How to Prepare for an Interview

How to Prepare for an Interview by Michael Cheary When it comes to an interview, you can never be too prepared…Whether you’re new to job hunting, or you’re a well-practiced interviewee â€" thorough research and effective preparation is absolutely essential to guarantee interview success. Attempting to ‘wing it’ will only ever end badly (and/or in awkward silences).We’ve already covered telephone interview dos and don’ts and video interview tips, but if you’re invited to a face-to-face interview â€" here are our top tips on how to prepare:  Getting startedFirst things first, you need to know what to prepare for.Aside from giving you an insight into the role and organisation, good interview preparation will also give you some all-important confidence. Let’s face it, no-one likes surprises.But what specific preparation should you carry out? Here are a few key things to cover:Research the companyLook up your roleFind the addressPick an outfitThink of some potential questions your interviewer m ay askPrepare some potential questions you could ask at the end of the interview101 interview questions you’ll never fear again  The week before the interviewResearch the company Interviewers expect candidates to have a good grasp of what their organisation does â€" meaning your ability to research effectively is essential.Consider aspects like: how big the company is, how it’s divided up, who their customers are, and who their main competitors are â€" as well as any recent developments or plans within the company.With this knowledge, you’ll be able to add value to the conversation, whilst showing a genuine interest in what they do.Read the job description When it comes to interview preparation, the job description is your best friend.Not only will a thorough examination of the duties and required personal qualities help you to understand more about what the role entails â€" it’ll also help you to recognise exactly what the employer is looking for.Then, you can tailor your a nswers accordingly â€" coming up with tangible examples that prove you’re the best candidate for the role.What job adverts really meanFigure out the format Interviews can take a number of forms â€" from one-on-one and group interviews, to position-specific tests, role plays, and psychometric questionnaires. And each one will require a different type of preparation.Often, this will be explained when you’re invited to the interview, but there’s no harm in asking for more information if needed. Researching online to find out how the process has worked for other people in your situation will also help you to figure out what to expect.Finding out who your interviewer(s) will be and researching their roles within the organisation will additionally help to reduce surprises on the big day. You can look these up on the company website, or try finding them on LinkedIn.Competency-based interviews: What you need to knowGroup interview tasks and activitiesWrite things down Unfortunately, y ou can’t predict every interview question that’ll come up.So instead of relying solely on memorised answers, prepare an additional list of your most relevant skills, attributes, and work experience. Each question you address will be an opportunity to provide some of this information to the interviewer.That way, you can get be sure you’ll get your most suitable qualities across â€" even if the specific questions you were hoping for don’t come up.What are transferable skills?  The day before the interviewAlthough you should have the bulk of your preparation done by now â€" that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to organise the day before.Here are a few things to do:Pick your outfit and try it onFind a map of the locationDo a trial run to check the journey timePut important information into a folder (e.g. your CV, portfolio, certificates, or any other examples of your work and/or qualifications)Read and review the research you’ve doneSorting out all of the above in advance wil l mean less stress on the day of the interview.You’ll be sure your outfit fits, you’ll know exactly where you’re going, and with all of your important documents to hand â€" the interviewer will be able to see you’re prepared.Even if you don’t end up needing examples of your work â€" they could turn out to be a great way to demonstrate a point or answer a question.Pre-interview checklist  The day of the interviewBy now, you should feel prepared.All that’s left to do is get there on time, and put your preparation to good use.Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before your scheduled interview time â€" and if you’re going to be late for any reason, make sure you inform the interviewer as early as possible.If you’re still feeling nervous â€" don’t panic. Here’s our guide to help you deal with stress in an interview.Interview tips: Our advice to help you ace the interview12 things you should never do at an interviewThe worst thing you can do at an interview?  OK, so out of all the classic interview nightmares, which are the ones that really worry jobseekers the most?We spoke to a group of university students to find out and see if recruiters actually agree Still searching for your perfect position? View all available jobs nowFind a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the terms and conditions applicable to our service and acknowledge that your personal data will be used in accordance with our privacy policy and you will receive emails and communications about jobs and career related topics. Interview Techniques Job interview tips Preparing for an interview

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese Finding the Right People to Make Change Happen

