Posts Tagged ‘interview advice’

For the Journey - by Kara

Thursday, July 15th, 2010

My rowing season has just come to an end and with it comes the opportunity to reflect on the past year; the preparation; the successes; and the failures.hwr

This year I was one of the fortunate members of our squad to have won at Henley Womens Regatta - the main competition that we aim for. Yet strangely, the joys of winning for me were far outshone by the accomplishment of a successful seasons training and the progression of the entire squad - the discipline and dedication that has shone through in every crew/squad member.

I think it is important to prepare for every challenge that you may face in the same way as you would prepare yourself for a competition. This means that regardless if you are just starting out or if you are keen to develop your career, then you should approach it with the same discipline and enthusiasm you would a race. If you do the best that you can and do not succeed in the area/position - then at least you have been true to yourself - in that you cannot have done anything better.

Too often people are scared of failure or rejection but if you approach every day as a new challenge and do your best, then you have nothing to fear (except fear itself!). To improve your chances of success in your career is to get some career/interview coaching, invest time into your personal development and listen to others. But most importantly honour yourself and enjoy making the most of the journey!

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Stand out from the Competition – Develop your Interview Skills - by Kara

Thursday, June 24th, 2010

Graduate jobs are getting increasingly competitive, with many training schemes getting over 100 applicants per position. Over two thirds of graduate training programmes now list the minimum entry requirements as a 2:1, and with so many applicants of high calibstart-girls-career-laucher they need a way to distinguish them. This explains just how important and competitive interviews have become.

Despite this many graduates will have little or no experience of interviews and will have received little guidance. Believe it or not many will not even be up to scratch with even the most basic of etiquette.

So… what can be done to get ahead of the competition? Coaching from a professional recruiter would be ideal but is often incredibly expensive - especially for students that have been living off baked beans for 3 years!

MyTalentPlace has solved this problem by offering affordable online coaching - with professionals who have no less than 10 years experience recruiting. The service is offered online over Skype, which means that the cost is slashed, and so far it has shown astounding results.

Kerry who went through the interview coaching after failing to get several jobs said “Thank you so much for your help. The interview went really well. I’ve just had a call from the agent to say out of all the people they interviewed over the phone, I am the only one they are considering for 2nd interview - she said I was a delight to talk to! I’ve never had such good feedback before. The interview coaching has really boosted my confidence.”

Grant Crow the founder of MyTalentPlace tells us more about this unique service “The true appeal of this service is that it is offered online. This means that it can be available for students and employees when and where they need it, which is often on evenings and weekends”. He continues “… because all of the coaches we use have worked in recruitment for a minimum of 10 years, they know exactly what employers are looking for”.

To find out more visit www.mytalentplace.co.uk/interview-skills/interview-coaching or contact info@mytalentplace.co.uk.

“It’s not what you said… it’s the way you said it!” - by Kara

Monday, December 14th, 2009

In a stereotypical argument this is what a girl will say to her boyfriend and he will then complain that he meant what he said and the way it was said is irrelevant. Whatever your stance on this scenario… have a think about what you can learn from the title quote if you think about how you can apply it to the first impression people get of you!?

Often it is true… that the content of what is said is far less relevant than the way one comes across. Whether this means posture, neat appearance or correct use or grammar, the first few seconds of a first meeting undoubtedly have a profound effect on opinions.

Now… think how this relates to a job interview? Often the way you act and say things will matter more than the content of what you say. Obviously someone isn’t going to employ you if you have absolutely nothing to bring to a company, but a good impression will definitely differentiate between similar candidates.

There are many ways that you can improve your first impression. Making sure you are well presented is key, as is your friendliness to everyone you meet in the company. Eye contact, smiling and trying to introduce some rapport with the interviewer can also enhance your chances of getting that job. Notice the details of people that are important figures in the company or that impress and try to mirror them. Remember to sell yourself in all aspects of your character. If you want further advice and to get more confidence get an experienced interview coach.