 |
|||
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|||
 |
|||
 |
|||
 |
|||
 |
|
||
YOUR BEST INTERVIEW Every job applicant waits for a phone call summoning him or her to an interview. In an interview, a candidate for a job meets with the company or recruitment agency that has the job opening. Being called for an interview means that you might be a strong candidate for a job; the interview is when the company learns more about the applicant, to determine whether the applicant may be suitable for the job.
One of the most important things to make the best impression at an interview is to be prepared.
It is important to prepare for a successful phone contact even as you are applying for positions. The last paragraph of every application letter/email header should include contact information in the event that the recruiter needs to contact you with questions or offer an interview. When providing this information, it is important to list the number(s) at which you can be reached, indicating whether or not it is acceptable to be contacted at your current position. Think about your answering machine/voicemail message. A trend observed by many recruiters is messages that treat incoming callers to snippets of music from the resident's favourite band of the moment or show. You may think that this is an expression of your individuality and coolness; but as a recruiter, one can get mildly annoyed if it goes on too long before they can leave a message. It is important to decide what is right for you while at the same time creating a professional impression. It is helpful if recruiters can be sure they have called the right number. For privacy and security issues, many people do not list their first names, last names, or telephone numbers on their answering machine/voicemail greetings. We recommend you to leave one of these in the message. But don't change your message if you feel uncomfortable about having this information on your outgoing greeting. After you mail your applications and while you are waiting for the phone to ring is a good time to create a mini-job log to have near the phone. Our advice is to make a list of the companies at which you have applied and the titles of the positions applied for, so if called you have some idea of which job the person is calling you about. Ideally the interviewer would like to think his or her company is the only employer to which you have applied, to add it makes you look organised. If the hiring staff leaves a message, return the call as soon as you can. When you return the call, remember the recruiter may have called many other people that day, so give your full first name and last name and indicate to them that you are returning their call regarding the specific position for which you applied. And voicemail can be your friend, say if the message was left for you at 1pm, and you didn't get it until 7pm, again, give your full first name, last name, specific position and your contact information for the next day (but be prepared in case the recruiter is still there and wants to do a phone interview right then).
The phone interview is the second step in the process for many recruiters. During a phone interview, interviewers can check out whether you are as good as you sound on paper, if you are articulate, and if you would be a good person to have join the firm. More importantly, a phone interview is a way to narrow down the pool of candidates to a short list for a more formal face-to-face interview. When the interviewer gets hold of you they will usually ask if this is a good time to talk, or if they can arrange a time to call you back. If you are good on the phone and quick thinking, you may want to go ahead with the phone interview - it may only be one or two questions or they may want to do a more in depth phone interview with you. If you are in the middle of something, running out the door, or can't remember what the job is, it may be best to suggest an alternate time, but express interest first and be clear about the time you have, and suggest a time to connect later. When you are talking, make sure that your phone battery is not about to run out. It may help to have your notes and CV in front of you, and to have a pen in your hand to take notes. If it is a conference call with others involved you will want to write down each person's name/role down so that you can refer to it later. It is important that you are clear about whether or not you can hear the interviewer clearly. Don't say, "Can you speak up", do say, "I'm having trouble hearing you, can you hear me clearly?" The latter is less confrontational and clarifies the connection between you is bad or if the problem is on the recruiter's end. As with any interview, be prepared to ask questions at the end. You want to have the recruiter(s) hang up with a good impression of your interest in the company.
Immediately after the call, write a short thank-you note. For a phone interview it would be something like "thank you for spending time with me on the phone today about the xxx position. I enjoyed the conversation and have a better understanding of the job. I would be interested in an on-site interview, and would welcome the opportunity to further discuss the role."
Dressing for interviews and jobs Know what you are going to wear ahead of time. Even though many work environments are more casual nowadays, suits and tailored clothes are still the professional standard for job interviews. Here are some advanced tips for you:
You may have the education, experience and appearance right, and these things are important, but not all it takes to make a good impression. Remember to thank the person for making time to meet with you, and address them by using their name. Be confident with your speech, and make sure you are impeccably groomed, your hair, collar tie/scarf and other accessories should be a reflection of the high-quality person that you are. Your shoes should be polished and look like new, even if they are not. Your socks/stockings should blend with your outfit not detract from it. Other things to be aware of when making that first impression include:
Although this information may seem like common sense, it is important to daily success. Positive first impressions and the social skills you exhibit in the business arena are necessary to your daily and long term achievements.
Successful interviewing will be essential in order for you to lock in a job offer. During the interview, you will be meeting with the company's human resource staff, and possibly with the other company staffers, and/or the hiring manager. The interview is the company's opportunity to learn about you, and your opportunity to market yourself. These guidelines will help you present yourself well in an interview:
Following a first interview, you may be called in for a second, or even a third interview. In these later interviews, you may be meeting with company managers, or even department heads or CEOs.
After the interview, write a thank you note to your main interviewers. Especially confident candidates often neglect this, but it shows that you can follow up and that you are aware of details. The thank you note is also a good time to state again why you feel you are a good fit with a company, and ways they can use your skills. You probably want to know how well you did, and to talk over the possibilities that have come up. This is the ideal time to touch base with your recruiter. When a recruiter sets you up on a job interview, he or she will ask you to call for a follow-up after the interview. This is your opportunity to say what you thought of the company and the role, and whether it is something you want to pursue or not. To add, the recruiter usually has valuable feedback from the interviewing company about you. Another important step to take after an interview is to have your referee information ready. If you are called for a second interview that means that a company is seriously considering you, and that they will also want to contact your referees. Your referees are two or more people who provide your professional references. We recommend that you have at least two references, in case one or more is overseas, on holiday, or otherwise difficult to contact during your search. Once your job search comes to its conclusion with a new position, keep your information folder. You will find that keeping records of potential job contacts, and of cover letters and CVs that worked, will help you in your future job search. It will also allow you to send your colleagues to an especially helpful recruiting agency, or to an expanding company that wasn't right for you, but may be for your friend.
Work History:
About You:
About the New Job and Company:
About the Future:
You may also be asked behavioural based interview questions that are based on the principle that a candidates past performance is the best interpreter of future performance. Be prepared for these by taking the time to compile a list of responses to such questions and examples of work and/or team experiences where you have effectively used the skills you have acquired. Also, list your skills, strengths and weaknesses. As an interview draws to a close, one of the final questions you may be asked is "Do you have any questions?" It is a good idea to have some questions of your own ready to ask.
|
