Careers advice
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Here are some general tips which you might find
helpful if you get an interview with any organisation.
Be on time.
Practise getting to the venue to see how long it
will take.
It will not make a good impression if you turn up
late and will almost certainly put the interview
schedule out.
Always remember, you never get a second chance to
make a first impression.
Aim to be early, you can always find a nearby cafe
or shop to wait in.
If you are going to be late, then telephone and let
the interviewers know.
Be prepared.
Read through your application form and any material
you have about the job before the interview.
You may be questioned at the interview about
something you put in your application form.
Look at the
employers website and learn something
about the organisation before you attend the
interview.
If they?ve recently been in the
news, find out about
it, so you can comment if the subject comes up.
Practice makes perfect.
Writing down and practising what you might say with
someone will make it easier to remember when you get
to the interview.
Avoid sounding as though you assume the job is
yours.
It is fine to ask about the package on offer, but
avoid asking about anything which has been covered
in the application pack or advertisement.
This could show that you have not read the
information fully.
Make a note.
Some organisations allow you to take notes into an
interview.
These might contain examples you want to talk about
or reminders of things you would like to cover.
It is a good idea to write these down as this can
jog your memory.
Do not rely on these notes in case you forget them,
and don?t hold them in front of you when speaking!
Think about the impression you make.
Dress professionally in simple business attire.
Smile and try to maintain eye contact with the
interviewers.
Be honest.
There is no point lying about your background and or
skills, because at some point you will get caught
out and this could affect your interview job.
Do not feel you have to ask a question.
Most employers will ask you at the end of the
interview if you want to ask any questions.
Use this time to cover anything you feel you did not
address very well in the interview.
Do not feel compelled to ask lots of questions, it
is better to say a polite no thank you rather than
trying to impress with a string of trivial
questions.
Talk about specific achievements.
To say you are good at working with others is fine,
but interviewers need evidence to support this.
They will probably want you to talk about specific
examples which show how well you work with others.
You might also be asked for specific examples of
things you have done that you're particularly proud
of.
For example, how you solved problems, how you
learned and improved from difficult situations.
Try to list things you have done before the
interview so you have some examples already
prepared.
Don't talk too much.
Try to give full answers without waffling.
Don?t speak too quickly and give the interviews
chance to stop you if necessary.
Many interviews are timed in order to ensure
everyone has the same opportunity.
Be enthusiastic and positive.
Don't criticise previous employers or their staff.
Focus on positive achievements and views.
Finally, don't give up! The fact is that you will
not be offered every job however perfect you think
you may be for it. Asking for feedback from
interviews where you have been unsuccessful can be
invaluable for improving future results.
The key to any successful application is
preparation.
The more you know beforehand, and the longer you?ve
had to think about what will be expected of you, the
better your chances will be.
Applying for a new role can sometimes be quite
daunting, which is why we?ve put together a host of
information to help guide you through the entire
process.
We want you to be able to show us what you?re
capable of, and make sure that you know as much as
possible about us before you apply.
We can help! - Follow our step by step guide...
So you're staring at a blank page upon which you
need to pitch
yourself for a career that could change the course
of your life.
Step 1: Personal Information
Step 2: Personal Statement
Step 3: Education & Employment
Step 4: Get Loud about your Skills
Step 5: Interests
Step 1:
Personal Information
Firstly put down your name, address, telephone
number, mobile
Step 2:
Personal statement
Your career to date. statement.
Step 3:
education & employment
The rest is easier if you are a trained
professional. Simply list all
If you are pitching for your first job, highlight
your educational
background, emphasise any work experience,
apprenticeships and
job, school or work in the community.
Step 4:
get loud about your skills
Step 5:
interests
Then do the same for skills, personal attributes and
interests
Interview advice
You might be surprised to learn that as many as 75%
of candidates perform poorly at interview.
In most cases, it comes down to them not having the
necessary interview skills rather than them being
unsuitable for the job.
So if you find interviews a daunting prospect, the
following advice should come in quite handy.
Pre-interview preparation
The first step towards any successful interview is
the preparation.
Research the department and its programming - this
will improve your presentation and ensure that you
sound confident, organised and motivated.
The interviewers will be impressed by your knowledge
and the effort you?ve put into your preparation Know
the name of the people who?ll be on the interview
panel Be sure you know how to get to your interview,
and leave plenty of time in which to do it Read the
job advertisement or web posting thoroughly and
carefully.
Be clear about how you meet the criteria asked for,
especially when it comes to responsibilities you?ve
had and any other abilities that make you a
particularly good candidate.
Study the job description, which outlines in detail
the content and duties of the job and the qualities
expected of the successful applicant.
The interview
Try not to be late, allow yourself plenty of time in
case you get lost
First impressions count, so dress appropriately Be
polite
Try to stay focused on the person asking the
questions ? give them your full attention
Sound positive about yourself and your achievements
Don?t be negative about your previous employer
Give yourself time to think ? don?t be afraid to
pause if you need to think about your answer
Be clear and concise in your communication ? try not
to ramble.
Always be prepared to give real life examples to
back up any points you make.
Ask the interviewer for clarification if you?re not
sure what she/he is asking for Focus on your
strengths
Avoid jargon Don?t under-estimate your skills and
abilities
If you don?t know the answer to a question, say so.
There?s nothing wrong with being honest.
Always come prepared with questions of your own to
ask at the end of the interview. For example you may
wish to know about the working environment,
whether you?ll be working alone or as part of a
larger team, what the prospects for training and
promotion are etc.
They all show that you?ve given the role some
serious thought and are genuinely interested.
Good luck
