Imagination time…
Picture the graduate: fresh and excited to interview for a job opportunity, one that simply did not come along very often in these times of economic woe and hardship. They are as prepared as they can be, eager as can be, and, understandably, a nervous wreck that toy chattering teeth makers would model their latest editions after. Coffee is no help, so the receptionist offers water. The graduate wisely accepts, nerves settle and waits his turn. Finally, the hiring manager is ready to see him now…
Now let’s shift gears…
Picture the out-of-work professional: fresh and excited for a career-enhancing prospect, she learns of a new Government-backed plan online that allows her to buffer much-needed skills in targetting an appropriate job search that will get her back into the workforce. She visits her local JobCentre Plus (JC+), reminds them that Arras People is part of the JobSearch Support Services for Newly Unemployed Professionals, and asked to be referred to the project management career services provider. The paper work is filled out, sent out and verified. Days later, the phone call comes down from the Arras People offices. They’re ready to begin services…
It may feel like all eyes are on you when you're called in for your interview. Would it feel that way if you went in prepared and raring to go?
Months ago, The Camel and Arras People told you how important it was to be proactive in the process of earning a referral from the JC+ to Arras’ providers of the JobSearch Support Services for Newly Unemployed Professionals. Both examples above are meant to hammer the idea home that the eagerness and search methods for opportunities in the workforce are no different between early to mid-career professionals and recent graduates hoping to start their first professional job.
But, as Woody Allen said, ‘Eighty percent of success is showing up’, which is a make-or-break proposition for professionals to face, and a not-that difficult one for observers to understand. So the job interview becomes a crucial element – you may have searched maniacally and tirelessly, working the phone and broadband lines just to get a foot in the door. But that scheduled interview means that foot will finally get through that door, and right soon at that. Could everything you’re about be forgotten? Could everything they need to hear be what you’re aiming for? Are you able to tell them something they didn’t think they wanted to hear? Is that a safe manoeuvre? Frankly sir, are you ready to talk about you and what you can bring to this job?
In the words of my 1-year-old daughter, ‘Oh man!’
Nicola Thorp, a resident project management guru here at Arras People, knows fully about the pitfalls of overlooking the interview, and finds in her dealing with candidates that the finer points have been overlooked and underappreciated far too often.
“Unfortunately the market is driven by a very different set of behaviours for both candidates and employers,” she said. “Candidates have to get up earlier in order to pip their peers to the post with applications for new roles. In the scrum to achieve an interview we are seeing candidates losing focus on their key skills so are failing at interview.
Thorp believes that a little habit you were supposed to get into in your younger days – doing your homework – applies to job interview preparation just as strongly. The assignment, after all, holds the amount of relevance today as those times tables did <15/20/Can’t Remember/Seriously: Don’t ask!> years ago.
“It is important to take a note of all roles applied for and ensure you research your potential employers thoroughly before your interview: Know who they are and what they do, but take that extra step and see what is new out there for them at the moment – whether it’s a new tender won or new initiative,” she said.
“Once you are armed with this valuable information, ensure you entwine the information into your questions in the interview such as: ‘I read in the business pages of the Times that you have recently won a new tender with the NHS, how do you anticipate this will affect the XXX project?’
“By adding this additional detail into your interview, you are demonstrating your research skills, communication skills and, most importantly, your ‘buy in’ to the role and organisation itself. Don’t forget an organisation looking to recruit people in this climate is obviously doing something right, and they are no doubt very proud of who they are as a group. They will want all new employees to feel the same way.”
The JobSearch Support Service for Newly Unemployed Professionals from Arras People is loaded with first-hand advice and knowledge like this on a variety of job search matters including interviews. To use this service, be pro-active and use some details laid out in this previous Camel post – go to your local JobCentre Plus office today, and ask to be referral to the project management people – Arras People.
Image courtesy laverrue and used with permission
A friend of mine just emailed me one of your articles from a while back. I read that one a few more. Really enjoy your blog. Thanks
Twitter: PM_StrayDogg
Thanks for the praise and words Randy. The idea here isn’t so much about the hunt (for the job): it’s about the catch (interview stage). I want it to be known that too often, interviews are brushed over and ignored on the trail to employment – this cannot be the case.