Posts Tagged ‘interview skills’
12
Jul/10
It’s the responsibility of a recruiter or interviewer to thoroughly assess whether you’re the right candidate for the job, so whether we like it or not, they’re going to ask those difficult questions when interviewing. There’s no need to be nervous or anxious when going into an interview situation, so long as you are confident in your abilities and have prepared properly for how you want to put yourself forward.
They’re not looking for perfect, textbook answers; they’re looking for a genuine person who can show intelligence and the ability to think on their feet. If you follow our guidelines on dealing with difficult interview questions, you should no longer have to worry about the dreaded… “So what’s your biggest weakness?”
- Do your research. Before you even step into that interview room, make sure you have researched the company, the job description and what the work will entail, key members of management (if appropriate) and what will be expected of you. It sounds obvious, but going into an interview ‘blind’ is an easy way to go home with nothing.
- Stay positive. Answer awkward, seemingly negative questions like “What didn’t you like about your last job?” or “What are your weaknesses?” in a positive way, showing that you can see the benefits of personal growth and development. Don’t badmouth your previous employers, or be self-deprecating – answer by identifying minor faults, but backing them up with an aim to improve and extend your abilities in this new job.
- Be genuine. No one likes a suck up… Don’t practice your answers so they sound like you’ve learned them by rote, show a little personality and individuality. Putting on a ‘perfect’ front will only give the impression that you are possibly deceitful and manipulative. An important aspect of any workplace is the staff dynamic – they want to see if you will fit in as well as your ability to do your job.
- Tell the truth. You should never lie during an interview, even when you find yourself having to talk about something potentially damaging to your chances. Instead, find a way to be diplomatic and objective when asked questions about long periods of unemployment or leaving a previous job under bad circumstances. Explanations which take into account difficulties, but also display your future intentions can help you out of an awkward spot.
- It’s not about the money! Better earnings/hours are not the answers they’re looking for when they ask what drew you to this job… You should also not describe the position as a “stepping stone” to help you on your way, even if it’s true. Explaining your aims in terms of “new challenges”, “better opportunities”, “an interest in the company and an eagerness to learn and develop” etc are more tactful ways to put it.
- Plan for the future. When asked where you see yourself in 5-10 years, or what your career goals are, show your intention to better yourself and your career (ideally within the company). Even if your plans are not solid or clear, you want to put across that you are ambitious and diligent and you will work towards improving your position.
- Ask questions. If you’re really stuck for an answer, asking the interviewer their opinion can help, for example – “How do you deal with criticism?” could be answered by saying you think it’s important to be challenged and given the opportunity to improve your skills, and follow it up by asking about the company’s audit system. Showing an interest in the workings of the business is a good attribute to show in an interview.
Interviews can be nerve-wracking, but if you have confidence in yourself and your skills, a great CV to show, and do your research and preparation beforehand, there’s no reason why you can’t succeed. If you struggle with the stress of face-to-face interviews, it might be a good idea to create a Video Enhanced CV to be your first impression for you. A short introductory video CV can broadcast your personality, your assets and your goals to a prospective employer, before they’ve even met you, taking the heat off the initial moments of the real interview. Similarly, a Career Website can showcase much more than a traditional CV, detailing your work history, ethics, ambitions and individuality – available online for recruiters to peruse along with your CV and potentially giving you an extra leg up towards getting that job.
Browse AccendoCV’s services to help you make the most out of every interview, and secure the job you are after.
Tags: career website, CV Writing, difficult interview questions, interview preparation, interview questions, interview skills, interviews, Job hunting, Video CV, website cv
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25
May/10
A recent poll of 500 graduates has revealed that 60% of students who have made use of their university careers advisory service complain that it has failed them. Graduates are leaving university unprepared for employment and more than a third interviewed were forced to claim Jobseeker’s Allowance in the last year due to difficulty in finding a job.
In the survey by recruitment website totaljobs.com, results show that upon completion of their degree, one in ten students are assuming they will earn more than £35,000 from their first job, rather than the average £25,000. The stark reality of official figures is that nearly 150,000 graduates are re-entering university to pursue further studies rather than to attempt finding work. Of those 500 polled, two thirds were taking work simply to pay the bills. Only 6% managed to find a graduate job.
Graduate sales director at totaljobs.com, Mike Fetters, said: “Having invested heavily in securing a decent degree, it is not unreasonable for graduates to feel they deserve a job that matches their career expectations.
