Nursing Job Interview Tips & Ideas

Nursing Job interviews sound easy, but are they really all that easy? Wait and think again. Due to high education and work experience each of the candidates profile is very competitive. This is the reason why hiring managers find it difficult in scrutinizing the right candidate. This makes the hiring process a bit complicated. So why take chances when little pre-prep work can help you get your dream job. To help you ace the nursing job interview with ease we have listed down couple of tips and suggestions. Read on and attend your next nursing job interview like a professional.

Tip 1: Know the Organization/Hospital: As soon as you come to know that you have been selected for a face to face job interview round. Make sure to start reading about the hospital profile. Start gathering information about the trust associated with it, what is their funding level…etc. You can get all this information through the internet. You may even visit their official website and read their news and about section to get in-depth information about their work history and milestones. The information which you will gather from this small research work will help you present your candidature with confidence and you will be in a better position to convince the recruiters that you are the most appropriate candidate for the profile.

Tip 2: Dress like a Professional: Love to wear tank tops and high heals. Keep them safe for parties. For an interview keep your attire simple and professional. Girls are recommended to keep it classy a nice buttoned up skirt and shirt is just perfect. Boys can go for a business suit or if they want a full sleeve shirt with dress pants is just great. Remember to pay attention to small details. Like a clean and ironed dress without any stains. Please avoid sneakers and t-shirts. As we all know “First impression is the last impression” So dress to impress and the half the job is done.

Tip 3: Keep Your Entire Documents Ready: Although the recruiter or the HR manager has already seen your resume and probably the interviewer may have received a copy of your resume prior to the interview. But it is always a good idea to go well prepared you never know, what they might ask for. Invest some money in buying a good quality folder. Document all your work exp. and education related documents in it. All your achievement certificates and score cards should also be filled up appropriately. In case the interviewer shows interest in seeing your documents. At least you will be prepared and will not have to fumble at the last minute. Plus this would present you as a professional and the interviewer would be impressed with your sincerity.

Tip 4: Ask Questions: Interview dose not mean that only the recruiter or the interviewer can put up questions for you. You are also free to ask questions and clear your doubts before joining the company. While doing some background check about the hospital profile you are sure to have some questions or doubts in mind. Jot them down in a peace of paper. Generally during any face to face interview, you will be asked if you have any questions. This is the time to shoot your questions and get all your doubts clarified. Do not hesitate and be straightforward but professional. If you think it would give a negative impression, than you are wrong. In fact the interviewer will be delighted to see your curiosity and interest in the job profile and organization on a whole.

Tip 5: Know the medication: In a nursing job it is quiet possible that the interviewer may ask case scenario based questions. This would be to determine if you are aware of the step by step process. So keeping your concepts clear and reading and revising the procedure again before going for the interview is the best way to present your strong candidature. Other than this you can also get a list commonly asked nursing job interview questions on the internet. Consider preparing best answers for those questions depending upon your individual resume and profile.

Some General Job Interview Tips to Keep in Mind:

Mind your body language
Be honest, there is nothing worse than being caught for a false statement
Keep smiling and be confident
Always arrive 5 to 10 minutes in advance.
Firm Handshake and eye contact should be maintained while greeting the interviewer and when leaving the cabin
Don’t Forget to send Thank you note post interview

10 Tips for New Job – First Day at Work

Cracked the final round of interview and got your appointment letter in hand. Now the first day at work is arriving soon and you are excited, nervous or have mixed feelings. Wondering how it would be in the office on first day. Take a deep breathe and relax, almost all of us have similar feelings when we join the corporate work force for the first time. The trick is how you can set your first impression which is not just lasting but also has a long term impact. To help you get started and be admired for your work ethics and professionalism, we have listed down 10 cool tips for a new job or first day at work. Read on and leave your new boss and collogues impressed.

- Visit the Office Prior to Your First Working Day: Like a job interview, reaching on time for that first day at work is also critical. To make sure that you do not reach late on this important day, try visiting the office premises at least once prior to the date of joining. So that you know the exact route and can track how much time it exactly takes to reach the office. Make sure that on the first day of new job you reach at least 10 to 15 min prior to the schedule. Please keep in mind these days’ traffic excuses or any other silly excuses are considered pretty lame and does not give a good impression.

