workfit for the summer - interview preparation

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?


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


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


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.



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.



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

Download Part 4 ASSESSMENT CENTRESwww.yolkrecruitment.com/workfit/

Yolk Recruitment6-7 St John StreetCardiff CF10 1GJ

[email protected]

workfit for the summer - interview preparation

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