How to re-orient your career

This post will be tailored for those of you who have already a bit of experience or a degree in one field but wish to change altogether their line of work. How do you find a job without the necessary experience?

Favor Internal Mobility

The first step is to look internally. Many companies promote lateral mobility and will even have a job board available for internal candidates. This is especially valid for people that work in big corporations that like the environment or business. You might be uneasy about applying for another position within but if you are a good worker the company will much prefer keeping you as a resources than watching you go work for their competitor. Just be sure to check with your manager first as you do not want to put him or her in the unconformable place of finding out about your application via HR or the other team’s hiring manager…

Accept to start lower (to get higher)

If you are re-orienting, there is a large possibility that you will not be able to keep your salary and advantages at the level they were. This is due to the fact that you have experience or an education in line with the work you are doing now and companies compensate accordingly. When you are starting fresh, you don’t have that bagage. That being said, if you are trully passionate about your next career move and feel that you need to make this change, do it! Sure for a couple of years your bank account might be lower than what it once was but you will be going to work happy and working hard to aquire the skills to get back to the top.

Tailor your resume

You might not have the resources to start a new degree but you can still add lines to your resume that will make recruiters call you. Try volunteering in your new sector or taking online classes (the majority are free) to show that you are passionate about your new field. This will add the keywords to your resume and will allow you to know what you are talking about and share experiences in your new field with the recruiter and hiring manager during the interviews.

Wait for the right opportunity

You might decide to re-orient your career path and start sending out resumes right away. This is great, being enthousiatic is definitely key when looking for a job. However, do not make rash decisions. Accept that you will need more time to find a job outside of your field than what you needed to find your current or last role. It’s best to take your time to interview and apply and score the position of your dreams in the right conditions than to accept the first job offered.

Activate your network

Especially in this scenario where it is more difficult to showcase your skills (no degree or prior experience), your network can do you a lot of good. When you have someone vouching for you to their HR department or manager, they will be more willing to give your candidacy a try. For more tips on networking be sure to check my previous articles on the subject.

-Pauline

How to network

Networking is often cited as a great way to get a new job and gain access to the “underground job market” – you know those positions that are not advertised. But how do you network? How do you mobilize your network? I will attempt to shed some light on these questions.

Networking is not only online

It is true that nowadays with LinkedIn we feel that we have to go digital to network. However, this is not necessarily the case. Meeting people face to face is also a great way to create a connection. The relationship will be more durable as the person will have seen and met you in the flesh. You will be able to address more personal issues and get more honest answers (when we need to write something down we tend to edit while orally, the conversation is usually more at ease).

What events to attend  

An easy way to network is to attend all of the events that are avaialble to you. Go to the team lunches, to the company’s happy hour cocktails, attend alumni reunions- all of these occasions are great ways to start networking and you will have no difficulty starting a conversation as the people you are meeting all have a common ground with you – either you work in the same company or you attended the same school.

If you are familiar with Meetup (a website that allows people to meet around a common interest) events pertaining to networking are planned very often. In Paris for example you will have networking groups for women in business, for entrepreneurs or even by industries. If you are comfortable with this type of exercise, this is a great way to gain access to people that you would have never been able to meet otherwise.

How to approach others 

Once you have met a person that works in a company you are interested in, the goal is not to shove your resume in their hands and walk away. The person will not be willing to help you if you do that. It is essential to talk and ask questions, show interest in the person. People love to talk about themselves and by asking questions you will get access to great tips and know more about the technicities of the job you would like to apply to.

I would say that at a networking event is not a good place to hand out your resume. It’s best to come with a business card and ask the person to connect via LinkedIn and from there send them your resume. First and foremost because the person you will meet will most likely not be the recruiter and there is therefore a good chance that the person could loose the paper version of your resume. An electronic version of your resule also makes it easier for him to forward your information to the correct person. The second reason why it’s better to send it after the initial encounter is that giving your resume tends to end the conversation. Once your resume is given you might feel that you have succeeded in doing what you intended and your new acquaintance can feel that the only reason you decided to speak with him was to give him your resume and not feel like helping you.

