Tuesday, March 26, 2024

How To Start Off A Job Interview

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Before you walk in for your first interview, you should already know what the salary is for the position youre applying to. Check out websites such as Glassdoor, Fishbowl, or Vault.com for salary information. You could also ask people in the field by reaching out to your community on LinkedIn.

Employers will always ask this question because every position is budgeted, and they want to ensure your expectations are consistent with that budget before moving forward.

Remember that its often better to discuss a salary range rather than a specific number during the interview and leaving room for negotiation. Its also better to err on the side of caution and quote a slightly higher number as its easier to negotiate downward than upward. As a general rule of thumb, I advise not bringing up the questions about salary until your interviewer does or bringing it up too early in the process.

Example: Based on my skills and experience and on the current industry rates, Im looking at a salary around $____ .

Engage Your Audience With An Activity

A presentation is all about you.

It doesnt necessarily have to be though.

Its pleasing just how much this strategy can reduce tension when starting your interview presentation. Once youre able to start a dialogue with your audience, the unnatural situation becomes significantly more manageable.

Example: Well, you could make this one real interesting. Why not initiate a role play of a common workplace conflict, and then show the potential employers how you would deal with said conflict?

This is a fun exercise that shows your ability to apply the knowledge that you possess and will hopefully put your potential employers in a better mood for the rest of your delivery!

All of the techniques Ive outlined above could be applied to almost any interview situation in which a presentation is required now its over to you to get creative with how youre going to actually implement these ideas!

In writing this post I made a conscious effort to consider different personality types in the interview presentation opening tips that I have suggested.

But these actionable methods represent only a very small proportion of ideas that you can utilise for making a lasting impression in your interview presentation.

What Makes You Different From Other Candidates

The interviewer wants to hear about how your unique skills, strengths and experiences will make you the best person from the role. Remember, they’re looking at you in the context of the role you’ve applied for, so keep it relevant.

Put yourself in a position of strength by correlating your skills to the job you’re applying for, what the company does or the wider industry. Before prepping your answer, learn as much you can by studying the job description and the company’s website. If they’re planning to open an office in Paris, now is a good time to big up your qualification in French.

It’s very hard to have a ‘Unique Skill” now – but what you have is a unique combination of skills. Think before hand how you can present them to be a great fit for the role.

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As The Interview Is Happening

As the interview proceeds, your main concern should be to answer the interviewers questions thoughtfully. However, if possible you should also aim to weave in some of the following statements:

  • Dont just say youre a match for this job: Say why. Review the job posting and match its requirements to your resume ahead of time to determine which qualifications are most valuable. Then, use examples of real-life interactions, success stories, and accomplishments from your past. Be sure to tailor your anecdotes based on the jobs specific requirements and responsibilities: Im a match for this job because
  • Explain how you will add value : In previous roles, heres what Ive done and this is how I will add value to your company.
  • Convey that youre a team player:I consider working with others to be one of my strengths.
  • Suggest that you would plan on staying with the company:This role aligns with my long-term goals, and Id really like to continue to build my career at this company.
  • Emphasize that youre eager to learn and develop yourself personally and professionally:Im always looking to build my skills, and Ive recently ____ which I think has really sharpened my edge in this field.

Other Applicant Discrimination: Weight And Pregnancy

Universejobs most commonquestions

Job applicants who are underweight , overweight or obese may face discrimination in the interview. The negative treatment of overweight and obese individuals may stem from beliefs that weight is controllable and those who fail to control their weight are lazy, unmotivated, and lack self-discipline. Underweight individuals may also be subject to appearance-related negative treatment. Underweight, overweight and obese applicants are not protected from discrimination by any current United States laws. However, some individuals who are morbidly obese and whose obesity is due to a physiological disorder may be protected against discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Employers are using social networking sites like Facebook and LinkedIn to obtain additional information about job applicants. While these sites may be useful to verify resume information, profiles with pictures also may reveal much more information about the applicant, including issues pertaining to applicant weight and pregnancy. Some employers are also asking potential job candidates for their social media logins which has alarmed many privacy watch dogs and regulators.

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How To Prepare For A Job Interview

Preparing for Job Interviews

Congratulations youve bagged yourself an interview. This means youve seen off most of the competition, and the company feels youre worthy of a spot on the shortlist. Let that confidence boost sink in, then get ready for the next step.

