TAC EUROPE

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job interviews: the first date

In Touch magazine aims to provide TAC Europe candidates & contractors with relevant information aimed at helping them stay right up to date within today's competitive job market. With features covering Finance & Legal issues already firmly established in our publication, we now welcome a new contributor from the field of Career Management, Carol Slesser of leading Career Coaching consultancy, Slesser Maclean.

Carol brings to us a wealth of experience within the field of independent career counselling
& we invited her to comment on what she sees as the key to interview success.

Firstly, it's always worth remembering that
your CV may qualify or disqualify you for a position but only your personality can get you an offer!

So you have been lucky enough to be asked to go for an interview, you have the qualifications & experience they need. What you now need to know is just what the interviewer is going to be assessing you on face to face ....well

It's your body language, voice projection, quality of answers, energy and charisma.

You also need to be aware of the importance of letting the interviewer ‘in' and try to be as natural as possible. Within a short space of time they want to be able to judge you on the following.

Why are you here?

A good answer will give convincing reasons for choosing to apply to their particular company or role.

What can you do for me?

This refers to your skills, achievements, experience and knowledge, which provides the interviewer with enough information to establish whether your previous experience matches the job specification.

What kind of person are you?

This question refers to your values and what motivates you, how well you work in a team or individually, how good you are at influencing and negotiating.

Can we afford to employ you?

They have to find out what salary you require and your views on the total package and those features on which you are willing to negotiate.

What level of risk are you?

The interviewer is looking for answers to certain questions which include:

Will you be able to do the job?
Will you be absent often?
Will you give maximum energy to the job?
Will you adapt to change in a new environment?
Will you mix satisfactorily with colleagues?
How long will it take to master the role and become productive?

points to remember

A job interview has been likened to a first date. It could be “the start of something big” or over , forever, after 30 minutes or less.

Remember: It isn't only what you say that counts. 55 per cent of your impact depends on body language, more than 30 per cent on voice tone, and less than 10 per cent on words.

The purpose of a candidate going to an interview is to be offered the job, likewise, the interviewer is keen to fill the post as soon as possible. If you can demonstrate what makes you tick and why you stand out from the competition, and why your experience and achievements make you the right person for the job, then you are doing the interviewer a favour, not the other way round.

expect to be assessed on interview behaviour:

Greet the interviewer with a SMILE and remember to smile during the interview.
Listen carefully, if you haven't heard or understood the question, ask for it to be repeated.
Speak clearly, with energy and conviction.
Establish eye contact (look at the interviewer – but don't stare): look interested.
Pay careful attention to body language (non-verbal communication), avoid any mannerisms which may irritate people e.g. fiddling with a pen, hair or glasses.
Try to be natural, have a conversation with the interviewer.

To find out more about Interview Skills Coaching, please contact Carol Slesser at Slesser Maclean on 020 8208 0751 or visit www.slessermaclean.co.uk .

Questions can be addressed either by letter or by email to: ‘Slesser Maclean, c/o The Editor at in touch (email: intouch@taceurope.com). We regret that we are unable to respond to unpublished letters and, in order to facilitate publication, letters may be edited. Slesser Maclean is a highly respected firm that specialises in Career Coaching & Confidence Boosting. For further information about their services, call 020 8208 0751. Slesser Maclean, TAC Europe and their respective employees cannot be held responsible for any actions undertaken as a result of the opinions expressed in this feature. As individual circumstances vary, you are advised to seek individual expert advice.

competition winner

We are pleased to announce the winnerof the latest contractor satisfaction survey competition is Mark Allen (Jaguar / Land Rover). Mark will receive a World Cup 2006 supporters pack consisting of an authentic England Shirt, holdall, flags and other England memorabilia.

There are further chances to win a World Cup supporters pack. To enter, please complete the downloadable survey without delay!

Further winners will be announced in the next addition of intouch.

Please email your completed survey quality@taceurope.com