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HOW TO BE INTERVIEWED?. Some general comments and advice from George Erdos. PRIOR TO THE INTERVIEW. The job advert Not all job adverts are accurate: sometimes they hide key information Companies are often quite poor at formulating adequate and proper job descriptions
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HOW TO BE INTERVIEWED? Some general comments and advice from George Erdos
PRIOR TO THE INTERVIEW • The job advert • Not all job adverts are accurate: sometimes they hide key information • Companies are often quite poor at formulating adequate and proper job descriptions • Some jobs are not advertised at all and you need to apply speculatively • The CV (Curriculum Vitae) • Be familiar with your own CV • Beware of social networking sites • Don’t over-sell your cv .. if it looks too professional, it may put people off
PRIOR TO THE INTERVIEW • It is important to keep in mind that while the shortlisting is competency-based and not really competitive, the interview is competitive. • For example, a company shortlisting 5 applicants for the position of finance director will be convinced that all 5 would be able to do the job well. • However, on the day of the interview, the company will hire the candidate who gave the best impression.
HOW TO INCREASE YOUR COMPETITIVE EDGE • Prior to applying for the job: do your homework and find out all you can about • the company in general • specifically the job you are applying for • After the shortlist: • Do your homework and find out as much as you can about the company’s market niche, its competitors, its people, etc.
WHAT TO DO ON THE DAY OF THE INTERVIEW? • Prior to the actual interview: • How do you dress for the interview? • When do you arrive? • What do you do next? • If they offer you a cup of coffee, would you accept it? • What do you do next and why? (g.t.t.t., p.g. & w.h.) • What do you do next and why? (t.t.t.s., f.o.w.i.i.)
WHAT TO DO ON THE DAY OF THE INTERVIEW? • During the actual interview • When you enter the interview room, what do you do? (s. h., m. e. c., s.) • Why do you have to watch your body language? • If there is a panel, whom do you speak to when asked a question? • What to do if you were asked to make a presentation? • How to spot and answer difficult questions
WHAT TO DO ON THE DAY OF THE INTERVIEW? • At the end of the actual interview: • “Do you have any questions for us?” • You should always have some questions prepared, but not requesting information already provided: • Starting date • Reporting duties • How much travel is involved • Salary • Benefit package • Holiday allowance, etc.
WHAT TO DO AFTER THE INTERVIEW? • If you got the job: Congratulations! • If you did not get the job: Ring up and ask for feedback. • Most professional companies, if asked nicely, would provide some sort of feedback. Sometimes this feedback is just a polite brush-off, but sometimes it is very useful for the future. For example, having been told that the successful candidate had 5 more years of relevant experience than you.
BOOKS TO READ • There are lots of so called self-help books on the market, especially in English, on how to carry out a job search, how to write a ‘punchy’ CV and how to succeed at (difficult) interviews. • One of the better ones is: What colour is your parachute? • which is updated every year
What Color is Your Parachute? 2010: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers by Richard Nelson Bolles (Paperback - Aug 2009) • Buy new: £16.99 £8.46 • 49 new from £7.26 • 10 used from £9.08 Get it by Thursday, April 15 if you order in the next 9 hours and choose express delivery. • Eligible for FREE Super Saver Delivery. • What Color is Your Parachute?: Workbook: A Practical Guide for Job-Hunters and Career Changers by Richard N. Bolles (Paperback - Oct 2005) • Buy new: £9.50 £5.03 • 24 new from £2.74 • 7 used from £5.06