| Life for an average student is not always rosy and | | | | are going to meet (have their name and phone number |
| things normally gets tighter as one approaches the end | | | | handy) and start making a good impression right from |
| of a course. Then it dawns on the student that they'll | | | | the company's entrance. |
| soon be emerging into a whirlpool called the job | | | | (iv) Plan your Journey |
| market. For first-timers, it can be both daunting and | | | | This again should be pretty obvious. Do plan your |
| nerve-wracking. In this article I will give some practical | | | | journey allowing enough time (for the train cancellation, |
| real-life tips on how to survive that job interview in | | | | traffic queues etc) so that you can be there at least |
| order to get your dream job. | | | | 15 - 20 mins before the interview. Also have the |
| (i) Apply for jobs that match your skills | | | | contact numbers of the interviewers handy just in |
| Without going into long stories or giving the | | | | case you need to contact them in an emergency. If |
| conventional job interview advice, the honest truth | | | | you are too early find a cafe, a park etc where you |
| about excelling in a job interview is that one should | | | | can wait until the right time to go in. Being late will make |
| APPLY FOR JOBS THAT MATCH his/her skills. This | | | | the wrong impression and will evidently add to the |
| is the golden rule and underpins most of the success | | | | pressure. |
| failures at job interviews. Put differently, there is not | | | | (v) Be yourself |
| much point in applying for a job that does not match | | | | Be honest in your answers and if there is anything you |
| your skills and hoping for a miracle at the interview. | | | | don't know simply say so. If a question is not clear to |
| Even if one is moving to a totally different area of | | | | you, politely ask the interviewer for a repeat. Don't try |
| work ensure that your (transferable) skills matches at | | | | to trick/pull a wool over the eyes of the interviewer as |
| least 60% of the core skills for the role you are | | | | they can pick up any sign of hesitation or untruth. |
| applying for. Without a proper skill match, the candidate | | | | (vi) Research the Company |
| has an uphill task in trying to convince a would-be | | | | Although the job interview is conducted by the |
| employer that he/she is the BEST person for the role. | | | | would-be employer, it not intended to be a monologue. |
| A skilled interviewer will no doubt discern who is a | | | | The interviewer will most certainly expect some |
| genuine candidate and one that came to try his/her | | | | questions from the candidate at some stage. The |
| luck. If your skill is no match, try doing some training or | | | | interview process is the chance for the company to |
| applying for a different job. | | | | find out about the candidate and also a good chance |
| (ii) Prepare well for the interview | | | | for the candidate to find out whether the company is |
| The fact that you have been invited for an interview is | | | | the right place for them. In reality there are times when |
| an indication that the interviewer has seen what he | | | | a candidate might be desperate for a job and might be |
| she likes on your CV or application form. That's | | | | willing to accept quite a range of conditions from the |
| encouraging but that is where it stops. To the | | | | employer. Even in such cases, the candidate should still |
| employer, everything is still a mere theory or should I | | | | research the company and ask pertinent questions |
| say ' a mere good CV' and nothing more. It is your | | | | about the company's history, business, working |
| performance at the interview that now concretises | | | | conditions etc in order to be sure of these conditions. |
| what is on your CV. Hence in a nutshell, be ready to | | | | This not only shows the employer that the candidate |
| defend what is on your CV or put differently, don't put | | | | has done his/her home-work, it also helps the |
| things on your CV that you cannot defend in an | | | | candidate to weigh the available options for example |
| interview. So read your CV and be ready to answer | | | | when there are more than one potential employer. |
| questions especially on those core areas relevant to | | | | Having said that, it is not normally advisable to ask |
| the position. | | | | about money (wages/salary) during an interview |
| (iii) Know who you are going to meet | | | | unless the interviewer specifically asked about |
| This seems pretty obvious but a lot of candidates | | | | expected wages/salary. |
| arrive at the reception of their would-be employer only | | | | The coming Part 2 of this article will deal with each of |
| to roll their eyes when asked by the receptionist who | | | | the above and other points in greater details. Watch |
| they are and who is interviewing them. Know who you | | | | out. |