- Start Your Day with Heavy Breakfast: As this would be your first day at work and you are unaware of the lunch culture at work. It is always a good idea to have a healthy, heavy breakfast before leaving for office. Reason being you do not know what the situation would be like. If you are amongst the lucky few, possibly you’ll get to have lunch with your boss. If not than possibly you will have to suffice with coffee machine and crackers. A heavy breakfast will help you sustain your energy levels while attending meeting after meeting, and training sessions.

- Go Well Prepared – Do your Home Work: Before your first day at work, make sure that you do your homework and learn about the company profile. Do some research on the internet, visit the company website and read about their latest updates and news. This will keep you informed and you will be in a better position to understand their terminologies and facts, which they might discuss during meeting or training sessions. Other than this, if you already know who will be your immediate boss, it would be wise to do some background check on him, and learn about his interest areas, likes and dislikes. This small activity will help you gel up with him easily.

- Dress Appropriately for Success: When joining a new job, we sometimes get over excited and try to wear something, which is not our usual style. I would suggest wearing something comfortable yet professional to first day at office. Specially be very particular about the shoes you choose. Tight shoes or high selittoes which are not comfortable will make the entire first day at job experience bad and tiresome. Remember their will be lot of important things for you to worry about on the first office day than your shoes and sandals. In case while attending the job interview, you notices some sort of dress code, than it would be wise to call up the HR representative and learn about it.

- Stay Calm & Professional: On the first day at work, with so much information imparted on one single day, chances are you might go overwhelmed. Don’t let it show up. Just keep in mind slowly and steadily you will understand everything. Other than that if you are some one with a high pitch and tone, maintain your one while communicating. Keep your sense of humor in control. If others are cracking jokes during training or meeting, keeping mum and observing is a better bet here. Simply because you are new to the game and yet unaware of all the rules.

- Take Notes & Jot Down Important Names: On the first day at job, you will be introduced with lots of people, lot of training manuals and instructions would be provided. Keeping track of so much information is difficult. So be smart and jot down all the important instructions and names. You will thank yourself latter for being wise.

- Set Up Your Work Space: You will be excited to see your new work area. Decorate your work area just like you want. But bear in mind that ultimately the space belongs to the company. So be conscious while placing the photo frames, stuff toys and other décor items. Don’t over do it. Make sure to arrange all important documents properly in one closet, do not leave them on the table top or scattered.

- Take a Small Break: First day at office, we all our so over loaded with meeting schedules and it seems as if we need to do it all in a single day. Take a break and relax, have a cup of coffee and if possible take a round of the office premises. You will feel more relaxed and refreshed.

- Listen!! Listen!! : The first day at work, is mostly about knowledge transfer, trainings, introducing you to the work culture in the new office, HR policies, Insurance policies, your work profile. The best thing to do is, listen and respect others thought. Even if you have better ideas and suggestions, on a certain project or work it is always good to keep those to yourself at least on the first day.

- Do Not Forget to Thank the Office Assistant & Others: Thank everyone who helps you with anything right from helping you set up your computer or desktop to helping you with getting acquainted with the office culture. The more you use this word on the first day and than moderately latter on, better it would be for you.

Common Bank Interview Questions and Answers

Congratulations! On clearing the written test conducted by the bank. The next and the most challenging round is the bank job interview round which is not just tricky but is also a deciding round. Where you need to sit face to face with the interviewer or may be a group of people would be scrutinized together by a panel of interviewers. This is the round where the recruiter would scrutinize your communication skills, stress management ability and leadership quality. The only way to crack the bank job interview like a professional is to go well prepared in advance. Here we have listed down couple of common bank interview questions along with their answers, to help you answer the questions more confidently.

Question 1: Tell me about yourself?

Answer 1: Almost 90% of the job interviews are started with this typical question. This is the reason why this question is known as icebreaking question. So you have greater chances of making that first impression by simply going well prepared with a perfect answer to this question. You can simply answer the question by talking about your qualification, work experience, projects and accomplishments. They don’t need your life history here a simple 2 to 3 lines impressive yet professional answer is good enough.

Question 2: Why do you want to join banking sector?

Answer 2: This question is generally put up by the interviewer because he wants to understand how much you really understand about the banking industry and how aware you are about the latest happenings in the sector. To be on the safer side you can answer the question by saying that the banking industry offers great growth opportunities, along with job security, especially if it is a public sector bank. Banking job also offers respect and status in society because a person gets a chance of interacting with lots of customers and build relations. Plus, you can go on to include that you like working in a challenging environment where you can continuously enhance your skill set to achieve your career goals and banking industry definitely provides that.