Nurture your network  

Networking is not just a one-time thing, once you have met someone and they helped you (either by giving you information or by passing on your resume) be sure to be available for them if they need your help and to give them news from time to time. In France New Year’s wishes are very big and often times you will receive a card or an email from people that you do not often talk to but with whom it is a good idea to stay in touch. Take advantage of this opportunity to send your messages and remind your network that you exist!

Don’t just network when you need it

Of course you will network more while job hunting but this does not mean that you should only do it then. It will actually be more effective in the long run if you are able to meet with people when you do not need them and to ask them for help after than to meet them needing something. Networking within your organization is also a good idea. Meet people outside of your department, go to team meetings. Although these people currently work with you, it might not always be the case and even if it is, you will get access to the people that they know (e.g. 3^rd level connections on LinkedIn).

All in all, networking is a key skill to master. I understand that it can be hard, meeting strangers and asking questions about their job or organization. However, finding a job without doing it is probably harder…

How do you network?

-Pauline

Tricky Question: Salary Expectation

To complement my interview preparation articles, I wanted to zoom in on certain questions that are bound to come up and that can cause a bit of distress in candidates. These questions will need to be prepared when you are practicing for an interview and each will have the following title: Tricky Question: XXX

The first one I would like to comment is the salary expectation question. While this question usually comes up in the later stages of the interview preparation, usually during the last rounds, in some companies it will be asked during the phone interview. Why do companies not all follow the same guidelines? Because some know that they are paying under the market rate and need to make sure from the beginning that the salary expectations of the candidate will match the salary of the position. Is this a bad thing? It depends on you! Some people are willing to decrease their salary for a position they are deeply interested in while others will never be able to do that. There is no right or wrong answer here.

For junior positions In France, especially in big companies, recruiters follow a pay grid to choose what salary to give to what intern and to what graduate. There are A schools (for business there are the “Parisiennes” (HEC, ESSEC, ESCP) and EM Lyon and for engineering there are the top engineering schools (Polytechnic, Centrale etc.…)) and there the rest and each grade means a different salary level. While not necessarily fair, all will do the same job with significant differences in salary, defenders of this policy say that the top schools students bring prestige to the company and that the gap can be closed by outstanding performance from the B or C level schools (in other words, they will receive a higher percentage of salary evolution). In this particular setting, the salary question will not even come up as the first wage will be standardized. You can always try to negotiate but usually for the first year there is no room for negotiation.

For more experienced profile cases, the recruiter will oftentimes ask what your current salary is. This is to gauge what you are currently worth and what they can offer you to attract you. While you could lie and say you are making more than what you actually do, I would not advise doing so. First of all, because you never know if your future employer knows your current one and if so, make the bad first impression of being a liar, and second of all, because you could be asked, further down the recruitment process, to give proof of employment in the shape of pay slips…

So what can you do when you are asked this questions? Here are three tips.

Research your industry

Nowadays, with websites likes Glassdoor, it is becoming easier to gain access to average pay levels by position in your target company. You can also talk to people in the industry to gain access to insider knowledge. While in France you would not point blank ask for someone’s salary, you can ask questions pertaining to the benefits and to the overall pay structure of the company (are people happy with their pay level, what is the average pay for a specific position etc…)

Argument and sell your position

When asked about your current pay level, state the truth and proceed to explain why you want and deserve to be paid more. State the differences in responsibilities from your present job with the one you are after, explain why you are worth the number that you are giving. List all of your qualifications and experiences. You will be this much more persuasive.

Be confident

Often times, this question is one that candidates fret as they are scared to under or over sell themselves. If you have done your research and argument your number there is no need to be shy about asking for what you want. Delivering your speech with conviction and with facts will bring more emphasis on your capabilities to sell yourself and explain a situation.

Salary level is important, you need to be comfortable with your pay level both in terms of being able to meet your living expenses but also feeling properly compensated for the job you are doing. Often times, a candidate will feel pressured to accept a lower salary then what he had previously in mind and while for some time this situation will be compensated by the novelty of the position, of the environment, this will wear out and the person will being to be unhappy and change position. While it is always possible through promotions or upgrades to higher your wages, your initial salary will be the base for these calculations. My advice would be to be comfortable with it from the beginning.

How do you tackle the salary question during interviews?