Unfortunately, competition for professional roles has never been fiercer.”
These “shocking” figures reinforce the importance of full preparation for job-seeking, including a well written, professional CV, cover letter and sound interview skills. In the current competitive market, securing a job and building a career in their area of study is becoming increasingly more difficult for graduates, and finding a way to stand out from the crowd to showcase their aptitude and talent could make the difference. The rise in candidates submitting video CVs is a reflection of our media-driven age, and can be winningly impressive to employers.
Accendo CV can help prepare you for job hunting and the workplace from career counselling, CV writing and interview skills, to a slick website or video CV to wow potential recruiters.
Tags: Accendo CV, career counselling, CV Services, CV Writing, graduate employment, interview skills, Job hunting, Professional CV writing, unemployment, Video CV, website cv
Posted in CV Articles, News | No Comments »
27
Nov/09
In November 2009 a young graduate was offered jobs with three organisations following a series of interviews. Her success rate was 100% following second interviews, and she achieved job offers with above median salaries. What did she do to achieve this amidst one of the most difficult job markets for graduates?
We shall call her Alice, for this note. Alice was a real candidate looking for a position as a graduate trainee in procurement in London and the Home Counties. Alice had:
- A sound academic background, with a relevant 2.1 from a reasonable University. It was not an outstanding academic record, but it was sound.
- Her CV was well prepared and directed at her target job market – procurement.
- She was polite and thorough throughout the process – writing acknowledgement emails and thanking people for their time. She followed up whenever necessary.
- Alice arrived 15 minutes before the interview, giving her time to compose herself. She made an effort to be friendly to the receptionist, accepted the offer to take her coat and smiled. In a quiet moment at reception Alice asked if the Company was busy, and the receptionist’s answer showed that it was busy and she was willing to share information. Alice took the opportunity and went on to ask what it was like to work there. The receptionist explained that she found it a good environment, and that the procurement function was particularly busy. By the time Alice was collected from the reception she had won an ally, who may pass a positive comment within the business.
- Alice spoke well. At interview she listened to the questions and thought about the context before replying. Her vocabulary was reasonable (not exceptional) but she took time to structure her answers to ensure their clarity. She did not rush and that way avoided stumbling. And she smiled.
- She spoke as a graduate, explained that she did not have business experience in answer to interview questions but that she thought that such and such was appropriate in the context of the particular organisation.
- Alice told it as it was, and did not exaggerate in her answers. She appreciated that the interviewers were competent and their questions were searching, and treated them with an appropriate seriousness. She did not exaggerate her experience. And she smiled.
- She asked questions, to ensure that she understood what was being asked of her. These ranged from the simple such as not understanding a piece of jargon, to questions to refine the context of a discussion.
- Alice appreciated that the interviewers wanted to do the very best for their Companies and treated them with respect. Her thoughtful and paced answers projected the impression to the interviewers of a mature twenty two year old graduate, who had an appreciation that she had much to learn.
The demonstration and application of these ‘soft’ skills enabled Alice to achieve a choice in her first career move.
Can these skills be learned? The answer here is yes, of course. However the issue is how they can be deployed to help get that interview. It is here that we recommend a novel approach.
At Accendo Career Management we offer the secure hosting of individual Video Resumes and suggest that you put a link on your CV, and invite reviewers to view a 60 or 90 second video.
A Video CV is a very powerful tool and must be understood to be used effectively. Like all items in your job hunting tool kit, it can backfire (other examples are a CV with spelling & grammatical errors, being late for an interview, etc). We do recommend the use of a video for two reasons:
- First is that this gives us the opportunity to control the all important first impression. This calls for work and effort in preparing the video, but generates a lasting impression and one that you can carry into the interview.
- By preparing a script for your video which supports your CV and vitalises your profile, we can get Alice’s message across to the viewer.
Accendo offer training on how to make a Video CV via a video!! It’s the best medium to demonstrate vital techniques. And the value of being able to deliver a lasting first impression before you arrive, can put you ahead of the “Alice sequence” described above – literally a head start.
There are issues regarding the security of information on video and why it should not be publically hosted, for example recruiting managers will not search YouTube for your video resume, but a link to a Career Management Company provides the recruiter with an assurance and the required credibility necessary to click the link.
Tags: career management, interview skills, Video CV
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