Cv for Interviews

Posts Tagged ‘Interviewer’

If you are still in the job search process, it is extremely important to follow up on all contacts. It is not good to just sit and wait for results
to come pouring in when you think that you’ve already done your part because your contact information has been distributed.
Consider two men applying for a prime position at a company. After the interview, the first applicant just sits around waiting to hear from
his prospective employer.

On the other hand, the second applicant distributes his contact information to some people that he met in the company. Furthermore,
applicant number two does a follow-up on the results of the job interview a few days later. The first applicant has not been heard from,
because he just relies on the basic “We’ll call you” routine. Who do you think will have a greater chance of getting the job?
Even though the first applicant is more qualified, since he did not follow up or even send a thank you note to the interviewer, in the end,
he does not get the job.

If you are still waiting for that job offer and you do not follow up on your contacts, your chances of getting hired become slimmer. In
business, following up on all of your contacts is a sure-fire way to spread the word about you, your business sense and expanding your
horizons.

If you want to increase your chances of getting your perfect job, you want to make
sure you do well at the interview. One of the most important things to remember is
to remain focused on the interviewer and the interview. There is no quicker way to
fail at an interview than to allow the interviewer to see you looking out the window
or daydreaming rather than focusing on him or her and the interview. It is not only
rude but it makes the interviewer feel you are not interested in the interview itself.
Some people just feel as long as they are listening to what the interviewer has to
say there is no need to maintain eye contact. Unfortunately this is an incorrect line
of thinking and in fact makes the interviewer feel you are not really interested in
anything he or she has to say. Keep in mind that the interviewer is sizing you to
see if you are a good fit for the company, so if he cannot read your eyes because
you are staring into space you may as well leave the room because you have
already lost any chance of getting that perfect job.

Even if you find interviews boring, and most of us do, you still have to maintain an
aura of interest if you expect to be hired for that perfect job. Its not difficult to
pretend to be interested for the few minutes you will be talking to the interviewer.
Remember, if you fail at the interview you will have to continue the process but if
you present a good image and are hired you do not have to go to any more
interviews.

If you have trouble focusing when you go to an interview, try practicing at home so
that you can get into the habit of maintaining eye contact with your interviewer in
order to increase your chances of getting that perfect job. Learn to look at the
interviewer instead of out the window, into space or down at the floorworse yet,
looking at messages on your cell phone. Your focus and attention need to be on the
person who is interviewing you and not on anything else in the room. Remember
the interviewer has other things to do and has taken time out of his or her busy
schedule to interview you for the job.

Looking for the perfect job sometimes means choosing something that is not
exactly what you were seeking because of your qualifications. Many people are
tempted to apply for positions for which they are not qualified because they happen
to meet their definition of the perfect job. The problem is you are setting yourself
up for disappointment and making yourself look foolish in front of the interviewer if
you even have an opportunity to reach that step. In most cases, lacking
qualifications will not allow you to reach the interview stage, so you are only
wasting your time and that of the person doing the screening for the position.
When you have found what you perceive to be your perfect job, make sure you
qualify before you go any farther. You dont want to set yourself up for
disappointment by applying for a position when you dont even meet the minimum
qualifications. Most companies have required qualifications and preferred
qualifications. If an advertisement says you must have a Bachelors degree, do not
apply if you only have an Associates degree because your resume will find its way
into the trash bin rather than in the hands of the hiring manager.

The key to getting the perfect job is spending as little time as possible interviewing,
and you accomplish that by only applying for positions that you can match to your
qualifications. That doesnt mean you should never attempt to make career
changes, but when you do choose something that matches to your qualifications
rather than attempting to break into a field in which you lack experience, education
and expertise. Nothing is more irritating to an interviewer than being approached
by someone who doesnt meet the minimum qualifications of the job.

Review every advertisement thoroughly before you submit your resume so that you
know whether you have a chance of obtaining that position. Dont think you will be
able to sweet talk the interviewer with claims of being a quick learner or being
willing to go to school to learn what is necessarythese are things you must
possess before you will be hired for the job. There are exceptions such as when the
advertisement says certain skills are preferred rather than required or says they
are willing to train the right person. When you fail to read minimum qualifications,
you make yourself look less than professional to the interviewer and may even
prevent yourself from consideration for future positions for which you may qualify.

