So you’ve been invited in for an interview, fantastic! But are you prepared for those typical interview questions that are designed to draw out your ability to overcome objections? The following questions are ones that will sooner or later come up in most interviews. Despite how simple they appear to be, many people stumble on them due to lack of preparation, over thinking or just can’t think of a good enough answer.

Hint: It is vital that you remain calm and competent throughout and not let these typical interview questions destroy your interview. Remember to Think, Breathe and Answer.

 

Why is there a gap in your Employment History?

It’s fine if you have a gap in your work history – we’ve all had a point in our careers where we’ve been unemployed or between jobs. Just make sure you explain it to your advantage. Any type of experience that is beneficial to personal or professional growth will be an excellent example… such as taking time off to grow your portfolio, acting as a consultant, freelancing, etc.

 

Why are you leaving your current employment?

OR

Why did you leave your last job?

Depending on your situation, this question can be as easy as they come, or one of the hardest to answer. If you are in employment and you are leaving due to redundancy, it is plain to see why you are leaving and normally no further questions will be asked. On the other hand if you have left your current role because you just didn’t like it, you will probably be considered unreliable and lacking loyalty. You have to turn your reasoning into a positive. For example; Instead of “I didn’t like it there”, you could say, “I left because there was no progression opportunities and found it easier to focus on finding the right job by leaving and giving myself more time to find the right job where I can stay and build a career”.

 

What is your biggest weakness?

Instead of revealing your greatest weakness, take this time to show them that you’re not only self-aware, but also looking for ways to improve where you fall short. It’s also imperative that – if you state a weakness – it isn’t one that would hinder your work. Saying you have poor time management will almost immediately eliminate you as a candidate. Alternatively, don’t pick a cliched response like “I work too hard” or “I’m a perfectionist”. Instead a small weakness, like a fear of public speaking or being a bit shy, will do… not to mention it won’t present itself as a threat to your doing a good job.

 

Why should employ you?

This can be a tricky question to answer, as you don’t want to come across as arrogant. Instead, be confident in your abilities (but don’t over-do it), and match your skills to the job at hand. Just be sure to back-up your answers with work-relevant examples. Platitudes like “I’m a hard-worker” or “I’m passionate” are essentially meaningless, and won’t impress so much as bore the interviewer. This is an opportunity to reiterate your most impressive strengths – so make the most of it!

 

Do you have any questions?

This is a question almost every Employer will ask at the end of an interview. The most common answer given is “No, you’ve told me everything I need to know”. Instead, use this opportunity to almost lure a decision out of them. You could ask “Do you have any concerns or reservations about me”? This way, if they do you have the chance to overcome any of their objections. Of course, the more questions you do have for them shows that you have initiative and a keen interest in working there.

 

 

To round up:

• No matter what questions are thrown at you, remember to Think, Breathe and Answer.
• Always back up your answers with positive facts or opinions.
• Make sure to answer questions directly, don’t get side-tracked.
• Ensure your answers are relative and you are providing examples of your transferable skills.

 

Do all this and you will be fine!

Good Luck!

Through experience and an abundance or employer feedback, we have decided to give you an insight into what qualities employers really look for in a candidate. Although they may seem obvious, some may surprise you.  Below, we outline 5 main qualities employers desire, followed by some recommendations on how to demonstrate these key qualities.

1. Communication skills.

As Albert Einstein said, “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.” Whether you’re leading a team, managing clients, or training a new member, the ability to communicate clearly and concisely is essential. We’re not just talking about how you speak to one another but managing your whole communication portfolio (email, Facebook, Twitter, etc), if your succeed doing this, your ideas and creativeness will be noticed, automatically making you a more successful person.

2. Pro-activeness.

Employers tend to judge candidates based on their experience alone. After all, the whole idea of your CV is to list your experiences. However, they also want to see qualities such as pro-activeness, demonstrating this strength can often set you head and shoulders above the rest, as many forget to include these details. A good way to demonstrate your pro-activeness on your CV is to back-up any example of where you went above and beyond in a previous job. Don’t just list a number of things you’ve done, explain why you did them. Whether it was securing new business for your organisation as a result of something you did, correcting an issue, identifying opportunities to change the company for the better, started a campaign or club, or even just aiding a colleague. These all show that you did something on your own back for the good of the company – Who wouldn’t want that quality in their workforce?

