WHAT TO EXPECT AT INTERVIEW
Good interviewers should supply you with a breakdown of the interview programme. If you didn't get one, ask what's involved when you call to say you're definitely coming. You will cope better if you've been able to prepare.
Seven standard procedures
Interview by a 'panel' - usually about two to four people. Intimidating, but common. Listen when the interviewers introduce themselves and try to remember their names. This will help you make a connection when you are talking to them. Answer the person who asked you the question, as trying to eyeball everyone will just leave you looking confused.
A series of one-to-one interviews with different people. This is less stressful than a panel interview, but remember to be consistent in your answers. The interviewers will talk to each other!
Interviewers taking notes. This is quite normal - instead of letting it unnerve you, take advantage of the situation by using short, punchy statements and the key words used in the original job ad. Make it easy for them to think you're a good candidate - they're only human, after all.
A presentation. Common for jobs like sales where you'll be making presentations to clients or colleagues. Scary? Yes, but see our tips to help you through in the Development section.
Group activities with other candidates. These test your teamwork. Your ability to listen and communicate, to motivate others, to cope with pressure and to come up with solutions is being tested. Avoid any temptation to take over. Join in without being bossy.
Tests of aptitude, personality or specific abilities, such as manual dexterity. For example your hand-eye co-ordination - over and above your ability to play Grand Theft Auto!
The opportunity to look around and speak to current employees. This is your chance to see what the place is really like. It's easy to tell whether staff are happy or harassed. The look of the actual office says a lot about the value the employer places on the workforce. Keep your opinions about the place to yourself
Tuesday 3 April 2007
Completing Application Forms: Reasons, Questions & References
Reasons for applyingAlso called 'relevant experience' or 'personal statement,' this is the section that allows you to impress the employer by matching your skills, qualities and experience to what they're looking for। If you do well here, it can secure you an interview। But, as it usually begins along these intimidating lines;'Summarise why you are suitable for this post. Highlight personal achievements and other information that is relevant. Continue on a separate sheet if necessary.'
It's easy to see why you feel like giving up before you've started. But, by breaking down what you need to get across into smaller chunks, it's much more manageable. Let them know:
What attracted you to this job.
How your qualifications and experience are relevant.
How your skills match the job's requirements.
What you're willing to do to upgrade your skills or qualifications - especially if there's something in the job description you don't have.
Which aspects of your personality show how you will fit in.
How activities you are involved in demonstrate those personality traits.
Why this is a logical move forward for you and how it fits in with your long-term career aims.
Questions
The skills you need to be good at a job come from every aspect of your life, not just from education and work experience। That's why some employers include questions on their forms. See them as another opportunity to make a good impression - but be honest and don't forget to sell yourself.
These examples, from real application forms, are typical:
Think of a time when you were doing something as part of a team. Describe the situation and show how the team worked together. Explain the part you played.
You will often have to explain things quickly and clearly. Describe a time when you explained something complicated to a group or individual and show how you helped them understand.
Describe recent changes in your life that have meant you had to do something new or different. Say what you did and how you felt about those changes.
In this job you have to be able to relate to the public in circumstances that are often stressful and difficult. Think of a time when you had to deal with someone who was upset, threatening or uncooperative. Describe the situation, the reasons for the problem, how you dealt with it and what the outcome was.
References
You references should come from someone who knows you on a professional basis, and also knows you well enough to give a glowing report। A previous employer, teacher or college tutor are all ideal referees, but check with them first that they are willing to provide a reference।
Friends, family members and colleagues who aren't senior to you are not acceptable referees.
It's easy to see why you feel like giving up before you've started. But, by breaking down what you need to get across into smaller chunks, it's much more manageable. Let them know:
What attracted you to this job.
How your qualifications and experience are relevant.
How your skills match the job's requirements.
What you're willing to do to upgrade your skills or qualifications - especially if there's something in the job description you don't have.
Which aspects of your personality show how you will fit in.
How activities you are involved in demonstrate those personality traits.
Why this is a logical move forward for you and how it fits in with your long-term career aims.
Questions
The skills you need to be good at a job come from every aspect of your life, not just from education and work experience। That's why some employers include questions on their forms. See them as another opportunity to make a good impression - but be honest and don't forget to sell yourself.
These examples, from real application forms, are typical:
Think of a time when you were doing something as part of a team. Describe the situation and show how the team worked together. Explain the part you played.
