Teryl @ Work

No matter how confident you are, being interviewed can be daunting.   Today, interviewing has become more structured and many interviewers ask a set of standardised questions, so that they can get a more objective view of the candidate.   It is a really good idea to have thought this through and to be ready with good, truthful responses that put you in a good light. Some favourites are: Strengths and weaknesses, conflict situations, what question should I be asking you and a success story. The examples below should give you some ideas. Strengths for a Reception Position I have a strong, clear speaking voice I sound friendly when talking on the phone (I practised talking and smiling in front of a mirror) I have a good memory for names, voices and faces Weaknesses for a Sales Management Position I find Admin is a bit of a challenge, but I have developed some personal models and strategies that enable me to be more effective When sales aren't coming through, I...

Today I am putting out my first ever blog, and so first impressions are top of mind.   How do we create the right first impression when job hunting?   Interviewers are just like the rest of us and their initial impression of the applicant can change the whole flavour of the interview. So how do you create that great first impression?  Research?   These days, it is the expectation that the applicant will know what the company does, understand the basics of the job requirement and have a few well chosen questions to add to the discussion.  It adds real value to know who their customers are, and to be able to relate personally to the business.   The high rate of unemployment means that for every good job, there are multiple applicants, and you need to stand out from the crowd. And research the dress code, too.   We live in a world where we are constantly evaluated on our external presentation, so make that first 60 seconds of interaction positive. ...