Do you have a job interview coming up? If you have made applications already to kick start your career, you must be prepared for the interview process. Building a successful team is important for any company. And if you really want to impress a potential employer, here are some good advice you should definitely consider!
You will be surprised how little preparation is done before a job interview. Job seekers tend to ignore the importance of making a good impression, and this is very alarming. If you are determined and serious about your future, you must take the job search and interview process seriously too.
As a person who has filtered through endless amounts of resumé’s and have carried out interviews after interview, I have sufficient experience and good advice to pass onto you, and it might just improve your chances of getting your ideal job!
Dream Job
There is always tension in the air, a feeling of nervousness or excitement before you attend an interview. As long as you can walk into a meeting and turn your adrenalin into positive thought, motivation and self-worth, then you can expect things to go well!
Remember, you have the power to sway the recruiter’s decision. Confidence and a good level of courtesy is essential, you will not lose anything by being polite. If anything, put yourself in the employer’s shoes. What would you expect from a good candidate? And, what proof would you need that’ll demonstrates the value of an ideal employee?
In order to receive an offer you deserve, never oversell or undersell yourself. Avoid making little mistakes that can cost you a bright future. Here are some valuable tips to how you can guarantee a successful interview experience.
Be Honest on Your CV
Do not assume that adding fake educational qualifications or work experiences on your résumé is ok, because it’s simply the worse thing that you can do! You will regret that you ever lied. Serious companies will always check out your references at one point or another.
Don’t be a fraudster, when there really is no need to take things that far. Honesty is the best policy!
Don’t lie on your Resume
If your behaviour or standard of working is inadequate and doesn’t match your claims of experience and education that is stated on your CV, your recruiter will check out your references if he or she becomes suspicious or confused.
Be honest, and be yourself. Do not pretend to be something you are not, because it will end up in a huge mess and can leave your reputation tarnished in the working world. Like I said, making the right impression is vital.
Let me give you a less shocking example, when I interview prospective candidates for Cloudnames Turkiye, I request that all applying candidates know a good level of (spoken and written) English. And most résumé’s that come in claim to have an intermediate or advanced ability in the English language.
When the day of the interview comes, I always ask to carry out the meeting in English. Luckily, many have been fine or at least tried their best to communicate. Yet, a good number of applicants have said ‘I need more practice- I’m not confident’ or ‘I don’t know english, but I want to learn’ or worse, ‘What’s wrong with Turkish?’ Hmmm?
Don’t have regrets!
Already, you can see that this is a disappointing situation for both parties because honesty has been jeopardised. Expectations have diminished.
Here’s a simple self-evaluation: If every aspect of your job search and résumé were visible to your mother or father, would they be proud? If not, rethink the way you’re approaching it. Don’t fill your CV with needless information. Don’t lie and don’t put down something you will regret later!
Are you looking for a new #job? Read a #Recruiter’s advice to a successful job #interview #HR…
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Know The Job Criteria
Do your homework! Know everything you can about the company and the job specification. It’s also worth knowing a little information about the hiring manager or employer. The best place to start is obviously the company’s website, but don’t forget to check LinkedIn and other Social Media Channels! A credible business will have established a presence online.
Doing your homework doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Reserve 3 hours of your time to focus on doing some indepth research. Don’t feel like you need to know everything, but the more you know about the role, the better equipped you’ll be to say why you’re the right person for the job.
Do not opt for a career path if you cannot meet the demands of the job criteria. It will only waste valuable time, and put you under needless pressure. Do not risk leaving the interview with unfortunate news because you are not suited for it. You should already be aware of what you are capable of! So apply accordingly and make more of an effort to find a career path that suits your credentials!
Ask yourself: who am I and what am I capable of?
Evaluate the open vacancy by measuring your skill sets against what is expected of you. If you can match 8 out of 10 required skills, then you can apply with confidence. If you are a sales expert, do not apply for a graphic design position- it doesn’t make sense. But as a sales expert, you can apply for jobs in the field of; distribution, promotional sales, B2B sales and so forth. Know your forte!
Dress Appropriately
Never walk into an interview with trainers and a tracksuit unless you are a fitness instructor! There have been some occasions whereby people have walked into a job interview, and the outfits have been inappropriate or outrageous.
Mind how you smell!
There have been some instances where candidates have come in with the smell of overpowering perfume or aftershave, which was a good enough reason to cut the interview short. You must be thoughtful about allergies and what may cause discomfort to others. Smelling good is not a problem, but do not mask the smell of smoking with perfume for example- it really makes the atmosphere unbearable and off-putting!
