I hope you’ve had a wonderful summer and you are feeling refreshed and renewed.
If you have returned from vacation you may be one of the 76% who estimate that their stress levels are back to pre-holiday highs within a week of returning to work.
But before you ditch the office job in a fit of blues to head for a new role, read this month’s tips on handling the interview process. I asked my friend Collette Harrison, of The Harrison Partnership, who specialises in recruiting across all sectors, to give me the inside scoop.
Collette Harrison has interviewed hundreds of people for jobs across industry sectors and roles and knows from all the feedback that she has had from companies and candidates the pitfalls and traps that we can all fall into when attending interviews. Next time you are heading off to meet a potential employer consider Collette’s recommended tips:
Step 1: Get Organised – Preparation
Do your research on the role/organisation. Knowing something relevant and recent about the company will not only demonstrate your interest but could be a good starting point for a discussion on the company.
Know where you are going and give yourself plenty of time to get there.
Ensure that you have all of the interview details with you including the telephone number of the person you are seeing. If you think that you may be the slightest bit late then phone ahead to inform them.
Take a copy of your CV with you and be fully conversant with its contents. This may seem a little bit obvious but the number of times I have asked someone to give me some additional information on a role/project that is on their CV and the person wasn’t sure what I was referring to!
Study the job specification and match it to your CV so you can provide evidence that you meet the criteria
Step 2 First Impressions Count - The Interview
Dress appropriately. If you have been called to an interview at short notice flag to the person confirming the interview so that they don’t assume that you will pitch up for work every day dressed as a surfer!
Remember that you're making an impression as soon as you walk through the door and so be courteous to everyone, from the Receptionist to the MD – you never know who might influence the final selection of candidates, or even the job winner.
Don’t slouch in your seat be attentive and alert and maintain good eye contact with the person/people conducting the interview. If the sun is in your eyes or the chair is wobbly say something rather than squirm and fail to concentrate.
Listen, Listen, Listen, and Listen to what is being asked of you…. I can’t emphasise this enough. If the interviewer asks for you to provide a short overview of your career to date then don’t spend twenty minutes doing it. You can always ask at the end if they would like you to provide extra detail
Answer the questions that are asked, not the one’s you may have rehearsed. Don’t be evasive. Be specific, providing examples where appropriate and don’t waffle. Clarify anything that you are unsure of.
Always have questions to ask the interviewer – perhaps around culture, further career opportunities, what the next step in the process is. You can often distinguish yourself from other candidates by the questions you ask at the end. It confirms your ability to listen and digest information.
Step 3: Post-interview
Call your recruitment consultant and let him or her know how it went. Your consultant is employed by the company to liaise with you, and can also handle any queries or objections raised, or persuade the employer to wait while you supply more information.
Some interviewers may give you their direct line in case you have any further queries. Take advantage of this if necessary but don’t overdo it.
Allow a reasonable amount of time before getting in touch. At least 24 hours.
Write a letter confirming your interest and thanking the company for its consideration. A timely but subtle reminder like this could pay dividends.
About the Author: The Harrison Partnership was founded by Collette Harrison in 2004, who has over 15 years executive recruitment experience, 7 of those leading the interim management practice within one of the largest consulting firms. She has been at the forefront of setting standards in the industry for a number of years.
If you have returned from vacation you may be one of the 76% who estimate that their stress levels are back to pre-holiday highs within a week of returning to work.
But before you ditch the office job in a fit of blues to head for a new role, read this month’s tips on handling the interview process. I asked my friend Collette Harrison, of The Harrison Partnership, who specialises in recruiting across all sectors, to give me the inside scoop.
Collette Harrison has interviewed hundreds of people for jobs across industry sectors and roles and knows from all the feedback that she has had from companies and candidates the pitfalls and traps that we can all fall into when attending interviews. Next time you are heading off to meet a potential employer consider Collette’s recommended tips:
Step 1: Get Organised – Preparation
Do your research on the role/organisation. Knowing something relevant and recent about the company will not only demonstrate your interest but could be a good starting point for a discussion on the company.
Know where you are going and give yourself plenty of time to get there.
Ensure that you have all of the interview details with you including the telephone number of the person you are seeing. If you think that you may be the slightest bit late then phone ahead to inform them.
Take a copy of your CV with you and be fully conversant with its contents. This may seem a little bit obvious but the number of times I have asked someone to give me some additional information on a role/project that is on their CV and the person wasn’t sure what I was referring to!
Study the job specification and match it to your CV so you can provide evidence that you meet the criteria
Step 2 First Impressions Count - The Interview
Dress appropriately. If you have been called to an interview at short notice flag to the person confirming the interview so that they don’t assume that you will pitch up for work every day dressed as a surfer!
Remember that you're making an impression as soon as you walk through the door and so be courteous to everyone, from the Receptionist to the MD – you never know who might influence the final selection of candidates, or even the job winner.
Don’t slouch in your seat be attentive and alert and maintain good eye contact with the person/people conducting the interview. If the sun is in your eyes or the chair is wobbly say something rather than squirm and fail to concentrate.
Listen, Listen, Listen, and Listen to what is being asked of you…. I can’t emphasise this enough. If the interviewer asks for you to provide a short overview of your career to date then don’t spend twenty minutes doing it. You can always ask at the end if they would like you to provide extra detail
Answer the questions that are asked, not the one’s you may have rehearsed. Don’t be evasive. Be specific, providing examples where appropriate and don’t waffle. Clarify anything that you are unsure of.
Always have questions to ask the interviewer – perhaps around culture, further career opportunities, what the next step in the process is. You can often distinguish yourself from other candidates by the questions you ask at the end. It confirms your ability to listen and digest information.
Step 3: Post-interview
Call your recruitment consultant and let him or her know how it went. Your consultant is employed by the company to liaise with you, and can also handle any queries or objections raised, or persuade the employer to wait while you supply more information.
Some interviewers may give you their direct line in case you have any further queries. Take advantage of this if necessary but don’t overdo it.
Allow a reasonable amount of time before getting in touch. At least 24 hours.
Write a letter confirming your interest and thanking the company for its consideration. A timely but subtle reminder like this could pay dividends.
About the Author: The Harrison Partnership was founded by Collette Harrison in 2004, who has over 15 years executive recruitment experience, 7 of those leading the interim management practice within one of the largest consulting firms. She has been at the forefront of setting standards in the industry for a number of years.
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