Tips For

Finding A Job

Interview tips

Job interviews can be an informative and fulfilling experience if you prepare yourself prior to attending an interview. Remember they should be a two way communication, a chance for you to get to know them and them to get to know you. It is also a chance for you to ask some questions

Here are some tips to assist you:

Research The Company

Find out as much as you can about the company by getting online (google, Linkedin), understanding key people in the business and research the people you are meeting. Annual Reports are a very good source of information. Your efforts will show during the interview and you will be viewed as pro-active and hardworking, and don’t be scared to take your research with you.

Prepare Yourself

Know your strengths, weaknesses and accomplishments. The job interview is not a time to improvise on the spur of the moment!

Personal Presentation

Check with your contact as to the Employer’s dress code. If unsure, dress in corporate attire or appropriate to the level and environment of the role where sometimes “smart casual” may be more appropriate. In either case it is better to be over-dressed than under-dressed. 

Arrival Preparation

Research in advance the destination and travel times to ensure you arrive ideally 5 minutes before the time of the appointment. Allow yourself a 30 minute buffer in case of hold ups with transport.

Smile!

First impressions will dramatically affect the ultimate evaluation of you as a candidate. Turn off your mobile phone. Ensure you smile, be enthusiastic, give a firm handshake with good eye contact, appear friendly and self-confident, meet your contact by using their name. Do not have gym bags, dry-cleaning or coffee cups with you if you can avoid it.

Interview Question Preparation

Prepare yourself with answers to typical interview questions such as “Tell me about yourself?”, “Why are you looking for a new position?”, “Where do you see yourself in your next position”, “Where do you see yourself in 3-5 years’ time?”, “What do you know about us?” etc. Your positive and considered responses will reflect well with your interviewer.

Techniques

Remain positive in your responses and keep them succinct and concise – do not ‘waffle’. Be prepared and provide specific examples of your achievements and remain attentive throughout the interview.

Ask probing and relevant questions that demonstrate your analytical skills and assertiveness. Be positive about your co-workers and past employment as negativity no matter how well founded will imply a negative attitude.

Eyecontact

Good eye contact is critical, without going over the top. If it is a 1:1 interview, use balance eye contact but maintain this through the interviewe. If there are more than one interviewer, make sure you provide equal eye contact with them all.

Know Your Objective

Establish your objective before the interview and ask this during the interview such as “do you think my skills match your requirements?” After the interview state that you are interested in the role and ensure you demonstrate this throughout the interview. Ask what the next step in the process will be to reiterate your interest in moving forward.

Resume Sample

FIRSTNAME AND LASTNAME

ADDRESS

Street, Suburb, State And Postcode

TELEPHONE NUMBER

Home/ Work/ Mobile Numbers

E-MAIL ADDRESS

test@test.com

VISA DETAILS

Working Holidays(Start Date - End Date)

EDUCATION

University Name, Town, Country
Degree, Grade Obtained and Year Completed

High School Name and Year Completed

PROFESSIONAL
QUALIFICATIONS

e.g. MBA Where Obtained, CPA etc

LANGUAGES

List languages if different from mother tongue

INTERESTS

List your interests and hobbies and the level of expertise and association

SYSTEMS EXPERIENCE

microsoft word & excel, chess, exigo etc

CAREER HISTORY

begin with most recent

MM/YY TO MM/YY

Company Name:
include a brief outline of the company and its activities

Job Title
Responsibilities include:

  • In bullet point form

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS:

include any projects you have been involved with

MM/YY TO MM/YY

Company Name:
include a brief outline of the company and its activities Job Title
Responsibilities include:

  • List in bullet form - easier to read and highlight your career exactly.
  • keep it concise and to the point

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS:

MM/YY TO MM/YY

Company Name:
include a brief outline of the company and its activities Job Title
Responsibilities include:

  • In bullet point form.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS:

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES:

include a list here

  • In bullet point form.

REFEREES :

Referee details avilable upon request

Keeping your Linkedin Profile fresh

Getting this right and maintaining your profile is one of the most important things you can do as part of your job search. Prospective employers invariably will look at your profile and could even compare your work history with what’s on your resume.


Your LinkedIn profile is an excellent tool to remain discoverable and connect with potential employers. Hiring managers and recruiters use LinkedIn via key word searching for potential candidates.



Even if you are not looking for a new role, the business community will often reach out to you when they think you are a good fit to their business.

Some practical suggestions:

Complete a full profile.

Ensure your current position is up-to-date and includes your title, company name, and the time period you have worked there, then complete the work history section of your LinkedIn profile. If you have had travel or maternity leave, include it.

Create a professional headline

Your headline (the text underneath your name) is the main piece of information people see when you appear in search results and the first thing recruiters see when they go to your LinkedIn profile, so make sure you have a keyword rich, descriptive and professional headline.

If you aren’t working, it’s worth including a subtitle along the lines of “now seeking new opportunities” so potential employers can see immediately that you are open for business and the line of work you’re pursuing.

Include a professional photo

It’s always a good idea to include a photo but make sure it is current and professional – keep in mind that recruiters and hiring managers can tell if you’ve cut out your bestie from a night out photo or if you’re wearing your wedding suit, so invest in getting a professional photo taken.

Use keywords throughout your LinkedIn profile

Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is one of the best ways to ensure your profile appears in LinkedIn searches. Think about the keywords recruiters and hiring managers are looking for when searching for someone with your experience and make sure your profile is rich with these terms.

Make your personal summary count

When a recruiter or hiring manager lands on your LinkedIn profile you want to ensure they can quickly and easily understand your skills and experience to figure out if you're right for the role they’re recruiting for. Include in your summary a past, present and future overview and ensure it is keyword loaded. Think of your BBQ pitch to someone who asks “what do you do?".

Customise your URL

When you first create your LinkedIn profile, the default URL will be a random selection of numbers and letters. Ideally, you’ll want to create a personalised URL that includes your name.

To customise your URL:

Click the “Me” icon at the top right of your LinkedIn homepage.

Click on “View profile”.

On your profile page, click “Edit public profile and URL” on the right-hand side of the screen.

Under "Edit URL", click the “Edit” icon next to your public profile URL.

Type the last part of your new custom URL in the text box, then save.

Get written recommendations and endorsements

It’s a good idea to get as many recommendations and endorsements from colleagues, managers, or customers as possible as this adds credibility to your profile.

Turn on the “Open to new opportunities” function

By letting recruiters know you are ready for new opportunities you might open new doors in your job search. To turn this feature on, you’ll need to click on the “Jobs” tab on your LinkedIn profile and then click on “Career interests”. You can then select the “On” button to let recruiters know you’re open.

Build your network

Once your profile is in good shape, work on building your network. You can build your network by connecting to current or past employers, colleagues and school and university friends. The more you have, the more visible you are! You can also connect with potential employers but make sure you provide context to your invite.

Join relevant groups

One of the best ways to get active on LinkedIn is to join relevant groups or networks related to your industry or niche. Even position yourself as a thought leader by creating and sharing content relevant to your industry, role or network and also engaging with other people’s content.

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