From the other Side of the Desk - Part 2

Are you ready to convince the interviewer that you are the best person for that job? Then, follow these tips and keep in mind that the interview is not a challenge but a way to demonstrate your value! In this second part, we we will give you tips on how to behave and what to do on the day of the interview, as well as hints about what to avoid. Part 1 focuses on what employers want and how you can best prepare for your interview.

“The STAR technique will allow you to find evidence of what you’ve done that will meet your employer’s needs”

AT THE INTERVIEW

1.      Dress appropriately: the way you dress is a signal of yourself and of your competence… first impression matters!  Dress appropriately to the organization in question.

2.      Bring everything you need:

·         Your passport, the invitation at job interview, copies of certificates…

·         Questions, facts and figures to include in the meeting

·         Copies of updated CV

·         Notebook and pen

3.      Now it’s the time to sell yourself! A good way to express your ideas in a clear and coherent way is the STAR technique: it will allow you to find evidence of what you’ve done that will meet your employer’s needs. 

      

      It can be used answering questions that involve examples on your leadership skills, your initiative and teamwork abilities. The STAR technique organizes your thoughts around:

-          

      The Situation: which was the setting?

-          The Task: what did you have to do?

-          The Action you took: how did you behave? Which was the action you took that lead to an excellent outcome?

-          The Result: which was the positive outcome of the situation, thanks to what you did?  

"...find evidence of what you’ve done that will meet your employer’s needs."

4.      The Closing: Ask smart questions:

·         What would a typical day be like?

·         What will be the challenges in the developments of this position in the future?

·         What’s the next step in the procedure?

·         What are the qualities you are looking for in this position?

TIPS: HOW TO PERFORM WELL AT THE INTERVIEW

1. First impression and first contacts are very important - be polite to everyone you meet!
2. Be enthusiastic and positive - don’t complain about the bad weather, the horrible ride an don’t denigrate anyone.
3. Non-verbal signs – remember to:
1. Speak clearly
2. Look in the eye
3. Don’t cross legs and arms
4. Listen more and speak less

5.      When asked: “Did you apply to other jobs to other companies?” reply with a company that  is in the same sector, and choose the best one.

6. Follow up after the interview - send a thank you email right after the interview or the day after.
7. Have a back up plan - if you don’t get the position, it is important to ask a feedback on where you should improve and where you fell short

“Listen more and speak less”

KEY INTERVIEWING ERRORS

And to conclude, here is a list of what you should avoid!

• Late to the interview
• Inappropriate personal appearance
• Limited eye contact
• Bad attitude and arrogance
• Poor oral communication
• Distracting body language
• Lack of preparation and company research
• Vague responses to questions
• Indifference and enthusiasm
• Being desperate for the job
• Lack of career directions
• Badmouthing people
• Asking about salary, benefits and perks
• Dishonesty / evasiveness
• Failing to ask questions

We are sure that by following these tips you’ll nail your next interview! Good luck J

From the Other Side of the Desk - Part 1

This blog is a sister to the previous 'How to Rock your Interview' Blog, discussing how to perform well in your interview and to land that dream job.

To further develop the tips and advice that ESSEC Business School can give you to be successful in your interview endeavours, one of our very own, Lucia Casagranda, has had the opportunity to gain in on some secrets from the HR director and headhunter of PWC (PricewaterhouseCoopers). 

Here the advice she has been able to compile for the yoda of HR himself, Mr. Edward Bryant - so, read on, grab your pencil for some notes, and go get 'em tiger. 

Congrats, you’ve been called to sit a job interview! Now keep calm and don’t stress, as only 4-5% of applicants are called to sit the interview. Now it’s time to demonstrate what you can do for the employer. Your focus, from now on, is how to impress the employer and show what you can do for them not the other way around! 

"...only 4-5% of applicants are called to sit the interview"

Are you ready to convince the interviewer that you are the best person for that job? Then, follow these tips and keep in mind that the interview is not a challenge but a way to demonstrate your value!

In this first part, we will focus on what employers want and how you can best prepare for your interview. In part 2 we will give you tips on how to behave and what to do on the day of the interview, as well as hints about what to avoid.

WHAT EMPLOYERS WANT

First of all, it’s important to know what employers want. They are looking for evidence. In particular, they are looking for three elements:

• Motivation for the role: are you passionate and enthusiastic about the role?
• Can you adapt and adopt the organization’s vision? Can you fit into the team? Do you have the soft skills, social skills, empathy needed? These are things that you don’t learn at school or at university!
• Do you have the skills abilities to do the work? Evaluate not only current skills, but you’re your ability to develop them.

“Employers are looking for motivation for the roles, soft and hard skills.”

PREPARING THE INTERVIEW

Before sitting the interview, it is crucial to prepare the following aspects:

1. Logistics - what type of interview will it be? How much time will it take? You need to be aware of what the program is for the day, and try find out who are the people who will interview you. Moreover, don’t be late, as this will show a lack of responsibility and interest towards the post.
2. Self-assessment: You are the product that you are selling, thus you have to know yourself.  It is important, thus, to carefully review what you know and what you want.

“You are the product that you are selling, thus you have to know yourself”.

 WHAT YOU KNOW:

-          Your skills: what are you good at? Ask yourself: “What are my greatest accomplishments?” Make a list and then try to find common threads to see which were your skills and which were your interests. Moreover, define which are your strengths and your weaknesses.  

WHAT YOU WANT:

-          Your interests: what do you enjoy?

-        Your values: what is important in your life? Is it helping other people? Work-life balance? Or rather appreciation and power? Examples of questions to be asked are: Where do you see yourself in 5 years? What do you want to do in life? What are your values? What is important to you?

It is also important to learn and identify your gaps. An effective way to tackle questions on experience or competences you don’t have yet is: “I don’t have this particular competence that you need, but I talked to / took a course / read about / went to conference… and learnt that ….”.

"It is important to learn and identify your gaps."

3. Do your homework: It is important that you research about the company, about the sector and about the job. Here are some tips!
• Look at the website of the company: look at the publications, annual reports, publications, intelligence reports not only of that company but of others in the sector.
• Know the Job description: if you don’t have it, ask for it! Which are the competencies required for the specific job?  
• Learn about who are the key posts at the company, who is the competition, learn about market trends, numbers and figures.

3. Practice practice practice… and get feedback!