Job Searching and Interviews - The Best Way to Get Hired

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1 Preparing for employment An information guide Compiled May 2011

2 Contents Section 1 Forward Section 2 Getting prepared Speculative and cover letters Curriculum Vitae Job searching guide Application form guide Disclosure Job interviews guide Dealing with disappointment Section 3 Where can I get further information? Useful contacts Sources

3 Section 1 Foreword This guide has been compiled as an aid for people who are preparing for employment. Any organisations mentioned in this guide are not endorsed by Hertfordshire County Council, Work Solutions, Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust or the Enhanced Primary Mental Health Service. It is not a comprehensive guide and there may be alternative support /organisations/ information that are not mentioned within. The purpose of this leaflet is to simply provide information which may be of assistance to you.

4 Section 2 Getting prepared Looking for work can be a daunting prospect especially if you have been experiencing personal difficulties. The job market can be a competitive place and we can often feel as though we have little to offer when up against a lot of other candidates. People often feel that health, age and experience in particular can be barriers to employment. The facts are that employers want committed, reliable hard working people who will provide them with good service. You need to reassure prospective employers that you will do this, so do not focus too much on what you perceive to be your barriers to employment. Be positive and focus on your strengths and what you can offer an organisation. The following information will help you to put together high quality written information and some advice on how to ensure you present yourself well in person. Preparation is key, so arming yourself with job searching tools and skills will give you the best possible chance of success in securing employment. This leaflet will give you hints and guidance to help you make the best impression with your letters, cv, application forms and interviews. It is well worth the time investment that it takes to ensure you do all these things well, as these things are all that a potential employer will know of you until you have an opportunity to show them how good you are by doing actually the job! Speculative and cover letters Speculative letter Sometimes it is worth making an enquiry to an employer even if they are not currently advertising for a vacancy, these enquiries are known as speculative applications whereby you send prospective employers a letter and a copy of your CV. Applying speculatively can be frustrating, with a relatively low response rate, but if you do find an employer with a vacancy there will usually be less competition. The employer may also keep your CV on file until an appropriate job comes up. When you are making a speculative application you should always write to a named person if possible - people take more notice of letters addressed to them rather than letters which say 'Dear Sir/Madam'. So do not address the letter to the Personnel Manager or Human Resources Manager; ring up the company and find out the name of the person and their correct job title. There is an example of a sample speculative letter below, there are also many examples available on the internet through some of the websites sourced later in this guide. Cover letter Every time you send your CV to a perspective employer it should be accompanied by a covering letter. This letter provides a professional and personalised introduction, as with the speculative letter above it should be addressed to a named person. There is an example of a sample cover letter below, there are also many examples available on the internet through some of the websites sourced later in this guide.

5 Sample Speculative Letter 22 Livery Road Oakfields Way Stevenage Herts AL5 9BJ 26 April 2011 Mr Ben Harkness Direct Marketing Manager News Weekly 1 Bourne Avenue Hemel Hempstead Herts HP2 1AA Dear Mr Harkness I am writing to enquire if you have any vacancies for an administrator within your organisation. I noted with interest the newspaper article announcing news of your company s expansion in the coming months. I am very keen to be considered for any suitable vacancies, as your company has an excellent reputation for training and development. My CV is enclosed for your attention, from which will see I used to work in a subscriptions department of a publishing company dealing with fashion and computing magazines. I had specific responsibility for all the monthly reports and training of new administration staff. I have recently updated my computer skills by completing a Computer Skills qualification (ECDL) and am really keen to return to work as soon as possible. I am available to start work at short notice and hope to have the opportunity of a meeting to discuss my suitability. I will call you next week to see if we can arrange a convenient meeting. Yours sincerely Signature Susan Arrowsmith (Mrs)

6 Sample cover letter 22 Great Road Watford Hertfordshire WD18 0PP 5 April 2011 Mr J Davies Personnel Manager Training Solutions 123 Great Road Watford Hertfordshire WD18 0PP REF: Administrator (Job Centre Plus HTS/1234) Dear Mr Davies (or Sir/Madam if you do not have a contact name) Please find enclosed my CV with regards to the above post as advertised with the Job Centre. I have four years experience in administration including my most recent role in a voluntary position with Watford General Hospital. I believe I have the skills you are looking for as I have an excellent working knowledge of Microsoft packages including Word, Excel and PowerPoint. I have also been performing general administration duties such as data input, filing and telephone answering. I am hardworking, able to multi task and can work on my own initiative. My reason for applying for this role is that I believe these are the personal qualities you may be looking for. I am very interested in this position and would be able to attend for an interview at any time that is convenient for you Thank you for your consideration, I look forward to hearing from you soon. Yours sincerely (or yours faithfully if you have used Sir/Madam) Signature Paul Jones Enc. CV

