Interview Preparation: What to Do When You Can Answer a Question

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This blog post follows on from my previous blog post: Interview Preparation: What to Do When You Can’t Answer a Question. Now, if you’re one of those savvy individuals who thinks they can or will be able to answer interview questions, have you thought about how you’re going to answer – literally. I’m not talking about the structure of your content; I’m talking about how you are presenting your content. The most important thing to remember is that your interview is not a presentation it is a Q&A. There is a distinct difference. For example, the interviewer may ask ‘In relation to your CV and past experience, tell me a bit about yourself?’ one candidate may spend 40 seconds to 1 minute answering and another may spend 8 minutes answering. Content wise these answers could be just as good as each other, but the point is that the latter candidate isn’t being a savvy interviewee.

Here is what I mean by that:

1) Duration

Talking at your interviewer the whole time is not going to earn you any brownie points. You may feel that a longer answer is essentially a better answer but it isn’t. You should aim to keep standard answers below two minutes, this will ensure that the interviewer can take the lead with questions, won’t get bored or god forbid start looking at their watch. The more succinct and concise you can be with your answers then the better.

2) Don’t explain everything

The reason for keeping the duration of your answers down is because it will prevent you from digressing, and if you’re not careful you could forget the question you were even asked. As well it will ensure that you don’t over explain everything. If your interviewer is seeking clarification, they will certainly ask for it.

3) Keep it relevant

This expands on the pointer above. You should keep your answers as relevant as possible. For example, if they are asking you about a specific marketing placement that you undertook, don’t start talking about any other placements in your answer unless it has in direct relevance.

4) Don’t give too much away

It’s important to keep composed in an interview so that you can provide succinct and concise answers. However, I’ve known some interviewers to ask the same question twice. For instance, they may ask ‘what do you consider to be your weakness?’ you may then produce your prepared answer, but your interviewer may not be satisfied with it. When they ask again, the worst answer that you could give is something along the lines of ‘another weakness is that I can be lazy’. This answer will set alarm bells off in the interviewer’s head. So, even if you have to sit for a minute and think about your answer, then that is better than giving too much away.

5) Body language

As a last pointer, you may want to think about the body language you’re presenting to your interviewer. For example, you should keep your arms unfolded, shoulders down and relaxed, keep consistent eye contact and sit in an upright posture. You would be surprised at the amount you can give away or the negative impressions you can impose through use of body language.

You can also take note of the body language of interviewer especially when you are answering their questions. For example, if you’ve been talking for too long your interviewer may look away, look at their watch, fidget or blankly stare at you. These are all signs that you should be aware of when answering interview questions.

 Lastly, have a listen to the Guardian Careers podcast: Five Steps for Interview Success http://careers.guardian.co.uk/audio/careers-talk-five-steps-for-interview-success, I found it interesting.

Do you have any suggestions/requests for upcoming interview blog posts? Send or tweet them to me. 

Guest Post: Key Ingredients of a Successful Cover Letter by Graduate Recruitment Bureau

If an employer requests a CV to apply for a graduate job vacancy you should always include a graduate cover letter. What’s this? Well, this is your opportunity to introduce yourself and explain your suitability for the role - preferably on one A4 page. You must take time over this document and adapt it for each role because this is your one and only chance to impress, so make sure that it is immaculate. With over 80 applications per graduate job, creating a compelling cover letter married to a tailored CV should increase your chances of going onto the next round.

In order to create a successful cover letter the advice below should to be taken into account for each job you apply for. Not to mention, getting into this frame of mind will make tailoring your CV a lot easier. So if you’re wondering how you can go the extra mile, show you are the person for the job and beat the competition, then think about these five key successful ingredients below:

1) First impressions count

It’s not an option to just send a CV – a cover letter is mandatory – and a great opportunity to sell yourself so use it! The first impression you make is key, and firstly you should pay attention to the layout. Make it easy to read so no more than 3-4 paragraphs. Remember selectors spend less than 40 seconds scanning cover letters and CVs, so good presentation is vital. Use a business typeface like Verdana and keep the font size no less than 10. (If your handwriting is neat maybe consider this for your letter as this is a really good way to stand out plus it can be posted which add to its impact as no-one posts anything anymore!)

2) The Job Reference number

An obvious one but sometimes overlooked. A reference number is there for a reason so make sure it is bold and clear to see, otherwise the employer won’t immediately recognise which job you are applying for. If there isn’t one refer to the job title or scheme. If you are applying speculatively then leave this out as your tailored letter will take a different tone. After all, you are asking them to create a job around you so you better have done your research!

3) Addressed to a person not Sir/Madam

You need to have your cover letter read by the selector not a junior so, check before who this person is by looking at LinkedIn or calling the reception. It is a basic marketing rule that you must personalise your message to the correct addressee. It shows you have made the effort and done the research - It’s the little things that count, right?

4) Mention where you saw the job advert

This is important for the recruiter to know as they will record how all the applicants came about and they will be able to trace it back to certain marketing initiatives and see if it was money well spent. An appropriate place for this ingredient is in the initial opening lines.

