In this economic environment just turning up for an interview is not enough and without preparation and a sincere interest in the role then I would recommend that you don't waste your time or that of the person who will be interviewing you.
When seeking new job opportunities it's important that you know how much commitment you're willing to give. Are you genuinely interested in the role you are interviewing for or is it just a job?
There is no doubt that competition is fierce and it always amazes me how many applicants do not take the time to prepare for an interview.
For many, preparing for a wedding, to move house or to go on holiday can take months and yet job seekers take hardly anytime at all to prepare for an interview.
We practise our driving technique before we take a test, actors practise their lines before the actual take and even expectant mothers practise childbirth before labour and yet job seekers spend no time at all to practise for an interview.
I often hear from people that they didn't have the time to prepare or practise for an interview which could potentially enable them to work in a better role, one which could lead to a higher income and therefore allowing them a life with more choices and job satisfaction.
Think back to when they were at school or university, how much time did you take to prepare for your exams? Did you receive the results you had hoped for or can you now own up after all these years and acknowledge that perhaps you didn't prepare enough?
If you consider that only 20% of applicants take the time to prepare for an interview then you can assume that if you are one of 20 interviewees and you do take the time to prepare then the odds will greatly work to your favour - realistically you will only be competing with three other contestants!
PREPARATION is essential for all job seekers and I would encourage individuals to:
1) Research the Company and check out the interviewer (s) on Google / LinkedIn to find out if you have anything in common with them. Imagine you found yourself stuck in the lift with this person for five minutes, what would you say?
2) Read the Job Description - If you haven't already received a copy then it's important that you ask for one. How will you know if you're right for the role? Become familiar with both the job title and description, what skills and abilities are required for the role. Compare your experience and knowledge to the job description.
3) Know Yourself - What are your strengths and weaknesses? What are your qualities and skills? If unsure then speak to a colleague or friend who can help you to identify your strengths and weaknesses, qualities and skills.
4) Check Location - Many large corporates have more than one building so it's always a good idea to check where you are going before heading off for an interview. Call up reception and make sure you've got the details absolutely clear. No feeling can be worse than realizing you're at the wrong address just five minutes before the interview is scheduled to begin. If at any point there's the slightest chance you might be running late then call and inform the person who will be interviewing you.
5) Prepare GOOD Questions - Asking good questions will leave a good impression and put you ahead of your competition even if your skills are not 100%. It's always advisable to have 10 strong questions that you can ask either throughout the interview or towards the end as you will generally find that a number of your questions will be answered by the interviewer before getting the opportunity to ask. If you have run out of questions to ask by the end of the interview then show the interviewer that you have listened with interest and ask for him / her to provide more information on a point that was mentioned during the interview.
Preparing for an interview is different from practising for an interview and again is essential for success.
PRACTISE for your interviews by:
1) Practise your stories by using the STAR technique, Situation or Task, Action and Result.
2) Practise your interview answers by recording yourself until you feel confident with the answer you hear.
3) Observe your body language and expressions by saying your answers out loud in front of a mirror
4) Role play an interview situation as it allows you to practise being your worst over and over again
5) Arrange to call a friend / colleague the day before your interview, give them a list of 5-8 questions and ask them to give you a quick practice session Practising your answers to questions the day before an interview will help you to refresh your mind and can make a huge difference on the interview day.
It's important to REMEMBER that the interviewer will be preparing questions for you, do yourself justice and practice the answers!
Nikki Hutchison, founder of Chilli Pepper Global www.chillipepperglobal.com advising you on every aspect of the job seeking process guiding you step by step whether you are looking to move internally or externally.
Monday, 14 May 2012
Monday, 12 March 2012
10 Tips To Complete Your LinkedIn Profile
A complete LinkedIn profile demonstrates that you take yourself seriously as a professional within your industry. It also helps you to optimise your position in LinkedIn search results and according to LinkedIn; users with complete profiles are 40 times more likely to receive opportunities through LinkedIn.
Take a look at my 10 Tips below to help you to create or build your existing LinkedIn profile.
TIP 1 Name and Current Position
When creating your LinkedIn profile you can include your maiden name, nickname or a previous name. You can also edit this section within your existing profile. Note that your Public Profile will not display the Former/Maiden Name field, so any searches performed on Google using this information will not produce any results.
You MUST include a current position and therefore if you are not currently working then it's recommended that you state that you are "Actively seeking new employment" If you hold voluntary positions then you can include this work too.