7 Curriculum Vitae Your CV is a very important document as it will probably be part of the first contact you have with your potential new employer. You want to make a good first impression so that the employer is encouraged to offer you an interview. Employers will probably receive many CVs as a result of advertising a job vacancy, especially if the job opening is advertised in the local or national press. With all these CVs to read, you need to ensure that yours stands out from the crowd. The good news is that many CVs are written very badly, so a little time and effort invested in producing your Curriculum Vitae should pay dividends. Below is a guide to help you put together a good CV. CV Guide Personal Details Include your name, address, phone numbers and address so any interested employers can contact you easily. Information such as nationality, age and marital status are not required. These details are generally put at the top of the CV Do not include a photo of yourself. Personal Profile Four to five sentences that immediately captures the attention of your reader and entices them to find out more about you. Describe your personal qualities and attributes. Key Skills Whether you realise it or not you will have picked up many skills over the years. List 4-6 Skills. Use bullet points Remember to tailor your key skills to match the position you are applying for Indicate here any languages, IT skills and transferable skills if appropriate. Employment History List your most recent position first, continuing in reverse chronological order Aim to use bullet points wherever possible to highlight your responsibilities and achievements in each role Be as accurate as possible with dates (Month/Year) Give a brief description of your main duties and responsibilities for each job. Aim to use bullet points wherever possible to highlight your responsibilities and achievements Don t leave gaps in your employment. Give explanations for any gaps in your employment history. Remember to show any voluntary work, skills gained, bring up children If you have breaks due to ill health put a positive slant on it i.e. now recovered and ready to return to work Don t go back more than 10 years unless your last job was a long term position Don t include reasons for leaving or current salary information

8 Education Start with most recent first Include any relevant training courses / certificates You do not have to include school education if it was more than 15 years ago Additional Information Include any other relevant information which cannot be included in the other CV headings i.e. Clean Current Driving Licence Hobbies & Interests Avoid listing your Hobbies & Interests. Write a short paragraph with descriptions i.e. instead of saying football use playing football for a local team. Be selective about your hobbies and interests. Do not include hobbies which can be interpreted incorrectly i.e. I like war gaming, slasher horror movies, clubbing etc Show teamwork activities where possible References Do not include referee information. Use references available on request Other CV Do s Keep it to one two pages maximum Keep it POSITIVE! Always type up your CV and use a modern font style. No more than font size 12 Spell-check your CV Check it and check it again. Get someone else to check it Always send a covering letter. Paperclip to your CV Send it out flat, use an A4 white envelope Mention any special skills such as a language. Ensure you save your CV so it can be easily updated Tailor it to the job you are applying for Stress your transferable skills Other CV Don ts Send poor quality photocopies or use coloured paper Use jargon Use tippex or cross out Be negative or waffle Include long paragraphs Use both sides of the paper Put clip art on Don t Lie

9 Suggested Qualities for Personal Profile Flexible Articulate Calm Organised Punctual Tactful Sensible Quick to learn Reliable Practical Co-operative Polite Loyal Lively Responsible Dedicated Versatile Creative Confident Approachable Hardworking Assertive Accurate Consistent Team member Innovative Committed Competent Adaptable Decisive Bright Imaginative Patient Dependable Dynamic Friendly Methodical Self-motivated Outgoing Sensitive Suggested Wording for Personal Profiles An outgoing and friendly personality A fast learner and pay attention to detail Able to work as part of a team as well as on own initiative A confident and friendly person who enjoys meeting people Enjoys practical tasks and gets satisfaction from seeing a job finished A very positive person who enjoys new challenges Able to follow instructions accurately and has an eye for detail Honest, trustworthy, and a good timekeeper A very practical, hard-working person, who enjoys working in a team as well as on my own initiative Confident and patient when dealing with members of the public. Excellent customer service skills. Ability to communicate well with people and has a good telephone manner Results-driven, logical and methodical approach to achieving tasks and objectives Determined and decisive; uses initiative to develop effective solutions to problems Reliable and dependable - high personal standards and attention to detail Strives for quality and applies process and discipline towards optimising performance Extremely reliable and dependable - analytical and questioning, strives for quality Good interpersonal skills - works well with others, motivates and encourages

