INTERVIEW

How to survive the interview waiting game

BY: Tracey Mesken05/08/2019

​Have you ever felt like you totally nailed an interview? You prepared thoroughly, answered the questions well and the interviewer seemed to really be engaged with you. You leave the interview on top of the world, confident that tomorrow morning you will receive a phone call or an email. You wait all day but hear nothing.Three days later and you still haven’t heard, you are starting to wonder what is going on, did you, or didn’t you get the job? The waiting game seems like it is going on forever!A week later and you still haven’t heard. As each day comes and goes your mind is now consumed with questions and you can think of nothing else, what is taking so long? Did I say something wrong? Should I send another email? This inner state of turmoil you are experiencing is often referred to as job offer anxiety. While your mind struggles to find answers to all your questions your confidence is slowly disappearing, you begin to blame yourself for not getting the call back and are second guessing your skills and abilities.Many of us have experienced these feelings of anxiety while waiting to hear back after an interview, so what can we do to ease this inner turmoil? The tips below should help you to keep perspective and survive the post interview waiting game.Establish next stepsIt is always a good idea to establish the next steps of the process before you leave the interview. This can help give you a realistic idea on when you are likely to be contacted. Don’t be afraid to ask your interviewer when they will be contracting you or if you can contact them in a few days to follow up.Discuss and review with your recruiterIf you are working with a recruiter you may find a follow up discussion regarding the opportunity beneficial. Your recruiter will often know the client better then you and can help you sort through your thoughts on the interview in addition to an objective opinion based on their own experiences with the company. We do not recommend you call your recruiter every day for an update, they will call you as soon as there is news. This will usually be after an offer has been made to either yourself or another candidate.Continue your job searchWhile this may seem obvious, many of us become so focused on waiting to hear back from an interview that we forget what our goal was in the first place – get a job. Continuing your job hunt is a perfect way to distract yourself and take your mind off the interview call back, not to mention using your time wisely. Sitting around waiting for your perfect job to call you will not get you any closer to achieving your end goal. No matter what you were told in an interview, do not resign from your current job until you receive an offer in writing that is ideally signed by both parties.Review your ResumeA great way to boost your confidence and ease your anxiety is knowing that your resume is in top shape. Spend some time reviewing your resume and basic cover letter, remembering that each cover letter should be tailored to the job you are applying for. Passing your resume out to some friends is a great way to gain some valuable feedback and fresh ideas. You can also use this time to work on your interview answers. Think about all the experiences you have had where you have created a new process or solved a problem that an employer might want to hear about - these may or may not be industry specific, the goal is to highlight your strengths.Maintain PerspectiveYes time does feel like it is creeping along at a snail’s pace when you are playing the waiting game. However, while we might like to believe that the person responsible for making the decision to call us is focused solely on hiring a person for this job, reality is, this is often not the case. It is easy for us to forget that they will have other responsibilities and like in every job, have things unexpectedly pop up that requires their immediate attention. They are not deliberately making you wait, many of them would have experienced the same anxiety you are now feeling waiting to hear about a position Always remember silence is not an indication of anything, especially your chances of finding a job. Job searching for even the most talented people can take many months. Stays focused on all the positives and prepare yourself for any outcome. If you have done your very best and you are the perfect candidate for the job, you will receive the call.

How to write a rockin' resume

BY: Tracey Mesken29/12/2015

​This week's #WorkHack is the ultimate collection of dos and don'ts on how to write a rockin' resume. Follow our simple tips to ensure your resume is professional, focused and a cut above the rest. We've done the hard work and research for you so you can get the best results on your job hunt.​ Share this Image On Your Site<p><a href='https://www.workpac.com/blog/write-a-rockin-resume/'><img src='https://www.workpac.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Write_a_rockin_resume.png' alt='Write a rockin resume' width='540px' border='0' /></p><p></a>This infographic was provided by WorkPac: <a href='https://www.workpac.com/blog/write-a-rockin-resume/'>Write a rockin resume</a></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />

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The Dos and Don’ts of Interviews

BY: Tracey Mesken02/09/2015

​ Interviews are one of the most important aspects in landing that job you have been chasing. Regardless of whether the interview is with the company you are being put forward to or with the recruitment agency you have been dealing with, leaving a good impression is a must. Interview Don’tsDon’t show up late. Always give yourself more time then you think you will actually need to get to the interview. Showing up late is a sign of bad behaviour, now and in the future.Don’t dress inappropriately. If you are unsure of what to wear to the interview, check with your recruiter first. Regardless of how casual, always ensure you are showered, tidy and your clothes and shoes are clean.Don’t chew chewing gum during the interview.Don’t smoke during the interview or turn up smelling like an ashtray. Always brush your teeth or have a mint before the interview.Don’t talk too much. The interviewer does not need to know your life story, just answer the question.Don’t bad mouth past employers. Even if your last boss was an idiot and you hated your job and disliked everyone who worked there, don’t say so. It can be a very small world sometimes and you just never know who your interviewer might know. You also don’t want them to think that you would speak that way about them.Don’t allow your mobile phone to sound during the interview and don’t look at text messages. If you do forget to put your phone on silent, apologise quickly and turn of the sound. Never answer the call.Don’t take your partner, friends, parents, children or pets to an interview unless you have a legitimate disability that requires assistance.Don’t ever lie about your qualifications and always answer any questions asked honestly.Don’t show your job search frustrations or have a negative attitude in your interview, always have a positive attitude.Don’t slouch down in the chair or treat the interview casually. This is insulting to the interviewer and the company.Don’t rely on your resume or our recruiter to do the selling for you. No matter how qualified and suitable you may be for the job, you will need to sell yourself to the interviewer.Interview DosDo know the exact time and place of your interview, how long it is going to take to get there and where you can park.Do greet the receptionist or first person you meet politely and with respect. This is where you make your first impression and the interviewer will find out if this impression was less than ideal.Do fill out any paperwork you are asked to complete, neatly, accurately and to the best of your ability. If you are unsure about any questions always ask instead of guessing.Do answer questions asked by the interviewer and back up your answers with specific examples if possible. If you don’t understand the question always ask for clarification.Do treat the interview seriously and as though you are genuinely interested in the employer and the job on offer.Do maintain good eye contact during the interview.Do bring extra copies of your resume with you to the interview.Do shake hands firmly with your interviewer. There is nothing worse than a limp handshake!Do avoid using bad language and slang, also try and avoid common pause words such as um, uh and like.Do avoid controversial topics.Do highlight your achievements and accomplishments in past jobs and personal life (where relevant).Do make sure you understand the next steps in the hiring process before you leave the interview. This includes when and from whom you will hear and any actions you are expected to undertake.Do always thank the person who has interviewed you, even if you think the interview has not gone well. It may have gone better then you thought.While there are many dos and don’ts when it comes to interviews those listed above should give you a good understanding. Remember, it is perfectly normal to be nervous before an interview and it is unlikely that this will go against you.Best of luck!

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