WORK FIT 2012PART 3 - INTERVIEW PREPARATION
WORK FIT 2012 - PART 2: CV WRITING WWW.YOLKRECRUITMENT.COM
FAIL TO PREPARE...PREPARE TO FAIL
WORK FIT 2012 - PART 3: INTERVIEW PREPARATION WWW.YOLKRECRUITMENT.COM
Research everything and everyone!• First,taketheproperamountoftimetoprepareforyourinterview.Beingwellpreparedwillboostyourconfidenceandloweryouranxiety.
• Secondlystudythejobdescription,yourduties,responsibilitiesandexperiencerequired-preparereasonswhyyoumatchthecriteriawithreallifeexamples
• Researchthecompanyyou’reinterviewingforindetailratherthanjusttheirgeneralhistory.Ifyou’reapplyingforamarketingroleresearchwhatcampaignsthey’verunandhowsuccessfultheywere.
• Researchwhotheircompetitorsandclientsareandseehowyoucanincorporatethemintoyouranswers.Whatconnectionsdoyouhave?
• FindoutwhowillbetakingyourinterviewanduseonlinenetworkslikeLinkedIntofindanycommonground
• Preparesomequestionsofyourown.Thisletstheinterviewerknowthatyouaretrulyinterestedinthecompanyandtheposition.
WHAT SHOULD I RESEARCH?
WORK FIT 2012 - PART 3: INTERVIEW PREPARATION WWW.YOLKRECRUITMENT.COM
Travel arrangements• Ifusingpublictransportcheckforanyplannedworkthatwouldcreatedelaysontheday
• IfdrivingeitherprintoffdirectionsusinggooglemapsoruseaSatNav• Ifyouhavethetimetryadryrunofgettingtotheinterviewlocationasyouneverknowwhatmighthappenontheday
What to wear?• Decidingonwhatyouwearisdowntopersonalchoicejustmakesureyou’renotmakingthedecisionthemorningofyourinterview
• Ifyou’rereallyunsure-ask!Speaktoeitheryourrecruitmentconsultantorthecompanydirectforadvice.
Presentations• Ifyou’vebeenaskedtodoapresentationcheckthesetupontheday.WillyoubeexpectedtobringyourownlaptoporbringitinviaUSB?
Leave nothing to chance - be on time and be ready. Don’t put yourself under pressure.
DON’T LEAVE IT TO THE LAST MINUTE
WORK FIT 2012 - PART 3: INTERVIEW PREPARATION WWW.YOLKRECRUITMENT.COM
Every interview is different but there are some questions that are common across the board. Why should we employ you?Don’tbegeneric!Setyourselfapartbytellingtheintervieweraboutyouruniquequalitiesthatarerelevanttothejob.Thisiswherestudyingtheoriginaljobrequirementsreallyhelps.
Why do you want to work here?Thisisonetoolinterviewersusetoseeifyouhavedoneyourhomework.Ifyouhavedoneyourresearchthisquestionshouldbeeasytoanswer.
What are your greatest weaknesses?Thesecrettoansweringthisquestionisbeinghonestaboutaweaknesswhilstdemonstratinghowyouturneditintoastrength.Forexample,ifyouhadaproblemwithorganisationinthepastexplainthestepsyoutooktokeepyourselfontrack.Thiswillshowthatyouhavetheabilitytorecogniseaspectsofyourselfthatneedimprovement,andtheinitiativetomakeyourselfbetter.
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
WORK FIT 2012 - PART 3: INTERVIEW PREPARATION WWW.YOLKRECRUITMENT.COM
Every interview is different but there are some questions that are common across the board. Why do want to leave your current job?Becarefulaboutbeingnegativeinansweringthisquestion.Beasdiplomaticaspossible.Complainingendlesslyaboutyourlastcompanywillnotsaymuchforyourattitude.
What accomplishment are you most proud of?Evenifyourgreatestaccomplishmentisbeingonasuccessfulfootballteam,optforamoreprofessionallyrelevantaccomplishment.Thinkofthequalitiesthecompanyislookingforanddevelopanexamplethatdemonstrateshowyoucanmeetthecompany’sneeds.
What are your salary expectations?Thisisoneofthehardestquestions,particularlyforthosewithlittleexperience.Steerclearofdiscussingsalaryspecificsbeforereceivingajoboffer.Lettheinterviewerknowthatyouwillbeopentodiscussingafairsalarywhenthetimecomes.Ifpressedforamorespecificanswer,alwaysgivearangeratherthanaspecificnumber.
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
WORK FIT 2012 - PART 3: INTERVIEW PREPARATION WWW.YOLKRECRUITMENT.COM
Every interview is different but there are some questions that are common across the board. Tell me about yourself.Whilethisquestionseemssimpleitcanprovetobeverydifficulttoanswerbecauseitissoopen.Theinterviewerdoesn’twanttoknowaboutyourhometownorwhatyoudoontheweekends.They’veseenyourCVandarelikelytohaveitinfrontofthem,howevertheywanttohearwhatyou’vedonetogettothispointinyourcareer.Pickacoupleofpointsaboutyourselfsuchas,academicbackground,professionalexperienceandcareergoals.Thiscanbeacommonopeningquestionataninterviewifyouhaveasolidanswerprepareditcanoftenleadthedirectionoftheinterview.Ifyoubrieflymentionaparticularachievementofyoursbepreparedfortheinterviewertointerruptyouandprobeformoredetailssodon’toverexaggerateyourachievementsunlessyoucanbackthemup.
Remember to always, always incorporate the research you’ve done into the company and the interviewer into your answers.
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
WORK FIT 2012 - PART 3: INTERVIEW PREPARATION WWW.YOLKRECRUITMENT.COM
ETIQUETTE & TIPS• Ifyousmoke,maybeholdoffbetweenchangingintoyourinterviewsuitjustincaseyourinterviewerisaferventnon-smoker.Weknowit’shardbutthatnextcigaretteisjustaroundthecorner…
• Sorrytopreach,butifyouhaveaboozynightthedaybeforetheinterviewafewextra-strongmintsjustwon’tcutit.Sacrificethenightoutorsticktosoft-drinks…justthisonetime
• Acceptadrinkifoffered.Thismayseemunimportantbutrefusingadrinkcancreatetensionbeforetheinterviewevenstarts.
• Ifyouwanttherole,ensureyoutellyourinterviewerthatit’stheroleforyouandre-emphasisewhyyou’retherightperson.We’drecommendgoingevenfurtherandaskingtheintervieweriftheyfeelyouhaveanyweaknesses.Thiswillallowyoutocountertheirconcernsthereandthen.
WORK FIT 2012 - PART 2: CV WRITING WWW.YOLKRECRUITMENT.COM
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