Interview Advice
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Uteach held two interview days recently in Ireland - 20st April in Dublin and the 21st April in Cork. They were a great success, with dozens of excellent candidates attending and being interviewed by head teachers from England. We brought the heads/deputy heads from six schools over to Ireland for the two days, each of whom had a number of positions available for september. They were delighted with the standard of the irish candidates, many of whom are still studying for their Hdip/PGDE/PGCE/BEd.
The interview days are a great way for teachers to “get their foot in the door”, as they get to meet the actual head teachers in Ireland, before heading abroad. After the interviews, Uteach gives the teachers the opportunity to go to visit and have a further interview with one or two schools. 90% of the teachers who attended the Cork or Dublin interviews were successful and over the next couple of weeks, will go to visit the schools.
Uteach are holding other interview days in Ireland this summer - get your CV in, to be considered for this great opportunity!
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Written by Claire on May 2nd, 2007 with no comments.
Read more articles on Teaching and Interview Advice and Teachers and Qualifications and interview and Cork and Dublin and School and Headteacher and England and PGDE and PGCE and Hdip and BEd.
The first part of this article discussed the necessity to research the company background, the industry competitors and the industry trends before attending a job interview. In this, the second part, (click here to read the first part) we will focus on the preparation required to communicate at an optimum level with the interviewer.
1) Determine the questions you are likely to be asked
You need to put yourself in the mind of the interviewer, acting on behalf of your prospective future employer before attending the job interview. This will give you the best chance of being prepared to answer all the questions. It will also reduce the chance of being ‘floored’ by a question that you hadn’t even considered before.
Key questions that you shouldn’t have any problem answering include, “Why do you want to work here”, “Where do you see yourself in five years time”, “What do you think are the key skills for this job” and “What key skills would you bring to this job”. You need to practice pre-prepared answers to these questions until they sound natural, believable and confident.
Next, you need to think about questions that you are likely to be asked that relate to the existing or future politics within the organization. For instance, if the original entrepreneur that started the business runs the company, then the interviewer may try and find out if you are comfortable working in a fairly reactive environment.
2) Prepare your own questions
You need to prepare you own questions about the role and company before the interview. This shows that you are keen on the job role and are proactive in nature. In addition, it shows the company that they perhaps may have to ‘sell’ the role to you should it be offered.
The questions that you need to ask should be about the future business strategy, their opinion of their own competitors and current operational and technological procedures. Other good questions to ask include promotional opportunities or personal development opportunities, however these two areas need to be touched sensitively as there may not be any such opportunities available at present, and the company may simply want to ensure that the individual that they recruit will want to stay working in the same role for a reasonable period of time.
3) Be prepared to ‘close’ the interview effectively
If you ‘close’ your job interview effectively, you’ll be ensuring that you know when a decision about a job offer will be made, when a second interview will be conducted, or the likelihood of you being offered the position.
If a prospective future line manager is interviewing you, then the chances are that you will be able to get good feedback on what your chances are of being offered the job. If you ask questions like “Is there anything that you feel I haven’t gone into enough details about” or “How do you think I’d personally fit into the organisation”, it demonstrates your keenness for the role.
If, on the other hand an HR department is conducting the interview, it may be more worthwhile to close the interview by saying something like “I’d like to confirm that I’m very much interested in the position. Do you conduct second interviews or make a decision after today?”
The bottom line is that you have to leave the interviewer with a feeling that you’re keen on the position and that you’d be happy to stay in the job role in question for a decent period of time.
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Written by David on November 27th, 2006 with 1 comment.
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So many people blow their chances of getting their dream job before the interview. They aren’t armed with the basic facts that make them feel properly prepared and informed at the interview stage. So what information should the interviewee find out before attending a job interview?
1) Company Background
The Internet has to be the key for finding about the company. First of all have a look at the company website. What kind of tone is the website setting? What kind of consumer is the company likely to be targeting?
Have a good read through any mission statements, financial results or ‘about us’ sections on the company website. As well as getting a better feel of the company paradigm, you will be able to discuss future company strategy from a more informed perspective at the interview.
Remember to have a search for other websites that offer a neutral perspective on the company as well. Companies House provides information on previous years’ accounts. Also, the Chairman, CEO or Managing Director may have appeared in the news in the past, so remember to search for their personal names on websites like Google News.
2) Industry Competitors
You need to know who your future competition will be if you get the job. In addition, if you can inform the company at interview stage of things that they don’t already know about the competition, it gives you a significant advantage to getting the job.
