CV and Interview Tips

CV Tips

1. Keep it simple, easy to read and no more than 2 - 3 pages. Use a plain, standard font. Unusual fonts may not be available on another printer and this will distort the appearance of your CV.
2. Begin with your personal details: full name, job title, date of birth, nationality, current location, contact details.
3. List your key achievements. Do not list the responsiblilities in your job description, state what you personally have achieved. Keep to about five bullet points.
4. Summarise your employment history, current or most recent first: Dates, Company, Job Title, Budget Responsibility.  In each section, provide a brief summary of the type of company you worked for, (include number of employees and annual turnover) and details of your responsibilities. 
5. List any relevant professional organisations, fellowships or bodies you are associated with or belong to.
6. Summarise your key education achievements: Masters, Ba/Bsc, High School Diploma etc.
7. Include any additional information you consider important: For example:
   • Your marital status (and family if you wish to)
   • Spoken languages (state fluency, both written and verbal)
   • Your hobbies and interests
   • Any other key information that supports your CV, but keep it simple and short.
8. References: Two will be sufficient or just state ‘available on request.'
9. Proof read and spell check.
10. Attach a recent photograph.

Interview Tips

1. Read up on the company before the interview. This shows you are interested in the company and allows you to ask relevant questions.
2. Check the location  - do not be late.
3. Look smart.
4. Be yourself.
5.  Be honest - if you have had a career break, explain the reason.

 

Winning Interviews - In depth

Being interviewed can bring with it all sorts of stress, but by being prepared your level of confidence will show through and give a better picture of what an asset you can be to a prospective company.

It doesn’t matter what skills you have that qualify you for a position, present yourself well and you’ll find yourself on the high road to securing employment. No matter how confident you are in yourself, there are steps you can put in place that will help your success during the interview process.

Organisation is the key to being ready

• Find out who will be present at the interview, where the interview location will be, and details on how to get there
• Have your contact information ready, including an extra resume or CV, and be sure to carry a pad and pen with you
• Do enough research to be ready to impress your interviewer with your knowledge
• Find out whatever you can about the company by reading any applicable trades, going to competitor websites, generally looking to see what is being discussed about the company
• Learn all you can about your potential position. Make sure your resume or CV matches the qualifications so that you can prove that you are the right person for the job

First impression is critical

• Look good in a sharp suit that is not uncomfortable to wear
• Always bear in mind that you are making a first impression the minute you appear
• Show courtesy to everyone, starting with the first person you come into contact with at the door, because you don’t know what kind of influence they may have
• If you are in a room full of people who will be interviewing you, then give them confident eye contact along with a smile. Remembering their names and using those names throughout the process will help a great deal
• If you run across uncomfortable situations, like a chair that wobbles, or being in a seat with the sun shining in your face, let the interviewer know about this rather than lose your concentration worrying about such things

When you are being questioned

• Imagine that instead of an interview you are involved in a conversation with friends
• Listen carefully to the questions being asked. If you slow the pace of the interview down it will help you to listen to the questions so that your answers are more correct
• Before answering the harder questions, give some thought to your answers and the way you wish to give them, so that you come across with more confidence
• Before arriving at your interview, practice talking in a way that slows everything down. Take the time to record your answers and listne to how fast you talk and the way you sound
• Your body language shows how comfortable you are with what is being discussed. If you show enthusiasm in your responses, your hands and your smile will show this
• If you feel you let slip an answer that doesn’t sound right to you, and you feel it could upset your chances, then let the interviewer know what you really meant by restating your response. Don’t keep this to yourself as you will only be given one chance to say it right
• Be truthful about what you can and cannot do. Let the interviewer know that you are aware of your weaknesses, but are more than willing to make improvements in those areas
• If a question throws you, don’t spend a lot of time on it, but instead be polite about requesting to revisit the question at another time

Questions that are ok to ask

• How are the coworkers in your prospective department like? How would what they do affect what I do?
• What would be the central duties that I would perform?
• What type of training would I be given?
• What type of isolated projects would I be doing?
• Would I be interacting with any other departments or outside vendors or customers?
• How much extra work will I be allowed to do, or what are the possibilities that I will be able to work in other areas of the company?
• Are there any expansion plans for the company, and what part will I play in those?
• What progression opportunities are there within the company?

Final thoughts

• If the interviewer does not explain what will happen next for you, don’t be afraid to ask
• Attempt to get a timeframe for an initial response, but be light about asking because some recruiters don’t take it too kindly to be pinned to an expected timeframe until the interview phase is over
• Be sure the right people have all the ways that you can be contacted
• Thank those who interviewed you at the conclusion, and shake hands with them
• Take the time to say your goodbyes to each person present, in turn

Source : http://www.lankacareers.com/careers-advice/winning-interviews