It’s natural to feel nervous about an interview, but it’s important to project a sense of confidence, present yourself and your ideas well, and demonstrate that yes you are the best person for the role. How? Through a mixture of solid preparation, being well presented and forward planning. Gathering key facts and figures in advance, as well as thinking through your responses to certain interview questions, means you can walk confidently into the room knowing you’re ready for anything. Now you can relax and let your personality and enthusiasm shine.

Make sure you’re prepared with these interview tips from Monster. Lets start by waving that magic wand and transforming your outfit. You shall go to the boardroom.

Introduction

Top tips for interview preparation

When Youre Ready To Start Right Away

My rushed interview answer was partly due to being on the job hunt for a while and the desire to start ASAP. Still, theres a fine line between enthusiasm to start a new job and desperation. Its best to play it slightly cool, even if youre available right now.

They may want someone to start right away, but they dont need to know all the details of your life, even if youve been job hunting for a while, Smith says. You want to give yourself a breather, and also set the expectation that you wont be at the employers beck and call.

If youre ready to start a job sooner than later, its great to communicate thatcalmly and professionally. Try this answer to convey your prompt availability:

After learning more about this role, I am confident it would be a great fit for my experience and skill set. I can be available to start as soon as the beginning of the next work week.

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Do You Prefer Working Independently Or On A Team

Your answer should be informed by the research youve done on the company culture and the job in question. Nevertheless, you should expect that most work environments will have some team aspect.

Many positions require you to work collaboratively with other people on a daily basis, while some roles require you to work on your own. When you answer this question, highlight the best traits of your personality and how they fit the job requirements. It could also be in your interest to answer this question by highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of both situations.

Example: I enjoy a blend of the two. I like having a team to strategize with, get diverse opinions from, and reach out to for feedback. But I am also comfortable taking on assignments that require me to work independently. I find I do some of my best work when I can focus alone in a quiet space, but I really value collaborating with my teammates to come up with the best ideas.

What Type Of Work Environment Do You Prefer

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Be sure to do your homework on the organization and its culture before the interview. Your research will save you here. Your preferred environment should closely align to the companys workplace culture . For example, you may find on the companys website that they have a flat organizational structure or that they prioritize collaboration and autonomy. Those are key words you can mention in your answer to this question.

If the interviewer tells you something about the company that you didnt uncover in your research, like, Our culture appears buttoned-up from the outside, but in reality, its a really laid-back community with little competition among employees, try to describe an experience youve had that dovetails with that. Your goal is to share how your work ethic matches that of the organizations.

Example: That sounds great to me. I like fast-paced work environments because they make me feel like Im always learning and growing, but I really thrive when Im collaborating with team members and helping people reach a collective goal as opposed to competing. My last internship was at an organization with a similar culture, and I really enjoyed that balance.

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A Few Great Letter Of Interest Examples

Now that we have that out of the way, lets take a look at a few examples so you can get your own letters started! Here are three different scenarios from which you might decide to write a letter of interest to a company.

Choose the best letter of interest sample that fits with your situation, but dont simply copy the example word-for-word.

You need to input your own experiences and personality, so think of this more as a letter of interest template that will guide you to success!

Are You Applying For Other Jobs

Interviewers want to know if youre genuinely interested in this position or if its just one of your many options. Simply, they want to know if youre their top choice. Honesty is the best policy. If youre applying for other jobs, say so. You dont have to necessarily say where youre applying unless you have another offer. But they might want to know where in the hiring process you are with other companies. You can also mention that youre actively looking for offers if your interviewer asks.

Example: Ive applied to a couple of other firms, but this role is really the one Im most excited about right now because

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How To Start A Conversation In An Interview

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Your interview starts the moment you enter the building. Use the minutes leading up to the formal start of an interview to demonstrate the exceptional verbal and interpersonal communication skills touted in your cover letter. Your ability to engage in interesting small talk and to connect on a human level will impress potential coworkers and your future boss. Be ready to initiate friendly conversation on a deeper level than the weather.

What Is A Phone Interview

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A phone interview, or phone screening, is an interviewing process that recruiters sometimes use as a way to evaluate a candidate’s fit for the job. Success in a phone interview often leads to an in-person interview, and hiring managers may use a phone screening to eliminate unqualified candidates.

Typically, phone interviews are scheduled calls from the interviewer, but sometimes candidates are required to initiate the phone interview by calling the recruiter at a predetermined date and time. For instance, candidates may be expected to call a specific office number to initiate the interview if it involves a group interview with several managers, or if the interview takes place within a conferencing platform.

