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Preparing for success through the recruitment process

Thursday, 30 November 2017

The most important factor of job hunting is to ensure that you are motivated enough to prepare effectively. It can be exhausting feeling as though you are constantly being knocked back and that feeling of ‘failure’ can decrease your confidence which will ultimately challenge the ways you prepare for a job. So how can you ensure that you are prepared for an interview?

1. Get your resume to a fantastic standard - An excellent resume and a passionate cover letter is what a company is looking for. It’s the window of opportunity; make sure you take the time to write it out correctly. Ensure the information is relevant and correct. For more information read Nine Tips to Transform Your Resume.

2. Reading material

  • If you have received any pre reading material prior to your interview it is essential that you make the time to have read the information, prepared and understood what the interview will entail. If the information presented to you says that you will be undertaking a behavioural interview, research what a behavioural interview is, how to answer correctly, and practise answering these behavioural questions in the STAR format (situation, task, action, result).  For more information on behavioural questions read A Guide to Excel in Behavioural Based Interviews.
  • You may also receive reading material when being invited to an assessment centre, it is important that you understand what will be involved and the sequence of events from that day. Ensure that you have read the instructions clearly, and that anything asked of you such as bringing a passport size ID photograph, your driver’s licence, or any other information has been provided when you enter the assessment centre. Marks may be lost if you have not read this information correctly. For more information on assessment centres read The Five Key Elements of an Assessment Centre.

3. Position Description – It is essential that you read the position description along with the job advertisement and key selection criteria both when writing your resume/cover letter and arriving at an interview. Familiarise yourself with what is being asked of you and then re-familiarise yourself with it. The key selection criteria identifies what is both essential and desirable that the manager is seeking in an employee, it will also give you an idea of whether you would be considered for that role. Ensure that you read this information so that you can competently write why you are the best candidate for the position as well as entering the interview prepared as to what is required of you in this role.

4. Present well – Get a good night’s sleep, dress professionally and arrive on time. Presentation matters, it shows that you care about the role you are applying for and that you are willing to make the effort to get to the interview in a timely matter.

 5. Believe in yourself – An oldie but a goody! Keep yourself motivated, don’t ever quit. Continue to better yourself. If you don’t believe in your capability then how will your potential manager? Be confident in who you are and the skills that you have and show that in every aspect of the recruitment process.  It will pay off.

6. Unsuccessful? Treat the experience positively. Ask for feedback so that you can improve your performance in the future and remember to ask in a respectful manner. There may be opportunity in the future and it is essential that you show your positive attitude rather than a negative one.