CV Tips

Interview Advice

The reason for the interview is that the client wants to recruit someone to fill a position in their organisation - not because they want to embarrass you.

There are some industry statistics which suggest that there is a pattern you can follow at interview which increases your chances of receiving an offer by around 40% If other candidates don’t follow a similar pattern and you do, then you could well be in the driving seat. Conversely if you don’t and they do, you could be at a severe disadvantage.

So, what’s the magic formula? You probably won’t be surprised to hear that it’s not magic at all, it’s all common sense and covers these areas:

• Logistics
• Preparation
• First impressions
• Taking notes
• Asking questions
• Answering questions
• Closing the Interview
• The next step

In some more detail.....

Logistics

It’s amazing how many people turn up for interview without knowing where they’re going, who they’re seeing, when they have to be there, what the job is. Getting this right means you are not disadvantaged. So, ensure that you are early rather than late.

Preparation

Essentially, do some homework on the company - use the Web, go to the Library, speak to friends/colleagues, scan the local press. At the interview it’s not uncommon for a prospective employer to ask what you know about the company. If you can’t tell them anything at all, it’s a definite minus. Some applicants will also research the financial position of the company, or check up on share price trends. Whatever level you’ve done your research, it will be better than doing nothing!

First Impressions

What’s the old saying - you never get a second chance to make a good first impression? There have been studies done which support the view that the first impression is made within the first seven seconds of meeting someone, so what can you do to influence that short time? Aside from turning up on time, smart business dress is definitely the order of the day, along with good personal grooming. A smile always helps, as does a firm positive handshake. Try to look the interviewer in the eye - without staring. And try to speak clearly.

Taking Notes

For this critical aspect, have a pen/paper and notepad with you, preferably in good condition (a dog-eared notepad won’t create a good impression). Why is it critical? No matter how experienced in an interview situation you are, there are bound to be things which crop up which you will want to refer back to afterwards - if they make you an offer (and that’s one of the main things the interview is for) and you need information which you want to refer to and you’ve not written it down, how can you make an informed decision on the offer?

Ask the interviewer if it’s OK for you to jot a few things down as you go along - he/she will always say yes, but it’s a courtesy which costs nothing. Note, don’t get so hung up on writing things down that you miss half of what they’re saying.

Asking Questions

This follows on from Preparation. Almost always, an interviewer will ask you (normally at the end of the interview) if you have any questions. If you don’t have any then you may well look uninterested, unprepared, desperate - or any combination of these. So, the night before the interview, prepare a list of around 8 questions, the answers to which will genuinely affect your decision on whether to accept an offer, should one be made. Good areas for questions are things like training, technology strategy, new developments, career development, departmental structure, why the position has arisen, benefits package. Salary generally isn’t a good one to push - you know roughly the salary on offer already - unless they ask you what you’re looking for. In which case, don’t be afraid to tell them.

You will probably find that most (or even all) of the questions get answered just as part of the chat that takes place, but when you’re asked if you have any questions, you are in a perfect position, whilst referring to your list, to say something like ‘you’ve covered most of the things I had thought about, but could you tell me about XYZ’ or ‘there were some things I did want to cover but I’m pleased to say that we’ve gone over them already.

Answering questions

There are some typical interview questions which you may be aware of, but the one which causes most difficulty is the ‘tell me about your strengths and weaknesses’ one, especially the weaknesses! Saying ‘My biggest weakness is ...’ can lead the interviewer to wonder about all the other ones! ‘My only weakness’ or ‘I don’t have any’ are arrogant, so what’s the answer?

A leading recruitment authority recently suggested that you take a weakness and turn it into a strength - in my case it would go something like ‘I knew that time management wasn’t my strongest point, so I did some research, bought a couple of books on the subject, and implemented some of the suggestions immediately. I still have room for improvement, but others have noticed that I get more done in less time than I used to.’

I’ll leave you to do some of your own research and come up with answers, but some other tips you might appreciate:

• Present yourself in a positive manner.
• Don’t act in an overbearing or conceited manner.
• Express yourself clearly.
• Be interested in what the interviewer has to say.
• Don’t over emphasise the money factor - salary, car, bonuses etc.
• Don’t try to over-excuse poor career path decisions.
• Don’t condemn your current or previous employers.

Closing the Interview

If you haven’t had the opportunity to ask the questions you want answered, ask if they could spare a couple of minutes to cover XYZ, or if there isn’t time can you call back, or is there someone else who could help you.

If you’re offered the job, and you want it, accept it on the spot. If you offered the job and you want to think about it, ask if they could confirm the details in writing.

If you’re not offered the job, don’t worry, they could have more candidates to see, they may need to get sign-off from the Managing Director, or there could be other reasons. In this case, ask them what the next stage is / when you can expect to hear.

If you’re still interested, TELL THEM. It seems so simple, but if there are two or more candidates who seem about equal, they’re going to go for the one who has prepared for the interview, presented themselves well, asked and answered questions well, and told them they’re interested. Just make sure that one is you!

BEST OF LUCK!

CV Preparation

How to dramatically improve your CV

Does your CV make a recruiter want to invite you to that all-important job interview? Your CV is your sales pitch and you only have one chance to make a favourable impression.

What makes a good CV?

One that attracts a recruiter's attention instantly and makes them want to meet you. The average recruiter only spends about 20 to 30 seconds glancing at a CV, which means that you have to grab their attention quickly.

Structure

Summary

You should highlight what you have to offer at the start of your CV with an attention grabbing summary and a list of major achievements. The summary should be short and sweet, no more than four or five lines of text.

Major Achievements

List three to six major achievements that are directly related to the job you are applying for. It is important to pick achievements that are relevant. If possible you should mention facts and figures.

Work Experience

Your work experience should come next and should describe your responsibilities, skills and achievements. This should always be in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent position.

Education / Qualifications

Obviously if your education is in the dim and distant past then you should not waste too much space on it, because your work experience will be far more important to the recruiter.

Skills / Training

You should list your up-to-date skills, training.

Personal Details

This should include your date of birth, driving licence if relevant, marital status (optional) and nationality (optional).

Hobbies / Interests

Hobbies and interests are generally not considered very important on a CV. However they may be able to tell a recruiter a lot about your personality, leadership potential and team working skills, so they should not be completely overlooked.

References

References do not generally needed to be included on a CV unless specifically asked for.

Format

Generally, you should keep your CV down to two or three pages. One page tends to be too short and more than three pages may not be read. If you are emailing your CV you should send it in Microsoft Word format.