First of all, search for your prospective future company name on a search engine like Google. (Don’t type the URL straight into the address box at the top of the page.) Secondly, assuming you find the company’s website listed on the search engine, there should be an option for viewing ‘similar sites’. Click on this option and you should be able to view a list of websites belonging to companies in the same industry.
Once you find the competitors’ websites, it is a good idea to do a very quick ‘SWOT analysis’ of their product and service offering. SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. All you have to do is write down five quick bullet points on each SWOT heading about each company. It should take no longer that an hour to focus on the three most likely competitors, but it demonstrates a superb amount of personal preparation and keenness for the position at the interview.
3) Industry Trends
From your Competitor SWOT Analysis, you will be able to determine whether or not the competitors have any unique selling proposition compared to the company that you have the job interview with. You can then establish whether or not the consumer market for such unique propositions are expanding or contracting.
Ways of determining whether or not it is worthwhile suggesting during your job interview for your prospective employer to consider amending their current product offering include researching consumer trends websites such as Mintel or business information websites like the Financial Times.
In Job Hunting Tips – Interview Preparation – Part 2, we will discuss the questions you are likely to be asked at a job interview, the questions you should prepare to ask at your job interview and techniques to ‘close’ the interview effectively.
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Written by David on November 27th, 2006 with 1 comment.
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The following article concludes the top 10 ways to ensure that you show good interview body language. Make sure that all the preparation you do for a job interview isn’t in vain. Your body language is key to job interview success. (Click here to read part one of the article)
The final 5 of the top 10 ways to improve your interview body language are as follows:
6) Make sure that your eyes sparkle
It’s all very well having good eye contact at your interview, but if your eyes aren’t looking bright and interested then you’re making life difficult for yourself! Make sure that you have a good night’s sleep your interview. Remember – this is a very important day – you need to look your best and have no bags under your eyes! If you want your eyes to sparkle then it’s worthwhile getting some whitening eye drops. It doesn’t cost much but it will work.
7) Be engaged
It’s important to be subtly positive at your job interview. You need to demonstrate that you’re actively taking part in the interview. When your interviewer is telling you about the job role and company, make sure that you nod subtly. This shows that you are listening and are interested in what they are saying. It shows that your are engaged in the discussion process and want to be part of the organisation.
8) Breathe deeply
One of the best ways to relax before an important interview is to breath deeply. If you breathe deeply, not only are you relaxing by slowing your rapid, nervous heartbeat, you’re also ensuring that your brain has as much oxygen as possible. This means that you’ll be able to think clearly at your interview and be able to respond to difficult questioning more rapidly. Breathing deeply before an interview will provide you with the effective combination of being relaxed and alert at the same time.
9) Accept an offer of a glass of water
You may not feel like a glass of water, but taking a sip from a glass of water can have a calming effect on your interview performance. It can give you an opportunity to collect your thoughts while refreshing you. It will also give you a chance to get used to the surroundings while the interviewer is out of the room getting the glass of water. This will also give you’re the opportunity to gather your thoughts and decide upon any amendments to your interview strategy as well as reviewing your prepared responses to questions.
10) Practice your handshake
So many people haven’t got the right ‘professional’ handshake. Remember that this is part of the first and last impression that you leave at the interview. If you have a weak, limp handshake then this tells the interviewer that you may not have the ability to deal with confrontation. On the other hand, if your handshake is too strong, then you may not be a good listener. You may be quite confident about controlling a situation, but you may be less likely to be democratic in approach. To demonstrate the happy medium, have a firm but not hard grip, make good eye contact at the same time and mirror the style of the person whose hand you are shaking.
In summary, mirroring is the key. If you’re able to subtly copy the tonality of your interviewer’s body language, you’ll find it much more easier to communicate because you’ll be speaking the same silent body language. This will put you streets ahead of the competition in the race for your dream job.
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Written by David on November 27th, 2006 with 1 comment.
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The following article summarises the top 10 ways to ensure that you show good interview body language. Make sure that all the preparation you do for a job interview isn’t in vain. Your body language is key to job interview success.
The top 10 ways to improve your interview body language are as follows:
1) Eye Contact
There’s nothing more off-putting to an interviewer than the interviewee being unable to make regular, good, strong eye contact. The interviewer may think that because you’re unable to do this, you either have something to hide or you may not have the conviction of your beliefs. If you’re struggling to concentrate when looking straight into someone’s eyes, then try looking in-between their eyes. They won’t be able to tell that you aren’t looking straight into their eyes, but you’ll find it easier to maintain focus. Try it with a friend first to see what I mean.