TIP 2 Are you in the right Location and Industry?
What is your main professional location in other words where do you work? When creating a LinkedIn profile it's common for people to include there home postcode. Instead it's highly recommended that you include the area you are looking to work.
What is it that you do? Many people include the Industry that they work in rather than the role they perform, it's important to be recognised for what you do.
TIP 3 Description of Current Role
I would recommend that you don't just copy and paste your CV into the experience of each of your roles on LinkedIn. Instead write a brief paragraph as to what you have achieved within that role.
TIP 4 Include a Picture
You MUST have a profile picture and a smart headshot is perfect. Whilst your photo doesn't need to be taken by a professional it does need to represent you as a professional within your industry.
TIP 5 Two Past Positions
According to LinkedIn Including your two most recent positions will make your profile 12x more likely to be found. Most of us will find it easy to include two previous positions, however for those who have worked for the same organisation for a number of years then ensure that you include your various positions separately. If a graduate or someone who has only just started working then if possible include Internships, Summer Placements or part-time work.
TIP 6 Education
Remember to also include any Professional Qualifications that you have achieved.
TIP 7 A Strong Profile Summary
Utilise the allocated 2000 characters to your benefit. What is your Goal? What can you offer? Where can you add value? What are you looking for?
TIP 8 Include Your Skills
You can include up to 50 skills and there is a feature which also allows you to include your level of proficiency, choose from the drop down: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced or Expert. You can also include your years of experience.
TIP 9 Start Connecting
In order to complete your 100% profile you are required to have 50 or more connections. LinkedIn informs us that we should only connect to those people whom we know well. Whilst this is a good policy in theory, it can be quite difficult in practice. I recommend that before making connections on LinkedIn that you take the time to decide how you wish to use the LinkedIn service. Are you looking to use LinkedIn as a place to store all your contacts as you would an address book or are you looking for job or business opportunities?
TIP 10 REMEMBER!
Double check your spelling! What type of impression do you want to give the reader to your profile? What makes you different, why should they make contact with you?
"Don't say anything online that you wouldn't want plastered on a billboard with your face on it"
Nikki Hutchison, founder of Chilli Pepper Global http://www.chillipepperglobal.com/ advising you on every aspect of the job seeking process guiding you step by step whether you are returning to work after raising a family or redundancy, looking to move internally with your existing employer or externally with a new organistation.
Take a look at my 10 Tips below to help you to create or build your existing LinkedIn profile.
TIP 1 Name and Current Position
When creating your LinkedIn profile you can include your maiden name, nickname or a previous name. You can also edit this section within your existing profile. Note that your Public Profile will not display the Former/Maiden Name field, so any searches performed on Google using this information will not produce any results.
You MUST include a current position and therefore if you are not currently working then it's recommended that you state that you are "Actively seeking new employment" If you hold voluntary positions then you can include this work too.
TIP 2 Are you in the right Location and Industry?
What is your main professional location in other words where do you work? When creating a LinkedIn profile it's common for people to include there home postcode. Instead it's highly recommended that you include the area you are looking to work.
What is it that you do? Many people include the Industry that they work in rather than the role they perform, it's important to be recognised for what you do.
TIP 3 Description of Current Role
I would recommend that you don't just copy and paste your CV into the experience of each of your roles on LinkedIn. Instead write a brief paragraph as to what you have achieved within that role.
TIP 4 Include a Picture
You MUST have a profile picture and a smart headshot is perfect. Whilst your photo doesn't need to be taken by a professional it does need to represent you as a professional within your industry.
TIP 5 Two Past Positions
According to LinkedIn Including your two most recent positions will make your profile 12x more likely to be found. Most of us will find it easy to include two previous positions, however for those who have worked for the same organisation for a number of years then ensure that you include your various positions separately. If a graduate or someone who has only just started working then if possible include Internships, Summer Placements or part-time work.
TIP 6 Education
Remember to also include any Professional Qualifications that you have achieved.
TIP 7 A Strong Profile Summary
Utilise the allocated 2000 characters to your benefit. What is your Goal? What can you offer? Where can you add value? What are you looking for?
TIP 8 Include Your Skills
You can include up to 50 skills and there is a feature which also allows you to include your level of proficiency, choose from the drop down: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced or Expert. You can also include your years of experience.