Creating a resume or CV is central to the search for a job, but is something most of us hate doing. Unfortunately, very few people are adept at presenting themselves in the best possible light and this can mean their application is rejected at the first hurdle.

One of the biggest mistakes most people make is sending out the same resume for every application. It’s a big temptation – you’ve spent hours getting the details and layout just right, or perhaps you’ve paid a considerable amount of money to have someone write it professionally. The trouble is, each resume needs to be tailored to the job in question, and it’s vital that you do this if you want to stand out from the crowd.

What does tailoring a resume mean? It simply means writing it specifically for the post you are targeting. To do this you must recognise the keywords the employer will be looking for and relate them to your own experience. Keywords will be found in the job description and person specification, or in the job advertisement and on the company website. They describe the skills, qualifications and experience needed for the post. Keywords should stand out on your resume – don’t forget that in the first round of the selection process, resumes are usually only given a 20 second glance. So if the interviewer doesn’t see what he’s looking for, your resume is destined for the shredder.

Here’s an example of targeting: let’s say you are a secretary who speaks several languages and can take shorthand in all of them, but are applying for a job in an office where only English and audio are used. Languages and shorthand, impressive as they are, would not be the most prominent skills on your resume. Instead, you would focus on the skills required, which might be fast typing, advanced Excel or Powerpoint. Languages and shorthand would be mentioned briefly, perhaps under the heading “Additional Skills.”

Another common mistake, usually made by older applicants, is including their entire work and educational history. It’s usual (in the UK) for CVs to go back only 10 years in terms of work and if you have a degree, school qualifications can be omitted, unless specifically requested or relevant. Employers occasionally ask for a full CV, in which case you do have to include everything.

Choosing the wrong format can also condemn your resume to the bin – different styles work best in specific situations. Many people stick to the chronological resume, but this is not always the most appropriate. It works well if you have been steadily progressing up the ladder in a particular career, or if your most recent jobs are likely to impress the company you hope to work for.

A skills-based or functional resume is great if you have gaps in your work history, as you can use it to highlight the fact that you have exactly the skills the employer is looking for. It’s also useful if you are moving to a new career or area of work and your work experience isn’t completely relevant.

A targeted resume is aimed at a precise job or career, for example if you retrained as a teacher in your 30s or 40s and were applying for a teaching post, your work-related heading might be “Teaching Experience” and your main skills would all be relevant to teaching, for example using IT in the classroom and curriculum development. For soft skills, such as communication skills and team work, you would use examples from your teaching career.

You may need to have different styles of resume for different applications. If we use the previous example of the secretary, she might have had a series of language related jobs and is now applying for linguist and non linguist posts. She could choose a chronological resume for the language jobs and a functional resume for the others.

To sum up, individualist every resume for the job concerned, choose the most suitable format for the situation and remember: keywords must jump out at the reader in the first 20 seconds.

One of the key factors that will help you achieve success in getting that perfect job
is the way you dress when you interview. Even if you are applying for a position in
a warehouse, do not assume it is acceptable to dress in jeans and a sweatshirt. In
fact, it is never acceptable to wear jeans to an interview unless the company tells
you specifically that they are having a casual day on the day of your interview or
that you will be in an area where jeans or other casual clothing would be more
appropriate.

Although it is becoming more common for both men and women to dress in
business casual clothing for interviews, you have to keep the type of position in
mind when you dress. Always remember the saying taken from a book by the same
name Dress for Success. What this means is dress according to the position for
which you are applying. Although it may be appropriate to wear khakis and a casual
top for a position as a customer service representative, when you are applying for a
managers position you might want to wear at least a skirt and blouse for women
and a suit for the men. Ladies may choose to substitute a pants suit for a skirt and
blouse, especially in colder weather.

Another thing to keep in mind when you are dressing for an interview is to not wear
anything that is going to draw attention to your clothes and away from you. You
want the interviewer to keep his or her focus on you, so do not wear brightly
colored clothing. Even if the position allows for jeans and a top wear something in a
neutral tone. For men and women stay with colors such as black, navy, gray or
brown for slacks and skirts and white or pastel tops. Ladies should also choose
appropriate length skirts and not wear slacks that are tight or revealing.
In order to obtain your perfect job you have to look the part. It should go without
saying but make sure your clothes are clean and wrinkle-free. You want to give the
interviewer the impression that you are serious about the job and not just looking
for something to pass the time for a few months. First impressions are those that
last and if you cannot impress the interviewer during your interview, you will not
have a second chance.