You will often have to explain things quickly and clearly. Describe a time when you explained something complicated to a group or individual and show how you helped them understand.
Describe recent changes in your life that have meant you had to do something new or different. Say what you did and how you felt about those changes.
In this job you have to be able to relate to the public in circumstances that are often stressful and difficult. Think of a time when you had to deal with someone who was upset, threatening or uncooperative. Describe the situation, the reasons for the problem, how you dealt with it and what the outcome was.
References
You references should come from someone who knows you on a professional basis, and also knows you well enough to give a glowing report। A previous employer, teacher or college tutor are all ideal referees, but check with them first that they are willing to provide a reference।
Friends, family members and colleagues who aren't senior to you are not acceptable referees.
Completing Application Forms: Personal & Education Details
Check out the following information for advice on completing each section of your application form.
Personal details
The easiest section of the form. Here your employers ask for the basics - your name, address, contact number, age and date of birth. They may also ask for your status as an able-bodied or disabled person, as well as your nationality - this is to ensure that they are offering equal opportunities to all. Be careful - you'd be surprised by how many people manage to put today's date in the date-of-birth box. It's simple, but take your time over it.
Education
This section seems fairly straightforward, but pay attention to any instructions. What does the employer ask for? Do they want your most recent education listed first? Follow their guidelines.
You'll usually be asked to list the names and addresses of schools or colleges you've attended, the dates you attended them and the academic qualifications you gained when you were there (GCSEs, AS levels, A levels, Degrees). It's tempting, but don't lie about your grades - you may get caught out.
Personal details
The easiest section of the form. Here your employers ask for the basics - your name, address, contact number, age and date of birth. They may also ask for your status as an able-bodied or disabled person, as well as your nationality - this is to ensure that they are offering equal opportunities to all. Be careful - you'd be surprised by how many people manage to put today's date in the date-of-birth box. It's simple, but take your time over it.
Education
This section seems fairly straightforward, but pay attention to any instructions. What does the employer ask for? Do they want your most recent education listed first? Follow their guidelines.
You'll usually be asked to list the names and addresses of schools or colleges you've attended, the dates you attended them and the academic qualifications you gained when you were there (GCSEs, AS levels, A levels, Degrees). It's tempting, but don't lie about your grades - you may get caught out.
Completing Application Forms: Qualifications, Training & Employment Details
Qualifications & training
The 'qualifications' referred to here are usually vocational (those that equip you with the skills and knowledge you need to do a specific job). You may have gained them at college, as part of your work or in your spare time. The information you put here could include:
RSA or Pitman in secretarial or computing skills.
Any BTEC, NVQ, SVQ or City and Guilds qualifications.
Training you've undertaken at work in learning a new computer system, time management, customer services, sales, health and safety or first aid, etc.
Training or qualifications received through a sport or hobby, such as music or martial arts. Or perhaps you're a qualified dance teacher, diving instructor, lifeguard or youth leader?
Any relevant evening classes you've taken.
Don't assume in this section that your potential employer will know what an NVQ or BTEC is, give details of any modules that are relevant to the job. Also, if you're still studying for qualifications, put them down and state when you expect achieve them.If you don't have any qualifications other than those achieved at school or college, don't leave this section blank (employers might think you've carelessly missed it out) - write 'not applicable' instead.
Employment history
Pay attention to detail and accuracy in this part of the form. Read any guidelines carefully to make sure you're filling it in exactly as the employer requests. Employers usually ask for your present company's name and address and what they do, as well as your job title, what your role involves and your salary.
If this is the first 'proper' job you're applying for and there's a whole page to fill with previous employment details, write something in it. Chances are you'll have had a holiday or part-time job, temporary work or done a work experience placement - mention it here. But if you haven't, include a statement that you are about to leave school or college and have no work experience - but that you can't wait to get some.
The 'qualifications' referred to here are usually vocational (those that equip you with the skills and knowledge you need to do a specific job). You may have gained them at college, as part of your work or in your spare time. The information you put here could include:
RSA or Pitman in secretarial or computing skills.
Any BTEC, NVQ, SVQ or City and Guilds qualifications.
Training you've undertaken at work in learning a new computer system, time management, customer services, sales, health and safety or first aid, etc.
Training or qualifications received through a sport or hobby, such as music or martial arts. Or perhaps you're a qualified dance teacher, diving instructor, lifeguard or youth leader?
