1
I’m sorry what was your name again?
Everyone will tell you to be memorable, but be unforgettable, make sure that once they get off the phone from you they can’t wait to work with you. Play to your strengths, if you are funny, be funny and if you aren’t don’t force it, as it will be a cringe worthy. I would rather not get a job because I went a bit far on this point than not get the job because I was forgotten.
2
Stalk your prey…
OK so don’t literally stalk your interviewer(s) as this is unlikely to lead to you being hired but do spend time on social media sites learning about them prior to interview. Identify things you have in common and it will help you talk about more than just the role during the interview, you are a person, not a list of certifications and acronyms, ensure that you highlight your personality.
3
Go, go, gadget chameleon outfit…
If you are not familiar with Inspector Gadget then you have more pressing issues than getting a job, get on YouTube and enrich your life now. Now you know who Inspector Gadget is, hopefully our reference above will make more sense and is highlighting the need to pitch yourself appropriately to your audience. If you are talking to a big corporate law firm you might want to pitch yourself slightly differently than you would to a scaffolding company. This is a pretty standard piece of advice but we go one step further and say that you should implement this as part of your work persona, you need to be multi-faceted and able to deal with people from all walks of life on a daily basis to truly succeed in the workplace.
4
You want some?
OK you must have seen the YouTube video doing the rounds by now with a 4 foot nothing ‘football hooligan’ who offers to fight someone who questioned him. He was so tiny that it was more comical than threatening. Anyway, the point here is to challenge your potential employer, they have to convince you that they are the right company for you. You need to know where they are planning to go as a business, what benefits are included, why should someone work for their company. Do this delicately and it will come off really positively, do this aggressively and you will not be getting the role.
5
Voulez vous coucher avec moi?
OK probably should explain that we aren’t seducing anyone here, nor suggesting you should either. What we mean with this point is that you should have the mind-set that companies hire people they don’t fill vacancies. Don’t just read through the job ‘spec’ and try to sound like that person, your job is to sell the interviewer on YOU. Even if the interviewer currently believes that the person he or she needs is the job ‘spec’ person, you have the opportunity to convince them that they need you in their company, even if that means creating a new role for you.
6
Risky business
Have an opinion, be bold, be an authority in your field and take risks in your interview. It is far better to ask for forgiveness than permission and with time, practice and experience you will learn how to do this without jeopardising your chances of being hired. For example, research the company thoroughly and pitch them a business idea in your interview, it may not get used but it will show initiative and will be memorable.
7
7. You cheeky mother F@ck$r!
One of the most effective interview techniques you can develop is to be ‘cheeky’, which is the more assertive older brother of ‘funny’. Take things to the next level, don’t thank the person for their time, ask them what time you should start on Monday, follow it up with a little chuckle so that they know you aren’t retarded, but don’t overdo the laugh so they know you are half serious. Have a bit of banter on the call and the person will not only see you as a potential colleague, but a potential friend and if you manage to achieve this then you are almost guaranteed to be offered the role.
So the best of luck with your career and we are confident you’ll be finding these tips useful in the future, this is just the tip of the iceberg of how we can help you in the lucrative IT industry. Stay updated and find out more with FireLily Academy or find out more about our career development packages via our website.
Handbook was written & supplied courtesy of the team at FireLily Academy for more tips about IT training visit us at:
www.firelily.academy | 01233 793793