Career Evening #11 at KbhSprogcenter

Introducing Akademikernes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bj_Q9oPmKlU&feature=player_embedded

Morten C Arendrup

www.akademikernes.dk

• 10 years in line management • 10 years in consulting• Universities of London & Copenhagen• IMD Business School, Lausanne• Hired 200+ managers & professionals • Lived 10 years abroad

Preparations for the job interview

Before the interviewPreparation for an interview is absolutely key and will often be the difference between your success and failure. Good preparation not only gives you an insight into the organisation, it can also give you some all important confidence.

Company research:Interviewers will expect you to have a good grasp of what their organisation does, who their customers are, how big it is, how it's divided up and who its main competitors are.

Role research:You need to make sure you understand the job description fully and know how it fits into the overall structure of the company. If you have any queries about it then try to raise them before the interview or be prepared to bring them up as you go along.

Interview research:Make sure you find out what format the interview will take. Often they can be combinations of standard interviews and role-specific tests, such as role plays or psychometric questionnaires. Find out who your interviewer(s) will be and their roles within the organisation. You can look these up on the company website, or try finding them on LinkedIn or Google.

Personality points:You can’t predict every question that you'll encounter, so approach the interview with a list of important points about yourself that you want the interviewer to know. For example, if you apply for a job in Sales, you might want to list the products you've sold before, types of customers (by industry, age, etc.), languages spoken, personal experience in that industry and related knowledge - perhaps from your studies.

Preparations for the job interview

Personality type test It is not unusual that a candidate is asked to do this before the job interview. Generally, these are used as a dialogue tool at the interview. They are rarely the decisive factor, since there is no right type, just different types. However, some may be more fit for a particular role than others.Try one for yourself, http://www.jobindex.dk/persontypetest

Logic testsSome companies use them, however, very few as the decisive factor.

Try some here, http://www.indiabix.com/online-test/logical-reasoning-test

Case solving Some companies will ask candidates to prepare a case before the interview. This can be a dilemma or a challenge the company is currently facing. It is rarely the solution that is important, rather your assessment of the situation, e.g. risk, cost, benefit, timeline.

Preparations for the job interview

MotivationWhat motivates you?How do you motivate yourself for routine tasks? What is the reason you apply for this position?

The job/roleWhich job tasks appeal to you?Describe your most difficult job task?What is a perfect day on the job?What do you look forward to before your working day begins?Which job tasks do you particularly look forward to?Looking back which job tasks would you rather have been without?

YouTell me some more about yourself? Who are you really?What are you really good at? Strong points?Development areas? Weak points?What do you expect from your manager? What should I do to bring out your best performance?Tell me about the worst manager you had? Why was he/she the worst?Why should I hire you?

Misellaneous:Current job?Current salary? Salary expectations?Free time? Hobbies? Family? When can you start?Referrals. Whom can I call to confirm what you have told me? Are you applying for other jobs right now?Something I should have asked I didn´t?

Don't assume anythingYou'll be evaluated on your answers, not your CV. Ensure you incorporate the relevant information from your CV into your answers, using it to back up what you’re saying with practical examples.Remember to breathePause before you respond to each question, even if you know what you want to say. This helps to avoid misunderstandings and produces much more concise and coherent answers. No-one will understand you if you speak a mile a minute.Don’t be afraid to askIf you don't understand a question, ask for clarification. No-one will judge you for it. Some recruiters may even deliberately ask difficult or ambiguous questions to see how well you react under pressure. Be confidentDon't be afraid to 'blow your own trumpet'. As long as you can support what you're saying with examples, you're not bragging. Avoid to answer a question with a simple "yes" or "no". The more interesting your answers are, and the better you back them up, the more memorable they will be.Be positiveWhatever happens, and however the interview’s going, always be positive. Avoid talking about experience that you don't have. For example: rather than "I have a little experience...," say "I have experience...“ Let the employer decide if you have what they're looking for.Finally, be aware of body language and mannerisms:• Be confident, positive and look at the interviewer when you talk and listen• Speak clearly, be enthusiastic and express a keen interest in the position• Keep to the point, be concise and always be honest• Smile

Ace the job interview

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