Question 3: Why should we hire you?

Answer 3: Now this is the question where all your prior preparation will come in handy. This is the best time to talk about your strengths and weakness and boast about your accomplishments. Do not hesitate to blow your own trumpet, because if you will not, the interviewer will never be able to know your worth. Compare your work experience and accomplishments with the job profile and if possible include the company vision statement along with your career goals. This would certainly leave the interviewer impressed as he will realize that you have done your homework and you are also keen about the job role.

Question 4: What are your strengths and weakness?

Answer 4: This is yet another tricky question, which should be answered with caution. A slip of tongue or a vague answer could cost you a job. So prepare yourself well for this tricky question. The strength which you mention would be directly related to the current job profile and should add value to your candidature. While mentioning the weakness, do not be dishonest, but also do not go overboard. Weakness should be mentioned in way that it turns out to be strength. For e.g. You can say that I am obsessed to perfection and sometimes I even end up spending too much time on something just to make it error free and absolutely accurate. I am working to do the task in hand properly and on time.

Question 5: Where do you see yourself 5 years down the line?

Answer 5: This is very common bank job interview question. The interviewer ask this question, to understand how enthusiastic you are about your career path and career goals and what you desire to achieve. The best way to answer the question is to talk about long term commitments with the bank and how you want your career to grow in next 5 years. Assure them that you will do your job to the best of your ability and will work hard to keep enhancing your skill set and keep growing with the company.

Some Quick Job Interview Tips to Keep in Mind:

Be natural and calm.
Speak slowly but clearly
Do prior research about the bank and their achievements. This would come in handy while answering the questions or putting up questions.
Make sure you read the job description 2 to 3 times and understand it thoroughly.
Always carry 2 copies or your resume. Along with all the necessary documents properly filed up in a folder.
Dress in formals. No casual jeans and Tees.
Ask your friend or family member to take a mock interview, so that you feel more confident and know how exactly you will be answering the questions.
Do not forget to prepare 2 to 3 questions, which you might want to ask, when the interviewer gives you an opportunity to ask questions.

How to Write a Thank you Email Post Phone Interview

Phone interview nowadays has become an initial step to the whole hiring process. This is simply because it is cost effective and requires less time and scheduling efforts. Whether it is telephonic interview or a face to face interview round, sending out a thank you note post interview is a good idea. Once the phone interview is over, ask the interviewer about the next step for the hiring process and quickly enquire about his email address. This should in turn help you send out a quick thank you email. Read on to understand the benefits of sending out a thank you note. Also have a look at the sample template for thank you email for a phone interview.

Benefits of Sending out Thank you Email Post Phone Interview:

After a long day of interviewing, chances are that the interviewer might miss your name in the crowd. A thank you note will bring your profile back to his attention. Even if your performance during the phone interview was not all that great, chances are that he may take a second or third look at your resume to see if your skill sets match the job requirement. And probably consider you for the second round.
During the course of interview it is quiet possible that in an attempt to answer all the questions right, you might have missed out on certain important points. Which you wanted to bring to the recruiters attention. A thank you email gives you an opportunity to share your key skill or experience in detail and divert recruiter’s attention towards it and showcase yourself as a great fit for the current job opening.
In an interview, many a times we end up saying some awkward and confusing things. A well drafted thank you email will give you a chance to clarify things and if needed state examples to illustrate a clear picture.
Sometimes simple gestures can do wonders. A small thank you email, clearly showcase the employer that you are a great professional who is not just respectful but also have sound business etiquette’s. They will also appreciate the fact that you took time to send out a thank you email, which many other candidates did not even consider sending.

Sample template for Thank you Email Post Phone Interview:

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Dear Mr. /Ms. [Mention Last Name],
Thank you for providing me an opportunity to converse with you regarding XYZ job opening in your esteemed company/organization. I want to sincerely thank you for your time and would like to inform you that I am very much interested in the job opportunity. Reason being, it is a perfect match to my skill sets and experience. If given me this job opportunity, I’m sure to contribute towards company goals and at the same time it will help me in setting my career path in the right direction.
Along with the necessary skill sets and experience [You can mention specific experience and examples related to the profile] required for the profile, I shall bring to the position strong communication skills, leadership, hard work, dedication and flexibility to do the task at hand with perfection.
I look forward to hearing from you soon and meeting you in person. Again thank you for considering my profile for the job.
Best Regards,

——————————————————————————————————————-

It is absolutely important to send the Thank you note within 24 to 48 hrs after telephonic interview. So that the email reaches the interviewer on time and he can easily remember, the person whom he talked with just a few hours back. Clear chances are that your profile could be missed if a Thank You note is delayed and a great opportunity being missed. So without fail consider sending out a Thank you mail immediately after completing your phone interview.

