Candidate Advice

Interviews can be daunting but if you follow our advice you’ll be sure to make a good impression.

• In preparation for your interview make sure you research the company fully including visiting their website and ensure you have a full understanding of the duties and skills required within the role.
• A first impression counts, always look professional and this will help you feel more relaxed and confident.
• Ensure you know where the interview is taking place and give yourself plenty of time to arrive. Make sure you know the name of the person/people who are interviewing you and check if you need to take anything with you.
• A frequently asked question at an interview is regarding your strengths and weaknesses – it is always useful to prepare an answer in advance.
• During the interview be polite, positive and remember to speak calmly and clearly.
• Give clear and succinct answers to the question that has been asked. If you don’t fully understand the question ask for it to be repeated.
• Ask questions about the position and the company. Establish what the next stage will be if you are successful.
• Contact your consultant as soon as possible after your interview to give them feedback.

CV Tips

When writing a CV remember it is your first opportunity to make an impression on a potential employer. The purpose of your CV is to secure an interview and provide talking points for discussion at that stage. The following are tips are how to make your CV stand out:

• Start with a personal profile that highlights your personality, skills and experience.
• Put your most recent employment at the beginning and work backwards.
• Make it easy to read and concise. If possible try to keep it to two pages.
• Ensure it’s legible using a word processing package such as Microsoft Word. If posting a CV use good quality paper and keep an electronic version incase it is requested by email.
• Be positive, don’t be too modest. Highlight your strengths and never lie!
• There is no need to include your hobbies or your anticipated salary.
• Ensure you thoroughly check your CV for any grammatical and spelling errors prior to sending out, it is always useful to get someone else to proof read it.
• Tailor your CV to suit the position you are applying for.