Pauline

Personal Branding

Personal Branding emerged in the 1980’s in a book – The Battle for your Mind written by Al Ries and Jack Trout and has not left the scene since then. It  is the concept of applying communication techniques usually used for brands for yourself. This concept is especially becoming prevalent in the digital age with regards to our online persona.

How can you use personal branding to your advantage when looking for a job? By being careful how you portray and put yourself out there.

Certainly some businesses and industries are more sensitive to personal branding than others (industries like fashion or marketing for example where personal image and brand image need to coincide) but everyone can use personal branding principles to help them get the job they want.

To start, think of the personally traits that are the most descriptive of yourself and the ones that are the most in line with how you need to be to succeed in your line of work. The traits that are the most descriptive of yourself are the ones that most people use to describe you. This can be a tricky exercise so if you are struggling you can ask someone close to you to help out. For the industry, think of the traits that are the most sought after in your line of word. If you are in finance, for example, showcase that you are analytical, if you are in communication, highlight the fact that you are a well abled public speaker etc.. The idea is not to create a false image of what you are, or to create a version of yourself that you wish to be. The idea is to show that you understand your industry and that you have the skills needed to succeed. What if your trait is not exactly in line with what the industry needs? Well you need to show that your personality and strength can make a difference and give an upper hand to the company that wants to hire you as you are different from all other candidates.

Personal branding in recruitment starts from the very beginning: your resume, cover letter and LinkedIn profile say a lot about you: the colors you use, the photo you have, the experience you bring forth, the font and wording you choose etc.… All the little things that you might not pay attention to but that the recruiter will notice. Therefore, keep this in mind when you build the structure of your resume and choose your words carefully.

LinkedIn is just one of the mediums used by recruiters, Facebook is another. While it is more of a grey area and while it is true that not all recruiters will check your profile, you can be certain that some will and you should keep this in mind when posting and interacting on Facebook, especially while job hunting. If you do not wish to censor yourself on your profile (after all, it is your profile) another idea would be to set your privacy settings to high to let only people that you know view your information or to change a part of your name to be less easily accessible.

Once your profile has been selected, you will be called for an interview. How you dress, how you talk and your overall demeanor can also say a lot about you. Some people like to be more classical others more outgoing and this will show through in your choice of color, patterns and accessories. Be mindful as well of your tone of voice and the words you choose to use. Depending on your industry, you will need to bring forth some indications to certain traits that are necessary to succeed (the most evident example would be ease if you are in sales, while it is easy to say that you are at ease with people, the recruiter will be that much more convinced if you come in looking sharp, with a firm handshake, are able to talk and maintain eye contact and seem to have an active social life on social medias.)

All in all, personal branding is fancy name for something that most of us already do unconsciously. However, as most things done unconsciously, they could always be improved by our conscious doing.

How do you brand yourself?

Pauline

How to match your resume to the position you are applying to?

You will often hear recruiters saying that it is important to match your resume to the position you are applying to… But what does this mean exactly and how do you achieve it?

It means that you will need to do some active and in-between the lines reading to build a tailored resume for each role you are applying to. Here’s how to do it in 3 steps:

• Look at the requirements and description of tasks carefully

The first step when you read a job description to build your resume is to look at the requirements and analyze them. Look at the IT skills you will need, the education degree, the years of experience, the soft skills needed etc.… This will give you a first idea of what type of profile they are looking for.

When you analyze the description of the tasks, it is important to note that most job description are built with the top lines being the most significant in terms of impact and time. These will need to be addressed in your resume. The other tasks listed near the end are of less importance.

This first analysis will be useful as it allows you to understand what type of profile the company is looking for. You should also keep in mind while reading the different experiences you can showcase for each experience that is asked, whether professional or educational related. Keep a list of those experiences (both the title and the task actually performed) nearby as it will help to set up your resume.

• Adapt your experiences

Now that you have your list of tasks and experience needed for the position, it is time to consolidate all of your analysis into your resume. What you could do that will save time in the long run is to have a large file available with all of your experiences and all of your tasks performed arranged by category and use this information to build your resume.

For example, if the position you are applying to requires to be able to synthesize and analyze databases, you can go look in your various experiences where you had to do that and select those experiences to be used in your application.