After listing all your skills and all the things that you do well, you may
now decide what field or career you want to take a crack at. Select the
skills contained from your list and partner it with the employment you
are seeking. Always take time to consider if your skills are relevant to
the job that you are aspiring for. Don’t be bothered if you have to cut
out some of the skills from your list. It is also important to include in
the list your skills that the prospective employer will probably value.

Stand by what you write
You should be realistic about your skills and the level of expertise that
you have with it. For example, if you indicate that you are a very
organized person, then you should be able to show this to the
interviewer by being able to organize your thoughts and effectively use
the time that was given for your interview.
It is important to know your skills every time you are job hunting.
Always put your best foot forward and good luck!

You have all the qualifications and you have great references, so why dont you get
the perfect job you so desire? It may be the way you conducted the interview that
has prevented you from getting the job. Certainly many people become nervous at
an interview but failing at the interview goes beyond just being nervous. In fact,
there are things that some interviewees do that go beyond the scope of acceptable.

Do not smoke during or before the interview
Although in todays world, smoking during the interview is likely to be impossible
unless you are outside, you also want to avoid smoking right before the interview
and bringing the strong odor of smoke into the room. If you do smoke, have the
courtesy to use breath spray or mints afterward. Nothing detracts from a
conversation quicker than the smell of cigarette smoke.

Turn off your cell phone
Under no conditions should you have your cell phone on during a job interview.
Unless the interview process is extremely long, there is nothing that cannot wait
until you are finished and then only an emergency might be acceptable such as an
extremely sick child or a potential life and death situation with a family member.
Cell phones should only be in the silent mode and used as stated above for extreme
emergencies. If possible, arrange with a family member or friend to take
emergency calls and handle them while you are at a job interview.
Stay focused

Another mistake people make at interviews is failing to remain focused on the
interview. Instead of maintaining eye contact with the interviewer they look around
the room, look out the window, daydream or any other number of things including
looking in a purse, making notes unrelated to the interview, playing with a cell
phone and twiddling of thumbs. All of these show signs of boredom and will put you
in a negative light when it comes to getting the perfect jobor any job as far as
that goes.

Choose appropriate discussions
The interviewer may ask a few things about your personal life such as whether
family issues will affect your job and the like but dont discuss your husband or
boyfriend beyond those issues that directly relate to the job. The interviewer does
not want to know that youre getting ready to buy a new house or that your church
is having a bazaar.

In the midst of technological advancement nowadays, the “back-tobasics” rule still applies when it comes to getting hired for a job. It
does not matter if you are planning to apply for a million-pound company or a small, independent firm. When you face an interviewer,
it all boils down to how you present yourself. This is the deciding factor whether you will get hired or not.

So you have distributed your resume to prospective employers and you have determined the correct job to apply for. The next step is to
schedule the job interview.

You can make the acquaintance of the assistant or the receptionist when you schedule for the interview, either by phone or personally. Be
friendly and polite, as these people might provide information that can be essential to getting that job or, even just give you a background of
the company or your prospective boss.

Finally, you show up for the interview. The basic traits of being prompt, how you speak and carry yourself
and even how you dress are all factors that contribute in making a lasting impression that will eventually get you hired.

Here are 7 easy steps on how you can improve your interviewing skills:

1.) Prepare for the interview.
First, dress appropriately. Once the interviewer walks into the room, oronce you walk into the room to be interviewed, your appearance will be the first thing to make the impact. Dress appropriately, check your grooming and mind your posture. Read the chapter on dressing for
success!Second, practice basic courtesy. Know where the interview will be held and be there with ample time to prepare yourself before the scheduled interview. Turn your phone off to avoid unnecessary distractions.

2.) Research.
Use all your resources to make sure that you know the basics about the company. You would not want to be caught unprepared when asked about how you heard or what you know about the company that you are applying for.
Learn about your potential employer. In your mind, develop a clear picture of the company profile. Make sure that you prepared answers to a few basic questions, but do not sound scripted. This happens when you rehearse what you will be saying word for word. It is enough that you have an overview of what you will impart to the interviewer, and it is better to be spontaneous.