“I wish to apply for the post of Graduate Retail Management Trainee as advertised in the Manchester Evening News on 27 October 2011. At present I am completing an honours degree in Management and French at the University of Manchester.”

Reiterating this will keep you focussed on the purpose of your cover letter and the role that you are trying to secure.

5) The middle paragraph is the most important

Get this right and you can guarantee a call. Before this you’ll have your introduction stating why you are interested in the role, and after, in your concluding paragraph you’ll finish positively by looking forward to an interview. Therefore, the middle paragraph is the heart of your cover letter. This is where you summarise and highlight your skills, qualifications and major accomplishments - the essence of your suitability. Pay close attention to the job description so you know precisely what skills to talk about, bearing in mind that you are not repeating what is already on your CV. Most importantly, explain why your qualifications and the job requirements are a good match to fit the role.

6) End with a call to action

Finish off your cover letter by saying you look forward to hearing from them and will call during the next 10 days for their response to your application. This shows your enthusiasm and reiterates your interest in the role. It leaves the door open to make another impression on them with a phone call.

Finally below is a check-list of some of the important dos and don’ts of a cover letter. Make this your check-list and use it before hitting send!

Do

· make your graduate cover letter tailored to the company and to the role.

· make it concise.

· make it persuasive and eye catching.

· proof read. Read it once then read it repeatedly. If possible get someone else to read it for you, this will ensure you catch every little typo or grammatical error.

· use an appropriate format; it must look professional i.e. for business purposes.

Don't

· make it generic.

· waffle! Think about what is relevant to the company and particularly the actual position/role.

· make it more than one side of A4.

· leave errors that will make it easy for the company to reject your application.

· forget to put the address of the company at the top of the cover letter and to sign it with you name. It is a formal letter so it must be in the correct format.

We hope that this helps! Click the links for more information on graduate cover letters and graduate jobs.

Vocational Training: Should I do it?

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I have been emailed previously in regards to completing vocational training courses, and whether this is good training to have on your CV. Obviously, there are plenty of courses available for pretty much anything and everything publishing related. If you are considering a vocational training course, then consider the questions below in order to make an informed decision.

Consider these questions:

1) What are your reasons for wanting to complete a vocational training course?

Create a list of your reasons and what areas you specifically feel you need training in. For example, when I was considering vocational training it was purely for improving English skills like, grammar, proof reading, editing etc. However, I found that if you do your own research, and use a search engine to look up e.g., ‘how to proof read?’. By doing so, you will be able to pick up plenty of skills/tips. Thus, I would encourage that you do your own research first, in the areas you fill you need help in the most, before undertaking a vocational course.

2) Is it feasible?

If you’re a student contemplating a course over summer, think about the feasibility of undertaking a course. This covers all aspects such as, cost, travel and time, as when you’re a student time is very valuable for building up work experience and skills.

If you’re a graduate seeking work and wondering if a course will improve your CV, it probably won’t. In the grand scheme of things, employers will be looking at the whole package. Your time will be better spent researching companies and applying for full time jobs. Expand your search if you’re not getting anywhere. Someone once told me that it’s easier finding a job when you’re already in a job.

3) Is your time better spent doing other things?

This comes back to whether the training is feasible as once you get a full time job in publishing; this is when you’ll be able to focus on your skills. Some companies will train up new employees too. Remember, publishing is a fast-paced industry, where you’ll be able to pick up and improve skills quickly.

4) What are your other options?

As I said before, if you want to improve your proof reading skills, you’re probably better off becoming a writer for your student newspaper, and experiencing editing first hand. Many areas that you may feel you are weak at can be improved by covering those aspects in a working environment.

Weigh up the pros and cons, everyone is different and will have different reasons for completing a vocational training course. As long as you have considered all the questions above, then you should be able to make your own informed decision. Don’t forget, you can also use my previous blog post ‘Working Skills: A Guide to the Six Thinking Hats’, to help you make the best decision possible.

Would you like any further blog posts on vocational training? Use the comments box below or tweet me to let me know.

Top 5 Tips for Dealing with Stress

Many students and graduates will be feeling stressed right now, which is why I’ve decided to do a blog post about how best to deal with it.
The New Year is in full swing with ranging resolutions from a good degree to a job – not forgetting the less significant ones like eat less chocolate. Anyway, the point is that at times like these, when we have a lot of stress, we need our coping mechanisms.

Below, I have listed five top tips to help you try to deal with stress.

1) Take a break
When you are stressed there is nothing worse than being unproductive with your time. If you are feeling unproductive, then make sure you take a break and don’t think about your work for a while. When you resume working, you’ll feel much better, less stressed and more productive.

2) Think about your lifestyle
Sometimes keeping active and having a healthier lifestyle can really help you feel less stressed. Don’t over work yourself and make sure that you’re having a few ‘me’ hours a week.

3) Be a smart worker
Instead of thinking about working hard, make sure you’re thinking about how you’re working. This comes back to the idea of being unproductive. You don’t want to waste any valuable time. Instead, work out what times you work best for you and for what duration. For instance, I work better in the morning and the afternoon, far better than in the evening. Additionally, working long hours in the day may not work for you, so adjust your working plan to what suits you best. This is where schedules can become very useful.

