Applying for Jobs: The Do’s and Don’ts & how to counter your nerves!
Below are the results of a recent survey of what employers find important about candidates at interview. These figures state what percentage of employers react favourably to each item:
75% – Good hygiene & Cleanliness
72% – Humour
68% – Firm handshake
64% – Sit up straight and smile
62% – Ideal C.V. length of 2 pages
And the below items unfavourably…
92% – Unexplained gaps in C.V.’s
78% – Mobile phone on
62% – Incorrect spelling/grammar
27% – Creative font use
Confidence comes with preparation
Preparation is paramount. The number one reason graduates get nervous in interviews because they fear they may not be able to adequately answer a particular question. It is likely the first section you will be asked about after you are given an introduction to the company/role will be your C.V. This is an excellent opportunity to generate some confidence and get rid of the shakiness in your voice.
The classic areas to prepare well for are:
1. Your C.V. Know it inside out. It is the only topic you are 100% certain will arise during the course of the interview. It’s like knowing one of the questions on an exam paper in advance. As graduates, this should be easy as you would likely have very little relevant experience to the role you are applying. Graduates should therefore talk about how they made a difference to their part time jobs, what they achieved, and how much trust & responsibility they earned.
2. Educate yourself about the company, the role, the industry and also why you want to work for them instead of a applying for a similar role with their competitors. Interviewers often ask candidates what advantages the interviewee thinks their offering has over their competitors.
3. Hobbies/Lifestyle etc. This is your opportunity to stop pretending you are a robotic emotionless professionally blinkered workhorse who wants nothing more than to make more money for prospective employers, and tell interviewers what kind of person you really are. The majority of them will ask you what you do for fun. If you’re into going to jungle music gigs, base jumping, celebrity stalking or stamp collecting – tell them!
Or alternatively take some of Frankie Boyle’s advice!
