January is the perfect month to dust off that CV and work on the new years resolution list to get a new job. Elysium Magazine was lucky enough to get advice from John Lees, author of The Interview Expert who provided some tips to help you ace the interview process.
In tough economic times it pays to have some expert advice to be the best you can come crunch time.
CV TIPS
1 Make sense of your career
Employers respond well to candidates who present all their learning and work as a single coherent picture. Don’t apologise for experiences – show how things knit together in terms of useful and interesting experiences, and then talk about how the job on offer is the natural next step. You need to show that you are not after any job, but perfect for this job.
2 Hit the ground running
The opening 50 words of your CV matter. Don’t waste them on background information – write a short sharp profile paragraph that sums up your work history, sector knowledge, skills, and know-how. Avoid CV clichés (self starter, team player, highly motivated) but show where you have made a difference in your most recent jobs.
3 Anticipate snags
Look hard at your CV and think about those areas an employer might be less certain or worried about. Sometimes you can even say in an interview “I expect you’re worried about….” and put fears to rest.
INTERVIEW TIPS
1 Don’t waste the opening moments
Many candidates lose the job in the first minute of the interview by not thinking carefully about their initial impact. Interviewers make a quick initial decision about your personality from the moment you arrive, based on how you look and sound. Dress as if you already work there and you’ve just been promoted. Make those initial seconds relaxed and upbeat as you can, even if you’re just talking about your journey.
2 Don’t over-deliver
Most candidates say too much. Interviewers are not that interested, and will usually accept a short, positive answer and move on. Practise compressing your evidence into good short stories no more than 3 minutes long setting out what problem you were handling, what you did, how you did it, and what the result was.
3 Don’t act like a stranger
Leave your coat, umbrella and bag in reception. Just take in a slim folder into the interview room containing the documents you need, and you will look like an employee rather than a visitor.
4 Don’t try to wing difficult questions
Don’t duck predictable questions about your know-how and skill level – think carefully about good examples. Equally predictable questions cover things like strengths (talk about qualities that match the job) and weaknesses (talk about skills you are improving, and make it clear that you’re a fast learner).
PRESENTATION TIPS
1 Remember it’s an audition
Whatever the topic of the presentation, the real subject matter is you. Far more attention will be given to how you communicate and whether you look and sound the part. Rehearse the opening and ending meticulously so you are clear and confident. It’s often a good idea to end your presentation with a good open question or a challenge.
2 Limit your scope
Poor presentations over-run or try to cram in too much material. Provide a quick overview of the problem under discussion, analyse the key things that need discussing, and then tentatively offer solutions.
3 Your presentation is the answer to the 90 day question
All employers are interested to know whether you will deliver in the first 3 months. Use your presentation to show that you will. Don’t try to offer boring textbook answers or over-ambitious solutions, but build on your experience ‘this is what I have tried elsewhere which might be useful here….’
So there you have it. Expert advice on how to Achieve and change your prospects. John Lees is the author of The Interview Expert (Prentice Hall) and a range of other careers titles including How To Get A Job You’ll Love (McGraw-Hill).
See www.johnleescareers.com for free career tools and tips.
Let us know what you think of John’s tips via Twitter @Elysiummag