MAKE YOUR MARK NOW
TURN the mobile phone off, have prepared answers for a range of questions, and leave it up to the interviewer to allay any nerves.
That is how modern jobseekers should tackle the final hurdle – the job interview – to getting a job offer.
Entree Recruitment general manager Megan Nicholson says a “dinging or ringing” mobile phone still is the most common fail for jobseekers, despite many of them knowing enough about etiquette to put it away in their bags.
“I don’t have many people answer it, but they’ll get it out of the bag and turn it off – it’s just not professional,” she says.
Wearing professional attire no matter what the industry also will stand jobseekers in good stead.
Many more jobseekers correctly are researching the organisation before the interview but Nicholson says they should also be prepared to know a lot about themselves.
“A lot of people say, ‘You can see on my resume what I’ve done’, but people need to be able to isolate what they’ve done; really know your role inside out,” she says.
“They’ve got all these things on their resume but that’s only 20 per cent of the things they’ve done. Think of a situation where you’ve dealt with a difficult person, or worked in a team.
“Be really clear with any roles you’ve left about why you’re looking to move on, be completely authentic and honest about why you’re leaving. They’ll go into the interview thinking ‘I’m really prepared’, even if they are not asked those questions.”
She says it is understandable for people to be nervous, especially if they have not had a job interview in several years, but it is up to the interviewer to make the jobseeker as comfortable as possible.
“If they feel like they can’t open up to you, you can’t place them in the correct role,” she says.
Jobseekers also need to be mindful of interviews that may take place using technology, whether it is Skype or over the telephone.
Many recruiters and employers will call candidates as a pre-screening opportunity before the face-to-face interview. Jobseekers may feel they need to answer questions on the spot, however Nicholson says it is acceptable to postpone the conversation if called unexpectedly. “A lot of people we call can’t actually speak at the moment but they’ll say ‘I’m just in the grocery shops and I’ve got you on loud speaker’,” she says.
“It’s much better to say ‘I can’t speak at the moment, can I call you back in an hour?’. It’s really important to be in a quiet place.
“It’s all about giving you the best chance to perform in a phone interview. Sometimes I’m so surprised that people answer the phone when they are in the shower or just out of bed.”
Jobseekers also should know the roles they have applied for so they are not confused or surprised when they get a phone call or, if it is possible they may be unsure, should not answer, find out and call back.