Job Preparation

INTERVIEW, CV AND SOFT SKILLS ADVICE

HOW TO PREPARE FOR AN INTERVIEW

How to prepare for an interview quickly

1) Research the company and show you genuinely want to work there

- products/services the company sells

- website "About us" page (history, future plans and achievements)

- follow on social media & note latest stories

2) Read job description to see skills needed

3) Consider your biggest weakness

- not good at public speaking but improving

- saying no to people

- no leadership experience but would like to take the lead if opportunity arises

4) Prepare for "Tell me about yourself" question

5) Think of 3 questions to ask during interview

- priorities in the role at the moment

- what would success look look like in 12 months from now

- please tell me about the team I will be a part of

5) Interview tips

- dress smart

- take cv to interview and use it when asked to talk through the resume

- take a plan of action to show the hiring manager what you will do in the first 30,

60 and 90 days of starting work in the role

- be prepared to answer "Do you have anything to add?"

- take to the interview your answers to 10 most common interview questions to refer to

during the interview

how to write a cv

Tips to write a brilliant CV

1) Understand the purpose of CV and Cover Letter

- CV and Cover letter are the first documents a hiring manager will read

- CV shows education, experience, achievements and certifications

- Cover Letter is designed to show your passion for the job and why you applied

2) 7 sections to include in your cv

- contact details

- personal statement

- education background (most recent first)

- work experience

- achievements

- hobbies and interests

- references

3) Example personal statement

4) Example cover letter

soft skills development

Effective communication helps deliver words and

ideas

1) Listening skills- helps build rapport

2) Be aware of your body language

3) Be tactful

4) Be brief and to the point

5) Practice

How to prepare for Situational Judgement Tests

How to pass Situational Judgement Tests

1) These tests check how you would deal with various

scenarios related to the role, and based on how you answer the employer can decide if how you think is a good fit

2) These tests are hard as it is not always clear what

the right answer is

3) To help you pass:

- be consistent in your answers

- use practice SJT tests

HOW TO PREPARE AN ELEVATOR PITCH

How to create a great elevator pitch

1) Imagine you meet the employer in an elevator

and have 30 seconds to introduce yourself effectively

2) Keep the pitch specific and within your niche

3) Include:

- who you are and what you do

- why the employer should care: show uniqueness

- explain why you are telling them this, what is

important for you in your next position

USING AI TO PREPARE CV AND FOR JOB INTERVIEW

Using AI prompts to help your job search

1) General summary Chat GPT prompt

2) How to get LinkedIn invitation accepted prompt

3) List of 10 questions prompt, make questions as

specific as possible

4) Use Chat GPT to come up with questions to ask

at the end of the interview, keeping them unique, so that only the interviewer knows the answer

5) Thank you email prompt

6) Salary negotiation prompt

LinkedIn Job Search Strategies

"80% of open positions are filled by referrals"

1) Use LinkedIn to ask your connections to introduce

you to the hiring manager / HR. When adding a LinkedIn connection, use a customised

note

2) Find LinkedIn groups and comment on them

3) Make sure CV, Cover Letter and LinkedIn profile

are ready

4) Prepare 30-second elevator pitch

5) Conduct informational interviews

- reach out to people who do what you want to do on LinkedIn and offer them an informational interview. Can ask for advice and what they like most about their job

6) Follow-up LinkedIn connections

OFFER NEGOTIATION

How to negotiate an offer effectively

1) First mistake is not to negotiate salary at all

2) Hiring process is expensive for employer

3) You lose out on opportunity to make a strong impression if do not negotiate

4) Negotiating techniques

- imagine you are negotiating for a close friend or loved one

- give a specific salary figure

- have a worst-case scenario (80% mark)

- use facts, not feelings e.g. having 2 more years of experience than other team members for the role

- use neutral language

- negotiate ethically

- show appreciation

JOB PREPARATION