10 Self-aware - always seeking to learn and grow Well-organised; good planner; good time-manager A good listener - caring and compassionate Sensitive and patient interpersonal and communication skills Transferable Skills Teamwork - Leadership - Initiative - Problem solving - Communication - Flexibility - Commitment - Interpersonal skills - Numeracy - being a constructive team member, contributing to the team success being able to lead, motivate and encourage others ability to see opportunities and to set and achieve goals thinking things through in a logical way ability to communicate orally or in writing ability to handle change and adapt to new situations having energy and enthusiasm in pursuing projects ability to relate well to others & establish good working relationships understanding of numerical data, statistics and graphs Action Words for your CV Achieved Decided Hired Pioneered Acquired Decreased Implemented Planned Administered Defined Improved Played Advised Delivered Improvised Positioned Analysed Demonstrated Increased Prepared Appointed Determined Inspected Prevented Approved Devised Instigated Processed Assessed Directed Insured Produced Audited Doubled Interviewed Proved Augmented Drew Introduced Provided Bought Effected Launched Recommended Built Eliminated Led Recorded Centralised Enabled Lightened Rectified Checked Engineered Loaded Reduced Combined Ensured Maintained Researched Communicated Established Managed Selected Completed Evaluated Modernised Stocked

11 Computed Executed Negotiated Surveyed Conceived Extracted Obtained Trained Converted Formulated Ordered Travelled Co-ordinated Generated Organised Worked Examples for Hobbies & Interests Remember to write your hobbies and interests in a sentence instead of listing them i.e. I enjoy taking part in team sports and play for a local team. Billiards/Pool Bird watching Sailing Building models Amateur radio Climbing Collecting things Cookery Cycling Dancing Reading Using computer Voluntary work Walking Watching / Playing sport DIY Dressmaking Fishing Gardening Keeping pets Maintaining car Motor racing Painting Photography Playing darts Playing musical instruments Please see the following brief example of a CV

12 Sample CV Personal Profile Janet Bloggs 22 High Street Anytown Herts AL2 6ZW A self-motivated and enthusiastic individual with IT experience and accurate keyboard skills. A team player with a friendly personality who enjoys the challenge of a busy environment. Currently looking to return to office work and develop my potential. Key Skills Excellent customer service skills Confident telephone manner Administrative experience Computer literate - Internet, Word, Excel and Employment History Dec 1995 Present A career break to raise my children, and completed an ECDL computer course at my local college. Nov 1987 Dec 1995 Receptionist John Franklin Ltd, Watford First line of contact with clients both in person and on the telephone Daily liaison with colleagues, other branches, mortgage advisors and solicitors Responsible for monitoring client and property databases and updating records Jan 1981 Oct 1987 Administrator Kilroy & Company, St Albans Typing of orders raised by sales representatives and arranging representatives appointments Liaison with internal departments to resolve any problems Preparation of area sales figures for monthly analysis Education and Qualifications Dec 2006 ECDL Computer course covering Word, Excel and Watford College Certificate in Administration/Office Practice Sept 1981 O Level English, Maths, History and Science Elliot High School Additional Information Full driving licence/own transport Hobbies and Interests A keen interest in watching classical films and going on countryside walks. I also enjoy cooking and collect antiques. References available on request

13 Job Searching Guide Where are all the jobs? Newspapers & Recruitment Pages Read the adverts carefully, use your job analysis to break it down Read articles in the paper, look for new companies setting up in your area Look out for advertised Job Fairs Get backdated papers to see which companies advertised certain jobs that you could potentially send speculative applications to. Job Centre Plus Speak to a Disability Employment Advisor or Lone Parent Advisor for specialist advice Use the FREE job points in the jobcentre to access local and up to date vacancie Access Recruitment Agencies Agencies deal with both temporary and permanent roles Register with a few by ing or hand delivering your CV and keep in regular contact with them by telephoning or looking at their vacancies on the website. Often specialise in certain types of employment, i.e. office, construction, I.T etc Access Library Free membership for everyone to access free resources Free internet usage, reference books and careers information Free access to local newspapers and trade journals Trade Journals have vacancies for their own career areas Yellow Pages for sending speculative applications Notice Boards shop windows often advertise vacancies within store Voluntary Organisations can offer a route to entering paid employment Personal Contacts/Word of Mouth/Direct Approaches Asking friends and family about vacancies within their own workplace Using the Yellow Pages/Business Directories to send companies speculative applications Calling or writing to newly established companies in your area to find out when they will begin recruiting The Internet search or browse for vacancies through a variety of sources Research employers Submit your CV on job search or agency websites Register to receive jobs by