3.) Be cool.
Step forward so that you are now seated and the interview is about to begin. Make a great first impression by maintaining eye contact, giving the interviewer a firm handshake, a friendly smile and a polite
greeting. Sit only when you are asked to do so and do not forget to thank the interviewer for taking time off of his or her busy schedule to interview you.
Make sure to start on a positive note and set the proper expectations.

4.) Do not sell yourself short.
In the course of the interview, answer the questions briefly and accurately. The key is to be honest. Make sure that as a prospective employee, you impart to your future
employer what you really are and what you can do for the company, not the other way around. Stay positive and do not give a bad impression about your previous employer.
If you are applying for your first job, do not let your lack of experience hinder you from gaining the advantage against more experienced applicants. What you lack in experience, make up for in confidence and
eagerness to learn. You may also put yourself in the employer’s shoes. Ask yourself, if I were on the other side of this desk, what qualities should I look for in
a potential employee? Would I profit if he works for me and can he contribute to the development of the company? Do not be afraid to sell yourself but do not be overconfident. Just
project an air that you are sure of yourself and your capabilities.

5.) Ask questions.
Should you encounter a difficult interviewer, do not be intimidated. one who does not let you put in a word edgewise should be lightly reminded that you should do most of the talking since he is the one
who needs to learn more about you.

6.) Wrap it up.
As you near the end of the interview, make sure that all bases are covered. Now is not the time to discuss or even ask about the salary and the benefits that you will receive once employed. There is ample
time for that once you do get the position and you are discussing the
job offer. Wrap things up by summarizing your strengths and pointing out your positive traits. Finally, as you end the interview, make sure to thank the interviewer again for his or her time, thus leaving a lasting
impression.

7.) Follow up.
Send that all-important thank you note after the interview. Thank the interviewer for the time that he took with you and for giving you that
opportunity. Make sure that you know who to contact for follow-up of
the results.

How To Impress At An Interview, And Land That Job

Candidates experience and credentials, as detailed in the resume, are most often the frequently used criteria for determining which job applicants are deserving of a personal interview. Ultimately, though, the hiring decision is going to be heavily based upon the candidates performance in the interview and their value to the organization. To impress an interviewer, you have to be able to distinguish yourself from other candidates and be prepared to ‘sell’ your qualifications to the interviewer. How can you do this?

Present a polished professional image

Remember that professional companies are looking to hire professional individuals, not the beach bum who just shook the loose sand from his hair. Dress conservatively in a well-fitting suit and keep jewelry, makeup, and fragrances to a minimum. Its also important to always take a shower, brush your teeth, and comb your hair before an interview as well to present to clean, polished image.

Spend some time to research the organization prior to the interview

Doing outside research on your own time to prepare for the interview demonstrates your commitment to hard work and your sincere interest in the organization. Study up on the company’s products and services, industry, target market, annual sales, structure, and any other key information. Managers will be impressed by your research.

Prepare specific examples of how your skills and experience make you a strong fit for the organizations needs

Practice answering tough, directed questions about your experience and be prepared to draw colorations between your experience and that needs of the organization. For example, if the position requires strong analytical skills, you should have example ready to demonstrate your strong analytical skills. Have you faced any challenges that forced you to think quickly on your feet? How do you go about evaluate alternatives when you have to justify a decision on a project?

Prepare and ask intelligent questions about the company and position

Your research on the organization will also come in handy when it comes time to formulate a series of intelligent questions you want answered. Since the interviewing process is an evaluation tool for both the individual and the organization, it is in your best interest to gather as much information about the potential opportunity as possible. Asking well thought-out questions shows that you are serious about the opportunity at hand and indicates the level of your knowledge about the company to the interviewer.

Pay attention to your body language.

You want to exude self-confidence and poise during an interview. Maintain eye contact, smile pleasantly, and keep your body attentive but relaxed throughout the meeting. Avoid fidgeting, clearing your throat, and breaking eye contacts as these are all signs of an anxious person.

Conclude the meeting by thanking the interviewer for his time and shaking his hand.

End the interview on a strong positive note by thanking and acknowledging the time the interviewer spent meeting with you. Its important that interviewer know that you value his time – after all, he could just have easily been doing something else.

Write a quick Thank You message to the individual(s) who interviewed you.

It only takes a few minutes to pen a Thank You note to an interviewer, but the gesture speaks volumes about your professionalism and the importance you place on good customer service. If you treat the interviewer with gratitude and respect, you are likely to treat your co-workers and customers equally well.