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese Finding the Right People to Make Change Happen When deciding which team member will be tapped as achange agentto help drive a new initiative, do you: a) select someone who has time to do it; b) has experience in the area; or c) draw names out of a hat and hope for the best. While most leaders would likely not choose the third option, many do rely on experience and availability as important criteria to be a change agent. The problem with that strategy is that it doesnt guarantee that those attributes will lead to a successful transformation and may be just like drawing names out of a hat and hoping for the best. In apaperby Tata Consultancy Services, researchers say that while change agents are critical and can guide and motivate others to adopt the results of the change process, the right starting point for choosing such people should be what not who. Keeping in mind what the change agents need to accomplish should be the first step in selecting the right people. This defines roles and responsibilities, say researchers. While experience and availability are key in selecting a change agent, other qualities necessary to do the job might be overlooked, such as being able to adapt and work effectively in a variety of situations. Further, strong communication and problem-solving skills are also important when selecting change agents, researchers say. James Dallas, who has decades of experience leading change as an executive, is author of a new book, Mastering the Challenges of Leading Change: Inspire the People and Succeed Where Others Fail. He says he has learned through his own experiences that creating impact requires a lot more than a good recommendation and the right job title. It requires you to be able to move others minds from point A, a known, comfortable place, to point B, the great and threatening unknown. He says he doesnt believe thatleaders grasp this concept, just as he didnt in the beginning of his change management career. I was more focused on the task, instead of choosing the right change agents, he says. Dallas says there often is a lack oftraining in change managementand an understanding of how influence actually happens. He says there are several ways that leaders can do a better job ofleading changeand finding the right people to make it happen. Among them: Choose someone who has something to prove.Change is always personal before its professional, he says. You dont want someone who is just trying to earn another star. You want people who are taking it personally (read more here)

What Career Advice Should You Listen to

What Career Advice Should You Listen to Theres a lot of career advice floating about online and sometimes its hard to know what to actually listen to.  Weeding out tips from those who have a hidden agenda is a great place to start! To help keep you motivated and find some job-related clarity, we asked 10 career coaches and recruitment experts to pass on the best piece of career advice theyve ever received. Heres what they have to say: Caroline Stokes I’m always learning and receiving wonderful career guidance daily to feedforward, so this was a tough question to answer. There is one comment that has always stuck with me since childhood from my grandmother, my first colleague Patsy Chapman, and then again with Chris Deering, President of Sony and even my husband. They all told me ‘You can do anything you put your mind to’. Each person had seen me tackle and win new tasks and activities, and their encouragement wrapped in former challenges and accomplishments helped me elevate my vision to take a bolder step with every career or strategic challenge. @theforwardco  (Caroline) is an executive headhunter coach at FORWARD Farhan Raja Ensure you get credit for any good work that you do. Don’t be afraid of telling your boss or colleagues about it! You have to be your biggest cheerleader because no one else is going to do it for you (within   moderation of course). @interviewology  (aka Farhan) is the founder, career communications coach at  jobinterviewology.com  Aimee Bateman You don’t own your job, the company does. You own your career. You’re just borrowing your job from a business, your career is yours to keep for the next 10, 20, 30 years. It’s yours to mold, to shape in the path you want it to do so. You can’t afford to take your eye off the ball, equally, always ensure you have options. @Aimee_Bateman  is the CEO founder of Careercake.com Jon Gregory Find the most professional company you can and hitch your career-wagon to it. I refused to follow this advice when I was young, but when I finally worked for a leading company, I realised the wisdom in those words. I discovered how much more I could learn, and how much further I could develop in a well-managed environment. Previously, Id mostly learnt how not to do things. Useful, but slower. @LetsFireWalk (aka Jon) is a job hunt coach at  Win-That-Job.com James Nathan I have received so much great advice over time, but the overwhelming theme is that what you achieve really is up to you. The only one who is truly invested in your career is you. To be the best you need to first learn from the best and never stop learning. It is amazing what you can achieve and how much better you can become if you are open to this. The world doesn’t owe you a living, but there is a great one out there for those who want to take it. @JamesNathan  is the Managing Director at The James Nathan Experience Rebecca Fraser To follow your passion. As canny as this may seem, it was more about providing holistic guidance that whatever my passion was, look at ways that I can integrate it in to my career or have my career support my passion. It works. @RebeccaFraserCo is a career coach Liz Sebag-Montefiore new-liz-sebag-montefiore I feel very strongly about networking and believe that not enough people understand how to network effectively and strategically. My piece of career advice would be to continue to build your network, it’s about the long-term relationships and adding value. No one advances their career by knowing fewer people. Research shows that senior executives are more relaxed about taking the time to network, precisely because they know it has previously brought them more career opportunities.  To me the joy of networking comes through the challenge of listening carefully, finding a common area of interest with someone you’ve never previous met and asking good questions to find that connection. @LizSM10Eighty  is a career coach at 10Eighty Alison Cardy Networking matters! Join relevant industry organizations and get to know people. Keep in touch with old colleagues and clients. Put time and attention towards building supportive relationships with great people. Aim to be helpful and to make connections. These steps will help you to get access to new ideas, resources, collaborations, and opportunities. @CardyCareers  is a career coach and author of  Career Grease: How to Get Unstuck and Pivot Your Career Lysha Holmes I have to cheat and give three pieces as they are all as equally important in my opinion and neither one can be singled out. Two ears, one mouth use them in this order. Learn to say No and walk away from business that is not right for you. Believe in your own principles and do business with those who share those values. @LyshaHolmes is the owner of Qui Recruitment Ltd    John Feldmann It’s not what you know, it’s who you know. No matter how good you are at your job, no one will hire you if they don’t know you exist. Network, meet as many people as possible, and make a good impression on everyone. Otherwise, don’t be surprised if someone far more sociable but less competent gets the job. John Feldmann  is  writer, blogger and content developer for Insperity Recruiting Services

