1. The Finishing School
Job interviews tips and techniques
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2. The Finishing School
Job interviews are easier for interviewers and the
interviewees if you plan and prepare questions and
answers, and use proper interviewing techniques.
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3. The Finishing School
Job interviews are critical to the quality of an
organization's people. Good job interviews
processes and methods increase the quality of
people in an organization.
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4. The Finishing School
Stress and Pressure Interview Questions
When dealing with questions that put pressure on you or create
stress, be confident, credible and constructive (accentuate the
positive) in your answers. Three commonly used types of pressure
questions are those dealing with weakness and failure, blame, and
evidence of ability or experience.
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5. The Finishing School
Weakness and Failure questions
"Tell me about your failures....", or "What are your
greatest weaknesses......". are the interviewer's
equivalent to "Are you still beating your wife?..".
Don't be intimidated by these questions
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6. The Finishing School
"I don't generally fail", or "I really can't think of any", are
perfectly acceptable answers.
"I almost always succeed because I plan and manage
accordingly. If something's not going right , I'll change it
until it works.
Do you see the positive orientation? Turn it around into a
positive every time.
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7. Blame questions The Finishing School
Watch out also for the invitation to rubbish your past job or Manager,
especially in the form of: "Why did you leave your last job?", or "Why have
you had so many jobs?"
Employers do not want to employ people who blame others.
So always express positive reasons and answers when given an opportunity
to express the negative. Never blame anyone or anything else.
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8. Prove it questions The Finishing School
These can be the toughest of the lot. Good interviewers will press you for
evidence if you make a claim. So the answer is - be prepared.
Watch out for closed questions: "Can you do so-and-so?.." , "Have you any
experience in such-and-such?..."
These questions invite a yes or no answer and will be about a specific area.
If you give a yes, be prepared to deal with the sucker punch: "Can you give me an
example?........"
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9. The Finishing School
Competency and behaviour based questions
The question might ask you to give an example of how you
have handled a particular situation or challenge in the past.
In these cases the interviewer will often judge your answers
according to how much they agree with your behavioural
approach. Positioned as competency-based, it may be
treated as a question of behaviour and style.
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10. The Finishing School
Giving presentations
Being asked to give a presentation at your interview is a great opportunity for you to
shine and stand out from the crowd.
A little preparation and thought will enable you to use the situation to great
advantage. A presentation enables you to showcase your attributes and qualities .
Demonstrating an organizational or strategic interpretation and enthusiasm for the
role - showing that you can add value beyond what the employer hopes for - is the
key to standing out as a star candidate.
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11. The Finishing School
Tips on creating presentations
The Rule of Three
Introduction or aims.
The points you want to make (three, subdivided if necessary).
Summary - and ideally an impressive memorable finishing statement.
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12. The Finishing School
The Tell 'Em Rule
Tell 'em what you are going to tell 'em,
Tell 'em,
Then tell 'em what you told' em.
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13. The Finishing School
Three Big Points
Three big points must address the three biggest outcomes that the
organization needs from the new appointment.
Brainstorm (jot down as many relevant ideas for the three outcomes as
you can).
Then hit them hard with how you will achieve each of the three big
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14. The Finishing School
Questions to avoid asking
"How many weeks holiday do I get?.."
"When would I get a pay-rise?.."
"What are the lunch times?.."
"What sort of car do I get?.."
"What other perks are there?.."
"What are the pension arrangements?.."
"Do you have a grievance procedure?.."
"What expenses can I claim for?.."
"How soon before I could get promoted?.."
"When is going-home time?.."
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15. The Finishing School
Second interviews guidelines
There is nothing wrong in the candidate asking the
organisation prior to the interview what to plan and
prepare for in the second interview - interviewers
will regard this as a positive sign.
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16. The Finishing School
Interview follow-up
If you are particularly keen to be offered a job and wish to
increase your profile and chances of receiving a job offer
after attending interview, you can follow up an interview with
a letter or email (and then a phone call) to reinforce your
commitment and qualities for the job. The sooner the
better.
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17. The Finishing School
Tips on what to wear
You'll see various research and general advice concerning what best to
wear for job interviews. The sort of clothes, styles, colours, shoes, make-
up, accessories, etc., are likely to have the best effect.
Your best choice of dress, clothes, colours and style at interview should
actually depend on the role and what surrounds it.
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18. The Finishing School
A Dream job
Think deeply and creatively about what will be the
best sorts of jobs and employers for you.
What about a video CV? What about creating an
impressive web presence for yourself?
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19. The Finishing School
Go find the jobs and openings that fit your strengths
that are not advertised.
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