3. Problem-solving.

Holding the ability to problem solve is a skill to be proud of. Many see a problem and immediately swerve it or reach for help. To an employer, someone that can not only identify an issue but pro-actively resolve it or even better – avoid it happening again is a god send. You will always come across problems in your life and career – it’s a fact, how you deal with it makes all the difference. This is something you can demonstrate better in a job interview as opposed to writing on your CV. Employers will often use competency based questions, designed to throw you off. Instead of answering the questions directly, think about giving an example of a similar scenario and how you dealt with that. Don’t forget to mention how you dealt with the problem, what results your actions had and how you avoided it happening again.

4. Curiosity.

“Judge a man by his questions rather than by his answers.” So said French philosopher Voltaire. Daring to ask a new question goes a long way toward finding the right solution. What’s more, a high level of curiosity – the hallmark of an inquiring mind – is typically indicative of other good qualities, such as inventiveness, resourcefulness, and fearlessness. It also tends to ward off boredom and apathy – sentiments that will put off any employer.

5. Risk-taking.

Although this may surprise you, being open to risk (and thus failure) is a key trait that employers admire. We can only truly learn and develop when we push ourselves outside of our comfort zones. Chances are you will only regret the things you didn’t do, so ask the questions you are afraid to ask, provide examples of when you took a risk and it paid off, you can even mention ones that didn’t pay off and what you learned from it. Truth is, if we didn’t take risks and changed the way we do things, nothing would ever change, and we would never accomplish anything. One of my most favourite books depicts this message really well. “Who moved my Cheese”? By Spencer Johnson.

 

For similar post related to this topic, Read:

“10 Ways to Impress Your Future Boss in a Job Interview” http://www.veryimportantpersonnel.co.uk/how-to-impress-your-future-boss-in-a-job-interview/

Not sure what to include in your CV ? Not sure what it should/shouldn’t say? We have compiled a brief description of what employers will want to see upon opening your CV, as well as a few pointers on what not to include and common pitfalls to help you avoid  disappointment when job hunting.

 

Contact details

The most important thing on your CV is your contact details, after all – you could have the most impressive CV but if your details are missing, how is anybody going to contact you? Be wary of using inappropriate email address’, Simon@thuglife.com may be a fun email address to use in your personal life, but what message are you giving to your employer? Be sure to include your Address and telephone numbers.

 

Profile

This is the earliest opportunity on your CV to show you have exactly what they’re looking for. It will normally be the first thing they read so make it gripping. Try to avoid using the “I” “I am” “I have” etc. We know who the CV is about, instead get straight the point. For example:

Don’t write, “I am an experienced Administrator and I have excellent communication skills”.

Instead write, “An experienced Administrator with excellent communication skills”.

Also try to include your key skills and experience you have that are relevant to the job you are applying for.

 

Employment History

From experience, employers like to see your most recent job at the top of your list, followed by your previous and so on.

The information you include should be as informative as possible, not just a summary of the job description.

Highlight activities you were involved in, things you maybe did that aren’t necessarily in your job description, such as training other colleagues, or assisting other departments.

Include achievements, such as how you met or exceeded any targets that you were set and how you added value to the company. This could include additional income you helped to generate, costs you reduced, improvements etc. Wherever possible, try to quantify your achievements. For example, say your marketing idea generated a 10% increase in market share, or you saved the department £5,000 by switching stationery suppliers. No matter what role you worked in, you should find a way to demonstrate your positive impact on your team, organisation or customers.

 

Avoiding Negative information

To ensure that you are only seen in a good light and to make sure your future employer gets the right impression of you from your CV, then avoid the following common pitfalls:  Absence of important information. Many candidates make assumptions about what’s important to the employer and so fail to provide the relevant information in their CV. Being too generic. Many candidates write a broad CV because they want to keep their options open. But unless it’s clear who you are and what you do, then recruiters won’t know what to do with you.