Other times, interviewers are the ones to initiate the call from their office phones, typically due to the convenience of scheduling interviews during working hours.

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How To Start A Presentation: 5 Strong Opening Slides And 9 Tricks To Test

Knowing how to start a presentation is crucial: if you fail to capture the audience attention right of the bat, your entire presentation will flop. Few listeners will stick with you to the end and retain what you have told.

That is mildly unpleasant when you are doing an in-house presentation in front of your colleagues. But can become utterly embarrassing when you are presenting in front of larger audiences or worse delivering a sales presentation to prospective customers.

Here is how most of us begin a presentation: give an awkward greeting, thank everyone for coming, clear our throats, tap the mic and humbly begin to mumble about our subject. The problem with such opening performance? It effectively kills buries even the best messages.

Be On Message From The Outset

Politicians coached in handling the media are always advised to have a maximum of three key messages to get across, which they should stick to and repeat throughout any interview.

Similarly, its a good idea to have two or three key points that you want to make about what you have to offer and what youre looking for for example, Im ready for the challenge of managing a team, I combine compliance experience with technical expertise, in my career, Ive developed an extensive digital transformation skillset.

These are the three key points that you want your interviewer to remember about you. So try and work them in naturally whenever you can, even in the first few minutes. Its also important to have a ready answer for some of the most common questions that come up early on such as Tell me why you want this job and Whats your understanding of what this job involves?

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How To Prepare For A Virtual Interview

Now that youre aware of the professional advice that comprises online interview tips, lets see how to get ready for a video interview.

In preparing for a virtual interview, it pays to have your video setup ready at your laptop or home desktop computer.

In order to stand out during this video interview as a candidate who has prepared well, what can you do to perfect your setup?

Listen Attentively To The Interviewer

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As you get into the conversation, listen attentively to the interviewer as they explain the job details and ask you questions. Avoid interrupting the interviewer when they are speaking, and if you think of something you want to say, write it down for further discussion when it is your turn to speak. Additionally, practicing active listening can ensure you avoid miscommunications or a misunderstanding of something the interviewer discusses with you.

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Having A Phone Call As A Backup Plan

If internet speed is problematic, you can start with video enabled, and have an introduction, and say ahead of time that you may be experiencing connectivity issues, but you wanted to be able to meet face-to-face.

Tell your interviewer that youll continue the interview with video so that the audio is as seamless as possible.

If Google Hangouts is problematic, have a backup plan like a call-in number through a phone, or a Skype or Zoom account.

It also helps to be able to foresee a need for this, and if the recruiter who sets up your video interview does not provide a backup phone number, you can request one for the call.

Important Things To Say During A Job Interview

Weve done the work for you and compiled a list of the most effective expressions to use in an interview. However, you need to use common sense when incorporating these statements in your interview.

Dont feel like you have to hit every single one: in fact, that might sound a little silly. You dont want to sound like a robot spouting out pre-planned statements that dont fit within the context of a broader conversation. Instead, keep these in your back pocket to pull out whenever it makes sense.

Keep in mind that you shouldnt repeat these statements verbatim, or in the order they are listed. Instead, use your own words to demonstrate the core idea and insert each thought tactfully, so the conversation flows naturally.

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If Using A Mac You Can Use Photobooth To See How You Look

Remember Photobooth? It took my college campus by storm between 2006-2007. If you have a Macbook, hopefully you have the Photobooth app.

Zoom and Hangouts will show you a preview of how you look before you join the call, but require you to actually click on the meeting URL. If youre still waiting for the meeting URL or dont want to join quite yet, Photobook can help you out.

See how you look and if your video interview location is appropriate. Well get into this shortly!

Could You Tell Me About Yourself And Describe Your Background In Brief

The Narrative

Interviewers like to hear stories about candidates. Make sure your story has a great beginning, a riveting middle, and an end that makes the interviewer root for you to win the job.

Talk about a relevant incident that made you keen on the profession you are pursuing and follow up by discussing your education. In the story, weave together how your academic training and your passion for the subject or industry the company specializes in, combined with your work experience, make you a great fit for the job. If youve managed a complex project or worked on an exciting, offbeat design, mention it.

Example: I come from a small town, where opportunities were limited. Since good schools were a rarity, I started using online learning to stay up to date with the best. Thats where I learned to code and then I went on to get my certification as a computer programmer. After I got my first job as a front-end coder, I continued to invest time in mastering both front- and back-end languages, tools, and frameworks.

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