Any relevant evening classes you've taken.
Don't assume in this section that your potential employer will know what an NVQ or BTEC is, give details of any modules that are relevant to the job. Also, if you're still studying for qualifications, put them down and state when you expect achieve them.If you don't have any qualifications other than those achieved at school or college, don't leave this section blank (employers might think you've carelessly missed it out) - write 'not applicable' instead.
Employment history
Pay attention to detail and accuracy in this part of the form. Read any guidelines carefully to make sure you're filling it in exactly as the employer requests. Employers usually ask for your present company's name and address and what they do, as well as your job title, what your role involves and your salary.
If this is the first 'proper' job you're applying for and there's a whole page to fill with previous employment details, write something in it. Chances are you'll have had a holiday or part-time job, temporary work or done a work experience placement - mention it here. But if you haven't, include a statement that you are about to leave school or college and have no work experience - but that you can't wait to get some.
Application Stages
Knowing what happens to an application once you've completed it can help you tailor it - and so make it easier for an employer to pick you.
Stage one: the reject pile.
It's no secret that selectors start by looking for applications they can easily discard. Here's how to stay out of the bin:
Don't miss anything out - forms must have all the necessary bits filled in
Follow any instructions provided with the application
Spell check everything and watch your grammar and punctuation
Make sure you meet the specific skills, qualifications or experience required
Keep it clean and tidy. Selectors won't look at dirty, crumpled or hard-to-read forms
Check the closing date and post it in plenty of time.
If it's late, it won't be considered
If you do get rejected, it's useful to find out why. This might help you to make it a stage further next time. Many employers are willing to give feedback. You've got nothing to lose by asking and often a polite phone call will do.
Stage two: the first shortlist.
The first shortlist will be drawn from those applications that manage to stay out of the bin. First, the selector will double-check you have the basic job-related skills and qualifications.
Then they'll try to get a feel for the type of person you are. What they need to work out is:
Can you do the job competently?
You should have demonstrated this by matching your skills to the job description.
Will you fit in with others who work there? This is where your research into the company comes in.
Are you their sort of person?
If you've done the necessary research into yourself and the employer, hopefully the answers should all be YES. Remember, these are busy people so make it very easy for them to find the answers they are looking for.
Stage three: the final shortlist.
If an employer has a lot of applications that look promising, candidates may be further whittled down by applying a points system to their qualifications,
experience and additional skills; those who have the highest scores are invited for an interview. Or the final shortlist may just be made up of people who seem like they'd fit in well.
Some employers will contact referees at this stage. Some won't take up references until you've provisionally accepted their job.
Stage four: the interview.
Your application will reappear at interview as a prompt for those assessing you. They'll base their questions on it and check you live up to the promise it showed. So make sure you keep a copy of what you wrote! Look at it again before your interview.
Stage one: the reject pile.
It's no secret that selectors start by looking for applications they can easily discard. Here's how to stay out of the bin:
Don't miss anything out - forms must have all the necessary bits filled in
Follow any instructions provided with the application
Spell check everything and watch your grammar and punctuation
Make sure you meet the specific skills, qualifications or experience required
Keep it clean and tidy. Selectors won't look at dirty, crumpled or hard-to-read forms
Check the closing date and post it in plenty of time.
If it's late, it won't be considered
If you do get rejected, it's useful to find out why. This might help you to make it a stage further next time. Many employers are willing to give feedback. You've got nothing to lose by asking and often a polite phone call will do.
Stage two: the first shortlist.
The first shortlist will be drawn from those applications that manage to stay out of the bin. First, the selector will double-check you have the basic job-related skills and qualifications.
Then they'll try to get a feel for the type of person you are. What they need to work out is:
Can you do the job competently?
You should have demonstrated this by matching your skills to the job description.
Will you fit in with others who work there? This is where your research into the company comes in.
Are you their sort of person?
If you've done the necessary research into yourself and the employer, hopefully the answers should all be YES. Remember, these are busy people so make it very easy for them to find the answers they are looking for.
Stage three: the final shortlist.
If an employer has a lot of applications that look promising, candidates may be further whittled down by applying a points system to their qualifications,
experience and additional skills; those who have the highest scores are invited for an interview. Or the final shortlist may just be made up of people who seem like they'd fit in well.