Errors. Many CVs have errors in them and are often rejected on that basis alone. Your CV must be impeccably presented if you want to demonstrate your professionalism and attention to detail. Always ask someone else to check it over for you.

Negative information. Your CV should include only positive information. Never criticise a previous employer or refer to difficulties or disappointments unless you were able to turn them around.

Poor language. The use of jargon, clumsy expression or slang can sabotage the chances of even the most capable of candidates. Your communication skills are being judged by your use of language in your CV. Don’t waffle, be precise and use positive action words such as “initiated this” or “created that” to reinforce the message that you’re an upbeat, “can-do” type of candidate.

 

For similar articles, also check out http://www.veryimportantpersonnel.co.uk/cover-letter-and-cv-2/ 

Got a Job Interview lined up? Have the edge and be head and shoulders above the other candidates by using these 10 easy tips!

 

Look the part! The suit is the obvious choice for most but unless you are applying for a power position, it’s not compulsory. I’m not saying wear your sweats or look too casual but don’t be afraid to wear a smart shirt and trousers, after all it’s not a fashion parade, it’s an interview. Sometimes not wearing a suit can make you stand out, you will be remembered as “the one who didn’t wear a suit but was really good in the interview”.

 

Eye Contact Look your interviewer in the eye. Anybody who has studies psychology will know that this shows confidence and truthfulness.

 

Shake hands with a firm grip. No soggy handshakes! Other gestures similar to this will have a huge effect on how you are perceived. Crossing your arms, yawning, head in your lap or slouching are all classed as negative body language.

 

Go Prepared, Take with you a copy of your CV and cover letter so the employer has a souvenir of your visit.

 

Smile! It’s amazing how much a smile can change someone’s outlook or impression of you. Chances are, like most people – nerves will kick in, keep the nerves at bay with a smile and the interviewer will smile back, subsequently the situation won’t seem so overwhelming. Also it plants a positive seed in their head and are more likely to be remembered for the right reasons.

 

Don’t be afraid to disagree on certain things, overly agreeing with your interviewer could be perceived as being a pushover. Show them that you have your own thoughts and ideas.

 

Comment on something in the building or room that you are in, this will make you appear to have a warm personality and aware of your surroundings. Finding a common ground with them or having something in common has a similar effect.

 

Do your research on the company prior to the interview. How long have they been established? How many people work there? What is their turnover? If you can’t find out, don’t be afraid to ask.

 

Ask questions! You want to get to know their business! You are interested in their business! Refer back to your ‘Research’. The interview isn’t just about finding the right candidate, it’s also an opportunity for you to find the right company to work for.

 

Give yourself a break… Don’t work yourself up. Stretch before going in to a job interview. Take some deep breaths. Do whatever it takes to calm yourself down. Your personality will suffer if you let your nerves take over.

 

 

For more tips on this topic, don’t forget to check out:

“How to take control of a Job interview” 

http://www.veryimportantpersonnel.co.uk/how-to-take-control-job-interview/

 

“Interview Do’s and Dont’s” 

http://www.veryimportantpersonnel.co.uk/interview-dos-donts/

 

 

 

Here are 6 Tips to help you build your confidence for a presentation.

Whether you’re due to perform a presentation for your future employer, pitching your services to a prospective client or even representing your company at a networking event, having and projecting confidence is probably the single most important aspect to get right.

1. Visualise yourself

‘Role play’ your way into the scenario several times, beforehand.

Close your eyes, visualise yourself in front of your audience. Let the words run through your mind. Envisage how good you will sound, in front of an appreciative audience as they engage with you. Avoid speaking out loud – just let your mind do the work.

When you get out there for real, you’ll have visited the place so often in your mind, it won’t feel so intimidating.

2. Wait

Whether it’s 3 people or 300 – wait until your audience settles and you gain their full attention. You are now in control, not your nerves or your audience. When you begin in control, you’re likely to stay in control.

