With a track record of recruiting for some of the biggest film studios in the world, we love a good movie – and we also believe that all great films have something to teach us. So we started thinking about our favourite movie interview moments – and what our candidates can learn from them. In no particular order, here are our top five. Enjoy!
When a hypnotised Peter Gibbons stops caring about his job, it’s catastrophic timing for an internal interview- especially when his new-found lack of concern causes him to be a little bit too honest. To watch the scene, click here. Although airing his grievances about his lack of enthusiasm for the job worked for Peter Gibbons, I doubt this would yield positive results in real life. While in Office Space, this little rant earned Peter a promotion, real-life bosses expect you to have a genuine passion for what you do – and to show it, whether you’re up for a promotion or just starting out. (more…)
There’s always going to be certain phrases heard in the office that when used, make your skin crawl. Yet, we all seem to find ourselves participating in this so called ‘management speak’ from time to time. With this in mind, we want to compile a list of the worst you’ve heard or said in an interview. We’d be grateful if you could take a few minutes to comment below with your examples.
And to get you started, here are a few examples from the team here:
It’s a truth universally acknowledged that any ambitious professional is in want of the perfect job! Yes, passion for what you do is an absolute must have for almost any position, and when you’re job hunting it’s important to put your all into every application and every interview.
However, job hunting can also be a difficult and discouraging process. With the right recruitment agency, of course the stress can be seriously lifted, if not eliminated, but in reality there is no guarantee that you’ll get that one job you really want.
So when does passion become emotional dependency? How do you keep up your enthusiasm and your motivation without treating a job with the same emotional attachment you might approach a relationship?
Here are a few indicators that you might need to take a small step back in order to convey the right amount of enthusiasm for your job hunt and a few handy tips for handling these understandable worries. (more…)
The King’s Speech recently swept the Baftas, winning seven awards including best film and best actor for Colin Firth. Without ruining the movie, it got us thinking about the importance of public speaking and presenting.
The traditional interview format is changing. Many organisations are now opting out of the traditional competency-based interview and going for the less orthodox approach of the presentation-based interview. Many candidates are now asked to present their skills and experience in a lively and original presentation.
Following the recession, where there were hundreds of candidates to a job, it’s not hard to see why some organisations chose to give candidates a chance to really stand out and test their presentation skills and self-confidence early on. If you’ve been asked to put together a presentation about you, here are a few tips to make sure you’re a hit!
Preparation
1. Come up with a brilliant idea! You’ll want something that’s innovative and shows you can think outside the box, but isn’t too wacky and still shows off the best of you. Think about what defines you professionally and personally – and then make sure you’re memorable for all the right reasons.
2. Check your idea with someone objective and trustworthy. You need to make sure your presentation is palatable to any audience and that might require a second opinion – don’t be afraid to take criticism if it pushes you towards your end goal.
3. Work, work, work. The more you put into a dazzling presentation, the more likely you are to bag that job.
4. Make sure you have everything you need. It sounds obvious, but if your presentation requires a CD player, a laptop or even a book stand, bring it with you! Don’t rely on the interviewers having set up for you – chances are you’ll be left stuck.
5. Leave it alone for a few hours and come back to it later. You’ll probably spot a few howlers – plus things you’ve missed out. In order to be thorough you need to step back for a while.
Speaking
1. Make sure you’re relaxed, smiling and natural. Try not to memorise or overly rehearse your speech, or be too theatrical. Yes, you’re presenting, but you’re also trying to get who you are across.
2. Have a metronome in your mind reminding you to slow down whenever you feel the need to rush.
3. Make eye contact and address everyone in the room – they need to feel a connection with you while you’re speaking.
4. Pronounce all of your consonants clearly – it will make it easier for everyone to understand you and will remind you to keep a good pace.
5. Have fun – the best presentations are witty and engaging – make your audience believe it!
You may not win any Baftas for your performance, but you may just win the job of a lifetime, so get in front of that mirror and get practicing – speech might just be the key to your dream role!
So it’s the New Year and after some time to reflect at Christmas, you’ve decided that you want a new job, and are launching yourself into the market with passion and determination? But don’t forget lots of other people will be doing the same thing. So how are you going to stand out from your competition?