Some employers will contact referees at this stage. Some won't take up references until you've provisionally accepted their job.
Stage four: the interview.
Your application will reappear at interview as a prompt for those assessing you. They'll base their questions on it and check you live up to the promise it showed. So make sure you keep a copy of what you wrote! Look at it again before your interview.
Getting Noticed
Picture the scene: you're applying for a job as a nurse। You've done your training, passed your exams, and hey, you know your stuff. But hang on a minute, so does everyone else. What's going to make YOU stand out from the crowd?
Most employers can't get enough of people with good 'transferable skills.' These are things like the ability to use computers, teamwork and the ability to extract the meaning from a long and (often very dull) section of text (called your cognative skill).
The seven secrets of success
Communicate effectively
Work as part of a team
Find solutions
Use initiative
Be organised
Be adaptable
Add value
Communicating effectively means being able to:
Speak and write clearly and accurately
Listen carefully and understand what other people say
Ask meaningful questions
Cope with different points of view
Express your own opinions persuasively
They'll look at your application form, covering letter and how you come across at interview to see whether you have these skills. If you've done something at school or in a job that shows you're good at listening or persuading others to come round to your point of view, include it! Perhaps you were in the debating society, or maybe you've given presentations or been involved in counselling. If it's relevant - put it in.
Working as part of a team means being able to:
Get on with others
Work well in a situation where you have to share information
Be open to other people's ideas
Support team-mates by doing your fair share
Good proof of your teamwork includes involvement in team sports, school bands or even past jobs. There's very little you ever do completely by yourself. Look for things that show your ability to get on well with different sorts of people.
Finding solutions means being able to:
Work out what the problem is in the first place
Look at problems from different points of view
Learn from mistakes
Feel confident enough to try out new or unusual solutions
Think of times when you've done this; it might be fixing something that's broken or resolving a situation where colleagues or friends didn't get on. If you've ever had to sort out a personal problem or balance time commitments, you'll have used these skills.
Using initiative means being able to:
See what needs doing without being told
Believe in your own abilities
Feel confident about taking on new things
Make decisions on your own
Think of examples at school, work or in your personal life when you took control of a situation and moved things on the way you wanted them to go. Maybe you had to take charge in the absence of your boss? Think of all the new things you've learnt to do off your own back - and be ready to talk about them.
Being organised means being able to:
Plan effectively so that the most important things get done first
Get things done on time
Deal with more than one thing at a time
Think of an example you could talk about that shows you are able to organise yourself. Maybe you've had to meet regular deadlines in the past, or you've helped to organise meetings and events or even social gatherings?
Being adaptable means being able to:
Learn new ways of doing things
Develop new skills
Feel open to new ideas
Not feel panicked when things are changing
Things are always changing and you adapt without noticing you're doing it. An employer will want to see that the unexpected doesn't fluster you and that you're not resistant to change. Remind yourself of how you coped with leaving school, moving away from home, changing jobs, learning a new computer system, etc. Be creative, but be honest.
Adding value means being special in some way:
Think of the things you're most proud of and tell an employer about them. It might be travelling, doing well at a sport, winning a prize, teaching yourself a skill, being fluent in a language or getting involved in voluntary work. The fact that you haven't climbed Everest isn't important. The fact that you can get involved in something and see it through is. This will make you stand out.
Most employers can't get enough of people with good 'transferable skills.' These are things like the ability to use computers, teamwork and the ability to extract the meaning from a long and (often very dull) section of text (called your cognative skill).
The seven secrets of success
Communicate effectively
Work as part of a team
Find solutions
Use initiative
Be organised
Be adaptable
Add value
Communicating effectively means being able to:
Speak and write clearly and accurately
Listen carefully and understand what other people say
Ask meaningful questions
Cope with different points of view
Express your own opinions persuasively
They'll look at your application form, covering letter and how you come across at interview to see whether you have these skills. If you've done something at school or in a job that shows you're good at listening or persuading others to come round to your point of view, include it! Perhaps you were in the debating society, or maybe you've given presentations or been involved in counselling. If it's relevant - put it in.
Working as part of a team means being able to:
Get on with others
Work well in a situation where you have to share information
Be open to other people's ideas
Support team-mates by doing your fair share
Good proof of your teamwork includes involvement in team sports, school bands or even past jobs. There's very little you ever do completely by yourself. Look for things that show your ability to get on well with different sorts of people.