3. Leading the way

At a conference remember your audience has come to hear you because they want you to lead them and enrich their knowledge. If you are pitching to a new client, remember you are the person who has the answer to their problem. So think: “What can I give these people, how can I help them?” They will be looking to you to help them. What will they – and you – lose, if you don’t speak to them? What will they – and you – gain, if you do?

4. Image matters

Just like a job interview, how you look, feel and dress has a direct effect on both the way you project yourself and how the audience perceives you and relates to your topic. Your image must establish a rapport with your audience and help them to feel you’re ‘one of them’. Your image should reflect the occasion. It should be appropriate to both the speech theme and the audience.

5. Meet and greet

If appropriate and if possible arrive before any guests. As people come through the door, greet each one personally. Your audience will appreciate that you are already one of them and they will instantly warm to you as you begin your talk because they have already ‘met’ you. In the same way, you will feel your confidence rise because you will have shaken hands, broken the ice and seen that they are thoroughly nice people, ready to listen to what you have to say.

6. Eye contact

When you rehearse at home cut out a selection of faces from magazines or newspapers, including some famous ones. Attach blue tack and stick them around the room. This is your ‘audience’ and you can use their faces to practise eye contact. Maintaining good eye contact is one of the golden rules to boosting your confidence when speaking in public.

Should I leave my job? I’m always amazed when people tell me that they have left their job or will be leaving their job without anything to go to or even an idea of what they want to do next. So many people give very little thought to major career decisions.Work is one of the most important parts of our lives and most of us forget that we probably spend more time with our colleagues in the office than we do at home with our family and friends. I always encourage people to think long and hard before making any major career decisions, normally I recommend allowing 3 – 4 weeks before throwing in the towel.

Very few people actually go to work and are satisfied and fulfilled with the job in hand which can make a huge difference to your frame of mind and to the way you feel.If you have decided that the time has come to move on to new things then the first question you should ask yourself is why you are looking for a new job. I would also recommend reading the book “Who Moved My Cheese?” by Dr Spencer Johnson, this will at least put things into perspective for you and is a great way to find out if the decision that you are making is a wise one.

You need to trust your own judgement. Anybody can advise you, and many will try to talk you out of it but you are the only one who can benefit from the advice and take action, so think it through carefully. Make sure that you are moving for all the right reasons. Make the wrong decision and you could be making a big mistake and run the risk of seriously damaging your career in the process. Don’t cut your nose off to spite your face. If you have had a disagreement with a colleague or client, always give yourself time to think things through and reflect on the bigger picture – these sorts of decisions should be taken with an analytical rather than emotional view.

The grass isn’t always greener. Greener grass is normally a result of a combination of good decision making and hard work. You need to look at the long term effects of your decision, not only at what you’ll be doing a few months, but a year or more down the line. What are the opportunities for progression and development, and how much more responsibility will you be able to take on?

Having clear goals is important. If you haven’t set yourself any personal goals or a 5 year plan – Do it. This gives you a reference point for where you should be along your career path. If you have been in a role for many years and haven’t progressed in terms of responsibility and pay, you need to ask yourself why you are standing still. That is the time to start thinking about moving on.

Providing a cover letter and CV is a great way to be noticed and understood. Being prepared for your interview goes without saying, and of course, for certain positions, having a particular skill may be a necessity. But what else does it take to actually get the job? The answer might actually be more obvious than you think, in some cases you may just need to make one key change to your approach to dramatically improve your chances of success: It’s all in the mind.

 

What’s your Mind-set?

If skill set is about what you can do, then your mind-set is about what you see, think and believe. Used correctly, it can make any one of us stand out from the others. As technology develops, certain skills are becoming redundant, faster than ever before. However, whilst nobody can predict the skills needed to succeed in the years to come, your mind-set stays constant.

 

So which do you favour? Mind-set or skill?

Here are the top five characteristics of successful job seekers according to recent surveys:

 

5. Accountability

The most accountable people are those who go Above and Beyond the Call of Duty. (ABCD) and without thinking carry out tasks that are not necessarily in their job description. These people generally tend to take responsibility for things that go wrong and/or attempt to improve the current situation in any way they can.