14 Recommended websites for job searching Google your local newspaper For job centre plus vacancies For jobs within the NHS Variety of jobs (post your CV here) Variety of jobs (post your CV here) Variety of jobs through Reed Employment Agency Variety of jobs (post your CV here) For jobs in the Education Sector For jobs advertised through Guardian For jobs in Science and Academic sector For jobs in the public sector For jobs within Herts CC Variety of jobs (post your CV here) Excellent information on preparing CVs, applications and job market information Searching for your local paper you can find out locally advertised roles including part time vacancies

15 Top tips using the internet to job search Set up a new account specifically for job searching. Make it professional bob.smith@hotmail.com is acceptable but 2hot2handle@hotmail.com IS NOT. When you find a site that you like using, bookmark or favourite it so you can easily find it again. Create a job search log; make a diary with dates and times of applications and on which site they were on. Keep track on them. If you don t have internet access at home, join the library! Internet access is FREE for all members. Read instructions carefully there is no generic application form for all online jobs. You may need to fill in a form, you may need to upload a CV and covering letter. Ensure you pay attention and do as you are asked to apply for the job. Spread the word upload your CV onto as many sites as possible. Monster, jobsite, and guardian these are all websites which employers use to search CV s. NEVER EVER GIVE YOUR BANK ACCOUNT DETAILS or send money to receive information about a job. Top tips recruitment agencies Keep an eye on their vacancies if they advertise the same ones week after week they may just be trying to stock pile CV s Ensure you get all the particulars for the job you are applying for. Do you know the wage? The location? Is it a permanent or a temporary job? Treat registering with a recruitment agency like an interview; you want to impress them as they will put your CV forward for positions if they think you will be a good employee. Remember, employers pay recruitment agencies to recruit their staff so they are expecting their money s worth dress to impress and sell your skills you need to be the cream of the crop! Call any agencies you are registered with on a weekly basis if they haven t called you they will know you are keen and won t forget about you if any vacancies come up that match your CV. Register with as many agencies as possible the more people you have helping you look for work, the more chances there are of finding that perfect job. If relevant, register with industry specialist agencies i.e. agencies that deal only with IT jobs or Health Care jobs.

16 Job searching glossary 30,000pa OTE Recruitment Agency Transferable Skills Personal Specification Blue Chip Company Fixed Term Contract Pro-rata CCDL Closing Date Neg Essential Criteria Desirable Criteria Job Description On target earnings (if you reach a certain target this is the salary you could earn the basic salary is likely to be much lower) A service which helps both employers and jobseekers. They make profits by charging employers a fee to find them the right candidate. Skills learned in one setting that would be useful in another. A list of skills, experience, personal attributes and qualifications required by an employer in relation to a particular job A well regarding and nationally, or internationally known company This means the job is for a limited time, i.e. 1 year fixed term contract. This is usually written next to the salary when advertising part time jobs. The salary shown is the salary for the role if it was full time. Current Clean Driving License The latest date that the employer must have received your application by for you to be considered for the role. The salary is negotiable. The skills/experience/qualification you MUST have to apply for the role. The skills/experience/qualification the employer would like you to have to apply for the role, but are not essential. This explains the duties and responsibilities involved in the role

17 Application Form Guide Job Description & Person Spec A Job Description explains what the person applying for the job will be expected to do when in post A Person Specification is a list of skills, experience, personal attributes and qualifications required by an employer in relation to the job. Usually broken down into: Essential Criteria - The skills, knowledge and experience you must have in order to do the job properly Desirable Criteria - The skills, knowledge and experience you might have that an employer is hoping for How to Prepare: Read the whole form through Obtain a Job Description & Person Specification Analyse the Job Description & Person Spec - List the skills & qualities the employer is looking for Be realistic - Do you have the required skills? Research the company. Check their website Make a photocopy. Write a rough draft first. Completing the Form: Write all the information in full Follow the guidelines (read the small print) Make sure all the information is as accurate as possible Use words you are comfortable with Use N/A (If not applicable) Make yourself look flexible Tailor every application make it relevant to the post Use examples where possible Use power words e.g. demonstrated, experienced in, knowledge of, organised, delivered, managed, supervised, presented, promoted etc. Sell your skills including transferable skills Write neatly, if your handwriting is difficult to read you could use block capitals Be honest. When you ve finished Get someone else to read it for you Take a photocopy it will help for the interview or future application forms Ask for feedback.