On your large file you can for example set up your experiences this way:

Name of position + Name of company

Category of tasks 1 (ex: analysis)

• Example 1
• Example 2

Category of tasks 2 (ex: project management)

• Example 1
• Example 2

This set up will allow you to quickly skim through your various experiences and tasks and although it will be time consuming to build the large resume it will save you time in the long run as it will just be a matter of copying and pasting the positions and tasks.

• Add keywords

All companies have their languages and codes. This will transpire through the job description. It can be in terms of job titles, department names etc.. Try to include them in your resume or cover letter. This will show the recruiter that even before integrating their team, you are able to speak and understand their language.

The keywords you see on the resume, name of IT programs, soft skills etc.. should be incorporated on your resume as is. For example, if on the job description it says “MS Office Pack”, write “MS Office Pack” on your resume and not just “Office Pack”. Although this might seem silly, a lot of companies use HRIS tools that scan through resumes and pick up keywords, it is therefore better to use the exact same wording to increase your chances of having your resume picked up by the scan.

Adapting your resume to each position is a way of showing the recruiter that you have the skills needed to succeed in the position. Keep in mind that when recruiters look at resumes, they have a checklist in their head of key requirements that need to be met. By using this technique, you are making those check points appear quicker!

Pauline

How to dress for an interview – Women’s edition

Last week, I published the men’s edition of how to dress for an interview- this week it’s the women’s turn!

In a similar fashion to men, grooming is also crucial for women. Hair should be clean and nails well done. For nails, it is not necessary to wear nail polish as it is more professional to have them not painted than to have chipped colorful nails… For hair, you could let them loose, however if you have the tendency to play with your hair, it is best to keep them up that way you will not be distracted (and in turn not distract the interviewer). In terms of makeup, the goal is not to arrive with the latest trends but to have a fresh face and to not stress over what you do and how you look. If you are the type of girl that does not wear makeup on a daily basis, then don’t for the interview. The morning of is not the time to try out a new creams or products that you have never used as this could backfire (red spots, irritations etc…) For perfume, it’s best to stick with fresh scents with a light hand, you will be in a closed room for some time with a recruiter, best to have a subtle scent as what smells good is personal. For jewelry, as a general rule, refrain from wearing big pieces that make noise (bangles for example) or that can distract the recruiter (big funky earrings).

 

The golden rule for interview dressing is to follow the codes of the company you have applied to. Coming with the proper dress code also shows the recruiter that you understand their business and are a good fit for their culture. For this guide I will address three dress codes:

 

1. Relaxed culture – This is typically startups or firms that have a “come as you are” feel. The dress code here is not important and you can pretty much come dressed as you normally would. However, to be sure to not make a bad impression, make sure that your clothes are clean and ironed. If you are going to wear jeans, its preferable that they be dark washed and without holes or discoloration. If it is summer time, refrain from wearing shorts and never wear flip flops or sandals to an interview even if the culture is relaxed. It is also best to stick to darker colors – navy, black, grey, burgundy, forest green etc. If you are planning on wearing a skirt or dress make sure that it has a good length (at least mid- thigh). In terms of shoes, if you are used to wearing high heels, you can however do not feel obliged to, especially if they make you uncomfortable.

Ideal outfit idea: dark washed pants or jeans, printed blouse or simple sweater, ballerina flats or low boots, skinny belt

 

2. Business Casual – Business casual is the dress code of most mid-sized companies. Marketing is often associated with business casual as well. Although this dress code is more relaxed than formal, it is not what you would wear on a daily basis. However, for women it is more versatile then for men so you could incorporate a lot of what you own and wear into this type of dress code.

Ideal outfit idea:  Dark washed tapered pants, white shirt, colorful cardigan, ballerina flats, or oxfords, scarf

 

3. Formal – Formal is the dress code for banks, consulting firms and the likes. The dress code is very formalized but for women is a lot more versatile than for men who will be expected to wear a suit. Skirt and dress length is very important to follow and in the strictest environments they should hit the knee or below. In those cultures, heels should not have a platform. Colors should also be quite neutral.

Ideal outfit idea: Black tapered pants or knee-length skirt, black blazer, white blouse, black heels or ballerina flat

 

How do you know which dress code to follow? Well you can get hints by looking at the industry but if you are unsure you can ask the interviewer. It is best to ask and be comfortable with your outfit choice than to be stressed because you notice upon your arrival that you are not following the codes.