 

4. Adaptability

Candidates who can demonstrate flexibility usually make a good impression on employers, showing willingness and capability to rise to any challenge they face will always leave a lasting impression. Try to maintain a dynamic approach and respond positively to interview questions, this will automatically increase your employability. Relate to previous employment; perhaps explain a situation where you have taken on a workload that was meant to be completed by a senior member of staff, maybe even called upon to help with other areas of the business.

 

3. Trustworthiness

Many employers chose trustworthiness as their next essential characteristic when hiring. Whatever line of work you find yourself in, people will always require a sense of trust in you and others around you, especially in a smaller workplace. To demonstrate this on your CV, make sure you have mentioned a time where you have been trusted e.g. operating tills, cash handling etc. If you have established your trustworthiness successfully your half way there.

 

2. Honesty

You may think that honesty is linked to accountability and trustworthiness and to a certain degree, it is; but adopting it as a fundamental part of your mind-set and being able to demonstrate it in your persona is something else. To emphasise this in an interview I would recommend giving examples of times you have had to confront a member of your team and used constructive criticism to help them achieve higher. That way you are not only exhibiting honesty to others but a level of authority and initiative. Or, if you’d prefer, just a few words to display your morals are in the right place should be more than enough.

 

1. Commitment

The most important trait for successful jobseekers is commitment. In fact, over 90% of all employers said that this was absolutely essential for all team members and potential candidates. Commitment undoubtedly has an exceptionally powerful effect. If it’s there, it generates trust and earns respect. Actively exhibit your commitment, and you’ll set yourself apart for all the right reasons. (Warning: Stating you always give 110% is not necessarily the most effective way to do this. It’s also impossible…).

Example of how to use commitment in your CV: During a recent project, I undertook over 40 hours of overtime, making sure all commitments made to suppliers were met on schedule, and personally overseeing all creative changes were implemented right through until the assignment’s completion.

Interview Do’s and Don’ts.

We have tried to create a valuable list of interview Do’s and Don’ts to help you achieve success at interview stage of the job hunting process. By taking note of these simple Interview Do’s and Don’ts, you WILL increase your chances of being hired.

 

Do’s:

Take a practice run to the location where you are having the interview before hand, or at least be 100% sure of where it is and how long it will take you to get there. Turning up late to an interview is as good as telling them that you don’t want the job. If you are going to be late, phone the company to advise them and hope that they understand.

Research and know the type of job interview you will encounter. Depending on the type of interview you have, tailor your approach. Be prepared – research interview questions they may ask (see our Interview tips for some commonly asked interview questions) but never over-rehearse your answers.

Dress to impress! Or at least appropriate for the job, the company and the industry.

You only get one chance to make a first impression. Greet the receptionist or assistant with courtesy and respect. This could be one of the most important things to remember and could also be the reason you have the edge over others. First impressions count.

In the likely event that you are presented with a job application or questionnaire, fill it out neatly, and accurately without leaving anything unanswered. This could just be a test of your attention to detail.

Take extra CV’s to the interview, or even better, a job-skills portfolio if you have one. This not only shows that you are prepared but also shows that you are proud of your achievements. Show enthusiasm to demonstrate your hard work.

Greet the interviewer by title (Mrs, Mr, Dr) and last name if you are sure of the pronunciation. (If you’re not sure, do ask the receptionist about the pronunciation before going into the interview.

A good handshake says 1000 words. Shake hands firmly. Don’t have a limp or clammy handshake!

Wait until you are offered a chair before sitting. Remember body language and posture: sit upright and look alert and interested at all times.

Make good eye contact with your interviewer, a shy and cagey approach will put the interviewer right off you.

Make sure that your strengths and strong points come across clearly to the interviewer in a factual, sincere manner.

Show off the research you have done on the company and industry when responding to questions.

Show enthusiasm in the position and the company.

Close the interview by telling the interviewer that you want the job and asking about the next step in the process. Some experts even say you should close the interview by asking for the job.