TIP 9 Start Connecting
In order to complete your 100% profile you are required to have 50 or more connections. LinkedIn informs us that we should only connect to those people whom we know well. Whilst this is a good policy in theory, it can be quite difficult in practice. I recommend that before making connections on LinkedIn that you take the time to decide how you wish to use the LinkedIn service. Are you looking to use LinkedIn as a place to store all your contacts as you would an address book or are you looking for job or business opportunities?
TIP 10 REMEMBER!
Double check your spelling! What type of impression do you want to give the reader to your profile? What makes you different, why should they make contact with you?
"Don't say anything online that you wouldn't want plastered on a billboard with your face on it"
Nikki Hutchison, founder of Chilli Pepper Global http://www.chillipepperglobal.com/ advising you on every aspect of the job seeking process guiding you step by step whether you are returning to work after raising a family or redundancy, looking to move internally with your existing employer or externally with a new organistation.
Tuesday, 21 February 2012
How To Become Indispensable Within The Workplace
10 Tips to Avoid Redundancy in 2012
TIP 1 Where do you really add value? - Start identifying where you can add value. Why should an employer pay you a salary with added benefits if you can’t even identify what your transferable skills include? Start thinking about how your employer receives a return on their investment (ROI) by employing you. If you find it difficult to recognise where you add value then ask the people who know you well, you might be surprise by their response!
TIP 2 Recognise your transferable skills – your transferable skills are what make you indispensable. They are essential to your career success and it’s important for you to reflect on these and to be able to develop them, add to them and speak about them confidently. More often than not we can take our skills for granted without recognising that they are in fact what make us unique. Being aware of our Transferable Skills can help us to identify where we add value to the work place. The greater your skills, knowledge and experience the greater the prospect of being indispensable.
TIP 3 Be aware of your Personal Brand - What does your name say about you? If you were to put your name into a Google search engine what information could your employer find out about you? Ensure that you’re creating a professional impression online. If you are a user of Facebook ensure that you switch on your settings so that only those you are connected to can see your posts. DO NOT allow anyone to ‘tag’ pictures of you on their page if they could be seen to be inappropriate!
TIP 4 Create a LinkedIn Profile - A 100% complete LinkedIn profile demonstrates that you take yourself seriously as a professional within your industry. Become an expert within your field by joining relevant groups, start actively taking part in discussions by sharing your industry knowledge.
TIP 5 Dress for success - Far too many people underestimate the importance of the way they look and how they are perceived by others. It takes only 5 seconds to form an opinion about an individual. It is an unconscious process and as much as it may feel unfair, image does matter within the work place.
TIP 6 Are you prepared for redeployment? With many organisations making redundancies, it’s common for employers to request for their employees to apply for their existing role. In the event that this was to happen to you, do you have an up to date CV? Many Internal applicants pay less attention to the content and presentation of their CV and fail to even update it on a regular basis. They believe that it won’t make a difference when applying for internal roles, however, what they fail to realise is that this is their first opportunity to make a great first impression
TIP 7 Build Rapport – It’s important that you build a good rapport with your manager, work colleagues and those you have yet to meet. Ask yourself "What do people really think about me when they meet me for the first time?”. Why not ask your partner, friends or colleagues that you work with?
TIP 8 Remain positive and enthusiastic – When times are hard and companies are making redundancies it’s easy to get caught up in the gossip and the negativity that everyone else is feeling. Yes, it’s depressing to hear of redundancies but remember to remain professional and encouraging to other colleagues within the organisation.
TIP 9 Who knows you exist? Building your network takes time and effort and means speaking with strangers, people who don't even know that you exist within the organisation. Utilise your existing contacts to help you to build new relationships and always show enthusiasm and willingness to help as you never know who might notice!
TIP 10 Become a sponge for information - Speak with your peers within the other departments to help you to develop a wider knowledge of the organisation. Having a familiarity with the various products and services provided by the company can only benefit you to become even more indispensable.
Nikki Hutchison, founder of Chilli Pepper Global http://www.chillipepperglobal.com/ advising you on every aspect of the job seeking process guiding you step by step whether you are looking to move internally or externally.
TIP 1 Where do you really add value? - Start identifying where you can add value. Why should an employer pay you a salary with added benefits if you can’t even identify what your transferable skills include? Start thinking about how your employer receives a return on their investment (ROI) by employing you. If you find it difficult to recognise where you add value then ask the people who know you well, you might be surprise by their response!
