WORKING WITH YOUR RECRUITMENT CONSULTANT

Here are a few tips to help you develop a rewarding relationship with your Recruitment Consultant:

• If you respond to an advert by telephone, make sure you are prepared to take the Consultant's call - leave your mobile switched on.
• If the advert asks you to submit an application by email, then do so as soon as possible - to avoid missing out. A well-written, and well laid out resume (without spelling mistakes and poor grammar) are likely to impress the Consultant.
• If you are invited in for an interview, arrive a couple of minutes early or at least on time.  
• Wear a business suit and ensure you are well presented – formal and conservative is your safest option.
• Be honest with your Recruitment Consultant – he or she can't help you if you are not open about what you are really looking for.
• Be open to constructive criticism. Our Consultants have worked with our clients for a long time – benefit from their knowledge and advice.
• Co-operate with your Consultant by being as flexible as you can about attending interviews with clients and giving feedback to the Consultant after the interviews.
• Keep your Consultant informed of any changes to your circumstances – anything ranging from a new phone number, to holiday dates that impact on your potential start date, to your alternative job search activities.

INTERVIEW PREPARATION

Preparation, preparation, preparation. Preparation is the first essential step towards a successful interview. Interviewers are continually amazed at the number of candidates who have not prepared and possess little or no information about the company. The importance of preparation cannot be stressed enough - it is essential for a successful interview. The better prepared you are, the more confident you’ll be.

Ensure that you know the exact location and time of the interview as well as the interviewer's full name, the correct pronunciation and title they hold.

Find out specific facts about the company, its history, its philosophy, its services and products, its key personalities, where its offices are located, what its growth has been, and what its growth potential is for the future. There are a number of research publications providing this kind of information. Among the most helpful are:

• The company's annual reports
• The internet (the company's web site and news websites offer good places to start)
• Press articles
• Industry publications

Refresh your memory on the facts and figures of your present (or most recent) employer. You will be expected to know a lot about the companies for whom you have previously worked.

Prepare the questions you will ask and remember that an interview is a 'two-way street'. The interviewer will try to determine through questioning if you have the qualifications necessary to do the job. You must determine through questioning whether the company will provide opportunities for the growth and development that you seek.

Questions you might ask

• A detailed description of the position from their perspective.
• What are the most difficult aspects of the position?
• The reason why the position has become available.
• How does the position fit into the structure of the organisation?
• Who would I be working for and with?
• The culture of the company.
• Anticipated induction and training program.
• What training programs are available to ensure continued personal and career development?
• What sort of people have done well?
• What plans does the organisation have for future development?
• What are the company's best-selling products or services.
• What's the next step of the interview process?
• What motivated you to join the organisation?

KNOW YOURSELF

• Can you honestly visualize resigning from your current position?
• What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses?
• What are your short and long term goals?
• Evaluate yourself in terms of the position you seek.
• Formulate responses by asking the question: "Why should they hire me?"
• Remember that you're there to sell yourself and secure a job offer.

KNOW THE COMPANY

• Review annual reports, trade magazines and newspaper articles.
• The internet offers a wealth of company information and industry statistics.
• Know the company's products and services.
• Be prepared to tell the interviewer why their company is attractive to you.

KNOW YOUR CV

• Review your CV and ensure you are equipped to answer questions on the details you have supplied.
• Be ready to use pertinent examples from your career or personal life to demonstrate your skills and competencies.
• Also review the job description and the core competencies of the role.
• Examine your suitability and prepare specific examples before the interview.

ITEMS TO BRING TO THE INTERVIEW

References

• Use two or three former supervisors who are familiar with your work.
• Include their name and company as well as home and work phone numbers.
• Always consult with your references for their approval and to ensure that their remarks will be positive.

CV

• Review your CV thoroughly and be prepared to discuss all points.
• Always bring a résumé copy identical to the one supplied to the interviewer.
• Bring along samples of your work, if possible. Never discuss or show commercially sensitive information.

Other Items

• Bring a folder and pen to the interview to jot down notes.
• Prepare questions to ask.
• Bring directions to the interview location as well as the interviewer's phone number in case you're running late.
• Bring along your recruiter's phone number to give immediate feedback after the interview.

THE INTERVIEW

You are being interviewed because the interviewer wants to fill a vacancy. Through the interaction which will take place, the interviewer will be assessing your strengths and weaknesses. In addition, specific characteristics will be probed such as attitude, aptitude, stability, motivation and maturity.

