Interview Tips:

1. Go prepared. Know yourself – an interview is not the time to wing it! Be prepared for key questions about yourself, such as “Have you ever accomplished something you didn’t think you could?”, “The sign of a good employee is the ability to take initiative. Can you describe a situation where you did this?”
2. Research the company – find out as much detail as you can about the company. Your effort will show.
3. Realise you don’t get a 2nd chance at making a 1st impression – exhibit enthusiasm, be self-confident, establish your worth, don’t be arrogant and remain involved in an active two-way conversation.
4. Know your objectives and end with it – ask a question such as, “do you think my skills match your needs?” This gets to the point and, at worse, shows obstacles you need to overcome.
5. Don’t give up – make it your job whilst you don’t have a job, to find a job.

Matriculant Tips:

First and foremost it is important to gain some sense of direction. It does not have to be a clearly identified path, but one needs to at least have an idea as to what to pursue, and have excluded all careers, interests, etc which do not appeal to you in anyway. Google options! The web is an incredible tool offering free assessments, and detail for those trying to navigate to a career path.

Thinking about your future is like creating a ‘mood board’ used in ad agencies to get the creative juices flowing – identify what your likes are, where your skills lie, what interests you and what doesn’t. Research roles which interest you and the steps involved to get to the level you want to reach, i.e. apart from a Degree or Diploma are short courses involved, are you required to participate in internships, etc. From this you will have a clearer vision as to which path to take.

If you feel that you would like to study and are able to afford so, do the necessary research into various opportunities. Apart from the excellent Tertiary Institutions which are on your doorstep, research distance learning opportunities on the Internet. Do take into account which qualification or which Institution will be most recognized by potential employers.

Critical advice and a non-negotiable skill required is that you need to be computer literate in MS Word, MS Excel and Outlook. Even a day/two day starter course will suffice to get you kick-started if finances present a problem. Obviously the more you are able to skill yourself in this regard, the better. Libraries are a good place to practice if you don’t have a PC at home. We would also highly recommend you plan for and strive to attain your Drivers license.

Should you not be the studious type of person, take your career mood board and identify Companies with which you identify as a person, and research their available opportunities via the Internet (respective Websites) or by contacting their HR Departments. Remember that by marketing yourself you are able to create a firsthand impression of the person you are submitting within your CV.

For this a good CV is essential. You may feel that you may not have a lot to offer as you have just left school, but that does not stop you from putting pen to paper with the right details in the correct manner. Most Recruitment Agencies do offer online advice on how to prepare a CV, or even better provide online templates (example obtained at www.headhunt.co.za). In this case, a well prepared Cover Letter would be advantageous.

Of the best advice we can share is that you need not be afraid to put yourself out on a limb, and ask if you can ‘shadow’ a particular person in a role you would like to achieve, or even to contact a person in that role, and ask if you may ask them a few questions – where did they start, what did they study, how long did it take for them to get there, etc. The person who gets hired is not usually the one who can do the job best, but the one who knows the most about how to get hired. Employers usually hunt for employees through a referral from a business colleague, friend, colleagues, i.e. through networking. So start networking and use your contacts.

However, your job, until you have a job, is quite literally the job-hunt. Make it your job to find a job. Wake up early, get dressed for success, have faith in yourself, and never ever give up! Have faith in yourself and always carry the demeanor of the person you wish to be – show your potential!

Person VS Paper

First Impressions, Body Language, Self Presentation and How The Employer Feels About Your One and Only Chance To Create a Good First Impression

An all too familiar case arises when a potential candidate’s curriculum vitae crosses one’s desk in application for a position advertised. As we all know, there are certain people for certain positions – liken it to the matching piece in a jigsaw puzzle – the fit must be just right.

The potential candidate on paper fits the position perfectly. They are contacted in invitation to an interview, with high hopes that the employer/recruiter will need to look no further. The potential candidate enters, and in dismay, you find that your candidate is ‘paper perfect’ rather than ‘picture perfect’.

Candidates often tend to rely on their CV for that first impression, yet the rule of thumb still remains: within the first 30 seconds of introduction, an opinion or impression as such, is formed – the first impression. Depending on this impression, their CV will close the deal or not. Candidates should not rely solely on their credentials. Employers/recruiters will take the first impression factor into account, as the body language and self-presentation of the candidate will let the employer/recruiter in on whether or not they would be the ‘right person’ for the job.

Remember, we only have one chance to create a good first impression: make a lasting impact!

It is easier to create a great first impression, than a bad one, and try to persuade the employer/recruiter that you are as positive and professional as your CV indicates. Vice versa, if you are looking to find more work experience but your CV lacks the professional support you need, a recruiter will base their faith in whether or not you are suitable for the position by how you present and carry yourself.

Remember: always look the part you want, and not the one you have. By looking the part you want, your image will read: ‘go-getter, professional, passionate, and responsible’.

By creating a lasting, impressionable good first impression, you will make your footprint in the working world as well as set the standard by which you want to be assessed. So let that be one of professional strength!

By Tanya Bekker, Recruitment Consultant