A bit of pre-planning is what you need. So for now, put that CV upload on hold and concentrate on the basics before you get going…
Detective work
You need to know as much as possible about your industry. As well as being able to do the job itself you will be expected to have a good knowledge of your sector. Use social media to listen and engage in what is being said (see our previous post for tips). This will allow you to learn as much as you can about current themes and also potential employers. Why not subscribe to blogs that are relevant/opinion based and keep abreast of current developments within the field. This will show you as a well-rounded professional. (more…)
Internet dating is becoming big business these days and although some singles may scoff at the thought of it, it’s worth bearing in mind – not least to help in your job searching!
Some of the common dating tips can just as easily be adapted and are relevant when you are looking for a job or attending an interview.
Have a read of our multi-purpose tips and see what you think:
Job searching
+ Be prepared – take it seriously – research, think about who you are looking for and what you want in a partner:
Which employers appeal to you and why? Use the internet to help you hone your research and explore company culture – all really important when looking for a new job.
+ Be realistic in when you expect things to happen:
Give yourself time to write the perfect CV, sign on with an agency and set up your account/profile on any job boards.
+Surround yourself with people who support you and boost your confidence:
Ask peers/colleagues what your strengths are if you’re finding it hard to come up with your personal profile or achievements.
+ Be realistic about what you are aiming to ‘hook’:
It’s unlikely you’ll go from a £23,000 role to a £45,000 in one leap. Consider the next step up the ladder and what you’re likely to be able to command salary-wise. Factor in the skills and experience you have and compare it to a range of job ads on job boards, for example.
+ If you email someone, or meet them and it doesn’t go according to plan, don’t take it personally:
We’re not all suitable for every job we apply for or interview for. The trick is to try to get constructive feedback that can help you for your next application or interview.
+ Join clubs, societies where you can hope to meet potential partners:
Sign up with a reputable recruitment agency within your field, use job boards and social media such as LinkedIn and Twitter to network and promote your areas of specialism.
+ If you’re not having success take some time out – recharge the batteries:
Some periods just aren’t great for job searching so don’t get down. Take some to reassess your needs and have a look at updating your CV.
Interview tips
+ Be yourself and don’t lie about your age, looks, situation:
Once at interview if you’ve lied about qualifications or experience this is likely to get found out, especially if they use competency-based interviewing.
+ Look your best – join a gym, get a haircut, buy a nice outfit, sort out your image:
First impressions count and presenting a professional, appropriate you to a potential employer is really important. Try to do some homework on company culture to turn up looking right at the interview.
+ Don’t dredge up past relationships, especially if they ended up badly:
Negative talk about current or past employers is a no-no. Instead talk about looking for a new challenge/opportunity for promotion/working closer to home.
+ Don’t overshare – some information can send people running for the hills:
Nerves make it easy to just start and not stop talking. Slow down (take a pause), consider the question and what you are being asked. Keep your answers relevant and if you don’t understand the question – ask for clarification.
+ Never make yourself too available or settle for second best
You know your own worth. Don’t take the first job in an attempt to leave a current situation. Hold out for the best opportunity, salary, challenging work – whatever is your goal for a new job. Be realistic about the salary and if your current employer comes back with a counter-offer – think about why you are choosing to leave in the first place.
So there you have it, our top tips to job searching and interviews. Give it a go in your job search and at your next interview. Good luck, and why not let us know how you got on by posting a comment below!
We’ve all had job interviews, some good, and some bad. But what happens when you have to have your interview at home having cooked a meal for your potential new boss? Well this is the latest Reality program to hit our screens courtesy of Channel Five. The Boss is Coming to Dinner features candidates battling it out amongst each other in various different tasks, the first of which is an interview over dinner.
I’ve only watched it a few times but found myself reading an article in The Times recently on this very program and it got me thinking about different recruitment techniques. As a recruiter I have seen many different types of processes used by clients, and as the author of the article points out some you see are very odd! B &Q once required candidates to do a dance to ‘Blame it on the Boogie’ by the Jackson 5– maybe this was some sort of exercise to loosen candidates up and make them feel at ease? Who knows? What is clear is that there are some pretty eccentric techniques being used and this new series is no exception!
So is the programme aimed at finding great fits for the employers it features, or is it simply a bit of PR for the company, a spot in the limelight for the candidate – and entertainment for the audience? The proof of the pudding as they say will be in the eating ( no pun intended!)
What interesting recruitment techniques have you heard of?