10 Common Telephonic Interview Tips

Nowadays’ recruiters are coming up with new strategies to hire the right candidates, and at the same time they make sure to keep the company expenses to minimum. This is the main reason why telephonic interview calls are becoming more and more common these days. This type of interview, gives an opportunity to the recruiter to quickly scrutinize the candidate and understand his caliber along with saving companies time and money. In case he feels that the candidate has the capability than he may schedule a face to face interview.
Telephonic round of interview can be of 2 types. One is automated where you are required to answer a series of predefined standard questions. The other is non-automated where you are needed to converse directly with the recruiter and random questions could be asked along with the standard ones.
The most important thing to know about telephonic interview is that you need to be prepared in advance. Mostly the recruiter will schedule the interview and give you a prior notice. But chances are that he might call up randomly and you have to be prepared for this off the cuff telephonic interview session. Here I have listed down couple of helpful phone interview tips that will come in handy when facing the call.

10 Most Common Telephonic Interview Tips:

1- Keep Your Resume Handy:

Prior to the interview, keep a copy of your resume in front of you. So that you can use it as a reference during the call. If you want you can tape the resume on a wall so that it is in clear view.

2- Keep Calm & Relaxed:

While the interview is going on make sure to talk directly into the mouth piece and keep your tone calm and relaxed. With relaxed mindset you will be able to answer the questions appropriately and without fumbling.

3- List of Achievements Ready:

Make a list of your achievements and accomplishments ready prior to attending the call. This document will come in handy to provide support to your answers. Plus at the peek time you will not have to struggle too much or stress to highlight your achievements.

4- No Distractions:

If you are planning to take the call from home than make sure to choose a room which is distraction free. Instruct you family members to not disturb you while the call is going on. In case you have pets, it is better to keep them out of the house for sometime. You obviously don’t want to excuse yourself, while the telephonic interview is going on to clear up the distractions.

5- Mock Interview:

Though it is a telephonic interview, your confidence can reflect in your voice. Ask your friend or family member to take your mock interview. You can hand out standard questions to him, and ask him to take the interview. Keep a note of all the points you have discussed while practicing, you never know which point can leave your recruiter impressed. Plus practicing will help you feel more confident while attending the real round.

6- Use a Good Quality landline Phone:

Avoid using cell phones for attending phone interview. You don’t want the call to be disconnected, because of network issues. In landline phone, network issues are comparatively less. Also, try to select a phone, which makes your voice sound clear and confident. Any kind of distractions or treble will make you sound week, so it becomes important to choose a nice high quality phone for attending the call.

7- Mind your Body language:

Wondering why body language is important for a phone interview, when the person cannot see you? Keep in mind that if you are lazy and leaning, while the call is going on it will show up in your tone. So sit upright and don’t hesitate to use hands to express. This will keep you attentive and alert and help improvise your overall voice effect.

8- Be Honest:

Whether it is a face to face interview or a telephonic interview, being honest is very important. Remember the person on the other side is an experienced professional and dishonesty will be caught in no time. Any dishonest move from your site, and that too caught by the recruiter will certainly mark a negative impression and you are sure to loose a great opportunity.

9- Do not Talk About Salary:

Telephonic round of interview is just the initial start to the overall candidate search process. This is not the time to talk about salary or negotiate about it. Experts suggest that money discussions should be kept for the last round of the interview process. It is quiet possible that some of the recruiter may ask you about your salary expectations. The best way to answer this question is that “I think it is too early to talk about salary, I still need to understand the whole compensation and job requirements clearly”.

10- Always be prepared:

As mentioned above, most of the time recruiters will schedule a telephonic interview with a prior notice. But incase the call comes in randomly and you are not in a position to talk, than it is better to say that you will call them later and excuse yourself. This would give you an opportunity to relax and prepare yourself. Instead of struggling to answer the questions with first thought.