 

What do you wear for your interviews?

-Pauline

How to dress for an interview – Men’s edition

Keeping in mind that first impressions are of the uttermost importance during an interview, dressing to impress is a key to making a good one.

Before thinking about your outfit, you need to remember that overall grooming is crucial. Be sure to have clean nails and hair before going to your interview. Your nails should be filed and well-kept, all at the same length. Hair should be tamed and combed with a little gel or wax if needed. Keep in mind also that the week of the interview is not the time to experiment with a new haircut – try to keep your look as classic as possible (classic does not mean boring, you can show your personality but keep in mind the business codes of your industry). In terms of odor, while it is essential to take a shower, try to refrain from using very strong scents for deodorants or perfumes. Remember that you will most likely be in a closed room with the recruiter and you do not want to burden or distract them with a heavy scent.

The golden rule for interview dressing is to follow the codes of the company you have applied to. Coming with the proper dress code also shows the recruiter that you understand their business and are a good fit for their culture. For this guide I will address the three main dress codes:

1. Relaxed culture – This is typically startups or firms that have a “come as you are” feel. The dress code here is not important and you can pretty much come dressed as you normally would. However, to be sure to not make a bad impression, make sure that your clothes are cleaned and ironed. If you are going to wear jeans, its preferable that they are dark washed and without holes or discoloration. If it is summer time, refrain from wearing shorts and never wear flip flops or sandals to an interview even if the culture is relaxed. It is also best to stick to darker colors – navy, black, grey, burgundy, forest green …

Ideal outfit idea: dark jeans (or black jeans), polo shirt, V-neck sweater, boat shoes or stylish sneakers

2. Business Casual – Business casual is the dress code of most mid-sized companies. In most minds, the marketing department is often associated with business casual as well. The idea here is to be a bit more formal than in a relaxed culture while still integrating colors and not wearing a suit. While you could get away with wearing dark washed jeans, wearing tapered pants is probably is safer bet, especially for the interview.

Ideal outfit idea: black or navy pants, button down (printed or not), dark blazer, brogue-type shoes

3. Formal – Formal is the dress code for banks, consulting firms and the likes. The dress code is very formalized and does not leave a lot of wiggle room. The suit will be the main piece here so be sure to have a clean and pressed one on hand for your interview. You will also need to wear a tie. You can find a lot of tips online on how to make sure your suit fits and how to tie your tie. If you are not comfortable with this exercise, practice the day before to make sure you are ready the your big day! Remember to mind your socks when dressing with a suit, they will become noticeable when you sit. In terms of suit color, the ideal is navy or grey. While many wear black suits, this color is usually kept for weddings or burials…

Ideal outfit idea: navy or grey suit, white or blue button down, printed tie, black or brown shoes and belt (matching)

 

How do you know which dress code to follow? Well you can get hints by looking at the industry but if you are unsure you can ask the interviewer. It is best to ask and be comfortable with your outfit choice during your interview than to cause more stress if you realize that you are under or over dressed.

 

What do you wear for your interviews?

 

-Pauline

What websites to use when searching for a job in France?

Some job boards are available internationally while others are more local. For non-French looking for a position in France here are the top websites used in the hexagon and some tips on using job boards.

International websites

1. Indeed.fr: This website is my all-time favorite. Do not let the 90’s look to the website fool you, it’s a great search option that aggregates job ads from all over the web (company’s websites, social media sites, job search engines …) and lets you search through their interface. It’s available in all regions of the world and you can search for positions in all of France and across industries.
2. linkedin.com: The social media giant also lets companies post their job ads to advertise current openings. What’s great about LinkedIn is that if you follow the company, you will get access to their new job ads directly on your home page and will therefore be amongst the first to apply. All the CAC 40 companies use LinkedIn as well as smaller firms.
3. monster.fr: Another giant of recruiting that is also available for France. Monster is a very popular choice amongst companies to post their job ads.

 

French websites

1. Pole-emploi.fr: The government’s unemployment agency is used by many French companies to advertise their positions to the general public. You do not need to be a beneficiary of the aids to view the ads.
2. regionsjob.com: This website allows you to search for the available listings by city or region, function and level of qualifications. It is also a good option to use when looking for a position in France as many French companies use it.
3. apec.fr: If you are a “cadre” (an earlier article can be found on this website to understand what a “cadre” is) this website it a good option for you as well as it is dedicated to “cadre” roles.