18 Online Application forms A good, tailored application needs the same preparation as a hard copy form. Don t forget your user names & passwords Print off a copy to complete a draft by hand first Spell check the document (use the word processor) Print off the finished copy to refer back to before an interview Make sure the info you send will be secure Save the information every few minutes to avoid losing it. Covering Gaps / Declaring a Disability BE HONEST If it s not true don t write it. Travelling, raising children, training / education, ill health, looking after sick relatives are all valid reasons for having gaps in employment. Advantages of disclosing a disability: You will be covered by the DDA, Receive support and understanding from the employer, Reasonable adjustments. References Always ask for permission from your referees Include all contact information (include if possible) Don t make it difficult for the potential employer. Criminal Record Check if the conviction is spent. Visit for information and advice for those with a criminal record who are returning to work Competency Based Questions Some recruiters will ask competency based questions on their application form. They might ask questions about when you have: worked well in a team used your initiative had to problem solve had to deal with a difficult situation.

19 The Star Model When answering a competency based question it is important that you demonstrate you have the skills by providing examples. You may find it useful to apply the STAR model when answering these types of question. Situation Task Action Result brief outline of the situation or setting. How, when, where, whom outline what you did outline how you did it describe the outcome. What did you achieve / learn from it? For Example: Q. Describe a time when you have shown your commitment to promoting equal opportunities? A. I have always been sensitive and inclusive of others in my work and personal life regardless of race, gender, religion, disability or sexual orientation. In 2008 I worked as a mentor for a group of students on the Aim Higher project to encourage pupils from different backgrounds to consider applying to the University. I designed projects and activities in the local area that focused on the diversity of the group to ensure participation. The programme was successful for the pupils and a rewarding learning experience for me. Q. Describe a time when you have worked well as part of a team? A. When at Tesco the store decided to introduce a new clothing department and this meant the shop floor needed to be rearranged to create space. The team had eight weeks in which to complete the space swap, during which time the store was to remain open to the public. I was responsible for updating the product database (adding new lines and deleting discontinued ones) and ensuring the stock balances remained accurate. Not only did I work closely with colleagues at store level but I also interacted with colleagues based at the head office. To be an effective member of the team, I kept myself up to date on developments and I always completed tasks that were assigned to me on time. This task required me to use skills such as planning, organisation and coordination. It resulted in the team completing the swap in time and with the minimum disruption to customers. Personal Statement / Additional Information Section Most application forms contain a section where you can include other relevant information to support your application. Read the instructions on what they are expecting from you. This is your opportunity to make a good impression, be honest and don t forget to sell yourself!

20 Provide details of your experience, skills and knowledge which will support your application Tips on completing this section: Present evidence of your skills and qualities based on what the employer is looking for Refer back to the job description & person spec to ensure you address all the points Use examples from work, voluntary, academic or personal experiences Highlight your responsibilities and achievements Include what attracted you to the job, and how it fits into your career goals Don t waffle, keep your details concise Use bullet points if appropriate Take your time. Disclosure by Rob McInnes For many job seekers with disabilities, the issue of disclosure (if, when and how to alert an employer to their disability) is a major area of concern. As you go about looking for a job, you will need to decide if and when to disclose your disability. There are no hard rules. It will be up to you to make those decisions. It will all be a strategic judgment call on you part. As you know, having a disability can be a liability in the job search due to the possible misconceptions and/or prejudices of the people you will encounter. Sometimes, however, having a disability can be an asset! When you are applying to proactive companies who have a reputation for hiring people with disabilities, they may have a specific interest in applicants with disabilities. Probably more important than when you disclose your disability is how you do it. The way that you present your disability can greatly affect how the employer will view it. Are you presenting yourself as a person with a disability who has some skills or a person with skills who happens to have a disability? Don t be mistaken, this is an important distinction! Employers don t hire people because they have disabilities they hire people because they have skills. Make sure that you are presenting yourself as an enthusiastic and qualified candidate FIRST and someone with a disability, SECOND. If you don t have a visible or otherwise obvious disability, you have the choice of when, how, and if you will disclose it to any employer. Even if you do require a reasonable accommodation on the job, you do not need to disclose your need for it until after you have been offered a job.

21 Job Interviews Guide Preparing for interview Interviews can be very scary and daunting but being prepared can boost your confidence and make the process less nerve racking! Here are some top tips and ideas to help you prepare: CONFIRM you will be attending RESEARCH the job, RESEARCH the Company, RESEARCH the Interview CHECK your journey do a trial run DRESS TO IMPRESS prepare what you are going to wear the night before and make sure it is ironed, clean and fits you SLEEP - Get a good nights sleep the night before REHEARSE some questions do a mock interview with a friend, anticipate questions you might be asked and think of scenarios. i.e when you worked well in a team, when you showed initiative etc POSITIVE attitude turn all negatives into positives PREPARE all documentation needed for the interview the night before OFFLOAD take the bear minimum to interview with you, basics such as a folder with CV and any certificates or documents. Don t take your shopping in with you KNOW yourself read through your CV over and over again so you can quickly recap on past experiences during your interview. First Impressions Your CV and application form has already impressed selectors. The next step is to sell yourself in person. First impressions are crucial. An interview may last for 30 minutes or more but studies have shown that someone forms judgements about you within four minutes of meeting you and that these judgments affect their further impressions of you. You can make a good first impression by: Making sure you are dressed to impress an employer will see you before he/she hears you Personal hygiene Think about your hair, nails, teeth etc. People notice dirty finger nails and greasy hair which do not make a good first impression Body language use open body language like eye contact and smiling

