12 August 2010

Interview preparation 'is vital'


People should make sure they are ready to tackle the pitfalls of an interview situation.

It is one of the most nerve-wracking experiences a person can go through in his or her life.

Yet it is one we all have to face at one point or another.

The job interview is a frightening prospect, yet such worry can be minimised if a candidate takes the time to make adequate preparations before walking into the interview room.

Moreover, a job-seeker can take those strides with confidence if they feel the pre-planning they have carried out is thorough enough to help them sail through the process and emerge with flying colours.

According to the Express and Star, there are a number of ways a job-hunter can attempt to make this dream scenario a reality.

The news provider noted research is absolutely key.

A person should stroll into a question-and-answer situation knowing full well the ins and outs of the company for whom they wish to work, while memorising some figures and statistics in regards to its operations is bound to go down well.

In addition, a candidate should bring along examples of his or her work to help impress and sway the interviewers into believing they are dealing with the right person for the job, the source explained.

Alongside this material, a prospective employer should be sure to bring along the all-important CV.

And it appears the more experience there is contained in this document, the better.

Tanya de Grunwald, founder of career advice website GraduateFog.co.uk, observed a CV littered with part-time and voluntary work demonstrates a particularly strong work ethic.

The industry expert noted: "Doing something is always better than doing nothing - if possible, you want to avoid having a large gap on your CV."

It is a sentiment recently echoed by Peter Panayotou, senior consultant for the CV advice service The Write Stuff.

"Even if it is something completely unconnected [to the job], you can fill a gap while also building skills with something such as a fist aid course," the specialist explained.

And it is this flexible approach to employment that has been earmarked by other leading sector figures.

Rick Westbrook, Metro Market manager for Robert Half International, said job-seekers, especially graduates, need to be proactive and creative in the hiring market.

This, again, can be bolstered by internships and unpaid work experience.

But in terms of the actual interview scenario, the expert provided a few easy-to-follow hints.

"Arrive on-time, professionally dressed and prepared to demonstrate interest with a few incisive questions that reflect knowledge of the organisation and expected position requirements," he advised.

And it is this idea of smart presentation to which the Express and Star also subscribes.

The outlet claimed what a person wears can provide an insight into how they behave - a scruffily-groomed candidate will always set alarm bells ringing - while positive bodily language is also vital, especially when trying to convey the notion a person really wants the position.

So, it appears well-thought out preparation can lay the vital foundation blocks to a successful interview - both in person and on paper.

A candidate's CV should be loaded with work experience and volunteering endeavours, while their appearance has to be tip-top.

Moreover, a spot of research on the company in question would not go a miss, while jotting down a few questions in advance could provide the extra ammunition needed for a job-hunter to shoot their way to employment.

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