| Can I Really Get That Job? - How To Survive a Job Interview - Part 1 |
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Can I Really Get That Job? - How To Survive a Job Interview - Part 1 By Kevin C.U. Life for an average student is not always rosy and things normally gets tighter as one approaches the end of a course. Then it dawns on the student that they'll soon be emerging into a whirlpool called the job market. For first-timers, it can be both daunting and nerve-wracking. In this article I will give some practical/real-life tips on how to survive that job interview in order to get your dream job. (i) Apply for jobs that match your skills Without going into long stories or giving the conventional job interview advice, the honest truth about excelling in a job interview is that one should APPLY FOR JOBS THAT MATCH his/her skills. This is the golden rule and underpins most of the success/failures at job interviews. Put differently, there is not much point in applying for a job that does not match your skills and hoping for a miracle at the interview. Even if one is moving to a totally different area of work ensure that your (transferable) skills matches at least 60% of the core skills for the role you are applying for. Without a proper skill match, the candidate has an uphill task in trying to convince a would-be employer that he/she is the BEST person for the role. A skilled interviewer will no doubt discern who is a genuine candidate and one that came to try his/her luck. If your skill is no match, try doing some training or applying for a different job. (ii) Prepare well for the interview The fact that you have been invited for an interview is an indication that the interviewer has seen what he/she likes on your CV or application form. That's encouraging but that is where it stops. To the employer, everything is still a mere theory or should I say ' a mere good CV' and nothing more. It is your performance at the interview that now concretises what is on your CV. Hence in a nutshell, be ready to defend what is on your CV or put differently, don't put things on your CV that you cannot defend in an interview. So read your CV and be ready to answer questions especially on those core areas relevant to the position. (iii) Know who you are going to meet This seems pretty obvious but a lot of candidates arrive at the reception of their would-be employer only to roll their eyes when asked by the receptionist who they are and who is interviewing them. Know who you are going to meet (have their name and phone number handy) and start making a good impression right from the company's entrance. (iv) Plan your Journey This again should be pretty obvious. Do plan your journey allowing enough time (for the train cancellation, traffic queues etc) so that you can be there at least 15 - 20 mins before the interview. Also have the contact numbers of the interviewers handy just in case you need to contact them in an emergency. If you are too early find a cafe, a park etc where you can wait until the right time to go in. Being late will make the wrong impression and will evidently add to the pressure. (v) Be yourself Be honest in your answers and if there is anything you don't know simply say so. If a question is not clear to you, politely ask the interviewer for a repeat. Don't try to trick/pull a wool over the eyes of the interviewer as they can pick up any sign of hesitation or untruth. (vi) Research the Company Although the job interview is conducted by the would-be employer, it not intended to be a monologue. The interviewer will most certainly expect some questions from the candidate at some stage. The interview process is the chance for the company to find out about the candidate and also a good chance for the candidate to find out whether the company is the right place for them. In reality there are times when a candidate might be desperate for a job and might be willing to accept quite a range of conditions from the employer. Even in such cases, the candidate should still research the company and ask pertinent questions about the company's history, business, working conditions etc in order to be sure of these conditions. This not only shows the employer that the candidate has done his/her home-work, it also helps the candidate to weigh the available options for example when there are more than one potential employer. Having said that, it is not normally advisable to ask about money (wages/salary) during an interview unless the interviewer specifically asked about expected wages/salary. The coming Part 2 of this article will deal with each of the above and other points in greater details. Watch out. Want To See More Articles Like This or for More Useful Tips see Dr Uche's blog: Dr Kevin CU has a site and blog dedicated solely to EDUCATION and STUDENTS' issues at http://www.neutralsearch.com or http://www.unitalker.com Article Source : http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kevin_C.U. |
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