22 Be on time for your interview, arrive 10 minutes early so you can build a rapport and make a good first impression on other colleagues and/or reception staff Positivity Be positive from the start, do not talk about how awful your journey was or how your iron broke this morning. Turn all negatives into a positive or don t say them at all Be genuine people respect others who are genuine and do not try to be someone they are not. Types of Interview One-to-One interview the classic one on one interview, just the employer and you Telephone Interview Usually used to ask screening questions to check eligibility for the role. Group Interview A group of people will be interviewed together for one or more roles within a company. Group activities will determine your strengths and weaknesses. Panel Interview Usually 2 3 members of the company will interview you. They make take it in turns to ask you questions, one person may be writing notes. Second Interview If an employer cannot decide at the first interview, he/she will invite the best candidates back for a second interview. The competition is tougher at this stage. Typical Interview Questions Tell me about yourself? Don t become too verbal. A very brief summary of your education, career and most recent experience should be offered. Remember this is usually a warm up question so don t waste your best points on it. You may wish to ask if there is any particular area they would like further details on. What motivates you at work? Your response will vary based on your background and experiences, but, you will want to share your enthusiasm and what you like(d) best about your job. Examples could be you helping others, having a target to work towards; team work, praise. Avoid mentioning money related motivations unless you know your job involves financial initiatives such as a sales role which is based around commission. Do you enjoy working in a team or independently? When the interviewer asks "Do you prefer to work independently or on a team?" he or she wants to know if you're a team player or would rather work on your own. It is important to state that you are equally comfortable working as a

23 member of a team and independently unless you know the job requires you to work on your own. You may like to give an example of when you have worked well in a team and then another for when you have worked well independently. Why did you apply for this role? Be enthusiastic about the role, why did you apply? Describe the skills and qualifications listed in the job posting, then connect them to your skills and experience. That way, the employer will see that you know about the job you're interviewing for (not everyone does) and that you have the qualifications necessary to do the job. If you know a lot about the company, mention that too do they have a good reputation as an employer? How much do you know about us? Be very brief they just want to know you have done your research. Give them a brief overview of your understanding of what the company does and something that has happened recently, i.e., opened a new store in St Albans. Why do you have a gap in your employment? Be honest. There are lots of acceptable reasons why you may have gaps in employment. Ill health, travelling, bringing up children, caring responsibilities these are all acceptable and you should be honest in your interview about these. If it is due to ill health, put a positive spin on it and say how well you have recovered and what steps you have taken to get back into work. Can you give an example of when you have used your initiative? Use a work example if you can but it maybe that you have limited work history and in this case, it is acceptable to use a personal example. Prepare this answer before your interview. Spend only a minute or two giving an example. Can you give an example of when you have used problem solving? Use a work example if you can but it maybe that you have limited work history and in this case, it is acceptable to use a personal example. Prepare this answer before your interview. Spend only a minute or two giving an example. What are your hobbies and interests? Try to think back to what is on your CV and what you put on your application form. This question is asked so that the employer can grasp what sort of things you are interested in when you are not working. If you do voluntary work, be sure to include this here. Try to include sports if you play any which indicate good team work, if you enjoy writing stories or poetry this could indicate good writing skills. Do not include things like clubbing, going to the pub, playing war games, or anything that may detriment your character. What experience do you have? Think of the skills you have learnt in past roles which would be similar or transferable to this post. Bearing in mind what is outlined in the job description and person specification.

