Oxfordshire Trainees Integrated Health & Wellbeing Network

Congratulations on making it to Stage 2 of the Impact Graduate Programme application process! With the deadline approaching to submit your video interviews, we have put together some top tips to support you with your applications. 

• Firstly, the concept of recording yourself may seem alien to you. Don’t worry – this will be a new concept for most applicants! The best way to get around the unknown is to practise recording yourself, just so you get used to the feeling of it. 

• You could practise recording an answer and listen back to how you sound, noting your pace, clarity and volume. This is a great way to ensure you are not speaking too quickly, as it is always best to speak more slowly to ensure clarity. Make sure that you don’t take longer than 2 minutes to plan your answer and to deliver it. 

• A great way to prepare for the video interview is to create a question bank for common questions. This should include consistent references to the LGA’S key competencies – you can consult the 8 key competencies on the Impact page of the LGA website. 

• When it comes down to recording your answers at your chosen time, you should pay attention to which competency the question is testing, and ensure it is reflected within your answer. The markers are not expecting you to be the finished article, so your answers do not need to be perfect. 

• Make the most of the practice questions. There will be two questions at the start that are not sent to markers but are a useful opportunity to: check tech, practice speaking to the camera, preparing during the allotted time, and speaking for the full two minutes. 

• Use the STAR framework to answer questions – Situation, Task, Action, Result. If you have enough time, you could also add a Reflection at the end. There will be 3 questions, each with 2 minutes preparation time and 2 minutes delivery time (unless reasonable adjustments have been requested).  

• Your answers do not have to use corporate, business or work-related examples. The LGA and Impact are aware that most of their applicants are applying straight after graduating so their experience will be limited. Feel free to give examples of any work you’ve done or any project you’ve been involved in, this could be from your work experience, studies, volunteering or hobbies. 

• Try to reach an understanding of local government, including what it is and does. At this stage, it is not expected that you’ll have a sophisticated understanding, but it will be helpful to understand a bit about the structure of local gov and the roles it carries out in communities. 

Best of luck with your video interviews, and make sure to let your personality, abilities and motivation come through!