When a potential employer offers you the chance to give a presentation during a job interview then make sure you don’t let the opportunity pass you by. From an employer’s perspective a confident presentation will be one step nearer a job offer for you, so preparation is important to allow you successfully achieve this.

This 3 step guide will help ensure that your presentation is confident, that it leaves nothing to chance and that you leave the interview having created the right impression.

Step 1 – The basics.

1. Make sure you are dressed to impress so wear business attire for your presentation.

2. If you are using powerpoint bring a cable for your laptop, the last thing you want is for your battery power to weaken as you are presenting.

3. Bring a copy of your presentation on a memory-stick should you encounter any problems with your laptop.

4. If you are giving handouts make sure that they are free from errors and that you have enough for each interviewer.

Step 2 – The presentation.

1. Speak cleary using descriptive language and be mindful of the pace of your speech, don’t talk too quickly.

2. Make use of examples when making a point.

3. Be sure to make points that are a match to the interviewing company’s core values (these could be related to ethics, teamwork etc).

4. Don’t allow your visual aids to overshadow your performance, you want the interviewers to focus on you, not your handouts.

Step 3 – After the presentation.

1. Thank each person and open the floor for questions regarding your presentation.

2. Answer these questions as honestly as possible.

3. Shake each person’s hand,again, expressing gratitude for the opportunity.

4. Send each interviewer a short thank-you note.

Building a rapport is important so give your presentation in a likeable manner and show an enthusiasm for the role as these are two important traits in any new hire. I have lost count of the amount of times candidates came in with great handouts and props only to give a disappointing presentation so remember to focus on your presentation first and everything else after.

If you are called for second interview then congratulations, the hiring company have obviously been impressed by you.  Don’t rest on your laurels however as a second interview can often be more intense than a first round one.  To begin with there may be more than one person involved in the interview, and questions may be a little more in-depth and probing than the first interview so good preparation is important if you are to impress at this stage.

The interview may focus on areas of your first interview where perhaps you didn’t perform as well as you liked.  If you stumbled through a few answers then expect questions in that area again, also given that there may be new people involved in the interview don’t be surprised if you are required to answer some questions that you were already asked in the first interview.

With your credentials as a potential candidate verified by the fact that you have been called for a second interview, you may also be asked questions to establish whether you fit the culture of the organization.  In this regard you may be brought on a tour of the company and introduced to current employees along the way. 

There is one other reason for calling you back for a second interview, that being they want to offer you the job but more often than not it takes at least two interviews before final decisions are made on who to hire.  If by chance you are made an offer during your second interview thank the interviewer, express your delight, ask the interviewer to talk you through the package and then tell him/her you need a couple of days to think it over.

To best prepare for a second interview you need to find out who you are meeting and if anything is required on your behalf, you don’t want to arrive at the interview unaware that you are meant to be delivering a presentation at it.  That would not be a particularly welcome surprise, so try to find out as much information about the meeting before you attend.

In summary, during a second interview you can expect some of the following scenarios:

• you may have a panel of interviewers involved in the interview.
• you can expect probing questions based on weak responses you gave in the first interview.
• you may be introduced to existing employees or brought on a tour of the organization.
• you may possibly be offered the job on the spot.

Be prepared for each scenario to give yourself the best possible chance of being successful in the interview and don’t forget to have intelligent questions to ask the interviewer so you can make an informative decision regarding whether the role is right for you.

Don’t arrive overconfident to the interview as this could be misconstrued as cockiness and harm your employment chances.  Arriving armed with further research on the company will impress the interviewer(s), as would positive comments about staff members you had met to date.  If lunch or dinner is part of the second interview be mindful of your alcohol intake, as you need to ensure you have your wits about you throughout the interview process.

After the interview thank the interviewer and if new people are involved in the interview politely ask for their business cards so you can send each of them a thank-you letter.

The difference between getting hired for a job or not can sometimes hinge on the tiniest factor, with this in mind today we focus on the do’s and don’ts of a job interview to help you achieve a successful job interview. The best prepared candidate ensures that he/she leaves nothing to chance when it comes to interviewing for a job, so once you read this post you may find The A to Z of Job Interviews a worthy read.

DO

Do arrive on time.

Do dress appropiately.

Do provide a firm handshake.

Do turn your phone off before going in to the interview room.

Do show a friendly positive attitude.

Do have questions ready to ask the employer.

Do display a high level of interest in the position.

Do focus on portraying your strengths and achievements throughout the interview.

Do suggest your goals for the role should you get the job.

Do send a thank-you letter following the interview.

DON’T

Don’t criticize former employers.

Don’t chew gum.

Don’t provide false answers to questions.

Don’t smoke before the interview.

Don’t answer your cell-phone during the interview.

Don’t lose your cool during the interview, if tough interview questions are asked, remain composed at all times.

