From this article, you’ll learn 5 tips that will get you closer to your coveted position.
Sure, your professionalism and accomplishments are 80% of your success at the interview, but there are five more like you coming to the recruiter, and that’s why the 20% ingredients for success described below will help you get ahead of them.
It’s like in sports: there’s only a fraction of a second between the winner and the loser.
Let’s go!
Assuming you’ve already prepared your resume, the next step is the interview.
1. Have a Successful Phone Interview
The very first call from the recruiter is not just a call, it’s the first and most real interview. Already here you have to shine:
- A smile in your voice.
- Find a quiet spot right away.
- Repeat the recruiter’s name 3-5 times during the conversation so you don’t forget.
- Be prepared to talk about your reasons for looking for a new job (further development, exhausted all opportunities, wife going on maternity leave – make up your mind).
- How much money do you want to get?
- Will you be able to come to the interview at the specified time (if you are not ready to come to the interview within three days, the recruiter will find someone who will be ready)?
2. Answer these Questions about your Future Salary in Writing
Answer these questions about your future salary:
- State your desired salary level.
- Say your minimum wage increment in the future.
- Name a level below which you are not willing to consider.
- And if you were offered a little less, under what conditions would you be willing to accept the offer?
Questions should be asked before the candidate confidently declines if an offer of that amount is made.
3. Take a Written Interview.
The battle must be won before the battle. You are not allowed to go into an interview without preparation. Your preparation is written, emphasized, written answers to the questions you will be asked by the recruiter.
Here’s a list of questions you need to answer in writing:
- Which of all your accomplishments at work is the most outstanding? Now could you go back in time and tell me all about it?
- What were the three or four biggest challenges to overcome?
- What wastheresult?
- When did it happen and in what company?
- How long did it take you to solve the problem?
- What situation did you encounter when you took on this project?
- Why did you do it? Did you take the initiative yourself? Why?
4. Make a Goodfirstimpression
Remember that first impressions are created in 5-10 seconds and are very difficult to influence afterward. All recruiter training is built around not considering a candidate’s first impression, and it’s really hard to do. What’simportant:
- Sayhello.
- Smile.
- Say you’re happy to get to know each other in person.
- Don’t be silent, say you liked the office, the people you met, note some interior detail.
5. Gather Recommendations on yourself from your References
Sooner or later a recruiter will ask you for a list of people who can recommend you. Be prepared to provide that list. But to avoid surprises, conduct a mini-interview with your references. Ask them to do a virtual interview with the recruiter and ask questions:
- What was the candidate’s relationship with the recommender?
- What position did both of them hold at the time?
- What position does the recommender hold now?
- How long have they worked together?
- Please talk briefly about the candidate’s strengths and weaknesses.
- How have the candidate’s weaknesses affected the job?
- What are the major accomplishments?