4) Find your trigger
If you find yourself stressed then try to find yourself a trigger back to normal. Take a break away from a work, and do something else. For example, my trigger is having a tea and biscuit break, but it can be a variety of activities such as, getting some air and going for a walk. It’s all about taking your mind off whatever is the source of your stress.

5) Work the way that works best for you
This last tip really sums up my blog post. If you work smart then you’ll definitely reduce the amount of stress that you feel. Like me, you may be the type of person that finds it difficult to take a break, especially when you have the pressure of knowing that you have a lot work to do. So, if you’re losing productivity make sure you take a break, and understand how you best work. We won’t all be the same and everyone will work best in different ways.

As I said at the beginning, this time of year is one of the busiest for students and graduates. Whether you’re applying for graduate schemes or revising for examinations, it’s always important to work effectively and manage your time correctly.

Remember that the most important aspect of dealing with stress is to recognise when you’re being unproductive with your time. Don’t just work hard, make sure you’re working the way that works best for you.

Top 5 Tips for Networking

I have frequently talked about networking as a valuable tool when searching, applying and gaining work placements. It is obviously not only limited to placements, but it is a tool that will come in handy throughout your working life.
To get you started, as usual, I have listed 5 top tips. Nevertheless, make sure you do some of your own research, once you’ve read up on the basics below.

1) Social Media
As I said in my previous blog post, I cannot emphasise more the importance of utilising social media. Make sure you have set up an account with LinkedIn, and added any friends/co workers that you already know. Make sure you set up a Twitter account too, and at the very least, follow some of the Twitter accounts that I’ve mentioned on here. Additionally, follow people that you know like friends, co-workers, and any professionals in your field (don’t forget me!). As well, keep a lookout for new placement and career opportunities.

2) Email
Don’t forget about the little things like emails. Get use to sending out emails professionally and create your signature. Some placements may like you to use one of their signatures. For example, at CocoKouture I have my own standard signature. However, for other emails that I send (e.g. to lecturers), I’ll incorporate a standard end like ‘Kind Regards’, and just below I’ll include my blog URL and Twitter handle. This is because I’m not employed at a specific company, so I don’t have a compulsory signature.

3) Whilst you’re on placement
Don’t forget that whilst you are on a placement, use your time productively and speak to as many people as possible. Obviously, when you’re at a placement you’re gaining and developing skills and so on, but don’t forget about the other significant aspects - like building up a collection of contacts. You can meet people in the industry through other people, so build your relationships.

4) Keep in touch
Further to my point above, it is a good idea to build relationships with current contacts. This will include some form of communication, and at the very least so, following them on Twitter or having them on your LinkedIn account. In addition, you could send them an email at Christmas or other appropriate times of the year to keep in touch.

5) Optional Additions
Not everyone will have the chance to do this yet, but if you’re enrolled with a company on a placement year for example, then try and get hold of a few business cards. This way when you’re out and about at company events you can help spread the word and advertise yourself. I received some very small stylish business cards last week from CocoKouture. They were colourful and creative saying cute phrases like ‘Will work for shoes’. Of course, I am not suggesting handing cards like this out at corporate business events, but the idea is still there to advertise. Moreover, I don’t have any personal business cards as of yet, but if you have the opportunity within a company to receive personalised ones, then make sure you do. Business cards are important even if you’re self employed – probably more so.
Also, check out any other forms of advertising. This could be on a personal level or on a business level. For example, along with my business cards, I got a t-shirt with the CocoKouture logo, I uploaded this to Twitter (for anyone who’s interested!), and sent it over Twitter to the Editor-in-Chief, who did a ‘retweet’. It may not be much but it’s a little extra advertising! This will probably be more relevant once you’re on a placement, but when you’re not, you need to think outside the box a little e.g. creating an original blog.

Don’t forget to contact me with any blog post suggestions or queries, and I’ll try to answer as best I can. In addition, I’ve been getting a lot of hits recently and plenty of subscribers too, so make sure you subscribe and avoid missing any of my blogs.

As Christmas is approaching, I will not be posting up any of my usual blogs on Saturday (24th) or Tuesday (27th). This is because even the publishing intern needs a few of days off. However, I will be posting up festive replacement blogs on the 24th and the 31st. I’ll resume ‘normal’ posts by Tuesday 3rd.

Merry Christmas.

Penguin - Getting into Publishing

This is a great book publishing event, which I must admit, I've had my eye on since last year. Penguin's annual open day called 'Getting into Publishing' is both for students and recent graduates, who are keen to gain a bit more of an insight about the book publishing world. The event is via invitation only, and due to the volume of candidates will be decided upon an application, which will contain your CV and cover letter.

Anyone with an interest in book publishing should definitely apply.

To apply for an invite, email: gettingintopublishing@penguin.co.uk

Don't forget to include, your CV and cover letter, name, University and graduation year.

DEADLINE: OCTOBER 14TH