Some very quick tips to remember while attending telephonic interview:

• Keep Smiling
• Never interrupt the interviewer in between
• Take your own time to answer the questions correctly
• Always be ready in advance with answers to standard job interview questions
• Never entertain unexpected or unplanned call
• Dress up for the phone interview as you would for a face to face job interview
• Never forget to send a Thank you mail, post interview

Group Interview Tips & Ideas

Group interview is becoming common these days with so many applicants applying for the same job. More and more employers are arranging group interviews, in order to scrutinize 20+ candidates at the same time. This is a great use of time and in few minutes they are able to discern exceptional candidates from those who are average. Than later on they may arrange for one-on-one job interview with those who get selected. In group job interviews, managers or interviewers are normally looking for some specific qualities like:
- Candidate Communication Skills: The panel will be closely observing your communication and influential skills. Along with this they will also observe your listening powers and see how well you can convince others to think on the same lines as per your thought.
- Decision Making Power: In a group interview it is commonly observed that candidates start arguing on a certain topic. It is when your decision making and initiative taking skills will be closely observed. It would be noticed if you can help people reach a common conclusion or sort out the concern while coming up with a concrete conclusion.
- Team Player Attributes: Here the interviewers will look out for how well you gel with other candidates in the group and how you are keeping pace with them as a good team player.
- Leadership Qualities: This is a very significant point and the spectators will notice your leadership qualities with supreme care. They will be closely observing if you take initiative or are happily taking a back seat. They will also notice if you are a natural leader in the group or only speak up when required.
- Stress Management: During the course of group interview it is certain that some one might get little harsh while putting up their point or he may totally retaliate to your point. This is the time when it will be observed that how well you can handle the situation without being panicked.
To help you crack group interview with extreme professionalism, we have listed down some useful group interview tips. Read on to learn the right skills and be an exceptional candidate over and above the average ones:

Tips for Preparing Group Interview:

1- Prior Preparation & Research:

To successfully face group job interview it is absolutely important to take some time for prior preparation. Which means you should thoroughly understand the job profile and study about the company. Don’t just check the company’s website, but also research on the net about their latest news and update (PR releases, facebook fan page…etc). In a group interview it would be highly impressive if you can bring up their latest endeavors and vision casually into the conversation. This would give a notion to the interviewers that you have done your homework and you are quiet keen about the job, which in turn would help you stand out from other candidates.

2- Prepare Your Personal Interview:

In most of the group job interviews, the managers tend to break the ice by asking each of the candidates to give their small introduction, so you all may get acquainted with each other. Do not waste this opportunity, prepare a small yet impressive introduction which tells about your most important skill sets and work experience directly related to the profile you are applying for. An arresting introduction will certainly help you stick out from others in the group. Remember to keep your introduction short not more than 3 to 5 lines.

3- Connect with the Interviewers:

One way to leave a positive impression on the interviewers is to talk about their interest areas. Prior to the interview, find out who will be in the panel and than do some research about them (LinkedIn would be the best place to do your research). Know about their interest areas and achievements. In case one of the panel members raises a question, you can answer the question, while quickly mentioning a line or 2 about his achievements or experience if any, related to the question he asked. While replying to one person, do not forget to maintain eye contacts with others in the panel and in the group.

4- Dress Appropriately:

As for all other job interviews, it is essential that you dress professionally for a group interview. Try picking up something which enhances your personality and make you appear more confident and self-aware. Yes! A candidate’s skill set and experience is more important for an interview, but apt dressing definitely adds up to the whole process and makes you look different and confident when compared to other entrants.

5- Carry Your Documents:

In a group interview it is quiet possible that the interviewer may not ask you for documents. He will be probably looking at these documents during the 1-on-1 round. But it is always a good idea to go prepared. You never know they might want to see the documents. Carry your portfolio file, with all the relevant documents and few copies of your resume, so that you can produce them when required.

6- Arrive Early For Interview:

Always arrive for any job interview 10 to 15 min in advance. It is more important to do so for a group interview. Reason being arriving early will give you an opportunity to interact with the interviewers and other candidates. This small activity will get you noticed and you will be in the interviewers mind all through out the group interview discussions.

