Attitude

The right attitude is everything! Be: friendly, motivated, ambitious, professional and alert. Remember to smile. If you get very nervous, tell the client that you are very nervous and this will immediately make you feel more relaxed.

Presentation

First impressions count! Ask the consultant what the company would expect for each interview (informal, corporate, conservative, etc) and make sure that you are able to make the initial good impression through your appearance.

Preparation

Make sure you can answer questions such as:

• What are your strengths?

• What are your weaknesses?

• Mention one or two weaknesses that you are aware of and indicate how you are attempting to remedy them.

• What skills do you have to offer this company?

• Are you a team player or do you prefer to work on you own?

• What motivates you?

• What are your short/ long-term goals?

• How do you deal with pressure?

• Why should our company employ you?

• Why would you like to work for this company?

Make sure you can give examples when answering the questions to ensure that your answers are not merely what you think they want to hear.

Self knowledge

If, by the end of the interview, you are feeling that you would really like the job, make it known! Your enthusiasm and commitment must be shown.

Answering questions

If you don’t understand a question, don’t be afraid to ask the client to repeat it.
Do not only answer ‘yes’ and ‘no’! For example if you are asked whether you can handle pressure, ‘yes’ is not an appropriate answer - give examples of situations where you have handled a pressurised situation in the past.

Before you go to the interview

Find out about the company
Ask the consultant who has set up the interview.
Look the company up on the internet.

Asking questions

Remember you are there to interview them as much as they are there to interview you! This is YOUR career.
Types of questions to ask:

• About the company

• How long has the company been in operation?

• What are the main products the company trades in?

• Who are the major customers of the company?

• Are there branches or subsidiaries in other centres?

• How many employees are there in the company?

• Has the company recently won any major contracts or awards?

About the position

How long has this position been in existence?
What are the promotional opportunities in the company?
What are the most important expectations of the person filing this position?
What would the client consider to be the most important skills required for the job?
What is the company culture like?
Do colleagues interact socially, at sports or in teams, etc.?

Do NOT

Be late for your appointment!
Leave your cell phone on!
Leave your pager on!
“Run down” your current employer/manager!

Types of questions

You can expect to be asked a variety of questions e.g.
1. The hypothetical question (”what if” questions)
Example: You fail to meet an important deadline. What would you do?
2. The yes-or-no question
Example: Have you prepared financial statements before?
Don’t simply answer “yes” or “no”. Give the interviewer more information.
3. The what-do-you-think-the-other-guy-thinks question
Example: What do you think your current employer will think of your leaving?
Avoid being a mind reader. Rather state that you will explain your reasons for leaving when the time comes and believe that your manager will accept that.
4. The non-question question
Example: I’ve enjoyed reading your CV, but I’m not sure you have the experience we are looking for.
Turn this into a question and ask “perhaps you could give me an example and I’ll be able to quantify my experience in that area”.
5. The A-or-B-orientated question
Example: What is more important to you: salary package or what you will learn?
Your answer should be that you’re sure they would pay a market related package and therefore the learning opportunities would be of enormous benefit to you and them.
6. The why question
Example: Why should we hire you?
Think about your qualities in the workplace and relate them. Give examples to back your answer.
7. The open-ended question
Example: So, tell me about yourself/your previous job.
Prepare for such questions in advance as far as possible by putting together a summary statement of your work experience so far, outlining positive experiences, qualities and accomplishments which are relevant to the job you are being interviewed for.

Questions you might be asked

Here are some questions that are invariably asked in some form or other at most interviews:
1. Why should we employ you?
This is a chance to show that you have done your homework and have researched the company and that you have thought about the job and what you can bring to it.
2. What do you expect us to pay you?
You could respond by saying: “I expect to be paid a market related package for my experience”. If the interviewer pushes you, quote a range, never give a single figure.
3. Why did you leave your last job/why are you prepared to leave your present job?
Mention reasons such as needing to seek new challenges and lack of growth.
4. What are your career goals?
Limit yourself to the foreseeable future. Speak about what sort of experience you would like to gain.
5. How well do you work in a group or do you prefer to work independently?

