Unit 4 Successful interviews

• Preparation is paramount: researching the company and the role and anticipating potential questions.

• Making a positive first impression: appearance (considering cultural appropriateness), punctuality, effective
small talk, non-verbal communication (maintaining eye contact, body language: --"Slouching or leaning back
in the chair," "folding your arms, making you appear defensive," and "staring at the floor." ++ "Sit reasonably
upright" and "maintain good eye contact.")

• Mastering interview questions

• Talking effectively about yourself

• Avoiding common pitfalls

• Demonstrating research: The ability to show genuine interest and understanding of the company

• Highlighting relevant skills and experience

• Professionalism with everyone you meet during an interview.

• Responses to interview questions should be clear, concise, and relevant

• When talking about yourself, focus on relevance and evidence

• Addressing weaknesses should be professional and demonstrate growth: When discussing potential
concerns or weaknesses, the advice is to "only mentioning common professional concerns, which have either
been addressed or would not affect his ability to do the job" and to "highlight how he has overcome a
problem." Avoiding "negative comments" about past jobs or personal stress is also crucial.

• Practicing responses from memory is encouraged: planning is necessary, and practicing responses without
relying heavily on notes to simulate a real interview environment is important too.

Unit 5 Advanced interview techniques

I. Handling Competency-Based Questions

• Preparation: It is essential to prepare stories or examples before the interview to effectively answer these
questions.

• STAR Method: The STAR method is a recommended structure for answering competency-based questions. It
breaks down the answer into four sections:

o Situation: Describe the context or background of the situation.

o Target: Explain what needed to be done or the goal.
o Action: Detail the steps you took to address the situation or achieve the target.
o Result: Describe the outcome of your actions.
• Making Anecdotes Interesting and Memorable: Interview anecdotes are more likely to be interesting and
memorable if they include some surprising information or fact. The source suggests using phrases like "In
fact," or "As a matter of fact," to add impact.

II. Talking About Your Weaknesses

• Techniques for Tackling Weaknesses:

o Talk about a character flaw that could ultimately be viewed as a positive characteristic: Reframe a
perceived negative trait as something that can be beneficial in a work context.

o Talk about something that is no longer a weakness: Discuss a weakness you have overcome,
demonstrating self-awareness and growth. Mention how you overcame the weakness and that you
have solved similar problems more recently.
 o Talk about a knowledge-based weakness, which is easily overcome: Identify a skill or knowledge
gap that can be easily addressed through learning or training. Mention why this weakness isn't a
serious problem and what steps you are actively taking to solve the problem.

o Softening and Emphasis: soften any negatives in your response and emphasize any positive
information. "a bit of," "a little," "a lot of," "as...as possible," "extremely," "occasionally," and "very."

III. Asking Questions of Your Own

• Information to Seek: You should aim to find out information that will help you decide if the job is a good fit
for you.
• Strategic Questioning: Questions should be tailored to the job and company. Some questions can highlight
your skills and commitment, while others can show your understanding of the role and your motivation
• Positive Impression: Asking insightful questions leaves a positive impression on the interviewer and indicates
genuine interest.
IV. Tackling Telephone Interviews

• Reasons: They reduce costs for employers and allow for a wider pool of candidates.

• Candidates: more relaxed in their own environment and have access to supporting materials.

• Preparation: CV, notes, and pen and paper readily available.

• During the Interview: Smile, as this will help you relax and project a positive image.

• Speak slowly and clearly. Give short, memorable answers. Use the person's title (Mr or Ms) and their last
name. Ask if it is possible to meet in person. Use clarification phrases ("I'm sorry, could you say that again?")

Unit 6 Follow up

Keeping in Touch

• Sending a thank-you letter: It is recommended to send a thank-you letter within 24 hours of the interview.
This demonstrates your interest and keeps you fresh in the interviewer's mind.

• Content of the thank-you letter:

o A greeting.
o A paragraph thanking the interviewer for the opportunity and reiterating your interest.
o A paragraph stating why you are confident you can meet the job's demands.
o A paragraph reflecting on what was discussed during the interview and showing you paid attention.
o Final comments expressing enthusiasm and mentioning the possibility of a second interview.
o A formal ending and signature.
• What to do if you don't hear back: after the agreed-upon time (or within five days if no time was agreed), it
is acceptable to follow up politely.

• Handling another offer: If you receive another job offer while waiting to hear back from a previous interview,
inform the employer of the situation. This can sometimes expedite their decision-making process.

Handling Rejection

• Requesting feedback: it can be beneficial to request feedback from the employer to understand why you
weren't selected. This feedback can help you improve for future interviews.

• Learning from rejection: Analyzing feedback and reflecting on your interview performance

Dealing with Job Offers

• Accepting the job: it's important to confirm the details of employment and formally accept the offer, ideally
in writing.
 • Considering the offer: Before accepting, carefully consider all aspects of the offer, including salary, benefits,
location, working hours, and team dynamics.

• Writing an acceptance letter: A formal acceptance letter confirms your decision and reiterates your
understanding of the terms of employment.

• Withdrawing from consideration: If you need to withdraw your application after accepting an offer, it's
important to inform the employer promptly and professionally. This helps maintain a positive reputation for
future opportunities.

Negotiating Terms and Conditions

• Negotiating salary: It is often possible to negotiate salary, especially if you have strong qualifications and
experience.

• Preparing for negotiation: Before negotiating salary, research the typical salary range for the position and
your experience level. Be prepared to justify your salary expectations based on your skills and contributions.

• Being polite and diplomatic: Maintain a polite and professional demeanor throughout the negotiation
process.

• Other terms to negotiate: Beyond salary, you may be able to negotiate other terms and conditions, such as
benefits, vacation time, start date, and opportunities for professional development.