Don’t forget to maintain eye-contact throughout the interview.

Don’t wander off topic when answering questions.

Don’t allow yourself to come across as cocky or over-confident during the interview.

Don’t forget to reiterate your interest in the role when shaking hands at the end of the interview.

The more research that you undertake on both the role and the company will allow you become more confident about the interview which is a good thing once you ensure that you channel that confidence into enthusiasm for the position.

Management level interviews tend to focus on questions relating to your ability to lead a team, including questions about your supervisory skills along with questions about your ability to manage performance. These interviews can be testing but with a management position at stake this is to be expected. The 6 questions outlined below are along the lines of the questions that you can expect to face during this type of interview.

Name 3 important traits that describe your management style?

Fair, thorough and determined. My determination does not take away from my ability to be fair when dealing with staff and customers alike, whilst being thorough does not hamper my ability to make decisive decisions when such decisions are needed.

Give me an example of when you have had to discipline an employee, how did he/she react?

I had a colleague whose late time-keeping became a regular occurrence, I brought him into the office and provided the dates that he was late and warned him that he needed to improve his time-keeping or risked getting a written warning. His reaction was fine, he apologized for his tardiness and ensured he would be on time in future. I have not had any further issues with him.

What element of your management technique would you like to improve upon?

As a manager I believe that you are on a constant learning curve as new challenges arise on a daily basis, from a personal perspective I would like to remain open to emerging technologies.

How do you motivate employees?

I make a habit of verbally complimenting employees on a regular basis, I listen to team members in order to encourage and inspire while I ensure team spirit is positive at all times.

Have you ever had to fire an employee? If so how did you break the news to him/her?

As a manager laying off staff is part and parcel of the job, when faced with this task I bring the individual into my office and explain the reasons why he/she is surplus to requirements.

How do you handle criticism?

Constructive criticism is welcomed as it can only help increase productivity, criticism in a work environment is not something I take personal.

Being successful at interviews for managerial positions means being able to answer questions that may not have encountered in previous job interviews you so it is imperative to prepare properly. Should the interviewer seem like he/she is challenging you, it is vital to remain calm, this is in all probability a tactic to see how you react when under pressure.

Being fully prepared for a job interview is vital if you want to be the winning applicant, today we look at the A to Z of Job Interviews to help you with your research and to allow you focus on your interviewing skills.  Please excuse the creative leeway I took on the letters X and Z, my vocabulary alas, is not as creative as it once was!

A) Answers.

Have research done so you are able to impress the interviewer with your interview answers particularly answers to tough interview questions.

B) Behavioral interviews.

This type of interview will usually have questions beginning with “describe”, “give me an example”, “tell me about a time”, open-ended questions where yes/no doesnt suffice.

C) Charm.

Charm plays an important role when interviewing so be polite to all from the minute you arrive at the interview destination.

D) Dress for the occasion.

To impress at an interview one of the most important tasks is to ensure that you are dressed appropriately for the interview.

E) Examples.

There are fewer more compelling ways to convince a prospective employer of your talent than by providing examples of your work, so provide examples either physically or descriptively to enhance your application.

F) Former employers.

It is crucial not to criticize former colleagues /employers during a job interview, this will serve no purpose other than to harm your chances of getting the job. Criticizing former employers features amongst the biggest job interview mistakes. 

G) Go in with confidence.

Don’t be nervous when going for your interview, after all they selected you based on the skills in resume so go in confidently but don’t appear cocky.

H) Have your research done.

Be prepared for questions like “why do you want to work for our organization?” and use your research to your advantage when explaining why you want to work for the company.

I) Interview pack.

Bring an interview pack with you which may include  copies of your resume, samples of your work along with a pen and notepad so you can scribble notes during the interview.

J) Job spec.

Having the job spec with you will allow you to ask questions that you may have regarding the job itself. In advance of the interview highlight parts of the spec where you wish to seek more clarification.

K) Know who you are meeting.

It is important to know the name of the person you are meeting so you can greet them with a firm handshake addressing him/her by their name.

L) Location.

Ensure you know where you are going so you don’t run the risk of being late for your interview.

M) Mind your language.

Be careful not to use slang terminology in your interview as this may portray a lack of professionalism about you and damage your employment prospects.

N) Notice-period.

If asked “if successful when would you be able to start?”, be sure to have a clear definite response so the interviewer knows what notice-period you must serve should you be offered the job.

O) Outline your main skills and achievements.

You should go into the interview focused on highlighting some of your finest achievements, wait for the appropriate question to be asked then wow the interviewer with your experience to date.

P) Passion.

You need to transfer your passion for the role to the interviewer, explain why you want the job and provide the credentials that prove why you deserve the job.

Q) Questions.