7- Stay Attentive and Mind your Body Language:

Be aware of your body language and gestures throughout the group interview. Remember that the moment you enter the interview venue you are being observed. So, mind every singe move of yours. Make sure that you carefully listen to the questions and couple of times take initiative and be the first one to present a rational answer or discussion. While making sure that you take initiative also be careful that you do not interrupt anybody in haste to say what you want. Take few moments let the person complete his thought and than speak up. Also while interviewers and other candidates are discussing upon a point, nod your head and keep your eyes and ear open to grasp in all well and try to get the correct meaning of it. So that you can put forward a balanced and intellectual discussion.

8- Follow-up Post Interview:

As always once the group interview is over make sure to collect the panel’s business card or contact information and than send out a quick thank you note. In this note make sure to thank them for their time and also quickly remind them of your interest in the job.

5 Good Ways to Explain Gaps in Resume

Explaining employment gaps in your resume is one of the toughest parts of the job searching process. Almost 84% of the employers nowadays can understand resume gaps, especially after recession and do not pay much heed to it. Still there are jobseekers who are afraid of showcasing there resume gaps and assume that the perspective employer may think low of their candidature if they have career gaps in their resume. There could be several reasons for taking time off from work like family issues, illness or even traveling. What ever the case may be the challenge is how effectively you can present your resume gap without imposing a negative impression on the recruiter.

When I say that the recruiters do not give much attention to the resume gaps, it ideally means that they are interested in seeing how best you have utilized your time off. Here in this post, I have listed down 5 ways which would help you explain career gap in your resume successfully and mark a positive impression on the employer.

1- Be Prepared in Advance:

Don’t leave it to the employer’s imagination, that what was the reason behind your career gap. If it is left to them, it is sure to have a negative impact. Be assured that if a recruiter tracks a career gap on your resume, he will surely come up with the question and would enquire about the reason behind it. So it is advisable that you go well prepared. What ever the reason is you should have a positive answer to back it.

2- Avoid Months in Your Resume:

If you were in a job since quiet sometime (like a year plus) than you can eliminate adding months to your resume and simply mention years. This should give you a chance to cover career gaps as the resume would just showcase the number of years and month details can go unnoticed.

3- Add a Positive twirl to your Résumé Gap:

There can be several reasons for taking time off, other than getting fired or layoff. Whatever might be the reason, try adding a positive twirl to your time off. You might have taken up some new course to enhance your skill set or may be you were doing some freelancing work while not working full time. Try combining these activities with the current job profile. Highlight the positive aspects by saying that you did xyz course and it would help you in the current profile in a positive way. OR you can mention that while doing freelancing, you understood the detailed aspects of the projects and now you understand the project work flow better.

4- Take Advantage of your Cover Letter:

Most of the experts suggest that if you have a career gap, instead of mentioning it in detail in your resume. Mention the employment gap in your cover letter in a line or two. This would give an impression to the recruiter that you do not want to hide anything and he has full opportunity to discuss the gap details with you during the interview.

5- Don’t be Dishonest:

The biggest turn off for the employers is being dishonest. Almost 50% of the resume that are received by the headhunters have some or the other sort of career gap in it. Acknowledging the gap and accepting it with positive attitude will help you in the long run. There could be nothing worse than hiding the resume gaps and than being caught during the interview. Specially avoid omitting layoff details from your resume. On the first opportunity you get mention it clearly that you were laid off and than you joined such an such course to enhance your skill set and utilize the free time in the most productive way.

Some Quick Points to Keep in Mind While Explaining Gap on Your Resume:

- Do not mention the employment gap details in the cover letter in a highlighted form. In a casual tone and not more than 2 lines jot down the career gap information.
- Always maintain a positive tone.
- While communicating during the interview, try diverting the interviewer’s attention more towards your expertise and skill sets. Rather than focusing on career gaps.
- Try instilling confidence in the interviewer by focusing on your work ethics and strong desire to return back to work with force. Some employers are of the perception that if a candidate has an employment gap history there are chances that he may quit the job soon.

So focus and try eliminating those misconceptions that employers have for candidates making a comeback.

Good Luck!!!

Useful Video Conference Interview Tips & Techniques

Nowadays hiring is becoming global and therefore every time scheduling an in-person job interview is not only time consuming but is also a costly affair. On the other hand with technology at its boom free tools like Skype has made the life of recruiters easier. Now they can quickly arrange for a video conference interview with the candidate and scrutinize him for the first round at least. Video conferencing is effective in several ways:

- Firstly, it is very cost effective (There are numerous free video conferencing tool available online)
- Secondly, the interview process can kick off easily and more quickly.
- Thirdly, no transportation cost.
- Lastly, global face to face interviews can be conducted, which would have been not possible otherwise for a long time.