 

Tips on using job boards:

• Search for generic terms. If you are looking for a junior position, do not get too specific in the search criteria you use. Instead use generic terms like analyst, junior or coordinator and the name of your field. You can also just search for marketing and see the hits and go through the list quickly. This will ensure that you see all of them as not all companies use the same key words.
• Do not enter qualifications. Especially true if you are a junior profile, companies will often write 2 years of experience but might be willing to hire someone with 1 and great potential. Do not let experience requirements (within the limit of reason) get in your way of applying.
• On LinkedIn, a lot of companies will list the profile of the recruiter who is hiring on the job ad directly, use this name to address the cover letter.

 

What websites do you use?

 

-Pauline

LinkedIn: A starter’s guide

LinkedIn is similar to Facebook but for professionals. If you do not have an account yet I strongly suggest that you create a profile and keep it up to date with your career advances as it has become an integral part in many recruitment processes.

Below is a guide on how to start using LinkedIn.

The profile set- up

This is the first and most important step. To have a complete profile you will need:

• A professional photo (or not depending on your field) that will allow for people to contact and recognize you.
• A summary where you explain what you do or what type of job you are looking for and when you are ready to start working.
• Work experiences and educational information filled and described thoroughly. While on your resume you are limited to one page, on LinkedIn you have the chance to be able to write more so this is your chance to showcase all of your experiences and go into further detail about what you did.

While building your profile, you can also add other categories: volunteering, interests, awards … use as many as you need to make your profile as complete as you can.

Growing your network

Once this is completed (you will notice that the service “grades” your performance – your aim is to reach at least expert level if not all-star) you are ready to start growing your network. To do so, look for people that you know that use the platform: friends, colleagues, classmates and add them. If you are using the free version of LinkedIn (which is already quite complete), you will only have access to 1^st degree connections (people that you are directly linked with) , 2^nd degree connections (people that are directly linked with your 1^st degree connections, or the 1^st degree connections of your 1^st degree connections…) and 3^rd degree connections (the 2^nd degree connections of your 1^st degree connections) – this is why it is good to have a bigger network, especially when you are in job search mode because you will be able to access more profiles.

When you send an invitation to other people, try to personalize the message and not use the generic one, this shows the other person that you actually know them and took the time to foster the relationship.

Job search

Now that your profile is set up and that your network is growing you can start looking for positions and people. LinkedIn is also a job board – companies can directly put their positions on LinkedIn to advertise to users their openings. You can therefore start your search by looking through the ads and applying as you would on any other website.

However, that is not the only option you have. With access to people working in the companies directly, this gives you access to the “underground job market” – all the positions that companies are looking to fill but do not necessarily advertise or positions that will come up next month and that you can get a head start in applying for. Sending a polite message to someone in your network working in a company you like asking them for a quick conversation about their job and company is not intrusive and is a great way to get your resume on a recruiter’s desk. Of course this is easier to do with people that you know (or that know someone that you know) but you will be surprised how fellow alumni will positively and eagerly respond to you invitation to chat. Of course this method is a give and take, when someone reaches out to you for information, be sure to treat them how you would have wanted to be when you were in their shoes 😉

Groups and following companies

Another great way to gain exposure and meet people is to join groups and to follow companies you like. These groups and companies will post new content weekly that you will get access to directly on your front page, making keeping up with industry trends and current events very easy to do. When you follow the company, you will get prime access to their news and can impress the recruiter (and possibly even teach them a thing or two) with your knowledge.

Using LinkedIn when not looking for a job

LinkedIn is a great tool for job search but it’s not only that. Growing your network should be something you do all of the time not just when you need to ask them for a favor. A good tip is that whenever you meet someone new that would be a great addition to your network, add them right away with a little “thanks for the chat today” message to keep your contact base strong and updated. You never know when you might need your new acquaintance’s insights again in the near future.

Staying active in groups, whether alumni groups or industry related, is also a good way to stay “fresh” and informed. When we are busy with our work lives, we do not always take the time or make the effort of staying informed about what our competitors do (or even what other departments do in our own company for that matter!). However, having a global strategic view is essential for management and director roles and showing that you are active online and on trend is a good way to have that view.

