Category Archives: Job hunting

Job Search – Getting On With The Interview Panel

Posted on 17 January 2013 by Wendy Mason | 3 Comments

Job Search – Getting On With The Interview Panel

Most job searches mean you have to deal with panel interviews. Many large employers will want to use panel interviewing as a part of their recruitment process. It means a number of different people can be involved in the decision-making process. They can be from different parts of the organization with an interest in the role and can give a range of perspectives. Job interviews conducted by a panel are seen to be fair and valid because a number of different opinions and views are taken into account in making a decision.

Usually, each panel member will take turns to ask questions about your fitness for the role; your background, experience and interests. It can be difficult to build rapport with each panel member during the interview. And sometimes, unfortunately, there might be one panel member that you find it particularly difficult to get on with. This can happen at an interview, just as it can in other parts of your life.

Tips to help you build rapport with the interviewing panel.

Knowing who the panel members are beforehand is a great help. If you can, research people on the internet using LinkedIn, for example! If this is not possible, use your knowledge of the company and the position to prepare to respond to questions from different parts of the organization such as human resources, line management, technical and finance.
Your introduction is important to creating the right first impression. This is a good opportunity to connect with each panel member on a personal level before the interview questions begin. Make initial eye contact with each panel member and try to respond warmly and with interest.
When the questions start, listen carefully to what is being asked and don’t be afraid to ask for clarifications or to make sure you understand correctly. It is important to answer the question that has been asked.
Make initial eye contact with the person who asked the question and then include the other panel members in your answer. Scan from one face to the next, pausing briefly on each. Focus on speaking to each individual and then, as you finish your answer, return your focus to the person who asked the interview question. Stay calm and answer each question thoroughly.
If you do get into a discussion or you are asked to consider an alternative point of view, again stay calm. Do not expect to be successful if you let anger or annoyance show. Take time to respond with a considered view. Watch your body language, you can show frustration without saying a word.
If there is someone on the panel that you really cannot get on with, then don’t ignore how they make you feel and why. If that person is to be your immediate boss in the new organization, or someone further up the line to whom you will report, then think quite seriously about whether the role is right for you. Do this even if you are successful and it is a generous offer. I have worked with a number of clients who sensed at interview that all was not well but ignored those feelings, only to have regrets later.

With the right preparation and approach, I hope you will get on well with all the members of any interview panel that you meet.

Wendy Mason is a career coach. She helps people reach their goals and aspirations, without sacrificing their home and personal life. Before working as a coach, Wendy had a long career in both the public and private sectors in general management and consultancy as well as spells in HR. She now divides her time between coaching and writing. You can contact Wendy at wendymason@wisewolfcoaching.com and find out more at http://wisewolfcoaching.com

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Posted in Job hunting, Job Search

Tagged career, Career Coaching, Career Development, Employment, Interview, Interview technique, Job hunting, job interview, Job Search, Job Search Techniques, Job Search. recruitment, job seeking, Job-Hunt, jobs, LinkedIn, Looking for a new job, Wendy Mason

Job Search – Standing Out From the Crowd

Posted on 9 January 2013 by Wendy Mason | 2 Comments

Job Search – Standing Out From the Crowd

This post is about applying for advertised vacancies for which you are in competition. Unfortunately, in the present climate, job seeking is intensely competitive. There are usually many applicants for every advertised post. (That is why finding out through your network of contacts about potential vacancies that are not are advertised, or not likely to be advertised, matters so much.)

When you submit a written application, with or without a CV/Résumé, what matters most is that you show clearly and convincingly how you meet the criteria for the vacancy. You need to include keywords that will stand out like head lights – you can find out more about job search keywords at this link.

Once you get to the interview stage, it is reasonable to assume that all those others who are being interviewed at the same time, have also demonstrated that on paper they meet the requirements. Yes, you can assume that the interview and following up your references will be used as opportunities to test whether what you have said on paper in valid. But at the interview stage you want to stand out from the crowd.

Now, standing out from the crowd is not without its risks. And you need to take into account the culture of the organization when deciding how to make your mark. When deciding what to wear for the interview, for example, knowing the company dress code is important. If it is casual then make sure that you wear very smart casual attire. No, you don’t want be so bland that you sink into the wall paper. Wearing, for example, a smart but distinctive tie, scarf or piece of jewelry, can help the interviewers to remember you. The “something distinctive “needs to be chosen with great care and very good taste!

The interview is also an opportunity to show clearly that you will bring added value beyond that required by the job specification. Again show that added value with care and make sure that what you say is relevant to the questions that you are being asked and to the job.