TIP: Another good way to close is replying to their last question which is normally “Do you have any final questions?” by answering – “No, I think you have covered everything, do you have any concerns or reservations about me?” This will reduce the chances of negative feedback at a later date and also gives you a chance to handle any objections there and then.

 

Don’ts:

Don’t smoke prior to your interview, a bad smell is enough to put anyone off.

Don’t be over confident, walking in like you own the place will not work. Simply putting any nerves to one side and speaking clearly is enough confidence for an interview.

Don’t fidget or slouch.

Don’t use poor language, slang, and pause words (such as “like”, “uh”, and “erm”).

Don’t act as though you would take any job or are desperate for employment. You have to be more specific with your s and aspirations.

Don’t say anything negative about former colleagues, supervisors, employers and of course yourself!

Don’t tell jokes during the interview. Understanding someone’s sense of humour can take weeks.

They are interviewing you – Not your CV. Don’t rely on your application or CV to do the selling for you. No matter how qualified you are for the position, you will need to sell yourself to the interviewer.

Don’t ever lie. Answer questions truthfully, frankly and succinctly.

Don’t chew gum during the interview.

Don’t answer questions with a simple “yes” or “no.” Try to answer each question with at least 2 or 3 sentences to showcase your skills, experience and .

Don’t bring up or discuss personal issues or family problems.

Don’t respond to any questions, no matter how unexpected or irrelevant with an extended pause or by saying something like, “boy, that’s a good question.” A short pause is ok, or even repeating the question aloud should give you enough time to think of a suitable answer.

Don’t answer your mobile phone during the interview, turn it off (or set it to silent) before the interview.

Don’t inquire about salary, holiday entitlement, bonuses, retirement, or other benefits until after you’ve received an offer. Chances are they will tell you but asking about them makes it seem like you are only interested in what they can offer you.

For some people, choosing a career is accomplished by the end of school life – but for most people, choosing a career that best fits you can be one of the hardest life decisions to make. Despite this, there are many sources to help you. There’s online advice where you will normally be asked to answer a questionnaire or quiz. Then there’s school or college councelors who will guide you in the right direction and then of course your family and friends, who are the people who know you best. While all of these can be useful and can help you decide, it’s important for you, as an individual to take on board what you want to do. You know more than anybody what you feel most comfortable doing and what sort of career you want to pursue.

First, you’ll want to think about your personal interests. After all, you can get all the career advice in the world from a job coach or a career aptitude test, but if it tells you you’d do best working as an Aerial Engineer when you can’t stand heights, they serve practically no purpose. It helps if you start by brainstorming the activities you like to do, select a handful of your main skills such as writing or reading or even practical activities like fixing things or DIY. This way, when you research various professions, you can determine what they have to offer that satisfies your personal enjoyment of the job. Relate your skills or interests to each job that you look at.

Education  

Next, you should review your educational background. Looking back at the classes you liked and those you succeeded at can give you great insight into your capabilities for the future. For example, if you liked or was good at Art, pursuing a medical career may not be for you. Your grades tell you a lot about what you are good at or enjoy doing. Another example, moving in the right direction this time would be: enjoying History at School and pursuing a career as an Archaeologist. This is not to say that you can’t choose a career in Pharmaceutical if you got a D in Science, it just means that you may be more skilled in other things, or that the path to this career could be more difficult than another interest you choose to pursue. There is no reason not to choose a hard road, as long as you are willing to work hard at achieving your Goal.

Personality

Your personality plays a huge part in helping you choose a career. For example, if you are an outgoing and energetic type, you may despise the idea of working in an isolated environment or being stuck behind a desk. Being a “people person” and knowing how people think and act, you may find a career in Retail or similar much more suited to your personality. Another example being: If you have a passion for DIY or fixing things, a career in sales isn’t the way forward. In this case, pursuing a career in Carpentry or similar would be a sensible option.

 Money

Another consideration when looking for career advice is what your future looks like in your mind. Is money a very important matter to you, or are you more interested in making ends meet so you can be comfortable while also thriving on what you do? Some careers are obviously more lucrative than others, and determining how you rate money in your idea of success is essential to making the right decision for your future career.