Dear Abby with a Modern, Gen Y, Career Girl Twist!

Dear Abby with a Modern, Gen Y, Career Girl Twist! I am so excited to start a new weekly feature here to address all of your fabulous questions!   Every  week I will be posting Dear  Classy Career Girl.   Why am I so excited?   Because when I was younger I LOVED Dear Abby and I read her column everyday  in the newspaper.    Now  we get to do the same thing.   Just think ~ Dear Abby with a modern/career girl twist! So, in order for this weekly post to be as fabulous as it can be, I NEED YOU!   Send on over your questions about office etiquette, management, grad school, job search, interview preparation, my 4 X 4 networking challenge, career fashion, personal development, work-life balance, business school or motivation.   Here  are  4 easy ways  you can ask me questions.   I will never use your name unless you want me to so dont worry! 1) Leave a comment. 2) Email me at anna@classycareergirl.com 3) Tweet me @classycareer 4) Comment on  my Facebook page: I cant wait to answer your questions!!

How to Be A Better Project Manager in 2017

How to Be A Better Project Manager in 2017 Photo Credit â€" Pexels.comProject managers are the heart and soul of any team. They are the caretakers of the group, tasked with leading the others through a minefield of unforeseen delays, uncommunicative contractors, and surprise budget changes. Through their training and experience, they protect their team members from the worst of the blows.What Makes A Good Project Manager?A good project manager is hard to find; as with any position of power and authority, project managers who have a tendency to become a little authoritarian in their outlook. “My way or the highway” does not lead to a creative working environment.An inexperienced project manager can also be far more of a hindrance than a help. It is the times like these that training plays a big part. Something as simple as Prince2 certification â€" a project management system in extensive use in the UK government â€" can completely alter how well a project manager performs. So how can project managers look to improve their skills and management style in 2017?1. Earn PMP CertificationevalFor those project managers seasoned in the field, there is the option of PMP certification. PMP If at the end of the suspension year they have still failed to meet the necessary requirements, they lose their PMP certification entirely. This ensures that all PMPs are constantly up to date with the most recent techniques and practices, and are successful leaders in the industry.2. Practice Soft SkillsPhoto Credit â€" Pexels.com“Soft skills” are personal attributes or characteristics that allow someone to interact in a smooth and effective manner with other people.For project managers, soft skills play a large part in leadership. Being able to guide and support individuals is a key attribute of any successful project manager. Practising soft skills will help a project manager become more efficient at managing their team.Some examples of soft skills are:a) Decision-making skillsevalBeing able to make confident and inf ormed decisions. It stops projects from getting bogged down and allows for momentum to build.b) Communication skillsCommunication skills are often top of any “essential skills” lists employers may have, and for good reason. People with strong communication skills are more adept at building working relationships and avoiding conflict.c) Time managementAn absolute must for any decent project manager. Good time management skills often go hand in hand with the proper allocation of resources and individuals in a project.Some people naturally have good soft skills. Many others, however, need to work at them and develop over time before they are on the same level as those lucky few. There are no soft skills training courses; soft skills are learned by doing.Project managers should engage in social activities outside of work as much as possible to improve upon soft skills. Over time there will be a noticeable positive change in soft skill-related tasks.Combining training and real world experience is key to becoming a successful project manager, as one simply will not work without the other. To achieve a good level of both, it all boils down to one essential rule â€" always be looking to improve yourself in any way possible.

