Five essential points to get across in an interview

Even the most confident person is likely to experience some nerves in an interview situation. In fact, research from our training partner Home Learning College shows that 55% of Brits think interviews are the worst part of finding a new job. While it’s completely normal to feel nervous, the more preparation you do, the better you will be able to show why you are the right person for the job.
With that in mind, here are five key things you should always try to communicate to an interviewer:

1. Company knowledge
   Employers want to believe that you have a genuine desire to work for their organisation and will be a committed member of the team. There’s nothing worse than being faced with a candidate who hasn’t got a clue about the business and just wants any old job. That’s why it’s essential to demonstrate you understand the company’s history, plans and culture. An internet search will usually reveal all you need to know about the main people in the business and whether there have been any major changes recently, such as the launch of new products or services. You don’t need to remember tons of information - a few facts and figures are enough to show you’ve done your homework.
2. Related skills and training
   Your CV will contain the highlights of your education and career history but this is designed to be a concise document, so there may be other relevant points to discuss face to face. Before going into the interview, make a list of the less obvious but equally important skills you’ve acquired over the years, whether through formal training or self-development. These could include proficiency in different software programmes, or internal training specific to your current or previous organisation. Having this list handy will allow you to easily demonstrate competency in a particular area, such as the ability to learn new systems and processes.
3. Measurable examples of success
   It’s highly likely that your interviewer has already met several other candidates for the role, so you need to make sure you stand out from the competition. When discussing your abilities and experience, try to steer clear of over-used phrases that your potential employer has probably heard a million times before, such as “I’m a real people person” or “I pride myself on my work”. Instead you should discuss situations where you demonstrated these qualities with a positive effect. For example, if you do pride yourself on your people skills then you may want to talk about a time when you led a team, helped a colleague or were commended for your excellent customer service.
4. Positive attitude and flexibility
   In most roles, there are times when you will be expected to go above and beyond the call of duty, or do something that doesn’t technically fit within your remit, in order to get the job done. This is all part of the natural ebb and flow of working life and not something to be shirked. Businesses need people they can rely on, so interviewees who demonstrate a willingness to be flexible and stretch themselves are more likely to be hired than those with rigid expectations or working habits.
5. Manners
   If there’s ever a time to be on your best behaviour it’s in an interview. This may seem an obvious point but it’s something all too many people forget. Be polite to everyone you meet, from the receptionist to your potential boss. Smile, say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ when appropriate and show that you would be a friendly and valuable member of the team.  When it comes to making a final decision between two equally qualified candidates, the one who comes across as most personable is bound to get the job! If you remember all these points when preparing for an interview then you can feel confident you will perform to the best of your ability on the day. If you don’t get the job then try not to feel too disheartened. Instead try to think about where you could do better next time and take steps to fill any knowledge gaps or work on your interview technique with a friend.

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Cover Letter Sample - Part Time

A cover letter isn't ever going to win you a job by itself, but a badly worded letter is going to cause doubts in the employers mind right from the start.
A good cover letter explains why you, over all the other candidates, are worth taking the time to find out more about. This is designed for an individual who are looking to secure a part time job. If you think your Cover Letter is ready to provide your CV with some helpful back up, create one on Monster now.


Dear
[INSERT HIRING MANAGER’S NAME]
,Regarding the
[INSERT JOB TITLE]
position currently advertised on Jobs.todaysgost.com please find attached a copy of my CV for your consideration.I’m looking to gain practical experience within
[INSERT INDUSTRY SECTOR]
and feel that a part-time position within your company would help me to demonstrate the abilities I have.
INCLUDE IF YOU HAVE UNDERTAKEN WORK EXPERIENCE
I have been studying
[INSERT RELEVANT COURSE]
 and have already gained some experience as a
[INSERT JOB TITLE]
at
[INSERT COMPANY NAME]
where I
[INSERT KEY RESPONSIBILITY OR ACHIEVEMENT]
.I believe my skills in
[INSERT KEY SKILLS]
 would make me a positive addition to your team.If you would like to get in touch to discuss my application and to arrange an interview, you can contact me via
[INSERT PHONE NUMBER OR EMAIL ADDRESS]
.I look forward to hearing from you soon.Yours sincerely
[INSERT NAME]

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common interview questions

Although there is no set format that every job interview will follow, there are some questions that you can almost guarantee will crop up. Here’s a list of the most common questions and a guide to the kind of answers your interviewer wants to hear.

• Tell me about yourself - This is usually the opening question and, as first impressions are key, one of the most important. Keep your answer to under five minutes, beginning with an overview of your highest qualification then running through the jobs you’ve held so far in your career. You can follow the same structure of your CV, giving examples of achievements and the skills you’ve picked up along the way. Don’t go into too much detail – your interviewer will probably take notes and ask for you to expand on any areas where they’d like more information. If you’re interviewing for your first job since leaving education, focus on the areas of your studies you most enjoyed and how that has led to you wanting this particular role.