Finding solutions means being able to:
Work out what the problem is in the first place
Look at problems from different points of view
Learn from mistakes
Feel confident enough to try out new or unusual solutions
Think of times when you've done this; it might be fixing something that's broken or resolving a situation where colleagues or friends didn't get on. If you've ever had to sort out a personal problem or balance time commitments, you'll have used these skills.
Using initiative means being able to:
See what needs doing without being told
Believe in your own abilities
Feel confident about taking on new things
Make decisions on your own
Think of examples at school, work or in your personal life when you took control of a situation and moved things on the way you wanted them to go. Maybe you had to take charge in the absence of your boss? Think of all the new things you've learnt to do off your own back - and be ready to talk about them.
Being organised means being able to:
Plan effectively so that the most important things get done first
Get things done on time
Deal with more than one thing at a time
Think of an example you could talk about that shows you are able to organise yourself. Maybe you've had to meet regular deadlines in the past, or you've helped to organise meetings and events or even social gatherings?
Being adaptable means being able to:
Learn new ways of doing things
Develop new skills
Feel open to new ideas
Not feel panicked when things are changing
Things are always changing and you adapt without noticing you're doing it. An employer will want to see that the unexpected doesn't fluster you and that you're not resistant to change. Remind yourself of how you coped with leaving school, moving away from home, changing jobs, learning a new computer system, etc. Be creative, but be honest.
Adding value means being special in some way:
Think of the things you're most proud of and tell an employer about them. It might be travelling, doing well at a sport, winning a prize, teaching yourself a skill, being fluent in a language or getting involved in voluntary work. The fact that you haven't climbed Everest isn't important. The fact that you can get involved in something and see it through is. This will make you stand out.
Preparation
Don't just turn up at an interview - prepare for it. You will be calmer if you know your stuff and the interviewers will see that you're well motivated and positive.
Seven pre-interview essentials:
Confirm you'll be attending. Ring up and use it as an opportunity to check practical stuff like parking or directions.
Find out what the interview will be like. Who'll be interviewing you? Are there any additional tests or exercises as part of the interview? See our What to Expect section for more information.
Look at your application again. Pick out points interviewers are likely to want to talk about - likely areas are your choice of GCSE's/other qualifications, last job or skills you've noted on your CV (like a Forklift licence or ability to use computers). Think about how you'll deal with any weaknesses or gaps in qualifications or experience.
Do more research. The research you did for your application needs updating. Revisit the same resources and check for new developments. Be aware of any current news stories that affect this employment sector and have an opinion on them.
Anticipate questions you're likely to be asked. Most are predictable. Fix in your mind the points you want to cover, but don't try and stick to a script. See the Questions section for more information.
Plan what to wear. Check it fits and there are no buttons missing or hems flapping. If you know you look good, you'll feel more confident. Clean, smart and simple is best, whatever the job. You need to look like you've made an effort, even if the actual job entails wearing oily overalls.
Make sure you know where you're going, how long you need to allow to get there and what the parking arrangements are. If you park on an employer's premises, remember your car says a lot about you - so at least make sure it's clean
Seven pre-interview essentials:
Confirm you'll be attending. Ring up and use it as an opportunity to check practical stuff like parking or directions.
Find out what the interview will be like. Who'll be interviewing you? Are there any additional tests or exercises as part of the interview? See our What to Expect section for more information.
Look at your application again. Pick out points interviewers are likely to want to talk about - likely areas are your choice of GCSE's/other qualifications, last job or skills you've noted on your CV (like a Forklift licence or ability to use computers). Think about how you'll deal with any weaknesses or gaps in qualifications or experience.
Do more research. The research you did for your application needs updating. Revisit the same resources and check for new developments. Be aware of any current news stories that affect this employment sector and have an opinion on them.
Anticipate questions you're likely to be asked. Most are predictable. Fix in your mind the points you want to cover, but don't try and stick to a script. See the Questions section for more information.
Plan what to wear. Check it fits and there are no buttons missing or hems flapping. If you know you look good, you'll feel more confident. Clean, smart and simple is best, whatever the job. You need to look like you've made an effort, even if the actual job entails wearing oily overalls.
Make sure you know where you're going, how long you need to allow to get there and what the parking arrangements are. If you park on an employer's premises, remember your car says a lot about you - so at least make sure it's clean
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