I Think I Failed My Interview! Now What?
| Alex Moore
The article deals with my personal failure story while interviewing for a position at my local Target store. Although I was convinced that a job in retail was an easy one to land, especially considering this particular companys openness to hiring fresh-faced college graduates in a very lenient work environment, what happened next proved me wrong. I went in there is way too sure of myself, and this braggadocios façade made me an undesirable candidate. At first, I was taken aback by my mistake and I was completely disappointed with entering the workforce. But then I started thinking about the situation at hand and I came up with ways to improve upon it. By ruminating and passing everything through a filter, I discovered some important things about avoiding failure in the future and turning my negative experience into an educational opportunity for personal growth. And, most importantly, I discovered things about myself which I hadnt been aware of before. Being able to pinpoint your shortcomings is a great asset in ones professional life, and thats exactly what my decline uncovered for me. ...
Weird and wonderful interview questions
| James Innes
Some employers such as Google, Apple and Facebook to name but a few, have taken to asking oddball questions to test candidate's ability to think on their feet during interviews. If you are asked such a question, remember there is no right and wrong answer, but try to work out the interview's motivation in asking the question. ...
More Weird and wonderful interview questions
| James Innes
Best-selling author and founder of "The CV Centre" and "The Resume Center" discusses the weird and wonderful interview questions that some employers ask candidates in his books "The Interview Book" and "The Interview Question & Answer Book". James provides examples of such questions and suggests ways of answering them....
How do you get a giraffe into a fridge?
| James Innes
How do you get a giraffe into a fridge? This is a genuine question a candidate was asked by a major employer at an interview, and is an example of a growing trend for recruiters to pose weird and wonderful questions to applicants as a way of testing their ability to think on their feet....
Five Ways to Get Noticed (In a Good Way)
| Rachel Stones
You've secured a coveted interview spot, now it's time to put your best foot forward. Polls show that many interviewers decide in the first five minutes whether a candidate is a good fit for the role. From demeanor to dress, to projecting confidence in your abilities, this article will help you with the first five minutes and nail the rest of the interview too....
Make Sure You Do These 10 Things After A Job Interview
| Laura Slingo
Congratulations on completing your job interview, but your work's not done yet. Here are ten things you must do after an interview if you want to increase your chances of securing the job....
Interview nerves costing you the job?
| The Resume Center
Many people find the whole thought of an interview makes them break out in a cold sweat. It is natural to be nervous about an interview but with proper preparation, lots of practice and a sense of perspective you can master your nerves and showcase your skills and talents convincingly....
Researching the Organisation
| The Resume Center
Statistically 80% of candidates at interview will have done no or little research on the company to whom they are applying. Don't make this mistake. Just a little research will give you a head start over much of the competition, and underline your interest and enthusiasm for the role....
Presentation, Presentation, Presentation
| The Resume Center
How you physically present yourself will make an immediate impression at an interview before you even open your mouth. Present yourself as a professional and create the right image from the start....
Fail to Prepare, Prepare to Fail
| The Resume Center
The best person, in terms of skills, experience and achievements, doesn't always pass the interview. The most able candidates on paper can fail because they assume they can just turn up on the day and all will be well. Failure to prepare for an interview, is preparing to fail it....
You've got the Interview? Now research the job!
| The Resume Center
The first thing you should do when you know you've got an interview is thoroughly research the job. Not knowing what a job entails is one of the cardinal sins candidates can make at interview....
Ask your own questions
| The Resume Center
The failure by a candidate to ask questions during an interview is often cited by recruiters as a major reason why they fail to progress. Prepare in advance a few key questions to ask at the appropriate time - it demonstrates your interest and willing....
The Importance of Body Language
| The Resume Center
Experts say that body language accounts for 93% of messages you send out during the interview. That means only 7% of the message you convey comes out of your mouth! The conclusion is clear - get your non-verbal communication right to impress a potential employer....
Providing References
| The Resume Center
If you are asked to provide references by a prospective employer choose carefully as their comments could have a significant impact on your job application. Make sure you contact references in advance and keep them briefed on your progress....
Tell me about yourself? - the most popular question at an interview
| The Resume Center
Almost inevitably if you get an interview, you will be asked the question "tell me about yourself?" or, a variation of it, such as "can you walk me through your CV?" Prepare for this question carefully as a well prepared and succinct answer can not only sum up your career history and experience, and highlight your skills it can also demonstrate they you are a good fit for the company and the role....
First impressions count
| The Resume Center
First impressions count as interviewers will make their mind up about a candidate very quickly. Make a poor first impression and you may never recover....
Sidestep Illegal Interview Questions
| The Resume Center
Questions may be asked during an interview about your personal or family life, political, religious or sexual affiliations that are illegal. Whilst in rare cases an interviewer may be blatantly discriminatory, more likely they are just trying to be friendly and have asked an inappropriate question without realising it. Don't feel obliged to answer. In any case, try and sidestep the issue and get the interview back on track....
Avoiding Common Interview Mistakes
| The Resume Center
There are some common interview mistakes which candidates make time and again, regardless of company, position, seniority or country. But, if you make a mistake, it doesn't have to be the end of the interview. You can still recover and get that job in the end....
Distance Interviewing
| The Resume Center
Distance interviewing, whether by phone or video, is becoming increasingly popular as technology evolves and recruiters look to minimise the time and cost involved in the interview process. Candidates should treat distance interviews as they would a face to face interview, with a few additional points to be borne in mind....
How many interviews does it take to get a job?
| The Resume Center
If a company invites you back for a second, or even third interview, this is not because they are inefficient. They want to get the hiring right, especially for senior roles. So, if you are invited back, the good news is you are still in the game. But you must prepare as hard for the following interview(s) as the first, because now you need to convince them....
Don't be late - avoid this cardinal interview sin
| The Resume Center
Being late is one of the major sins you can make an interview. Always try and leave enough time to get there early. Being late adds to your stress and leaves a bad impression on the employer....
Had a Bad Interview Performance? Let it Go!
| The Resume Center
If you have done badly at interview, don't beat yourself up. It happens. Pick yourself up, learn from what went wrong, and you'll do better next time....
What do you do around here anyway?
| The Resume Center
A candidate who does not know a company's basic products or services is likely to fail badly at interview. There is no excuse for not doing your homework in advance....
When is the best time to schedule an Interview?
| The Resume Center
According to research, if you have the option, Tuesday mid-morning is the best time to schedule an interview....
Good Cop, Bad Cop! Look out for the Nice Guy!
| The Resume Center
A classic interview technique is the old good cop, bad cop routine! Whilst candidates may fear the bad cop, it is usually the good cop they need to watch....
How not to lose that job in 2 minutes
| The Resume Center
Interviews are widely regarded as a stressful experience. A determined candidate may spend hours, researching a company, its service and products, preparing strong answers to tough interview questions, and creating mental lists of things to ask....
