Interview Preparation
Checklist
1. Research the industry and the company
2. Review the job description
3. Analyze your motivation to work for this company
4. Prepare answers to common interview questions
5. Prepare your questions for the hiring manager
6. Choose your outfit
7. Know your resume
8. Practice, practice, practice …
The 6 Second Scanning Rule
Your resume is not a history of employment, it’s a marketing tool. Your resume only has six seconds to capture a hiring manager's interest. Chronological resumes also have the advantage of being well-liked by human recruiters and application tracking software because of their format.
Tips to stand out:
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Write on the top of your resume an objective statement that (should be limited to two or three sentences explaining what you are trying to accomplish and what you can contribute).
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Add a section with technical skills to highlight your most valuable technical skills that are relevant to the position.
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Keep the format consistent and simple. Make sure it is error free and easy to read (choose a clear font).
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Avoid flashy colours.
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Use headers.
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The resume length should be about 2 - 3 pages depending on your career level.
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Focus on achievements and not just responsibilities.
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Include keywords from the job description.
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Highlight awards and recognition.
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LinkedIn profile. Make a hyperlink on your resume to your profile.
Key: Put your expertise and skills at the top.
Score in the First 5 Minutes
Having your resume selected from the pile is a great first step, but then you have to close the deal.
Here are a couple of ways to hit the jackpot:
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The interview starts when you enter the building of the company. Be polite to everyone you meet. You might encounter people that will be present at the interview.
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Don’t smoke or talk on the phone outside the building where the interview will take place.
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Arrive 15 minutes early (earlier arrival can be seen as desperate).
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Physical appearance (dress professionally).
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Come in with energy and enthusiasm.
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Handshake: Your grip should be firm, include one shake and last for just a few seconds. A weak one can indicate a lack of confidence. On the other hand, too strong a handshake can be overbearing and uncomfortable. Also add a tiny smile and make friendly eye contact.
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Express your appreciation for the interviewer's time. For example: “I've really been looking forward to this meeting … !”
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Follow instructions. For example, you were asked to fill out an application form, bring your resume printed, prepare a presentation or portfolio, etc.
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Elevator pitch: The Hiring manager wants to know what you can do for the company and not vice versa.
Let's have a Look into ...
One day, I went to a Family Constellation Workshop (Familienaufstellung) that I found very inspiring and exciting. Quite different from anything else that I have tried. This therapeutic approach appealed to me very much. As a result, I decided to learn how to do a Family Constellation Workshop and became a certified Family Constellation Facilitator by the Hellinger Learning Center in 2019.
Quick information:
Family Constellations support the resolution of inherited trauma and allow us to disrupt family patterns or unveil the concealed dynamics in a family or relationship so that we can live stronger, healthier, happier, and a more fulfilled life. In a targeted moment of perception, a new life path can be set in action. People see different perspectives, get clarity, and substitute solutions as a life changing result. The German therapist Bert Hellinger developed the systemic family constellations method in the mid-1990s.
How do I work with this method?
If I see a blockage, a hurdle, a pattern, an obstacle, a barrier, etc, then I am introducing this method to my clients. I quickly explain how this method works and if the client agrees, then we can just start. No preparation time is needed. I am delighted to see that clients realize what triggers them to react to certain things, perceive things more clearly as well as realistically, and consider a change in their life.
“When I lived in South Africa, someone told me what the longest road is in Africa. It's not the road from Cairo to Capetown, it's the way from your head to your heart, and from there to the here and now.” Bert Hellinger