Job Search Success You Gotta Keep Moving

Job Search Success You Gotta Keep Moving Job Search Success: You Gotta Keep Moving Recently, I had to fly back to Atlanta, GA to help my dad while my stepmom was in the hospital. (Hence the lack of blog posts in the past month.) As the facility was 40 miles away, we did a lot of driving back and forth for visits, and to transport her to medical appointments. Each time we headed onto the Georgia interstate, there was a sign saying “Keep Moving” right on the on-ramp.   Seems sort of obvious to me that it made sense for traffic to keep moving, but I started thinking about how this sign should be present in everyone’s job search. Keep Moving.   If you falter, you won’t make it onto the fast-track. Keep Moving. There are plenty of people waiting behind you who would gladly pass you, given the chance and if you slow down. Keep Moving. If you stall out, you won’t be able get enough juice to get back on. Keep Moving.  By keeping yourself active, you keep your job search engine warmed up and ready to roll when you need to respond quickly to opportunities. Cold starts never helped anyone! Keep Moving. Make a decision and stick with it. You know those indecisive drivers who always seem to around with their blinker on, hesitating at turns, unsure as to whether to commit? Once you start going in a direction, then make the turn and keep moving.   You can always turn around later and head back if you need to! Keep Moving. If the going is getting tough, like slippery with ice or snow, if you don’t keep moving, you’ll get stuck. Similarly, the key to job searching is to keep moving so you don’t get stuck.   Be willing to try different paths to prevent getting mired down in tactics that don’t work. Keep Moving. Momentum is built the more you apply pressure to the gas.   Same thing goes for a job search. You can’t just give it a little nudge and expect to coast along. Gradually increasing the pressure helps you build speed and carry you along. Keep Moving. What may seem like same-old/same-old scenery will gradually change into new territory and views that perhaps you couldn’t have imagined.   In a job search, keeping moving can help open up new doors by being willing to follow up on contacts, initiate conversations, and build meaningful business relationships. It is through these contacts that you’ll find your next opportunity. There are a ton of reasons you need to keep moving in a job search. Having inertia just means that you are sitting there on the couch with the curtains drawn… going nowhere real fast.

How veterans can find jobs -

How veterans can find jobs - Transitioning from one type of job to another is not easy. Its important to understand how to articulate what you have to offer to a new employer, even if your past work is not exactly the same as what theyd expect for an applicant. When your past experiences do not identically match the employers requirements, its tricky to show how and why you are qualified for the job. This is particularly true for veterans. Most employers are not familiar with your military service, positions, jargon, or acronyms, so it can be even more challenging for veterans to make a strong case. What can job-seeking veterans do to help transition into civilian positions? Identify your skills. Evaluate your military service. What did you do on a daily basis? Note your accomplishments. Do not underestimate the value of awards and accolades you received, but do translate them into terms non-military personnel will understand. Focus on what you enjoy doing. Dont ignore your soft skills, or emotional intelligence. Research potential opportunities. Once you have your lists, plug your skills (your keywords) into job-board search engines to see what types of positions come up. Make a list of job titles and company names. Was there a particular industry that appeared repeatedly in your results? Continue to search online for more information about those fields or organizations. Inform your network. Once you know what you want to do, be specific when you describe your goals to your network. Dont just say you are looking for a job. Translate your experience. A common problem for job-seeking veterans is helping civilian, non-military hiring managers understand their work history. Be sure to include specific, quantifiable points in your descriptions. For example, do not assume the reader will know how many troops you led based on your rank and title. Tell your story. In an interview, be sure to describe your experiences in a way that a layperson will understand. Read the FULL POST on my U.S. News World Report blog. Photo by StevenM_61