2) Smile
You need to practice a strong, sincere, smile. A good smile has the power to say, “I’m a happy, confident person and I’d love to work here”. Try practicing smiling in a mirror. Practice a smile that puts people at ease. It’s just as much your responsibility to ensure that there is a relaxed atmosphere during the interview. If you’re embarrassed about your smile, see what a dentist can do about it. It might not cost too much to fix your teeth – and it will save you a lot of money if you get the job!
3) Open Body Language
Again, try practicing this with a friend first. Make sure that your legs are slightly apart if you’re a gent. Place your hands apart, on your thighs is good. Open body language is even more important when the interviewer is talking. It demonstrates that you are receptive to the question and actively listening. Remember when you practice your body language with a friend to take a note of what to do with each part of your body. Unless you do that – and remember – you’re leaving it to chance that your body language come across well at your job interview.
4) Don’t slouch
It’s easy to appear as if you slouch too much. This is especially prevalent if you’re asked to site in a large, soft seat. Try not to appear too relaxed. Not sitting right back in the seat is a good idea. If you sit forward, it makes you look more attentive and more interested. Some people slouch because they’re not very interested. Other people slouch because they have bad body language. Either way an interviewer isn’t going to be too impressed. Try practicing in a mirror at home.
5) Don’t be too erect
If you’re too erect then you won’t appear too relaxed. If an experienced interviewer is interviewing you then they might put this down to stage fright. They might just judge you on what you’re saying rather than how uptight you appear. However, if you’re interviewer isn’t too experienced then they might not feel relaxed either because of your posturing. They could leave the interview with a feeling that you weren’t as good as the other person simply because you were too erect. Try to relax… but not too much!
This article will be concluded in the ‘Top 10 Ways To Improve Your Interview Body Language – Part Two’.
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Written by David on November 27th, 2006 with 1 comment.
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This article is continued from ‘15 Ways To Sell Yourself Effectively In A Job Interview – Part Two’.
11) Know The Job Role That Your Are Applying For
There’s no excuse not to know as much as possible about the position that you’re being interviewed for. With the job title and the company website you can be very knowledgeable about what your prospective employer is going to be looking for. You should be able to find out additional information from many other areas such as the online press or companies house, so not being able to find out information before hand isn’t an excuse – it’s a reason why your interviewer shouldn’t employ you.
12) Know Your Place In The Company / Organisation
You need to understand where the position that you’re applying for fits in the organisation. If you’re not too sure then there isn’t any harm in phoning up whoever is going to be conducting the interview before hand to ask them the specifics. Tell them that you’re doing research on the position before the interview. It can only impress them that you care enough to find out. If you aren’t aware of where your position sits in the organisation and how it relates to others then you won’t know who you are responsible to and who your are responsible for.
13) Understand The Personality Fit Required
It is extremely important that you understand the style of working environment that you will have the opportunity to work in if you are successful. Again, have a look at the companies’ website before hand. Look at the tonality of the content. Look at previous press releases. Then ask yourself whether you’d describe the company or organisation as formal, informal, or just plain crazy. You’re doing both you and the company a disservice if you accept a position in an organisation that simply doesn’t suit your personality.
14) Ask About Future Plans For The Company / Organisation
There are two main reasons that you should enquire about the future intentions of your prospective employer. Firstly, it wouldn’t be good for either you or the organisation if you wouldn’t enjoy its strategic future direction. Secondly, if you don’t enquire about the company’s future direction why on earth should the interviewer think that you are passionate about the job role? Remember to ask about the future of the company – and be interested in hearing the answer.
15) Ask What The Next Stage Is In The Interview Process
Lastly, you need to know what the next stage of the interview process will be. Some positions – and this especially applies to a sales role will actually expect you to ask them whether or not you have got the job. This shows that you are really keen and have a real desire to get going with things. However, the majority of positions will have a formal process that the prospective employer wishes to follow. If that is the case then you still need to ask what the next stage of the interview process is. This gives you the best possible chance of being invited back as it affirms your desire to be offered the role.
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Written by David on November 22nd, 2006 with no comments.
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This article is continued from ‘15 Ways To Sell Yourself Effectively In A Job Interview – Part One’.