Going for a video interview seems just like shooting for a movie where the scene starts with “Light, Camera and Action” and if the take goes wrong, you have the chance to rework on it and edit it to perfection. But that’s not what happens in a real life video job interview. Here the take is done only once and either you are selected or rejected. To help you ace a video conference interview like a professional we have come up with some very useful tips and techniques that would help you snag the job or at least get to the second phase of face to face interview.

Pre-Interview Preparation:

Dressing & Presentation:

- Dress like you would dress for a face to face interview.
- Though it is a video job interview, you should still avoid casuals and dress in professional attire.
- Avoid any funky colors and busy patterns. On screen they might look distracting.
- Keep your desk clean and set the papers you might need to refer pilled up neatly and properly arranged. So that you don’t end up shuffling with papers when the video conference interview is going on.

Prior Preparation for the video job interview:

- If you are taking the call from home, than make sure that the room is distraction free. Instruct your family members not to disturb you when the interview is going on. Check in advance that all is working fine with your laptop, microphone and the video conferencing tool.
- In case you are taking the call from their office, than try reaching the office 10 to 15 min in advance. So that you can settle down. Access the video conferencing device in advance to know how exactly it works. In case you are unable to access it, quickly ask for assistance. All in all before the call starts you should have settled down and make yourself familiar with the video device properly.

Research & Rehearse Before the Interview:

Make sure that you have sent out all your reference documents that the interviewer might need during the interview, well in advance.
Do some research about the company and understand their mission and vision.
Have a list of 5 to 6 questions ready. The interviewer will give you an opportunity to ask questions about the company and job you are applying for.
Ask a friend or a family member to conduct a mock interview for you. So that you feel more confident during the real video interview.

During the Video Job Interview:

Body Language & Movement: During the video interview, it is extremely important that you mind your body language. Simply because, in a video conference the interviewer is able to track every single movement of yours and is totally focusing on you. So if you keep fidgeting with something or throwing your hands while communicating, it would look pretty distracting and unimpressive.
Eye-Contact: Maintaining eye contact during the video interview is little tricky when compared to in-person job interview. During the video conference look at the camera at the top of the monitor instead of looking at the monitor itself. Because than it would look as if you are distracted with something coming on the screen.
Take Care of the Sound Delay: With most of the video conferencing tools available, you will notice sound delay. So make sure that you give a couple of extra seconds for the interviewers to complete what they are saying and than start with your answer. The interviewer’s panel is sure to notice this and will certainly appreciate your gesture.
Technical Issues: It is common to face technical issues while attending a video interview. We would suggest you to remain calm and composed. In case you are seeing a freeze image on screen, inform the panel calmly about it. If required excuse yourself professionally and call the on site operator to fix the issue. If you panic at this time, it will be noticed and will give a negative impact.
Vocal Tone & Communication: Keep your tone positive, professional and enthusiastic. During the video interview try speaking faster than you normally do. It is quiet possible that the faculty have booked the video conference room for a specific time. So delaying or stretching the interview long would not be possible. Communicating fast does not mean you have to miss out on the core information.

Once the video conference interview is over thank the panel and leave the room.

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What’s a Good Cover Letter & How to write it!!

A cover letter is as important as your resume, so taking some time to draft your cover letter in a professional manner, will help you get a job more easily. As per stats some of the employers do not even see the resumes which do not have a cover letter attached with it. Remember a cover letter is very important for your CV, because it is more than a supporting document. It’s included towards the starting of the CV to provide your brief and factual professional profile information in the most impressive way.

Things That a Good Cover Letter Should HAVE:

A cover letter should accolade your resume in a positive way, rather than just replicating the contents of your resume.
A good cover letter should introduce you to the prospective employer in such a way, that once he reads through your letter he should be keen to meet you in person.
This letter should highlight all your key skills and experiences, related to the job profile you are applying for.
It should showcase the reader that you are very much interested and motivated to join the organization and should clearly depict that you are the best fit for the job role.
It should always end with a call of action, meaning towards the end of the cover letter you should certainly include a line or 2 mentioning about your interest in meeting in person. You may request for an interview or suggest meeting up for further discussions.

