Came across a new blog and Kelly – the author sums it up in her article on how to score that interview.

I think it absolutely awesome and useful at the poor economy like ours right now. So enjoy and if you like what you read, why don’t you pop by her blog for more interesting write up too!

GROWING UP IS NO EASY TASK, YOU DECIDE ON YOUR CAREER FROM A YOUNG AGE, PICK OUT A COLLEGE  AND ONCE YOU GRADUATE, YOU HEAD OUT INTO THE REAL WORLD AND WONDER “WHERE DO I APPLY FOR MY FIRST-EVER JOB THAT WILL BECOME THE STEPPING STONE TO SUCCEED IN MY CAREER? ”

ONCE YOU HAVE BROWSED LISTINGS (BOTH IN PRINT OR ONLINE) YOU APPLY FOR THAT JOB, THE POTENTIAL EMPLOYEE CALLS YOU UP FOR AN INTERVIEW AND YOU STUCK FROM THERE AND WONDER WHAT TO DO NEXT BEFORE GOING IN FOR THE INTERVIEW.

DON’T FEAR, WE ALL GO THROUGH THE PROCESS, BUT DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN ACE JUST ABOUT ANY INTERVIEW BY FOLLOWING SOME QUICK (SOMETIMES OBVIOUS) INTERVIEW TIPS THAT CAN ALLEVIATE THOSE NERVES JUST A BIT?

LIVING IN SOUTH AFRICA, MOST UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE DO NOT GET THE CONSIDERATION DUE TO A LACK OF RESEARCH AND PREP BEFOREHAND. HERE ARE 6 TIPS TO KEEP NOTED:

1. RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH! THIS IS SUPER IMPORTANT AS IF YOU HAVE ZERO KNOWLEDGE OF THE COMPANY THEN YOU WILL NOT ONLY RUIN YOUR ONE CHANCE AT A JOB, BUT YOU WILL SHOW ZERO INTEREST, TOO AND IN THE LONG RUN DAMAGE THE COMPANY’S BRAND. A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH WILL DO BEST AND TAKE A FEW NOTES!
2. TAKE A COPY OF YOUR CV, A PENCIL AND PRE QUESTIONS TO ASK AFTER YOUR INTERVIEW – LOCATE POSSIBLE QUESTIONS TOWARDS THE END OF THIS ARTICLE.
3. BE ON TIME AND DRESS TO IMPRESS (LADIES, COVER UP IN THIS SITUATION) GREET WITH A SMILE AS FIRST IMPRESSIONS ARE KEY* 
   
   
4. JUST BEFORE YOU HEAD OUT, DRINK A GLASS OF WATER AS THIS WILL PERK YOU UP AND HELP GET THE MIND AND BODY READY (YES, THIS IS A CLASSIC TIP BUT PEOPLE DON’T ALWAYS FOLLOW IT) HYDRATION IS YOUR BESTIE – REMEMBER THAT
5. KEEP YOUR COOL SHOULD ANY QUESTIONS ARISE THAT YOU CANNOT ANSWER ACCORDINGLY (THIS MAY BE ABOUT YOUR OLD JOB, A GAP IN YOUR STUDIES ETC) THE PURPOSE OF THIS IS TO TEST YOU AND YOUR PERSONALITY; HAVE SOMETHING PREPPED AND TO THE POINT – BE BRIEF BUT NOT RUDE
6. SIT UP STRAIGHT AND MAINTAIN EYE CONTACT BETWEEN QUESTIONS, IF THERE IS MORE THAN 1 PERSON INTERVIEWING YOU THEN ALTERNATE YOUR EYE CONTACT AND KEEP BOTH INTERESTED IN YOU AND YOUR RESPONSES
   

   POSSIBLE QUESTIONS TO ASK AFTER YOUR INTERVIEW 

   

1. DESCRIBE A TYPICAL WORK DAY FOR THE POSITION.
2. ARE THERE ANY EXTRA RESPONSIBILITIES TO TAKE ON? IF NEEDED WOULD YOU REQUIRE THE PERSON TO WORK ON WEEKENDS?
3. IS THERE ROOM TO GROW WITHIN THE NEXT FEW YEARS?

KELLY’S ADDED TIP: PERSONALLY, I AM NOT A FAN OF RECRUITMENT COMPANIES, BUT YOU ARE MORE THAN WELCOME TO DRAFT UP YOUR CV AND ADD IT ONLINE. FOR SOUTH AFRICANS, HEAD OVER TO FACEBOOK AND JOIN THE GROUP CALLED JOBS IN THE EAST RAND (DON’T LET THE NAME FOOL YOU, THERE ARE LISTINGS FOR CAPE TOWN, PRETORIA AND OVERSEAS)

IF YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS OR SUGGESTIONS THEN DON’T HESITATE TO LEAVE A COMMENT OR TWO (REMEMBER: ALL-IN-ONE IS A BLOG ABOUT TOPICS THAT CONNECT PEOPLE, LET’S CONNECT, BEAUTIFUL READER?)

HAPPY JOB HUNTING AND ACE THAT NEXT INTERVIEW! #SlayIt

Kelly Matthee – The author of the All-In-One. A South African lady who loves animals, books, movies, nature, and the piano.