Solutions

"Be prepared"

It's time for you to embrace a positive attitude and apply for that job.

This picture represents candidates at an assessment centre doing group activities.

Be confident

It is going to be challenging and you may have to compete against several other candidates, some of which you may already know or work with, but remember, you can do this. It is just a matter of being confident and believing in yourself that you are the right person for the job, whilst demonstrating the passion and the skills you have to do it.

Evaluate the role profile

It is important that you analyse the job role profile carefully and thoroughly as this will tell you exactly what skills and experience are needed to perform the role. Match your skills against the role profile to help structure your application form.

This picture represents someone writing their application form.

Prepare writing your application form or CV

Your application form should follow the guidelines contained within the job role profile. Usually these will consist of a range of personal qualities and behavioural competencies:

Openness to change
Professionalism
Decision making and
Working with others

This picture represents someone researching the company they have applied to work for.

Research the company and your new job

It is best practice to thoroughly research the company that you are potentially going to work for to establish what do they do?, who are their customers?, what do they sell? Contact the person named on the job advert and have a telephone conversation with them asking to visit the department. This is a great opportunity to find out more about the role before you attend the interview. This prior contact also demonstrates to an employer that you have taken the time to research the position, and have a keen interest in working for them.

This picture indicates a group of candidates working on a problem together at an assessment centre.

Evidence your experience

Reflect on your work experience. What have you achieved? What projects have you worked on? How did you manage a team? What responsibilities did you have? It is important to use current experience (within a five year period, if possible) and try to tailor your evidence so that it is relevant to the role you are applying for. The competencies are designed to test your ability to resolve problems, so you'll need to use the STARR technique when writing your application form. I can help you explore this.

This picture represents two people practising a role play interview.

Practice rehearsing your answers

This is the key to performing well in your interview. Whether you practice with yourself, speaking out aloud your evidence, or ask someone to role-play with you. Let them read the job role profile first, so that they have an understanding of what role you are applying for. Their role is to be the interviewer and to listen to your answers and help by giving you some positive feedback.

This picture represents a group of various aged candidates all dressed in business attire.

Attire (Dress Code)

It is important to make a good first impression. Appearance and smell is paramount. Therefore, dress smartly and colour co-ordinate your clothes accordingly. The panel will judge you during the first ten seconds of you walking into the interview room.

Men: A clean, ironed shirt, tie, trousers and polished shoes (jacket or suit). Clean shaven, trimmed facial hair, haircut, clean nails, and wear deodorant.
Ladies: A clean, ironed blouse, trousers or skirt, polished shoes (jacket or suit). Do not wear too much makeup or jewellery, haircut, clean nails, and wear deodorant.

This picture represents someone making their way to their interview.

Ready for interview

It is important that you feel confident and comfortable for your interview. Allow yourself plenty of time to get to the interview. Be there fifteen minutes early. Learn your examples well, but not word for word as this will affect your recollection during the interview. Speak with confidence for your evidence to flow naturally.

This picture represents a candidate being interviewed.

Expectations of your interview

Depending on the role you are applying for, it is normal to have an interview panel consisting of two or three people. One would be the chairperson, the second being the team leader or manager of the department you are applying for and the third being an independent representative from Human Resources, who has the responsibility to ensure that the interview process is fair and impartial. Between them, they will ask you at least six competency based questions. These questions are designed to be straight forward to test your skills, knowledge, and experience for the role, and not to trick or 'trip you up'.

This picture represents an employer congratulating and offering the job to the successful candidate.

Deliver and get that job!

You have prepared so hard for this interview, it is now time for you to do your very best and use all the skills and techniques that I have taught you to get the job. It is important that you remain calm before you go into the interview room, and use breathing techniques to help you achieve this if you are nervous. You will need to have a clear and focused mind with determination and positive energy. Speak loud, with confidence and maintain good eye contact. Don't leave your best evidence until the end, because waiting for that question to appear, never does! Enjoy and learn from the experience. Good Luck!