Types of Cover Letter:

When we are talking about cover letters, it would be good to know the various kinds of cover letter formats available. Remember this letter is not just your introduction to the prospective employer, but is also your first impression. Therefore it would be vital to put in some extra effort and time learning about the basic formats of a cover letter.

I. Simple Cover letter: This is the basic and most common type of cover letter format. It requires your quick introduction informing where you are located and what you do currently, along with some lines explaining the reason of sending out the letter. This cover letter format is usually used for known job openings.

II. Cold Contact Cover Letter: This is yet another type of cover letter, which is sent when the company has not officially declared an open position. But through grape wine or any other resources you came to know about the opening. This letter is sent with a hope that your resume may reach the employer just at the right time and who knows he might get interested in meeting you in person.

III. Referral Cover letter: This cover letter is also known as networking or sponsor letter. As the name signifies it is send when you are being referred by a person already working with the company. It is always a good idea to include the name of the referral towards the starting of your cover letter.

Tips on How to write a perfect Cover letter:

Thoroughly read and understand the job description of the profile you are planning to apply for. Some initial research about the company and profile will help you draft a customized cover letter.
The cover letter should not be more then 1 page.
An ideal cover letter should have a date along with your name and contact information, towards the starting of the letter.
Normally cover letter should always address to the relevant contact person. Rather then addressing it to the managing director or whom so ever it may concern. A properly addressed cover letter has more chances of getting an interview call.
A cover letter should ideally have 3 to 4 paragraphs.

Para1: State the job you are applying for and mention how you came to know about the job opening. First paragraph should also indicate when you are ready to get started with your new job opening, if provided an opportunity.
Para2: Should demonstrate why you are interested in the current job opening and why you are keen to join the company. Some initial research about the company mission and vision should help you draft impressive lines here.
Para3: This is the most crucial paragraph and must be written to impress the prospective employer. Mention your key skills and experience related to the current job opening. If you want you can also talk about your key strengths and conclude the paragraph by stating how your strengths can prove beneficial for the organization as a whole.
Para4: This is the concluding Para of your cover letter. So make sure you communicate your interest in the job thoroughly and also inform them about the dates you are available for interview. Do not forget to thank the employer.

Remember that cover letter should have a professional and a friendly tone.
Keep it simple and to the point. Avoid cliches and fancy words.
Always write a rough draft of your cover letter first, make edits in it to your satisfaction. Once finalized then put it on the final paper.
Check and double check to avoid any spelling and grammatical mistakes.
Always get your cover letter reviewed by some experienced or a professional person.

Hope this information helps you find your dream job!!
Good Luck!


e.g. Accountant, Teacher, Health, 13,675,037	e.g. London, SW1V, Newport, USA

Career Advice and Job Tips at Gigajob UK - Your Job Site for Free job Posting and Finding Job Vacancies in UK

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Question 1: Tell me about yourself?

Question 2: Why do you want to join banking sector?

Question 3: Why should we hire you?

Question 4: What are your strengths and weakness?

Question 5: Where do you see yourself 5 years down the line?

Some Quick Job Interview Tips to Keep in Mind:

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Benefits of Sending out Thank you Email Post Phone Interview:

Sample template for Thank you Email Post Phone Interview:

10 Most Common Telephonic Interview Tips:

1- Keep Your Resume Handy:

2- Keep Calm & Relaxed:

3- List of Achievements Ready:

4- No Distractions:

5- Mock Interview:

6- Use a Good Quality landline Phone:

7- Mind your Body language:

8- Be Honest:

9- Do not Talk About Salary:

10- Always be prepared:

Some very quick tips to remember while attending telephonic interview:

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Tips for Preparing Group Interview:

1- Prior Preparation & Research:

2- Prepare Your Personal Interview:

3- Connect with the Interviewers:

4- Dress Appropriately:

5- Carry Your Documents:

6- Arrive Early For Interview:

7- Stay Attentive and Mind your Body Language:

8- Follow-up Post Interview:

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1- Be Prepared in Advance:

2- Avoid Months in Your Resume:

3- Add a Positive twirl to your Résumé Gap:

4- Take Advantage of your Cover Letter:

5- Don’t be Dishonest:

Some Quick Points to Keep in Mind While Explaining Gap on Your Resume:

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Pre-Interview Preparation:

Research & Rehearse Before the Interview:

During the Video Job Interview:

Things That a Good Cover Letter Should HAVE:

Types of Cover Letter:

Tips on How to write a perfect Cover letter: