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One key element to landing a good job is your C.V,or Resume..having a good resume that is well organized neat and easy to understand is a must for any job seeker.Employers have a lot of C.Vs that come to them and you need to give them a reason to pick yours out of the hundreds that they receive,yours needs to stand out.
Also you need to be prepared an ready for interviews you have probably been shortlisted,and the following are excellent interview guidelines that you could use.
Do your homework about the organization
Never walk into a job interview without knowing about the services and products provided by the company. Find out more on its corporate culture and potential projects {so that to enable you to demonstrate the best way to contribute to the company as it continues to grow.
Plan your schedule
Figure out the exact location of the office where you will be interviewed making plans to arrive at least 15 minutes before the interview. If you must, look up bus schedules or plan alternate routes if you foresee traffic jams. It will be impossible to recover from a late appearance at your interview, so avoid getting late altogether.
Rehearse
Prepare a list of interview questions you can expect to be asked at an interview. Know very well what you are going to say before the interview. To be best prepared, jot down your answers, and go over the information several times the day before the interview. Ask a friend or relative to assist as you practice answering those questions in a mock interview.
Prepare
Prepare two or three questions to ask the interviewer. The questions should seek some specific information about the responsibilities of the job, future projects, and organizational structure.
Dress appropriately
Dress a notch above your {day-to-day|} work attire. For example, if everyone wears blue jeans to work, arrive in dress slacks and a sport shirt (for men) or in a skirt and a blouse (for women). If applying for a job in an office environment, both men and women should wear a business suit.
Types Of Interview
Since the interview is the last phase in the selection process, employers use interviewing styles that assist in unveiling those attributes of the candidate that are most essential for the job and most beneficial to the organization. Interviews could be conducted one on one, in a panel, or as a group. Interviews can be informal or formal, relaxed or stressful, directed or undirected.
The key to preparing for an interview is to find out before the interview how the interview will be performed. You can do this by asking the following questions when the interview is being scheduled:
• How many people will be interviewing me?
• Will I be the only person interviewed at one time?
• What type of questions will be asked?
• How can I best prepare for this interview?
Becoming familiar with various kinds of interviews will give you a chance to be better prepared. Here are descriptions of the most common types of interviews:
The Directed Interview
The directed {or|} directive interview involves the interviewer using an outline and asking specific questions within a certain time frame. The interviewer works from a checklist and takes notes. This type of interview is impersonal and aims to reveal facts.
The Undirected Interview
The undirected or non-directive interview is unstructured and lets applicants to discuss their qualifications candidly. This interview offers candidates a measure of control over the interview, offering for an opportunity to focus on strengths and to show leadership and organizational abilities.
The Panel Interview
A panel includes a number of interviewers.Typically, members of the section will ask one question that corresponds to their area of concern. To be successful in this type of interview, it is best to anticipate and get ready for questions on a number of issues related to the organization and to the occupation. Thorough company and occupational study will help you to prepare for such interviews.
The Group Interview
The group interview is used by some large companies or organizations for graduate intakes when numerous graduates are interviewed at one time. This interview can last from two hours to a day or much longer and usually includes a group problem-solving exercise. The interviewers may ask questions in an unstructured style; therefore, the questions and comments can be unrelated.
Dress properly
Dress a notch above your usual work attire. For example, if everyone wears blue jeans to work, arrive in dress slacks and a sport shirt (for men) or in a skirt and a blouse (for women). If applying for a job in an office setting, both women and men should wear a business suit.
Presenting Yourself
A job interview can be an adventure. You have the opportunity to learn about new companies, new positions, and network with new people. The first step would be to equalize the power. And that involves an attitude adjustment. The power should be 50-50. The interviewer is sizing you up AND you’re sizing up the company. Don’t give all the control to the interviewer. You determine if the organization meets your criteria. Once you’ve balanced the power, here are some tips for presenting a positive image:
Get ready and rehearse
Prepare for difficult questions and prepare a strategy for answering them. Rehearse your answers out loud until you feel confident.
Know your message
What are your top three strengths, abilities and accomplishments? Know them cold and be able to back them up with examples.
Give a firm handshake
This is certainly your first impression. A weak handshake creates a negative image, as does a bone crushing grip. A firm handshake coupled with direct eye contact means confidence. The handshake must not differ for men and women. Use the same confident and firm grasp.
Create chemistry
Make some small talk to break the ice. Then keep an eye on the interviewer and pace his or her energy. Does the interviewer like to get down to business? Then sit up and get to the point. Is he or she a storyteller? Then slow down and give more examples and vignettes. We like people who are most like us.
Think and Pause
An interview is not a free association test. Think before you answer. Pause and wait for a response. Don’t rattle on at breakneck speed. Speed talking is an indication of nervousness.
Be enthusiastic and upbeat
Nothing sells like enthusiasm. Managers value attitude over skills. Eagerness and a positive attitude can make up for a lack of experience.
Ask questions
Job applicants who don’t ask questions are thought of as disinterested. Preplan some questions. In the event that the interviewer is extremely thorough, ask an industry question. Don’t lead with salary and benefit questions
Pay attention
This skill more than any other is the key to your success. Pay attention with your eyes. What’s the body language telling you? Listen with your ears. What do you hear in the tone and words? Listen with your heart. What do you hear between the lines? What is not being said? Clarify and paraphrase what the interviewer said before answering the question Ask for the next step.
Say thank you
Write a thank you note and mention something specific to each interviewer. Stay in touch. Follow-up may be the reason you finally get the job.
After The Interview
The interview is over and you're quite at ease with how it went. Even though you cannot predict the results of your face-to-face meeting (or telephone discussion), you do sense that there's a great opportunity you'll be offered the place. But after the initial excitement begins to wear off, you realize that you re confused about what to do next. Though your job search isn't finished, you feel a little stuck in a no mans land of waiting and wondering.
At this point, there are three “Dos” and two “Don’ts” to keep in mind as you wait for the results of your interview.
DO Continue to Send Out CVs
A lot of job seekers enter a sort of self-made purgatory after the end of a good interview. They want the position so badly that they are unwilling to make any moves, including sending out CVs to prospective employers. While its a good sign that you had an encouraging experience with your interview, it doesn't mean you'll land the job. Thus, it will behoove you to continue your job search until and unless you are offered an acceptable contract.
DONT Call the Employer Constantly
You wont win any points with a hiring manager by calling him or her every few days (or goodness forbid, hours) to find out if he or she has made a decision on the position. In fact, such unprofessional behavior would probably send your chances of hearing, You're hired! right out the window! If the person with whom you interviewed indicated that you could call after a few weeks (if you hadn't heard about the job), then its fine to make the phone or email contact at that point. But if you weren't given the go-ahead, use discretion and don't become a pest.
DO Keep Performing Your Current Job
After a satisfactory interview, many job seekers have a bad habit of slacking off at their current place of employment, assuming that their days there are numbered anyway. Instead of completing assignments and meeting deadlines, they fantasize about their new careers. Such choices can backfire tremendously, especially if you don't get the job for which you interviewed. Remember that if you re being paid to do work, its important that you remain a solid employee until your last moment with that firm or organization.
DONT Announce to Your Current Employer That You're Leaving
Except if you are extremely close with your current employer or with your direct manager, its not a smart idea to tell him or her that you expect to be leaving soon. Sure, your interview ended on a high note, but what happens if you don't get offered the job? You'll be left working at your current job and your employer will know that you're hoping to leave soon. That can make for some awkward water cooler conversations.
DO Stay Positive
Even if you hear a disappointing No from a potential employer, its not a reason to hang your head and assume the worst. Who knows? You might have been in the running for the job, but ended up not being offered the position because someones nephew interviews, too (its sad and unethical, but it happens). Therefore, its essential that you keep up your spirits and not allow yourself to become gloomy. Sure, you wanted the job. You thought you had the job. You felt like you earned the job. But the job isn't yours.
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