There is a good chance that the interviewer will ask you if you have any questions, so it is important to have some relevant questions to ask relating to the vacancy.

R) References.

You should make sure to bring a copy of your references with you to provide if asked. These should provide the name, job title, company and contact details of each referee.

S) Salary.

During the 1st interview stage allow the interviewer to bring up the issue of salary initially. When discussions over salary begin be sure to come across as confident, not cocky.

T) Timing is everything.

You cannot afford to be late for a job interview so make sure you know your route (allowing for traffic issues depending on time of day) and arrive with time to spare.

U) Understand that you may be asked difficult interview questions.

Don’t take it personal if difficult interview questions are thrown at you, they are commonplace in interviews so answer each one honestly and be careful not to over-exaggerate your abilities.

V) Vision for the role.

Providing an insight into the ways in which you plan to add value to role will impress the interviewer if done in the correct manner.

W) Why you should we hire you?

Have an answer prepared for this question as it crops up time and time again in employment interviews.

X) X-Factor.

If you can provide good answers, great examples, get on well with the interviewer while showing an overwhelming desire for the role then you will certainly have the X-factor for the second interview.

Y) Your biggest weakness?

This questions is often considered amongst the most difficult interview question to answer, so be prepared with a winning response.

Z) Zzzz.

You should come across in an enthusiastic fashion, speak with passion as a mundane interviewee will be more likely to send the interviewer asleep rather than encourage him/her to hire you.

Providing great answers is 60% of the work, transferring your enthusiasm for the role while showing how you can add value make up the other 40%, if you manage to get that blend right then you should be able to look forward with confidence to a positive response.

Asking appropriate questions in a job interview can help you in your quest for a successful job interview but also work well in helping you decide whether the role is suitable based upon the interviewers answers to your questions. Here is a list of questions that you should consider asking the interviewer, however remember that they are interviewing you not the other way round so, don’t ask more than a few throughout the interview.

1. How did the job come about?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           You can find out if this is a new role through company expansion, or if the role arose due to an employee leaving, if so (at 2nd interview stage) it would be reasonable to ask why they are leaving.

2. How long was the previous employee in the position?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                If they were only in it a short period of time then ask about the employee before him/her, if he/she was also only in it for a short time then you need to ask the interviewer why they did not last long in the job.

3. What are the salient tasks?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Ask the interviewer what the most important tasks are expected of the successful applicant. Once they reply you can say “that is great because one of the areas upon which I have most expertise is related to that..(and give an example).

4. To whom does the role report?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            For your own sake you need to know who you will report to should you get the job, ask if you would have an opportunity to meet this person in the interview process. This shows enthusiasm from your end while providing you the chance to get information on the person you might be reporting to.

5. When can I expect to hear from you?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 A positive pro-active demeanor will reflect well upon the interviewer so before the interview ends politely ask when you should expect to hear back from them.

When asking questions during your job interview you should do so in a polite, friendly tone, it is important that you do not come across in a confrontational manner as that would severely damage your application. You should be aware of the different types of job interview and know in advance what type of interview you will be facing.

A job interview checklist allows candidates to focus and ensure that they leave little to chance when it comes to impressing at a job interview. An earlier post outlined some tips for on the day of the interview today we concentrate on how to be best prepared for before, during, and after the interview.

　
Before the interview.

Ensure that your hair is neat.

Ensure that your nails are clean.

Be sure to dress in an appropriate manner for a professional job interview.

Do not wear overpowering perfume/aftershave to the interview.

Avoid smoking before the interview.

At the interview.

Greet the interviewer with a firm handshake and friendly smile whilst maintaining eye contact.

Have answers ready for tricky interview questions such as “what are your weaknesses?”

Have relevant questions ready to ask the employer, this indicates to the interviewer that you have done research on the company.

Have examples ready to emphasize why you are the best candidate for the job.

Conduct yourself in professional manner without criticizing former employers.

End on a positive note thanking the interviewer and reinforcing your interest in the position.

After the interview.

Send a thank-you letter thanking the interviewer for his/her time and once again reinforce your enthusiasm for the role.

Using a job interview checklist will be to your advantage, it will assist as a guide to putting you in a relaxed confident frame of mind which will bode well for your chances of giving a winning interview.

Getting selected for a job interview is an achievement in itself given how competitive the marketplace is with so many job applicants applying for jobs, so being at your best is vital when it comes to interview stage. Unfortunately there have been many instances where job seekers fail to make a positive impact at their job interview through poor interviewing skills, lack of research and other similar errors, today we look at 5 of the most common interview mistakes along with ways to remedy them.

1. Arriving late.

Arriving late for an interview leaves a very poor first impression which will have you fighting an uphill struggle to overcome the damage caused by your tardiness. The best way to ensure you arrive on time is to do a test-run to your interview location the day before your interview at the same time of the day in order to gauge how much time you will need to allow to get there on time the following day. For example if your interview is an hour away and is taking place at 2PM on Thursday, take a trip there at 1230PM on Wednesday to get a feel for how long the journey will take.