You must find a happy medium in how to present yourself on the day of the interview. No matter what the weather is like please do not turn up in flip flops and shorts because it’s 40 degrees outside, you are not going on holiday- you are trying to secure a promising future.
flipflops NO NO!
You should ask the recruiter ahead of time, if there is a dress code. This is the best possible way to avoid any confusion or embarrassment. Turning up in jeans and a T-shirt maybe ok for some businesses, but cooperate or white-collar jobs will require you to make more of a bigger effort.
And ladies, avoid wearing heavy make-up. No recruiter will be impressed with the layers of foundation that lives on your face, unless you are entering a beauty pageant. Even then, you should still be moderate. Being natural is the best aspect of your personality and appearance you can offer.
I have seen many disasters in my time, girls in very high heels tripping over the edge of a carpet, or a guy who walks in smelling like a tobacco factory set on fire! You must take care in how you present yourself, because as I mentioned before- first impressions count!
Natural is always better!
Usually, a smart shirt (preferably ironed) or sweater and casual trousers or skirt (no jeans unless it’s black) with a pair of neat shoes (nothing too shiney) will do the job. No need to be suited and booted, just presentable.
Everyone has their own sense of fashion, but when it comes to the working world, people tend to dress smart casual for interviews, you should look over your wardrobe and see what’s suitable.
Don’t panic if you think nothing is perfect, as long as it’s not pajamas or a tuxedo, anything in the middle should be fine!
Smart Casual
Be Clear and Confident
Speak clearly and enthusiastically about your experiences and skills. Be professional, but don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through. Be yourself! Don’t be afraid of short pauses. You may need a few seconds to think and formulate a worthy answer.
I start every interview with the same prompt: “Tell me abit about yourself” followed by “Why you are you interested in this position?” Often, candidates go on and on about details that are already described on their CV, they often provide a checklist of job titles and skills.
This doesn’t answer the question of why you’re applying. It’s good to highlight your skills, of course, but keep in mind that if you’ve been called in for an interview, the odds are someone has already given your résumé a second look.
Also, be clear and organised with your answers! There is nothing worse than presenting yourself as an enigma to the interviewer. Do not cause confusion, simply follow the lead.
Try not to jump from topic to topic either, and answer questions confidently. There is no need to be nervous, since you are referring to your own skills and attributes, and nobody knows you better than yourself!
So, add information of what’s not on your résumé: What skills do you have that are applicable to this particular position? What skills are you currently developing? How will you (not just your skills and experience, but also your personality and approach to work) take the business or team to the next level?
And, be positive. Employers do not want to hear a list of excuses or bad feelings about a negative experience. If you are asked about a sudden job change, or a weakness in your background, don’t be defensive. Focus instead on the facts and emphasise what you learned from the experience.
Be positive!
In the end, after all, whether you’re “a good fit” is up to the hiring manager, not you, to decide. But, you have can influence what way the decision process goes!
Prepare a list of question
In every interview, I switch roles and ask the applicant what questions he or she has for me. This is always revealing: It shows how much thought and effort you’ve put into applying for the position, and the ways in which you ask the question can have a big impact. Be thoughtful, think about asking questions that you are really interested to know about!
The kinds of questions you should ask should be relative to the company you are paying a visit to and the position at stake. It should be very clear from the job description what is on offer, since it’s the same reason you applied for the role, so avoid asking questions about something you should already know. Making the hiring manager or employer repeat the job description is not a good use of his or her time.
Ideal questions are those that relate to your future in the company. Like, “Will I have the opportunity to grow in this position?’ or ‘What is the future plans for the company?”, these are examples of inquiries that will impress the recruiter, since it shows prospect that you could be a long-term asset and investment for the company.
How to be a #success on your next #job #interview #HR @cloudnames
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Final points
Remember that job interviews are about first impressions and matching requirements. Follow the advice above to make a good impression. Be prepared and on the ball. Last, but not least- Don’t interrupt the hiring manager when he or she is speaking. Be on time. And, Say thank you!
Open positions at Cloudnames
Here at Cloudnames we are always looking for talented candidates, so if you would like to be a part of our team and have what it takes, you are more than welcome to apply. Please read our open positions in our career pages: Cloudnames Careers
What we do at Cloudnames
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We offer a managed web design service where we not only design a website with modern mobile friendly responsive design, including the services your customers demand. We also manage your website and keep it updated and secure on a regular basis.
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