Making the right first impression

• A full business suit is a requirement. Polish your shoes and keep accessories to a minimum.
• Ensure that your mobile phone is turned off.
• Arrive on time or a few minutes early. Late arrival for an interview is inexcusable. Confirm the date, time and location of the interview in advance with your Hunter Marshal Consultant. Find out about public transport or car route & parking. Give yourself plenty of time to make the journey and to catch your breath before the interview to compose yourself, your thoughts and be mentally prepared.
• Greet the interviewer by his or her title and surname and thank them for their time e.g. Ms Smith.
• If presented with an application, fill it out neatly and completely.
• Follow the interviewer's lead, let them set the tone of the interview.
• Sell yourself. Try to obtain a full description of the position and duties expected early so that you can relate your appropriate background and skills. Make sure that your good points get across to the interviewer in a factual, sincere manner.
• Convince them you want to work for just them. Why you want to work for a particular company is personal. Look at their mission and values statements, their careers section and what they offer for employee development. Shareholder pages often highlight information about a company's community and social responsibility programs, which are a great indicator of the values of a company. With all this information you can find something that directly appeals to you which you can word into a statement far more compelling than "your company is a market leader". Importantly this shows you know what you want, that you have done your research, and that you are serious.
• Try to relax. Interviewers are not interested in tripping you up. They are just establishing whether you are the right fit for the organisation and capable of doing the role. If you are feeling particularly nervous, acknowledge it. The interviewer expects it as it's a sign you realise the importance of the occasion. They are usually empathetic.

Be prepared to answer typical questions like:

• Tell me about yourself
• What are your strengths?
• What are your greatest accomplishments?
• How can you contribute to this company?
• What are your weaknesses?
• What kind of job / company are you looking for?
• What do you think your employer’s obligations are to you?
• What do you know about the company?
• Why did you choose your particular vocation?
• What are your qualifications?
• Why did you choose a career in the area of X?
• Why would you like to work for our company?
• What interests you most about this position?
• What do you want to be doing in your career five years from now?
• What are your career goals?
• When was your last salary review?
• What style of management gets the best from you?
• What interests you about our product/service?
• What have you learned from some of the jobs you have held?
• What did you like most/least about your previous job?
• What have you done that shows initiative in your career?
• What do you do in your spare time?
• What does 'teamwork' mean to you?
• What has been your greatest challenge to date in a work environment and how did you overcome this challenge?
• Are you willing to relocate?
• May we check your references?
• May we verify your income?
• Are you applying for any other jobs?
• Why should I hire you for this position?

Answer a question to the best of your ability and then relax. If there is a period of silence before the interviewer asks the next question, stay calm. Interviewers often use silence to see if you can handle stress and maintain poise.

Etiquette & Body language

• Shake hands firmly.
• Wait until you are offered a chair before sitting.
• Sit upright in your chair and look alert and interested at all times.
• Be as charismatic as possible; it is very important that you demonstrate your interpersonal skills during the interview.
• Be a good listener as well as a good talker.
• Smile and maintain eye contact.
• If there are more than one interviewer, maintain predominant eye contact with the person asking the question.
• Always conduct yourself as if you are determined to get the job you are discussing. Never close the door on opportunity. It is better to be in the position where you can choose from a number of jobs - rather than only one.

Negative factors to watch for

During the course of an interview, the interviewer will be evaluating your positive as well as your negative attributes. Listed below are negative factors frequently evaluated during the course of an interview and those, which most often lead to rejection:

• Lack of preparation for interview - failure to get information about the company, resulting in an inability to ask intelligent questions.
• Poor personal appearance.
• Overbearing, aggressive, conceited 'superiority complex', 'know-it-all' attitude. While some employers can afford to appear completely self-assured, candidates cannot.
• Too much humility. Candidates are sometimes reluctant to describe their accomplishments. Explaining how you reach difficult or impressive goals helps employers understand what you can do for them.
• Inability to express thoughts clearly, poor dictation or grammar.
• Lack of planning for career - no purpose or goals. Lack of career direction. Job hunters who aren't clear about their career goals can't spot or commit to appropriate opportunities.
• Not having questions to ask / Perceived lack of interest and enthusiasm - passive and indifferent. Asking questions shows your interest in the company and the position. Prepare a list of intelligent questions in advance.
• Lack of confidence - nervousness.
• Over-emphasis on money - interested only in remuneration.
• Evasiveness - making excuses for unfavourable factors in record.
• Lack of tact / maturity / courtesy.
• Condemnation of past employers.
• Failure to look the interviewer in the eye.
• A limp handshake.
• Answering questions with a simple 'yes' or 'no'. Explain whenever possible. Describe those things about yourself, which relate to the position.
• Lying. Answer questions openly and honestly, and as much to the point as possible.
• Handling salary issues ineptly. Candidates often ask about salary and benefits too early. If they believe an employer is interested, they may demand inappropriate amounts and price themselves out of jobs. Candidates who ask for too little undervalue themselves or appear desperate. Avoid enquiring about salary, holidays, bonuses etc., at the initial interview unless the interviewer has initiated the topic. However, you should know your market value and be prepared to specify your required salary or range.
• Relying too much on CVs. Employers hire people, not paper. Although a résumé can list qualifications and skills, it's the interview dialogue that will portray you as a committed, responsive team player.
• Be careful not to voice any reservations about the job during the interview. They may prove to be unfounded and you can fail to secure any further interviews or any prospective offers if your reservations are not dealt with satisfactorily. Use your Consultant as a 'sounding board' and they can assist with further investigations if necessary.
 

