what are they doing now?
- How would my day be organised? What will I be doing the majority of the time?
- What are the rewarding parts of the job?
- What is the busiest/quietest time of the day?
- What would you expect from me in the first few months?
- How will I be trained in the dealership?
- How soon are you looking to start an apprentice?
- Is there anything else you would like to know about me?
At The End of the Interview
- If they ask you if you have any further questions, and you have – ask. If you feel you have asked everything you need to know, don’t be afraid to say you think everything has been covered.
- Thank them for their time
- Tell them if you are interested and give them reasons why you are interested
- Tell them when you can start
- Ask to look around if you haven’t been shown already
- Ask how soon they will make a decision
- Shake their hand – remember to smile!
Remember, competition can be fierce when applying for an Apprenticeship so try to be as best prepared as you can. If you have any questions that you think the Recruitment Team can help you with prior to your interview, then you can contact them at: apprentice_recruitment@daimler.com
Best of luck!