24 What are your key skills? Remember your key skills and why you applied for the job in the first place. Focus on the things you know you are good at and that are requirements for the role. I.e. focus on computer skills and customer service skills if the role is working on reception. Focus on hardworking and teamwork if the role is a Manual Labourer. Memorise your CV and look over your application form before interview to help you with this question. What three words would your friends/family use to describe you? Focus on your strengths what are your positive attributes that your friends and family would use to describe you. Hardworking, determined, polite, goodhumoured, helpful, conscientious these are all good words to use. Ask your friends and family to prepare you for this answer if you can. What are your strengths? Choose those most relevant to this position. These tend to fall into two categories your personal strengths and your business skills. Give a mix of both, stressing in what ways they have proved useful to you. Prepare for this question before interview and be confident in your answer, show that you truly believe in your abilities. What are your weaknesses? When you're asked what your greatest weakness is, try to turn a negative into a positive. For example, a sense of urgency to get projects completed or wanting to triple-check every item in a spreadsheet can be turned into a strength i.e. you are a candidate who will make sure that the project is done on time and your work will be close to perfect. Do not use the word weakness when you answer this question - you always want to focus on the positive when interviewing. Where do you see yourself in five years time? Try not to be too ambitious but show that you have some direction. Remember, this all depends on the job you are applying for. If it is a job with prospects then tell them about wanting to be a manager in five years time. If it is a low level job that provides you with comfort, tell them about a course you hope to have passed in that time. Why do you want to work here? Point out things that the company is doing that you would like to be involved in. Remember: your research will be useful here! What salary are you looking for? Try to find out as much as you can about salary prior to the interview, it may be that if you were offered the job the salary is much lower than you can afford to accept. Be realistic with this question. State what your last or most recent salary was and that you would hope to be earning around this amount again. Maybe you have spent a long time out of work and therefore would be open to offers. Do not state too many figures around this, but maybe find out more about the role and the responsibilities involved.

25 You have changed jobs often, why is this? If this is true, point out a time when you were with one particular organisation for considerable time and any promotions within that time. State that other moves have been to widen experience or if it has been because of ill health, be honest but be positive and say how your health has improved and you are looking for a long term opportunity. Tell me about your last position? What did you like or dislike about it? Be brief. Describe your responsibilities and any achievements in the role. Try to make it as relevant as possible to the position you are applying for. And remember to be positive, even if you didn t enjoy the job! If you have to have a dislike, use something like It didn t provide me with enough challenges. Questions you could ask Why has the position become available? Is there any training offered with the role? How does the role fit into the current team structure? When do you expect to make a decision? Could I have a look around? General Information The interview is your chance to show that you are the best candidate for the role. But remember, it s not all about the employer making decisions, it s an opportunity for you to find out more about the job and the employer and decide if it is right for you. Do: Shake hands firmly and engage eye contact Wait to be invited to sit down Be enthusiastic Always engage with the person questioning you Sit comfortably but in an upright position Be relaxed and smile Pause and breathe deeply before speaking Ask for more time to answer a question if you need it Speak slowly and clearly Ask for a question to be repeated if you do not understand Nod with interest when an employer is telling about the role

26 Don t: Carry lots of loose paperwork Fidget, bite your nails, cross and uncross your legs constantly Lean backwards and slump in your chair Cross your arms Be distracted Kick your foot or tap your feet Prop you head on the palm of your hand Yawn Appear uninterested Go off the subject Cover your mouth when you are speaking

27 Dealing with Disappointment Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in getting up every time we do Confucius - Chinese philosopher & reformer (551 BC BC) It's fine to celebrate success but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure Bill Gates, Chairman of Microsoft The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain. Dolly Parton, American Country Singer Everyone experiences disappointments and rejection in life, the feeling of being let down and the dissatisfaction we feel when something doesn't happen or turn out the way we expected it to. When we experience feelings of disappointment, our minds automatically revert to a state of fear, worry, sadness and even anger. It is easy to take disappointment personally or, if you have a disability, to believe this is the reason for not being selected. This is always an assumption, rather than a fact, and is most definitely unhelpful. Disappointment is part of life, but it can shake our confidence and ability to deal with life if we don't develop effective and healthy strategies for dealing with failure positively. Here are some that may help: Take a Break Often when we are disappointed we have a "knee-jerk reaction", we may say or do things we later regret. But if you give yourself time, you are more likely to respond in a more appropriate way. Taking time for yourself is essential to maintaining a level head after experiencing disappointment. Do things that keep you moving and active or something that inspires or uplifts you. Learn your Lesson Ask yourself why things didn t go to plan. Ask yourself if there was something you could have done that would have resulted in a different outcome. Identifying the causes makes you feel positive and in control again.