2. Incorrect attire.

Arriving to a job interview wearing inappropriate clothing portrays a lack of professionalism and will not be looked upon favorably by the interviewer. If you are unsure of the company dress-code simply ask the person who contacts you about the interview. If wearing a uniform or similar then call the company in advance to say wearing anything else is unavoidable and apologize, most companies will be understandable in this regard.

3. Criticizing former employers

Never criticize an ex-employer during a job interview, you may come across as a troublemaker and your chances of getting the job will diminish. The best way to avoid this is by simply not including any derogatory remarks about your former employers at any stage in your meeting. The best way to overcome this is by stating you had been in Sample Company for 5 years for example and you wanted a fresh challenge. Keeping the interviewer focused on you is far more advantageous than coming across as a bitter ex-employee

4. Not asking questions.

Appearing disinterested in a job interview will seriously damage any chances you had of getting a job, not asking questions is one such way of appearing disinterested.  Overcome this by doing some research on the company and have some questions of your own to ask.

5. Discussing salary too early.

Of course salary information is extremely important in a job interview but by bringing it up before the interviewer asks you questions about it you may come across as being cocky or over-confident. You are better served by following the interviewers lead in this matter. On the other hand if you have a job interview arranged by a recruiter get him/her to find out the salary information for you instead.

Each of the interview mistakes outlined above are avoidable so to give yourself the best possible chance at your next job interview avoid these mistakes at all costs. Arrive on time, dress appropriately, express interest, and focus on your experience and achievements when answering interview questions.

Top 10 Funny Quotes About Work

Funny work quotes provide a welcome diversion from our regular posts on interview tips and career advice, there have been many quotes from famous individuals about the trials and tribulations of work.  Here is a selection of my favorite quotations, try reading them without raising a smile.　

1.  “The best way to appreciate your job is to imagine yourself without one”. Oscar Wilde

2.  “Hard work never killed anyone, but why take a chance” Edgar Bergen

3.  “I always arrive late to the office but make up for it by always leaving early.” Charles Lamb

4.  “Nobody notices what I do..until I don’t do it.” Quote seen on coffee mugs.

5.  “It’s amazing how much you can accomplish when it doesn’t matter who gets the credit.” Harry S. Truman

6.  “I like work it fascinates me I can sit and look at it for hours” Jerome K. Jerome

7.  “Many people quit looking for work, once they find a job.” Author unknown

8.  “People are still willing to do an honest days work, trouble is they want a weeks pay for doing it.” Joey Adams

9.  “If a train station is where a train stops, what is a workstation?” Author unknown

10. ”The difference between a job and a career is the difference between 40 and 60 hours a week.” Henry Ford

 If you enjoyed these funny work quotes then you may enjoy a previous post on funny job interview answers, next week we get back to business with a look at 5 common interview mistakes and ways to avoid them.

Trying to raise the point to an employer that you are deserving of an increase in salary can be a nervous experience for employees.  However if you feel that your salary is below market value then allow yourself the best possible opportunity to underpin your credentials by being  be prepared with the following list of items for when the time comes to discuss the issue with your boss.

1. A salary survey.

It is important that you do not come across as being greedy during a salary review instead explain to your boss in a friendly manner” in my research other candidates in the industry with the same amount of experience are earning 10% above my current salary so I would seek an increase to reflect my true worth to the company.” Your boss will be impressed that you have researched the marketplace and have put across reasonable logic for your requested raise.

2. Job specs off job-sites.

Similarly to the salary survey if your boss queries why you seek a certain amount you can produce job specs from job sites for jobs that mirror your experience and have higher salaries than your own. Explain to your boss that “while I am very happy here, in advance of this meeting, I researched open jobs that seek candidates with my experience and found that the salaries advertised to be considerably higher than mine.” Your manager will appreciate your reasons for seeking an increase and should reward you rather than fear losing you to the jobs that you have found.

3. Talk about the impact of your achievements in the company.

A salary review is time for you to not only talk about the targets you have reached or milestones reached it is about the overall impact those achievements had on the company. When discussing your achievements do so in a modest fashion rather than with a cocky attitude. A good example of the type of statement that would benefit your cause would be, “the project of which I was manager finished on time, within budget and to the clients satisfaction. This project is worth $50k and given the relationship that I have fostered with the client I am confident of regular future business with them, and that is why I am seeking a 10% salary increase.”

It is worth bearing in mind that you should not go into your review meeting and put the salary survey and job specs on the table, just keep them in your jacket pocket until you feel the need to introduce them, you may be pleasantly surprised your boss may have been planning to give you a raise anyway.