Illustrate your ability to be flexible.

Relate some of your successful experiences in working in teams, using examples from work situations.
You also need to indicate an ability to work on your own, using your own initiative.

Questions you might want to ask

Prepare them!
Examples:
If I get the job, what would be my areas of responsibility?
To whom would I report?
What scope would I have for advancement and promotion?
Why did my predecessor leave?
What are the future plans of the company?
Who are the company’s competitors?
What percentage growth has the company shown over the past five years?
What training courses does the company offer to develop its staff?
Does the company grant study leave?
In what way are achievements recognised?
Are employees allowed to work flexi-time or do they have to adhere to 9 to 5?

Technorati Tags: Employment, Interview, job interviews, Job Search

Job candidates today are being interviewed up to seven times for a position, and for every person who gets a job, dozens more walk away disappointed.

So never has it been more important to make a good first impression. In these tough economic times, selling yourself at a job interview can be the difference between landing a job, or not.

According to two successful business women the bar is higher than ever job interviews, but they have some advice on how best you can make your mark and impress a future employer.

Carolan Lennon is a consumer director at communications firm, and says: “My ideal interviewee is someone who is engaging and someone that I end up really wanting to work with”.

ENTHUSIASM
“I’d have to be convinced that they can do more than just the job and that they will be a serious asset to the company. That they will fit in well with everyone they work with and even enhance the existing team”, she says.

“I’ve always related well to people who are honest and articulate and who talk simply yet frankly about what they hope to bring to the role.

“And I’m impressed when they are specific on how the experience and skills they will be enable them to do the job really well”, Carolan says. Good eye contact is a must for me during an interview, energy and enthusiasm.”

Carolan says: “I Think first impressions are really important, the impression you get from how the person dresses and right down to their manner. It ca n be as simple as if they smile or not.

“The three things that impress me most are person’s manner, if they ca n express themselves easily and if they ‘look the part’.

“in relation to their manner, I’m impressed when they are friendly yet not over familiar, confident yet not cocky; and good at communicating- by actually looking at me or whoever else is interviewing them and engaging with us”, Carolan says.

“The second thing that impresses me is when an interviewee is articulate and able to give a synopsis of their experience where relevant and without going off on tangents. And knowing when to use real examples to demonstrate in a very natural way, what they have to offer”, she says.

“The third thing that impresses me is when an interviewee ‘looks the part’. And by that I mean they look like they have made an effort in whatever style that suits them.

“I feel that if they are putting their best foot forward for themselves, they’ll do the same for the company,” she says.

“The things that are most likely to leave me unimpressed at an interview is a candidate who lacks energy or appears shoddy, or does not engage with me.

“So professionalism in all its guises is crucial. Being shoddy about your hair, dress or shoes really does give a bad impression.

“For me, I end up wondering if the person can’t be bothered to smarten up their act and put their best foot forward for an interview. Then what will their attitude to work be like day in and day out,” Carolan says.

De Breen is a marketing manager and says: “What are three things I am looking for when I am interviewing someone? For starters, candidates being interviewed for any role in public relations and marketing need to be ambitious, and want to get ahead.

“Secondly, they have to be forward- thinking individuals. Also, they need to know what their market is, and in our case that would mean they need to have in-depth knowledge of the fashion industry, with a clear appreciation of the luxury end of the market,” she says.

I think it goes without saying that someone working in public relations or marketing needs excellent communication skills. This is essential as the majority of the role centres on people skills and interacting with lots of different people.” Dee says

“But good communications skills are vital in an interview for any job type, she says.

Technorati Tags: Employment, Interview, job interviews

Far too many prospective candidates sit back and prepare to be ambushed during a job interview. But with a little bit of preparation and some proactive thinking, you should be able to swing every question you receive in your favour.

1. Preparation is everything
The best way to prepare for a job interview is to do your research beforehand. Study the job description of the position in details in details. You should be able to determine which skills and character traits the recruiter is looking for. Take the time to write down and rehearse specific examples where you demonstrated the desired behavior or gained desired experience.