28 Avoid self-defeating thoughts Try not to let life s every little disappointment interfere with your happiness. Endlessly dwelling in the unfairness of life after a setback creates anxiety and emotional distress. Negative thoughts need to be stopped and changed to something more positive or neutral e.g. "I knew it wouldn't work out" can be changed to I researched and planned well for the interview and did my best or This always happens to me can be changed to I have good skills and potential and will keep looking for the right job. Shift your focus Instead of focusing on the negative of what's happened, focus on opportunities or what you are able to do. For example if you don t succeed at an interview, disappointment is a natural reaction, but it can also give you an opportunity to get feedback from the employer on what skills you did demonstrate and possible areas for development or training for you to consider working on to strengthen future applications. You can also take the opportunity to reappraise your objectives and action plan, asking yourself if your expectations are realistic and perhaps making changes if necessary. Ask for Help Even in the best of times, having a strong support system adds to your health and wellbeing. When experiencing disappointment talk to your supporters to help you to work through your reactions and let them go so that you can move on. In the absence of someone to talk to it can help to express your feelings in writing e.g. in a personal journal. And finally, consider the words of Thomas Edison, American inventor, scientist and businessman ( ): Many of life s failures are people who did not realise how close they were to success when they gave up Just keep going!

29 Section 3 Where can I get further information? There is a wealth of information available to assist people with the practical elements of preparing for employment. In particular the websites below have very detailed information on all aspects of seeking and securing a job. In Hertfordshire there are employment support organisations that can provide additional help to people who have health difficulties which may cause additional barriers to employment. If you feel that you need more help to seek and secure employment, speak to your contact about how you may get additional support. Work Solutions Work Solutions offers help and support across Hertfordshire to people whose situation makes it difficult for them to get and keep a job. Work Solutions East Phone: Fax: Postal address: Second Floor, Farnham House, Six Hills Way, Stevenage, SG1 2FQ Work Solutions West Postal address: Upper Ground Floor, Apsley Two, Brindley Way, Apsley, Hemel Hempstead, HP3 9BF Mind in Mid Herts Mind in Mid Herts offers help and support on employment issues to people who experience difficulties with mental health. They support people living in St Albans and Harpenden area. Mind in Mid Herts Phone: Fax: Postal address: 137A Hatfield Road,St. Albans, Hertfordshire AL1 4JX admin@mindinmidherts.org.uk Herts Mind Network Herts Mind Network offers help and support on employment issues to people who experience difficulties with mental health. They support people living in Watford, Dacorum and East Herts.

30 Herts Mind Network Phone: Postal address: The Wellbeing Centre, 501 Sta Albans Road, Watford Herts. HP11HN 139 Leighton Buzzard Road, Hemel Hempstead, Herts. HP1 1HN The Warehouse, 14 New Road, Ware, Herts. SG12 7BS Web: Hertfordshire Jobcentre s Borehamwood Government Offices, Elstree Way, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire. WD6 1JR Phone(s): (textphone/minicom) Fax: Hatfield Black Horse House, Salisbury Square, Old Hatfield, Hertfordshire. AL9 5AF Phone(s): Hemel Hempstead Government Buildings, 1 Waterhouse Street, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire. HP1 1EU Phone(s): Hertford Parliament Square, Hertford, Herts. SG14 1EF Phone(s): Fax: Letchworth The Peoples House, 2 Station Road, Letchworth, Hertfordshire. SG6 3AZ Phone(s): Fax: St Albans Beauver House, 6 Bricket Road, St Albans, Herts. AL1 3JU Phone(s): Stevenage The Forum, Stevenage, Hertfordshire. SG1 1EZ Phone(s): Fax: Waltham Cross 235 High Street, Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire. EN8 7BA Phone(s): Watford Exchange House, 60 Exchange Road, Watford, Herts. WD18 0JJ Phone(s): Web pages for all the above:

31 Useful Contacts Alec.co.uk Careers Europe Careers Gateway provides free tips on writing your CV / resume, finding a job, handling interviews, plus careers advice and a professional CV writing service provided by Bradley CVs The UK national resource centre for international careers information and the UK LEONARDO partner of the Euroguidance network. With information on higher education, careers services, an A - Z of jobs with links to other sites and information for job seekers. Careers Partnership Provides employers and private individuals with in-depth careers counselling and careers rescue services, executive coaching, personal effectiveness training and recruitment support. CareersA-Z Cementaprise Connexions The CV Coach Directgov jobs Careers information online. Includes jobs and vacancy information, courses, books, and links to professional organisations. Supports unemployed men and women by removing barriers to employment in the construction industry. Action based training programmes offering multi and trade skills. Assists with job interview preparation. Aims to support the work of Personal Advisers delivering the Connexions Service and other partners working within the broader Connexions strategy. Provides free courses and guides for job seekers on CV writing, application forms, understanding job adverts, preparing for competency Interviews, attending Assessment Centres. The website also offers a discussion forum that visitors can join to post a question, share their experiences or seek a mentor. Chargeable services include: full CV and application form appraisal, and online psychometric tests. Provides details of public sector jobs, voluntary work, New Deal and other work programmes.

32 Sources Hertfordshire County Council, Work Solutions Jobcentre Plus

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