• What are your strengths? - Pick the three biggest attributes that you think will get you the job and give examples of how you have used these strengths in a work situation. They could be tangible skills, such as proficiency in a particular computer language, or intangible skills such as good man-management. If you’re not sure where to start, take a look at the job description. There is usually a section listing candidate requirements, which should give you an idea of what they are looking for.

• What are your weaknesses? - The dreaded question, which is best handled by picking something that you have made positive steps to redress. For example, if your IT ability is not at the level it could be, state it as a weakness but tell the interviewer about training courses or time spent outside work hours you have used to improve your skills. Your initiative could actually be perceived as a strength. On no accounts say “I don’t have any weaknesses”, your interviewer won’t believe you, or “I have a tendency to work too hard”, which is seen as avoiding the question.

• Why should we hire you? or What can you do for us that other candidates can't? - What makes you special and where do your major strengths lie? You should be able to find out what they are looking for from the job description. “I have a unique combination of strong technical skills and the ability to build long-term customer relationships” is a good opening sentence, which can then lead onto a more specific example of something you have done so far in your career. State your biggest achievement and the benefit it made to the business, then finish with “Given the opportunity, I could bring this success to your company.”

• What are your goals? or Where do you see yourself in five years time? - It’s best to talk about both short-term and long-term goals. Talk about the kind of job you’d eventually like to do and the various steps you will need to get there, relating this in some way back to the position you’re interviewing for. Show the employer you have ambition, and that you have the determination to make the most of every job you have to get where you want to be.

• Why do you want to work here? - The interviewer is listening for an answer that indicates you’ve given this some thought. If you’ve prepared for the interview properly, you should have a good inside knowledge of the company’s values, mission statement, development plans and products. Use this information to describe how your goals and ambition matches their company ethos and how you would relish the opportunity to work for them. Never utter the phrase “I just need a job.”

• What are three positive things your last boss would say about you? - This is a great time to brag about yourself through someone else’s words. Try to include one thing that shows your ability to do the job, one thing that shows your commitment to the work, and one thing that shows you are a good person to have in a team. For example, “My boss has told me that I am the best designer he has ever had. He knows he can always rely on me, and he likes my sense of humour.”

• What salary are you seeking? - You can prepare for this by knowing the value of someone with your skills. Try not to give any specific numbers in the heat of the moment – it could put you in a poor position when negotiating later on. Your interviewer will understand if you don’t want to discuss this until you are offered the job. If they have provided a guideline salary with the job description, you could mention this and say it’s around the same area you’re looking for.

• If you were an animal, which one would you want to be? - Interviewers use this type of psychological question to see if you can think quickly. If you answer ‘a bunny’, you will make a soft, passive impression. If you answer ‘a lion’, you will be seen as aggressive. What type of personality will it take to get the job done?

You should always have some questions for your interviewer to demonstrate your interest in the position. Prepare a minimum of five questions, some which will give you more information about the job, and some which delve deeper into the culture and goals of the company.

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Worst CV mistake EVER

What is the worst CV mistake EVER?

What could possibly be the worst mistake you could make when it comes to your CV?

Not targeting it to the kind of job you’re looking for is a biggie. Leaving out keywords that a scanner can pick up is another no-no. So is failing to list your achievements in ways the reader will find meaningful.

But the biggest error of all in putting your CV together is simply this: being sloppy.

A spelling mistake here. Forgetting to leave out information that could be used to discriminate against you there. Sending it in the wrong format. Small bits of sloppiness add up quickly. They can end up getting your CV tossed into the “don’t call us, we’ll call you” pile in a flash. So here are three tips to prevent this from happening.

Tip 1. Don’t rely entirely on spell check when proofreading

Think your word processing software will fix all the mistake on your CV? Well, mine couldn’t figure out that in the previous sentence I should have written “all the mistakes” rather than using the singular form of the word “mistake.” Instead, it told me to write “fix the entire mistake on your CV.” So much for letting your computer proofread your CV for you.

What should you do as an alternative? Check out how to get others to go over your pre-final draft and catch the errors. Either free or for a fee, a few more pairs of eyes on your work can spot what you – and that pricey word processor of yours – didn’t.

Tip 2. Customise your wording to the job you’re applying for

Generic CVs are a dime a dozen. You may be able to get away with a “one size fits all” approach if applying for lower paying jobs such as retail clerk or warehouse worker. But for the higher paying jobs, an employer expects you to put in some extra effort.

Try your best to match the requirements listed in the job ads you’re applying for. And create a dynamic Summary section atop the first page.

Tip 3. Send it in the proper format

In our era of electronic job postings and e-CV submissions (sending your application via e-mail and online form), don’t guess which CV format the employer prefers.

Follow their instructions on the job posting carefully. If sending directly to an employer via their e-mail, include your CV as scannable text within the body of the e-mail itself; then attach a version with nice layout and fancier fonts too, just in case they want to show it around to other staff.

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