 

Do you use LinkedIn? If so what are your habits?

-Pauline

6 Steps to Prepare for an Interview

You did it, your resume was selected, you have passed the phone interview and now the recruiter would like to meet you face to face to further discuss the job offer and your candidacy. Congrats! Now you need to woo them in person and to do so here are 6 steps that you can follow to be prepared on your big day.

• Be sure to mark the correct date, time, and address

As soon as you get off the phone with the recruiter mark down the time and date for the interview somewhere you will be able to find it (your phone, agenda, notebook…) I also like to add to that list the name of the person I will be meeting as well as their phone number. You never know if you will have a delay on the day of the interview (illness, traffic …) and fussing around to find their contact information is unnecessary additional stress. Often times, recruiters will send you an email with all of the information, once you receive it check to see that what you have the same date and time as they do.

As for the location, if the offices are in a part of town that you are unfamiliar with it is best to do a “test drive” there to locate the facilities and also to see how long it will take you to get there from your home to not be stressed on the day of.

• Find an outfit and make sure it’s clean!

First impressions are key in recruitment and whether we like to admit it or not, a lot of that first impression is based on looks. Especially if you are a student and not used to dressing professionally, be sure to try on the outfit you plan to wear to see if you need to take it to the cleaners or buy a new tie or skirt.

The night before it is a good idea to put your outfit out and iron what needs to be to not have to worry about doing it in the morning. It goes without saying that you should also take a shower, wear deodorant, clean your nails and hair (for ladies have fresh nail polish or none at all) and wear a light perfume (or none at all) on the day of the interview. 😉

• Research the company

Your first point of research should be your interviewer – most people are on LinkedIn nowadays and it is a great tool to get access to someone’s work experience. Look at where they went to school, their past work experiences, it might even turn out that you know someone in common or were in the same university program – this will be valuable information to use during the interview. Some of you might be wondering if it is not “stalker-ish” to look at someone’s LinkedIn profile before the interview. The truth is that most recruiters will look at yours, so why not you look at theirs as well? It also shows interest and that you have prepared for the interview and are therefore taking the process seriously.

Your second point of research should be the company itself – while reading the company website is a good start, do not limit yourself to just that. You can also look at all the social media outlets we all use (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Youtube…). If the company is big enough, chances are they will also use all of these websites. Wikipedia is also a good place to find information about the history of the company. Glassdoor is also a good website to check out that will give you insights on what it is like to work for the company by showcasing employee and candidate testimonial and rankings on various subjects (from salary ranges to company culture).

The best option would be, of course, to contact someone from the company prior to the interview that you might have some sort of common ground with. With LinkedIn you can easily have access to the people that are present employees and that, for example, went to the same school as you. Why not try to reach out to them and see if they are willing to give you some insider tips before your big meet?

• Prepare yourself for common interview questions

You know that some questions that are bound to come up: “Tell me about yourself”, “Why do you want to come work for us?”, “Why are you a good candidate for this role” etc… If you type into Google “common interview questions” you will come up with a list of websites explaining what questions to prepare and how to answer them. Here is an example of such a list.

• Prepare questions to ask the recruiter at the end of the interview

Another thing to prepare beforehand are the questions that you would like to ask at the end of the interview. Asking questions at the end is a necessity, it shows motivation and genuine interest in the role and the company. You can ask about the position, for example: “What would be a typical day in this position?” or about the company: “Would you say that departments interact often or not?” Remember to keep the questions as close to the position at hand as possible. If you want to ask a more personal question, like “Why did you choose to come work for this company?” try to make this the last question you ask as a way to finish on a more personal note. Also, judge beforehand if your interviewer will be receptive to this sort of questions – some people will love it others not so much. If you feel that the person is a bit “uptight” best not to ask.

• Print your resume and bring it with you the day of the interview

Although it is very likely that the recruiter will have your resume with him, you never know and it shows that you are prepared to bring a copy of your resume printed. If you made adjustments to your resume between when you first applied and the day of the interview (especially if the process has been a long one and that you have started a new volunteering gig for example), make sure to bring a copy and to mention that you have updated it.

 

What do you do when you are preparing for an interview?

Please let me know below 🙂

 

-Pauline