Also use the job description to get a good idea of what kind of questions the recruiter will be asking you. Typical questions to expect include:
• Why do want to work for us?
• Why should we hire you?
• What are your weak and strong point?
• Why do you want to live your current job?
• What are your goals over the short and long tem?
• What was the most challenging part of your previous job and how did you handle it?
• What is your approach towards situations of conflict in the workplace?
• Are you able to work well under pressure?

The key is to take a look at questions like these and to make sure your answers relate directly to the job at hand. It is also very important to convince the interviewers by giving them evidence of your skills.

When answering the above questions, be sure to provide concrete examples of situations where you successfully handled conflict, pressure, challenges at work, etc.

2. Work on first Impression
The importance of the first impression cannot be overstated. A sloppy handshake or a late arrival could damage your chances irrevocably. Show up early; suite up; be sure to look your interviewers in the eyes when you give them firm handshake. Be friendly and relaxed, enthusiastic without appearing desperate.

3. Take Charge
The key is remember that you are also interviewing the company - you are taking the opportunity to see if you will be able to work and grow here.

With that in mind, be sure to apply the following guidelines to your every interview:

• Take the lead: if for ex ample recruiters does not ask about some skills or other that you think makes you perfect for the job. Use in the line conversation to bring up that specific topic and to explain why you think this skill could help you on the job, advises Wendy Enelow of career-advices.monster.com

• Ask question about the company. For examples; how many people will be your team? How does the workflow function between the various departments? What are the training opportunities like in the company? Is there room for you to move up the ranks?

• It’s also a good idea to ask the employer about specific problems and challenges they have encountered with regards to the work that you will be taking on. Listen well to the answer and try to suggest a solution right there. Even if is not ground breaking, you will stand out from the other candidates, argues the recruiting expert Nick Corcodilos- (www.asktheheadhunter.com)

4. Sell yourself
Of course, there is a fine line between confidence and arrogance. However, the interview is the ideal opportunity for you to sell your skills. Take for example those typical interview questions ‘why do you think we should hire you?’ and ‘tell us about yourself and your career thus far’.

Don’t wait until you reach the interview and then sit there babbling away. Take some time before the interview and try to come up with a brief but catchy description of your skills, experience and accomplishments. Think of this almost as your sales pitch- make it snappy and you can be sure that you will stand out from the other candidates.

5. Positive yourself in a positive light
Try to put everything that comes your way in a positive light, writes Enelow. So you don’t have a specific skill? That’s okay. You’re a fast learner. Perhaps you don’t have as many contacts in the industry as employer would like? No problem, you’ve though about that and are planning to do some networking and introduce yourself to some role players before start the job.

May be they think you’re a bit young for the job? That’s hardly relevant to you, as you bring enthusiasm, flexibility and initiative thinking to the table

Technorati Tags: Employment, Interview, Job interview, Job Search

Why is it even the most confident person turns into quibbling wreck when it comes to the thought of an interview? Honest answer, we are scared to talk about ourselves; scared to ‘Blow our own trumpet’ but if we don’t how will they ever know…

During an interview the primary objectives of the interview is to ascertain:
1. are you the right person for the job
2. do you have the skill set for the role and promotional prospects
3. will you fit in with the company/team ethos

Interviewers often have their own style of questioning or they may follow a competency style of questions or utilize assessment based; having an understanding of the different style of interview will put you at ease.

Free style interviews- this is where the interviewer creates their own question, some may be open-ended i.e. Tell me about yourself? Describe your most recent position and any key achievements in that position

Competency based interview- Theses are also known as skilled-based, behavioral, situational or structured interviews. Targeting the principle that previous experience and performance is the best predictor of future performance. The interviewer will ask questions to seek examples of past behavior to provide evidence that you have the necessary competencies to be suitable for the role
Question examples: Describe a situation when you handled customer complaints
Give an example of a time when you achieved positive customer feedback

Assessment based interviews- interviewers may construct a selection of tests to analyse your potential, these may include psychometric tests and / or tasks to analyse your behaviour such as team building, prioritization and communication. You would normally be advised in advance for assessment- based interviews

Try to remember in any interview it is in the interviewers best interest to get best out of you, they are not trying to catch you out, they just want to make sure you are the person they are looking for.