Closing the Interview

If you are interested in the position enquire about the next interview stage if applicable. If the interviewer offers the position to you and you want it, accept on the spot. If you wish for some time to think it over, be courteous and tactful in asking for that time. Set a definite date when you can provide an answer.

Don't be too discouraged if no definite offer is made or specific salary discussed. The interviewer will probably want to consult with colleagues first or interview other candidates before making a decision/

If you get the impression that the interview is not going well and that you have already been rejected, don't let your discouragement show. Once in a while an interviewer who is genuinely interested in your possibilities may seem to discourage you in order to test your reaction.

Thank the interviewer for the time spent with you

AFTER THE INTERVIEW

Lastly, and most importantly, call your Hunter Marshal consultant as soon as you can after the interview with your feedback. The consultant will want to speak with you before the interviewer calls. If you are asked back for a second interview, be prepared to answer further questions about both yourself and your CV. Upon successful completion of the interview process, your consultant will guide you through the job offer stage and negotiate the offer between you and the employer.

We hope our interview guide has given you an insight into the things you need to consider in order to undertake a successful interview. If you have any questions regarding any aspect of the interview process, please feel free to contact your Hunter Marshal consultant.

ACCEPTING THE OFFER / SALARY NEGOTIATION

Things to consider about negotiating:

• You need to be offered the job before you can consider any negotiation. If you are short listed and amongst equally qualified candidates, you could quite possibly miss out if you request a salary that is higher than the employer is willing to pay.
• By starting to negotiate you do run a risk that the employer will withdraw the offer. Your Recruitment Consultant is in the best position to advise on this.

BEHAVIOURAL / COMPETENCY BASED INTERVIEWS

Most organisations now use behavioural questions - which means they will be expecting you to provide specific examples of where you have demonstrated the skill they are seeking.

How to answer the question that starts with "tell me about a time…"?

The answer to this question is that - it's a story. The interviewer wants you to give an introduction, describe what you did, and what happened in the end. You need to be specific in answering these questions. Not what you would do. Not what you usually do. But something you have actually done, from your work environment.

Why such specifics? If you can provide recent examples that you can easily recall, you are actually demonstrating, rather than just claiming, you have the skills the interviewer is looking for.

How much detail should I give?

You need to provide detail about how you achieved something, but be cautious. Don't provide so much detail that you lose track of what you are talking about, but enough to be credible; to reassure the interviewer you've done what you say you have. If you don't provide detail then a good interviewer will ask probing (yet not leading) questions until they isolate the skills (or lack of) they require.

How are you assessed in a behavioural interview?

You are judged on the "quality" of the example you provide. Under each competency there's a set of behaviours that the recruiter will mentally, if not physically, be ticking off as you answer each question. You may be asked the same question in different ways to verify that your skills are well developed and that you've used them consistently.

How do I answer a negative question?

Quite often a recruiter will ask what sounds like a negative question "tell me about a difficult person you've managed?", or "describe a client relationship that didn't go as planned". When faced with these questions never get personal. Describe the person's behaviour but don't label it. And don't over emphasize it. The recruiter is looking for examples of how you handle setbacks, not how "difficult" that person was. Always talk about the efforts you made regardless of the response you received from that person.

What if there were no happy endings?

If you don't have a happy ending, don't be afraid to provide an example that didn't turn out the way that you would have liked. Experienced and good interviewers have worked in corporate environments and understand that success depends on many circumstances, possibly beyond your control. A happy ending is good. But the next best thing is that you have worked through the appropriate steps to find a solution to a problem.

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