Personal Favourite Interview Tips (Part Deux)

On Monday I published Part One of my Personal Favourite Interview Tips. Sharing advice such as 'know the job you are going for', 'wear something memorable' and 'ask lots of questions'. In Part Deux, I share the following: 

# Smiling = positive attitude

By nature I am quite a smiley person. I have a positive attitude towards life and feel it resonates through my smile.

My former manager once told me “you can teach the right person skills and knowledge, however you cannot teach a person the right attitude”.

Having a positive attitude is a highly sort after trait in most companies. Even if you are not generally a positive person, fake it with a smile. Practice in the mirror … Go on, I dare you!

"I want to be you whenever I see you smiling" as the lyrics go in Gnarls Barkley song 'Smiley Faces'

^ People are attracted to people with positive attitudes as they tend to be vibrant and happy

# Do not be afraid of your accomplishments

There’s a difference between confidence and arrogance. If you are proud of your achievements, then be confident in the interview to let your future employer know how you’d be a great asset to their company by putting it into context. However don’t be forceful or assertive about it. Simply remain your modest, confident self, but be proud of your achievements!

"What are you asking me!?"

# Be prepared for stupid questions

I was once asked in an interview ‘what animal I would be and why?’ In the same interview I was also asked why I haven’t been able to keep a steady job for more than a year. I was 18/19 years old at the time, with less than a year out of High School, studying Beauty Therapy full time. The questions seemed strange, irrelevant and the last one, condescending. I was applying to be a Retail Assistant at a shoe store. A role I had previous experience with, which I felt was being overlooked. So my advice is to be wary that some employers like to throw you off with irrelevant questions to test you. If their questions make you feel uncomfortable, or feel more like a rhetoric attack than question, it is okay to ask the relevancy of their question to the job interview.

*Remember if you think the interview is steering off-topic, it’s okay to control and steer it back to relevancy.

# Ask when you will hear back if you are successful

This is the most important question in an interview! If they say ‘by next Friday’, make note in your diary to call them if you do not hear back from them. Sometimes employers get busy or forget and they may need a little reminder. Also by calling them to find out your success shows persistence, dedication and interest in the position.

L'Oréal's knows you're worth it!

# Know your worth

If you’ve spent years dedicating long hours and working hard towards your Bachelors, Masters, Honours or PHD for this role, then know your worth! Don’t work for free. Research how much you should be getting paid for the position and go to the interview with that figure in mind. Since your education wasn’t for free and you spent however many years working towards it, it is okay to negotiate salary if you think you are worth it. Don’t take anything less unless you think the position itself is worth it.

***I think it’s okay to discuss pay during the interview, though my mother thinks it is something to be negotiated after you’ve been offered the role. What do you think?

Have you got any Interview Tips and Tricks you would like to share?

Please share them in the Comment Space below. Or alternatively you can email them.

#BeyoncéWouldBeProud x

Personal Favourite Interview Tips (Part One)

Selfie taken before an interview
Wearing long-sleeved black dress from Dotti and a colourful statement necklace from Riley Burnett

I used to be the kind of person who’d apply for jobs just to be interviewed. I loved the process. Getting the phone call saying I’ve been successful for an interview, organising it, deciding what to wear and actually attending. It’s like attending a romantic first date but with the prospect of getting paid for it. So I thought I would share my personal interview tips with everyone and split it in two parts. First piece of advice:

# Know the job you are going for

Standard advice, however in moments of desperation, I’ve applied for any and every job on employment websites. From floristry (no qualifications whatsoever), erotic dancing, retail and IT (again no qualifications at all). I’d then apply for jobs I’m legitimately interested and eligible for, get a phone call or email saying I’ve been successful and I think to myself ‘I wonder if it’s for the stripper role I applied for last week’ … Or I’d occasionally rock up to interviews not actually knowing what it’s for.

I  have applied in the past to be a stripper, however I could never be one
… their salary is very tempting though

# Only apply for jobs you are interested, eligible and qualified for

Make note of what you applied for and employer contact details so you can follow up your application a couple of days after you apply. Also save the job descriptions you applied for, so when you do get acceptance for an interview, you can refer back to it, refresh your memory and base your position and company research around it.

# Wear something memorable

Doesn’t mean ‘attend interview in your birthday suit (or naked)’. I tend to avoid wearing corporate clothing to interviews, mostly because I don’t like wearing all black attire. I also have a curvaceous figure and feel pencil skirts sometimes sexualise my figure. I prefer wearing comfortable cute dresses for the interview, red lipstick (or any other bright colour) and colourful accessories. My theory behind wearing something colourful, different or memorable to interviews is that you will stand out and be at the forefront of your employer’s minds.

The Amazonian beauty on the far right with friends at an Engagement Party 2013
I wear this stripy dress to interviews sometimes, teaming it up with a bright pink cardigan and black heels. 

# Judge the time and day of your interview

If it’s Friday 4pm in the afternoon, your interviewer has been interviewing all day and week for the position. Chances are they may be looking forward to the weekend, more than filling the position. … I know I would. Just be empathetic, control the interview by asking relevant questions and be memorable.

# It’s as much an interview for the employer to find the right candidate as it is for you to find the right employer and position

A lot of people I know tend to forget themselves in interview contexts and think of it as the employer interviewing for the right candidate. However the interview process is as much for you as it is for them.

DO NOT pull this face in interviews, but DO ask lots of questions

# Ask lots of questions

You have no idea how refreshing it is for interviewers to be asked questions, especially if they’ve been interviewing all day. Not only is it impressive when candidates take initiative and control by asking questions, but it shows interest and research in the position.

I recently interviewed for a ‘Coordinator, Programs and Events’ position with a company. The interview was on a Thursday at 4.30 or 5pm, so considering it was late in the week and in the day, I assumed they'd exhausted from interviewing all day (possibly week), so I tried to take as much initiative and control by asking as many questions about the company and position as possible. Unfortunately I was unsuccessful with the position, however they were impressed by my questions and interview skills, that they offered me casual work with potential of full time ongoing work when it becomes available.

Interviewers also admire and appreciate it because it gives them a break from asking you questions.

 Questions to ask in any given job interview context

·      What does a ‘normal’ day in this role look like?

·      Expected tasks, challenges and rewards for this role?

·      What do they find the most challenging and rewarding aspect of their role in the company?

·      Changes or Challenges they see in their industry

·      What kind of person do they think would be best suited to the role?

·      Prospect of ongoing professional development, rewards and recognition?

Part two of 'Personal Favourite Interview Tips' out Wednesday.

In the meantime, what are your favourite interview tips?

#BeyoncéWouldBeProud x