6) Know Your CV (Resume) Inside Out
Everyone who has ever applied for a job has written their CV (Resume) more than once. If you’ve written your CV more than once then there’s a danger that you won’t know which version your prospective employer is looking at. You cannot let this happen. The best way of avoiding getting important details of your previous experience wrong at the interview is to bring along another copy of your CV for yourself. You shouldn’t have to think about what you did in previous job roles when being interviewed. Knowing your CV inside out will help you be a lot more spontaneous with your responses and aid the fluidity of the interview.
7) Listen To Each Question Meticulously
Don’t presume what your interviewer is going to ask you. Too many interviewees answer the question that they think they’re being asked instead of the question that is actually being asked. Make sure that you concentrate fully on the question and don’t start forming your answer until the question has ended. If you fail to listen to the question fully not only could you answer incorrectly, you’re failing to demonstrate effective listening skills.
8) Involve Multiple Interviewers Equally
You have to prepare to be interviewed by two people. Being interviewed by two people is different compared with being interviewed by one quite simply because you may have to deal with two different personality types. On the other hand, one of the parties may simply be taking notes. However, you need to ensure that you are aware of the role of each party in order to make sure that one of the interviewers’ doesn’t think that you are paying more attention to the other person conducting the interviews.
9) Smile
A smile is worth a thousand words in an interview. A smile not only relaxes the interviewer, it relaxes you. It helps you keep things in perspective. A smile shows the interviewer that you’re approachable and caring. It shows the interviewer that you have the personality to form a good bond with your co-workers and that you have the ability to relate with and negotiate with your customers. Don’t forget to smile when appropriate at your interview. Don’t forget to show your interviewer that you have a lot more to you than the ability to answer questions like a robot.
10) Use Open Body Language
Remember that your interviewer only has one opportunity to judge your personality. Your interview will probably be no longer than an hour and possibly a lot less. That means that you have a very short time to make a good impression.
By ‘closing’ your body language you significantly decrease the effectiveness of your answers to the interviewers’ questions. This means that with the best will in the world, your interview won’t be listening to you talking as much as they should be because you arms may be folded or you may appear too slovenly.
This article will be concluded in ‘15 Ways To Sell Yourself Effectively In A Job Interview – Part Three’.
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Written by David on November 22nd, 2006 with 2 comments.
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1) Firm Handshake
At the very beginning, whenever you meet your interviewer, you need to make sure that you greet them effectively. You’ve heard that first impressions count. Well, the handshake is an integral part of first impressions. The key is to be firm without being forceful. However, be particularly careful when your interviewer has a particularly weak handshake. You should also be able to adapt and ‘mirror’ alternative handshake styles. If you’re particularly nervous about the interview then it’s worthwhile rehearsing your handshake with a friend beforehand.
2) Good Eye Contact
One of the most common reasons for the interviewer leaving the interview with a negative candidate impression is lack of eye contact during the interview from the candidate. In a typical example of such a case, the candidate may leave the interview thinking that they have performed well. This is probably because they have answered the questions well, but looked away from the interviewer to concentrate on the answer to each question.
Making sure that you keep an eye on your interviewer will not only help you both have a better conversation, it will make your responses seem a lot less regimented, and a lot more believable. One trick that you could use if you’re struggling to use enough eye contact is to look in-between your interviewers’ eyes. They won’t be able to tell that you aren’t looking directly into their eyes and you may find it easier to focus on the answer to the question.
3) Good Initial Impression
A good initial impression is intangible, yet very important. You need to smile at the right time, ask the right questions, wear the right clothes, have the right hairdo, use the correct terminology – however if you can’t ‘relate’ to your interviewer then getting everything else right could be in vain. The key is being able to react to how they present themselves without loosing your own personality. Only practice makes perfect when it comes to making a good initial impression.
4) Noticing Your Surroundings
Noticing your surroundings is a great way of breaking the ice at interview. If you’re able to say things like ‘This is a great new building – has it recently been built?’ not only are you initiating a conversation to ease the interview process, you’re demonstrating your ability to influence and bond with people – a set of very important traits in most job roles.
5) Put Your Interviewer At Ease
Putting your interviewer at ease is one of the most important aspects of selling yourself effectively at a job interview. No matter how experienced the interviewer is, there will be interviews that he or she enjoys more than others. It is your job to make sure that your interviewer really enjoys the experience of interview, while still demonstrating your professional experience. A good starting point is being pleased to see them and discussing a topical issue.
This article will be continued in ‘15 Ways To Sell Yourself Effectively In A Job Interview – Part Two’.
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Written by David on November 22nd, 2006 with 1 comment.
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