TIP 2 Recognise your transferable skills – your transferable skills are what make you indispensable. They are essential to your career success and it’s important for you to reflect on these and to be able to develop them, add to them and speak about them confidently. More often than not we can take our skills for granted without recognising that they are in fact what make us unique. Being aware of our Transferable Skills can help us to identify where we add value to the work place. The greater your skills, knowledge and experience the greater the prospect of being indispensable.
TIP 3 Be aware of your Personal Brand - What does your name say about you? If you were to put your name into a Google search engine what information could your employer find out about you? Ensure that you’re creating a professional impression online. If you are a user of Facebook ensure that you switch on your settings so that only those you are connected to can see your posts. DO NOT allow anyone to ‘tag’ pictures of you on their page if they could be seen to be inappropriate!
TIP 4 Create a LinkedIn Profile - A 100% complete LinkedIn profile demonstrates that you take yourself seriously as a professional within your industry. Become an expert within your field by joining relevant groups, start actively taking part in discussions by sharing your industry knowledge.
TIP 5 Dress for success - Far too many people underestimate the importance of the way they look and how they are perceived by others. It takes only 5 seconds to form an opinion about an individual. It is an unconscious process and as much as it may feel unfair, image does matter within the work place.
TIP 6 Are you prepared for redeployment? With many organisations making redundancies, it’s common for employers to request for their employees to apply for their existing role. In the event that this was to happen to you, do you have an up to date CV? Many Internal applicants pay less attention to the content and presentation of their CV and fail to even update it on a regular basis. They believe that it won’t make a difference when applying for internal roles, however, what they fail to realise is that this is their first opportunity to make a great first impression
TIP 7 Build Rapport – It’s important that you build a good rapport with your manager, work colleagues and those you have yet to meet. Ask yourself "What do people really think about me when they meet me for the first time?”. Why not ask your partner, friends or colleagues that you work with?
TIP 8 Remain positive and enthusiastic – When times are hard and companies are making redundancies it’s easy to get caught up in the gossip and the negativity that everyone else is feeling. Yes, it’s depressing to hear of redundancies but remember to remain professional and encouraging to other colleagues within the organisation.
TIP 9 Who knows you exist? Building your network takes time and effort and means speaking with strangers, people who don't even know that you exist within the organisation. Utilise your existing contacts to help you to build new relationships and always show enthusiasm and willingness to help as you never know who might notice!
TIP 10 Become a sponge for information - Speak with your peers within the other departments to help you to develop a wider knowledge of the organisation. Having a familiarity with the various products and services provided by the company can only benefit you to become even more indispensable.
Nikki Hutchison, founder of Chilli Pepper Global http://www.chillipepperglobal.com/ advising you on every aspect of the job seeking process guiding you step by step whether you are looking to move internally or externally.
Tuesday, 13 December 2011
10 Tips To Get Ahead In 2012
Tip 1. Be aware of your Personal Brand - What does your name say about you? If you were to put your name into a Google search engine what information could a potential employer find out about you? Ensure that you’re making a great first impression.
Tip 2. Do you have an up to date CV? This is your most important job finding tool and for some reason a lot of people regard writing their CV as a chore to complete on a rainy Sunday morning every year or so. Yet this is the document that could decide how much you earn over the next few years. Don’t skimp. Work on it, review it, obsess over it – try anything you can to make it better.
Tip 3. Prepare and Practise - The key to a successful interview is the amount of preparation taken before the interview takes place. It's incredibly frustrating when an applicant looks better on paper than in person. It's an old cliché but...."fail to prepare, prepare to fail" You can't prepare too much for an interview, do your homework and find out everything you can about the company / department and the people you will be meeting. Practice your interview answers by writing them down or even record yourself until you feel confident with the answer you hear
Tip 4. Build Rapport - When attending interviews it's important that you build a good rapport and that you make a positive first impression as you won't get that chance again. Ask yourself "What do people really think about me when they meet me for the first time?" Why not ask your partner, friends and especially those friends that you've recently acquainted or colleagues that you work with. However, be careful not to criticise their point of view when asking for their truthful opinion!
Tip 5. Who knows you exist? When seeking new job opportunities we can sometimes forget to talk to those people who we already know within our existing network. Whilst I wouldn't suggest that you make contact and ask these people directly for a new job you can rephrase by asking who they might know that they can put you in contact with? Building your network takes time and effort and means speaking with strangers, people who don't even know that you exist.