Preparation

Often one of the easiest ways to survive the interview is down to preparation. As individual we work hard, deliver results and remained focused towards our objectives, but this is our day job and we forget just what we have delivered, and these are the points a potential employer wants to know about.

It is important to allow yourself enough time to prepare. Solid preparation can assist in your confidence and ability to respond to any questions or tasks you are asked to perform. It is a good idea to allow your self 2/3 hours preparation time either the night or the morning before an interview. Remember “Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance!’

A good way to prepare for an interview is to create a skill matrix pertinent towards the job role you are applying for, if the organization has issued a job description this will detail the role and skills/competencies required. If not, you know the type of role you are applying for and should be able to create a list of key requirements. Create a matrix with the skills required and think of 4/5 examples of your own achievements for those skills for example:

Customer Relationship Skills

1. Handled customer complaints; resolved a key issue avoiding refund
2. Training and developed junior team in customer interaction to provide additional sales through standards of service provided
3. Awarded employee of the month for outstanding reviews on a customer satisfaction survey
4. Developed relationship with secretarial and administration teams within the local area; creating loyalty and ensuring preferential accommodation rates

Continue to build the matrix with all the skills and attributes applicable for the job role. This will help reaffirm your own memory and also help at the interview as you have already done the thinking prior to being asked any interview question, making question responses more fluid and impactive.

It is important to demonstrate that you are knowledgeable about the organization and the job role so make sure you do your research.

Presentation

It is important to be smart and appropriately dressed for an interview, but do make sure you are comfortable in clothes you wear, avoid the clothes you hate as this will dampen your confidence, by wearing thing you know you look good will boost your confidence.

The Day Of The Interview

Allow yourself enough time to arrive 15 minutes early; have you got the right address? Is there parking or public transport access? Ensure you take telephone contact details and your mobile phone just in case. When you arrive at the organization remember to be pleasant and polite to everyone, as you don’t who’s who and you may offend the wrong person.

During the Interview

Be positive, maintain eye contact, use visual acknowledgements and body language to show you are interested i.e. nod, smile, sit up and don’t fidget

Answer the questions honestly and factually (remember your matrix)

Don’t be afraid to ask questions to either clarify questions to either clarify questions asked of you or to gain more information about the company, if you are going to work with them it is a good idea to know all about them.

Last but not least remember the interviewer only wants to get the best out of you, they do not want to make you feel ill at ease so relax.

www.conceptcv.co.uk

Technorati Tags: Employment, Interview, interview questions, job interviews, Job Search

The interview is coming to a close; the interviewer asks you if you have any questions and suddenly your mind goes blank. Interviews should be seen as a two- way street as it is as much a chance for them to find out about you as for you to find out about them. You need to know everything about the position to make a considered decision if you are offered the job. Always prepare by drawing up a list of key questions that you genuinely want to ask. If you are not interested in asking questions, they will think you are not interested in the job.

• Why has this vacancy come up? A perfectly reasonable question and one worth asking if you want to be sure that the last person isn’t leaving because the job is as dull as dishwater or is limited in terms of promotion. If they sidestep the question or appear defensive, that you want to get ahead and leads neatly on to the next question.

• Is there much scope for promotion? A fairly obvious one, but always worth asking as it shows you are enthusiastic and plan to go far within the organization. Remember, they are looking for the next Richard Branson, not Homer Simpson..

• If my application were successful, where would you see me in five years’ time? Crystal ball time. A good question because it forces the interviewer to picture you in the job. It also gives you an indication of how fast careers move at the company. You don’t want to swap a fast-track career for one in slow lane.