You can also stand out by being actively engaged in the process and showing real interest in the organization and in what the interviewers have to say to you. Make sure that you get a good night’s sleep before the interview, if possible. Do your best to arrive in plenty of time. You want to be bright-eyed and relaxed – not red-faced and slightly out of breath. The impression you want to leave is that you are intelligent, highly competent and likely to be an asset to the organization and to your future work colleagues.

You want to be remembered but for all the right reasons.

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Posted in Job hunting, Job interview, Job Search, Job Search Techniques

Tagged career, Career Coaching, Career Development, change, CV, Employment, Interview, Interview technique, Job Advertising, Job hunting, job interview, Job Search, Job Search Techniques, Job Search. recruitment, job seeking, Job-Hunt, jobs, Looking for a new job

Job Search – What Is Your Passion?

Posted on 7 November 2012 by Wendy Mason | 1 Comment

Job Search – What Is Your Passion?

One of the things that I emphasize to clients who talk to me about career development and job search, is the need to understand yourself and what you need to feel fulfilled. Lots of people look for roles, and indeed take on roles, that meet, not their own needs but what they think they should want. Top of the list of what they think they should want, of course, is usually money.

Now Let us not be naive – money is important to most of us. But to take a job that meets no other criteria, can be the first step on the road to disaster. For example, you are being paid really well, but all your life you have known you loathed the idea of being stuck behind a desk all day. They offered you this desk-bound job with lots of money attached. And now there you are stuck behind your desk and feeling frustrated every day; your morale is low and so, increasingly, is the quality of your work.

You need to understand what you want and what you don’t want from a job. Though, of course, at the end of day, there may have to be some compromises. You may have to take on something you didn’t really want just to keep a roof over the heads of yourself and your family, but understand what you have done and that will help you to manage the consequences.

It helps, as well, to understand what you really care about in job search when it comes to interviews. You may well be asked what you are passionate about – what really matters to you? This is a great question, if you are well prepared for it. Your answer doesn’t have to be work-related of course, but do make sure it is work compatible. Now, is not the time say that your passion is for something that is going to mean travelling to the other side of the world for weeks at a time, taking you away from your work.

Be honest. but think about what is going to present you in a reasonable light at your interview. And make sure that you can back up your statement with information about your past experience and future intentions. Do not declare a passion for something, really knowing very little about it. You might just be unfortunate enough to be interviewed by someone who shares your declared interest and and sees straight through your pretense.

But having and showing passion, and the energy associated, with it is attractive to a prospective employer. It makes you more interesting not just to them but to the world at large.

So, what is your passion?

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Posted in Job hunting, Job Search, job seeking

Tagged career, Career Development, Choosing a job, Employment, Interview, interview questions, Job Search, Job-Hunt, Passion, passion and job search

Job Search: What Are Your Weaknesses?

Posted on 1 November 2012 by Wendy Mason | 2 Comments

Job Search: What Are Your Weaknesses?

Today we have a short video which deals with that most challenging of interview question: what are you weaknesses. It provides some great advice. What matters is not just the weakness but how you talk about it!

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Posted in Interview technique, Job hunting, Job Search

Tagged Interview technique, Interviews, Job hunting, job interview, Job Search, Job Skills

Monster’s Top 5 Job Search Tips

Posted on 25 October 2012 by Wendy Mason | Leave a comment

Monster’s Top 5 Job Search Tips

I found these five top job search tips on the Monster website.

Five key things you need to do to make your job hunt a resounding success.

Look for hidden vacancies. Instead of advertising their available jobs, employers often look to fill vacancies by word-of-mouth, head-hunting or simply by recruiting internally. Knowing how to get yourself in contention for these roles could give you a major boost when it comes to finding your next role.
Get employers to come to you. Getting head-hunted is no longer the preserve of employees in senior management. When you post your CV online, you are immediately putting your details within reach of thousands of employees may save you the trouble of searching through job adverts.
Target the right companies. Do you want to be a big fish in a small pond or would you rather have the safety of a large organisation with job security and a clear career path? Knowing what you want allows you to narrow down your search and spend more time on applying for the roles you really want.
Build a network. Networking is getting to know people who can help you develop your career prospects. You don’t need to be a big shot or the most outgoing person in the world to network effectively, just keep your ears open and listen for information that could work to your advantage.
Keep your spirits up. As time passes, the rejections mount up and the budgets get tighter, it’s easy to become disheartened. However, this is exactly the time when you need to dust yourself off and put in more hard work than ever. One of the main attributes of a successful job seeker is persistence.

Working with a career coach can have a huge impact on the success of your job search If you would like my support, please get in touch.