Tip 6. Go Networking - Nearly 80% of jobs are filled direct via internal referrals, company websites and various job board sites therefore it is important that you're not relying solely on Recruitment Agencies. Strong job seekers are aware that networking is a vital part of the job seeking process and are always looking for opportunities to meet or connect with new people.
Tip 7. Create a LinkedIn Profile - A complete LinkedIn profile demonstrates that you take yourself seriously as a professional within your industry. It also helps you to optimise your position in LinkedIn search results and according to LinkedIn; users with complete profiles are 40 times more likely to receive opportunities through LinkedIn.
Tip 8. Follow up - Without follow up then a meeting, interview or new contact is an empty hole. It is in your interest to ensure that you follow up every lead and interview. Send a note to say thank you to everyone who interviews you reminding the employer why you are the right person for their role. Even if the role is not for you still send a thank you note and make a good impression.
Tip 9. Dress for success - Far too many people underestimate the importance of the way they look and how they are perceived by others. It takes only 5 seconds to form an opinion about an individual. It is an unconscious process and as much as it may feel unfair, image does matter.
Tip 10. Where do you add value? - It's important for you to identify where you add value. What can you offer an employer in return for your salary and benefits? In this competitive market, it's important for you to stand out from your competition whether you are looking for an internal move with your existing employer or a new role externally. Once you've identified your key skills you can then provide examples to support your experience.
Nikki Hutchison, founder of Chilli Pepper Global www.chillipepperglobal.com advising you on every aspect of the job seeking process guiding you step by step whether you are looking to move internally or externally.
Tip 2. Do you have an up to date CV? This is your most important job finding tool and for some reason a lot of people regard writing their CV as a chore to complete on a rainy Sunday morning every year or so. Yet this is the document that could decide how much you earn over the next few years. Don’t skimp. Work on it, review it, obsess over it – try anything you can to make it better.
Tip 3. Prepare and Practise - The key to a successful interview is the amount of preparation taken before the interview takes place. It's incredibly frustrating when an applicant looks better on paper than in person. It's an old cliché but...."fail to prepare, prepare to fail" You can't prepare too much for an interview, do your homework and find out everything you can about the company / department and the people you will be meeting. Practice your interview answers by writing them down or even record yourself until you feel confident with the answer you hear
Tip 4. Build Rapport - When attending interviews it's important that you build a good rapport and that you make a positive first impression as you won't get that chance again. Ask yourself "What do people really think about me when they meet me for the first time?" Why not ask your partner, friends and especially those friends that you've recently acquainted or colleagues that you work with. However, be careful not to criticise their point of view when asking for their truthful opinion!
Tip 5. Who knows you exist? When seeking new job opportunities we can sometimes forget to talk to those people who we already know within our existing network. Whilst I wouldn't suggest that you make contact and ask these people directly for a new job you can rephrase by asking who they might know that they can put you in contact with? Building your network takes time and effort and means speaking with strangers, people who don't even know that you exist.
Tip 6. Go Networking - Nearly 80% of jobs are filled direct via internal referrals, company websites and various job board sites therefore it is important that you're not relying solely on Recruitment Agencies. Strong job seekers are aware that networking is a vital part of the job seeking process and are always looking for opportunities to meet or connect with new people.
Tip 7. Create a LinkedIn Profile - A complete LinkedIn profile demonstrates that you take yourself seriously as a professional within your industry. It also helps you to optimise your position in LinkedIn search results and according to LinkedIn; users with complete profiles are 40 times more likely to receive opportunities through LinkedIn.
Tip 8. Follow up - Without follow up then a meeting, interview or new contact is an empty hole. It is in your interest to ensure that you follow up every lead and interview. Send a note to say thank you to everyone who interviews you reminding the employer why you are the right person for their role. Even if the role is not for you still send a thank you note and make a good impression.
Tip 9. Dress for success - Far too many people underestimate the importance of the way they look and how they are perceived by others. It takes only 5 seconds to form an opinion about an individual. It is an unconscious process and as much as it may feel unfair, image does matter.
Tip 10. Where do you add value? - It's important for you to identify where you add value. What can you offer an employer in return for your salary and benefits? In this competitive market, it's important for you to stand out from your competition whether you are looking for an internal move with your existing employer or a new role externally. Once you've identified your key skills you can then provide examples to support your experience.
Nikki Hutchison, founder of Chilli Pepper Global www.chillipepperglobal.com advising you on every aspect of the job seeking process guiding you step by step whether you are looking to move internally or externally.
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