• Where does the company see itself in five year’s time? This shows you have genuine interest in the future direction of the company and you’re looking beyond the confines of your own role. It will also mark you out as someone wit vision. Sir Alan would be proud of you.

• What is the top priority for this role over the next year? Another question that involves the interviewer imagining you in the job. It shows you’re concerned about the key objectives of your role and don’t want to get bogged down in day-to-day routine.

• What are some of the more difficult problems encountered in this role? This shows that you are already thinking ahead and want to hit the ground running and fully prepared. It shows you’re realistic and don’t expect life to a bed of roses.

• How do you think these problems could best be handled? A great question because it shows that you are to draw on the interview’s experience at same time as drawing up some contingency plans for your day to day role.

• Do you have any reservations about my ability to do this job? Assuming you haven’t arrived dressed as a Court Jester; this is a perfectly reasonable question to ask. If they say no, you’re already in great position. If they say yes, then ask them to clarify so that you’ll get a chance to dispel their doubts.

• When can I expect to hear from you? Always end on this one. This shows you’re keen and also gives you a great reason to get in contact if they haven’t contacted you by the date mentioned. Don’t overdo it though- just contact them once, with one follow-up call. You don’t want them to think you’re stalking them.

Technorati Tags: Employment, Interview, interview questions, job interviews, Job Search

It’s been going pretty well until the interviewer looks squarely in the eye and says: “Tell me a story.” Beads of sweat suddenly appear on your forehead and your collar starts to feel too tight. The easiest way to avoid the interview descending into a farce is to be prepared. Tough questions will always come up, so you need to have a strategy to deal with them. To help you, here are some tips on how to claw your way back from the brink.

1. If they do ask you to tell them a story, they probably don’t want Goldilocks and The Three Bears. Have something in your mind that is work related or an interesting anecdote about your personal life.

2. Job hoppers, If you haven’t stayed in a job long enough to get your seat warm. The interviewer will be concern. “I had to change jobs to gain a fresh challenge” is a good response. Go on to say “I’m looking to settle in a company dynamic enough to keep me challenged.”

3. Describe a difficult situation that could have handled better.
Criticizing yourself is never going to be easy. The trick here is to use an example from a few years ago where the way you acted was force upon you, such as “had to change the deadline because our budget had been cut”. Everyone makes mistakes- the important thing is to emphasize what you learnt from it.

4. What is your present boss’s greatest weakness? Even if you work for a total Basil Fawlty, saying” far too many to mention” doesn’t look good. Go for something like” They are good at their job; I’d be splitting hairs if I criticized them.” Being negative doesn’t look great- the person you are talking to may be your next boss.

5. Sell me this paperclip! A total bolt out of the blue and the sort of question that some interviewers use to put you on the spot. Avoid describing the product- just stick to its benefits: “it’s strong and lightweight.” Maybe even throw in a joke at the end: “There’s a discount if you take 10 000!”

6. I think you’re overqualified for this job. Oh dear, looks like those four Masters degrees weren’t good idea after all. Basically, they’re worried you’ll get bored and leave. If you do really want this position despite being overqualified, say something along the lines that you’re sure a dynamic company like this will be able to keep you challenged and interested.

7. Why haven’t you find a job yet? Avoid telling them you’ve spent all summer on the beach. Try saying; “ It’s important that I accept a job in a company that’s right for me and where I can make a contribution.” Let them know if you have turned down unsuitable offers.

8. What do you dislike most at work? Of course you live for work, but they don’t know that yet. Avoid anything specific. Turn it into positive and say: I dislike not having enough to do or not being challenged.”

9. What motivates you? Your interviewer is not looking for an answer along the lines of $100,000 per year and Bentley Turbo!” try to give a constructive answer, such as “ I get a real kick out of completing a project” or I get satisfaction at each stage of the project, knowing I will have made a contribution to the end results”.

10. Draw up a list of tough questions. List the scariest questions you can imagine-or ones you or friends/ colleagues have been asked. Jot down suitable answers and memorize them, so that you’ll be prepared

Technorati Tags: Employment, job interviews, Job Search