| Working with candidates for jobs in travel quite closely, | | | | genuine interest in the role - some people really |
| one question comes up time and time again: So, let's | | | | struggle with this one, but the truth is that you don't |
| say you've been waiting for months for the perfect | | | | need to give yourself a headache thinking up a suitable |
| job interview to come along, and suddenly you have | | | | question. What was the previous holder of this job |
| one, with one small catch. They're exceptionally keen | | | | like? Where does the department fit into the |
| (or pressed for time) and can only give you a last | | | | company? What are the department's current |
| minute job interview? Less than 24 hours to prepare - | | | | projects? These all work for jobs in travel, and there's |
| is this time to panic? | | | | no reason why they should not extend outside my |
| Relax, this is what you wanted isn't it? And besides, 24 | | | | expertise. |
| hours is ample time to get ready if you break the job | | | | No preparation for an interview would be complete |
| interview preparation process down into its essential | | | | without readying some answers for the standard |
| segments. Plus, if they're giving you just a day to | | | | questions. Come up with effective answers to |
| prepare yourself, the chances are they will be more | | | | questions of why you're leaving your last job, where |
| generous with their expectations when you arrive - | | | | you see yourself in 5 years time, examples of your |
| and if they're not, then perhaps they're not the great | | | | experience and skills and why you should be hired. This |
| company they first appeared! | | | | obviously isn't all the questions they can ask, but it |
| But enough of the speculation - what are the key | | | | gives you a good grounding for some of the more |
| stages you NEED to ensure are done before you set | | | | factual and less small-talk interview situations. |
| foot into that office for the last minute job interview? | | | | On top of this groundwork, you also must be |
| The first step of last second preparation for an | | | | absolutely prepared for making the best possible first |
| interview is learning what it is you're actually applying | | | | impression. You can have the best preparation for an |
| for! If you know nothing about the company, head | | | | interview in the world, but if you turn up for it 20 |
| straight to the company's website, and look up any | | | | minutes late, looking like you get dressed in the dark, |
| press releases they might have created. Take a good | | | | then you will get nowhere. Prepare your clothes in |
| look around their website, and try to get an idea of the | | | | advance and familiarise yourself with the company's |
| bigger picture: how does your position fit in with the | | | | location. Time permitting; it never hurts to head to the |
| company as a whole? | | | | office before the day of the interview to ensure you |
| Next, have a good read of the job listing you applied | | | | know the route and how long it should take you to get |
| for, and look at all the skills and experience it requires. | | | | there. |
| Think of examples that demonstrate your perfect | | | | That last minute preparation for an interview call can |
| match for each one of those that can be rattled off in | | | | be scary, but remember that they've called because |
| the interview scenario - bear in mind that although the | | | | they think you could be the person they're looking to |
| aim here is to paint yourself as the ideal candidate, you | | | | hire, and they know as well as you do that it's short |
| won't gain any points for being unnecessarily verbose, | | | | notice. Given that, follow these last minute interview |
| so within your job interview preparation, work on | | | | tips, then they'll have another couple of skills to file you |
| keeping all your tales and examples to under two | | | | under: superb under pressure, and exceptional with |
| minutes. | | | | deadlines. |
| Have a couple of questions lined up, to show your | | | | |