SA Career Guide - KZN 2020 Issue

INTERVIEW SAVVY By Michelle Geel

At some point in your life, you will need to move from the student life, into the work life. Whether you are getting close to matriculating, or will only get to that point in the next year or two, making the transition from school to work doesn’t always come naturally. In order to present yourself as a valid candidates for future jobs, you will need to learn how to conduct and present yourself at job interviews. That takes a mindset change from early on.

1. Learn to articulate your strengths and weaknesses.

Before you apply for a job or attend an interview, you will need to be able to speak about your interests and what makes you a good candidate. Explore this by writing down a list of strengths and weaknesses in areas such as school, extra-curricular activities or her personal life. Or, complete online skill assessments that can give you an idea of the subjects and areas of life in which you excel. If you can’t tell someone why you are worth hiring, how can you expect them to know your value?

Consider what you know about the proper way to act and dress during a job interview. Among the important things to understand: dressing professionally, showing up on time, being courteous to the interviewers, and sending interviewers thank-you notes following the interview. When picking an outfit, keep the following in mind with regards to what not to wear to a Job Interview • Flip-flops or sneakers • Undergarments visible to others, such as boxer briefs, lacy camisoles, and bra straps. • Shorts. • Clothing that is too short or too tight • Pants that are low-rise, distressed, or tight. • Blouses that are low-cut or short. • Body jewellery such as nose and lip rings.

EXCEPTIONS:

Every rule has an exception, but you need to learn when to apply it. With regards to things like body jewellery or clothing like jeans, it does sometimes depend on the type of job you are interviewing for, as well as what type of first impression you want a prospective employer to have of you. You also need to feel that a job is a good fit for who you are in the long-term. Never try to be something you are not, but always put your best self forward.

3. Review some of the most common questions interviewers may ask

During typical job interviews questions may include things such as “Why do you want this job?” or, “What makes you qualified for this job?” or more open-ended questions such as, “Describe your ideal job” or, “Tell me about yourself.” Prepare a list of questions, and practice responding to them in a cool and calm manner. Unless you’re a CEO, celebrity, or head of state, you’re probably not used to having your every word weighed by others. Even if you’re somewhat anxious in social situations, you likely understand that occasionally misspeaking is unlikely to have major consequences.

One exception to this rule is job interviews. You only have so much time to make a good first impression, and you’re trying to do so while also conveying your qualifications for the job and determining whether the role is a good fit for you while competing with all the other people who are trying to land the job. With so many candidates for just about every job opening, saying the wrong thing just makes it easier for the hiring manager to reject your candidacy. You probably won’t get another chance once you have made a mistake and said something inappropriate or something that will make the interviewer think twice about hiring you.

5. Social Media

Whether for a part time job, or after Matric full time career, what you put on social media DOES COUNT! Research showed that 74% of interviewers will check candidate’s social media as part of their interview preparation. An interviewer may even ask you a question about a topic you have posted about so make sure to prepare!

If you are job searching or know you will be, make sure your social media presents you in a way that will make an employer want to hire you. It’s never to early to start being aware of the impact that a badly worded post or compromising photo, may have on your future. If you build the habit of acting smart and being conscious of your actions, it will be easy to maintain through your work life.