Job Interview Tips
"If you fail to plan, you plan to fail"
Some people will freak at the idea of an interview. The truth is with preparation and practice; you will find that doing well for an interview is not that difficult. You only need to tailor your interview script to align to what the interviewer wants to hear. Sounds difficult? This article is prepared to provide you with interview questions and sample answers which will enhance your chances of “acing the interview”.
Myth: The best candidate always gets the job
Truth: The candidate who sells herself most effectively will get the job
Interview = Sales?
Frankly, interview is about how good you sell yourself to convince the buyer (interviewer) to buy your product (to employ you). It is about selling yourself as a solution to the manager’s problem.
There are a few reasons why an employer wants to employ.
- Shortage of staff
- Lack of qualified employees
- Company is expanding and needs to find people with the required experience
Most interviewees will come out with a standard Q & A (if they have been preparing) and that is why 80% of the employer’s requirements can usually be met by employees. But, in order to stand out from the crowd, you will have to ask yourself what additional value you can offer to the company for you to stand out from the rest and clinch the job.
We have prepared a list of interview questions that test your IQ. You can rate your ability and see how good you are at judging what the interviewer will be interested in hearing. Once you understand the concept on how to give example of past behavior to highlight your ability and with some knowledge on sales tactics, you will be able to prove to the interviewer that you have the relevant experience that company wants in the person it will hire.
With full preparation and confidence, you will soon find yourself gaining more successful interviews and more job offers.
Behavioural Interview Questions
In an interview, you will encounter behavioural questions. This category of questions not only assess you on your situation handling ability but also, finds out if your character fits the operational criteria of the job. Firstly, write down a list of situations you have encountered in school, internship, group projects or previous jobs. Now you need to tailor these situations to portray qualities suitable for the job you are applying for.
Note: Remember the impression you make is more important than the story itself
Question 9 and Question 10 are behavioural questions
The picture illustrated below is the legend of the quiz. You can click on all the answers to have a better idea of what response is better.
To attempt the quiz please click on the link below.
Tips on Resume Writing
What is a Resume?
Your resume is a very important tool for you to sell yourself to potential employees. It is the first impression which you will be providing to your prospective bosses. Do not be shy to advertise yourself and be brave to tell your employer how you can contribute to the firm and the benefits you will bring with you should the firm decide to hire you!
How to write a good resume?
Planning is the key here. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. You need to know what to write and how to write your resume. Be concise and go straight to the point. As you read on, SG Course Guide will lead you through this planning process.
How to prepare to write your resume?
1. Write down all your previous job experiences, education background, strengths and weaknesses that you possess. If you are unsure of your strengths and weaknesses, get a few close friends to evaluate for you.
2. Decide how you can use your previous work experiences, education qualifications, strengths and weaknesses to your advantage in your resume writing.
a. I am a people’s person, all my friends around me enjoy my companionship. By stating this strength, you are likely to be assessed as someone capable to work in a team with a likeable personality and strong sales skills.
b. I ask for perfection in everything I do and so, some of my colleagues might think that I am being too fussy. By stating this strength, you are likely to be assessed as someone who is meticulous in your work.
3. Use Microsoft word to write your resume and make sure that there are no grammatical errors. Also, ensure that the dates you had provided in your resume are correct. Save it in PDF file to show your professionalism.
4. If possible, get someone who has experience in your field to review your resume, and ask for opinions on the content of your resume.
5. Always be truthful in your resume.
What are the different types of resume and which one should I be writing?
Generally, there are 2 types of resume: Chronological and functional. Before I continue please answer the question below to find out what is the type of resume that best suit you. Click on the box which describes you better.
Functional resume allows you to emphasise on the skills that are specific to the position which you are applying for. This format will focus on your specific professional capabilities and you should use experience summaries to demonstrate your suitability to the position.
The general format for such a resume is:
1. Name, Address and contact details
2. Objective
a. Your purpose of applying for that particular position
3. Summary of Qualifications
a. In this category, you can write a short description about your qualifications. It is better to keep this section short by putting the year you enter a particular school and the year you graduate
4. Professional Skills / Experience highlights
a. You are providing evidence /proof to what you have said in the qualification summary
b. You could also add more on the professional skills you have acquired such as programming experience and management experience
5. Employment History
a. To keep your resume short and precise, it will be advisable for you to include the name of company that you had worked previously for, your position held, a short description about your job function and the period of employment
6. Community Involvement / Co-Curriculum Activity Achievements
a. By adding this category to your resume, you will show your future employees that you can multi-task and would like to contribute more than your fair share of work
b. Focus on your leadership positions
7. Skills and others
a. In this category, you can include the languages that you know how to speak and write as well as other technical software that you know how to use.
8. Referees ( at least two)
a. It is not advisable for you to put your friends or classmates
b. It is advisable for you to put your previous boss or colleagues who were your superiors
c. You should include their name, position held, company that they are working for and their contact number
Chronological resume is the most common format used in resume writing and is presented as a timeline of your career experiences with the most recent position listed first. This resume highlights your working experience whilst demonstrating to your potential employer your career development path.
The general format for such a resume is:
1. Name, Address and contact details
2. Objective
a. Your purpose of applying for that particular position
3. Summary of Qualifications
a. In this category, you can write a short description about your qualifications. It is better to keep this section short by putting the year you enter a particular school and the year you graduate
4. Professional Skills / Experience highlights
a. You are providing evidence /proof to what you have said in the qualification summary
b. You could also add more on the professional skills you have acquired such as programming experience and management experience
5. Employment History
a. The focus of this resume will be in this section. Give concise information about the name of company that you had previously worked for, your position held, your previous job functions, period of employment. Remember to list your most recent position first.
6. Publications, Professional Affiliations and Achievements
a. Include your personal achievements in this section to demonstrate your professional competency to potential employers
b. Focus on your leadership positions and management experiences
7. Skills and others
a. In this category, you can include the languages that you know how to speak and write as well as other technical software that you know how to use.
8. Referees ( at least two)
a. It is not advisable for you to put your friends or classmates
b. It is advisable for you to put your previous boss or colleagues who were your superiors
c. You should include their name, position held, company that they are working for and their contact number
What is a Cover Letter and what information should I include?
A Cover Letter is sent to the company together with the resume. Information which should be included in the Cover Letter include:
a. Short introduction on yourself
b. Brief explanation on your experiences / credentials
c. Reasons for applying for the job
d. Reasons for your suitability to the job
Like the resume, it is very important that the Cover Letter should be typed (and not hand written) and checked for mistakes before it is being sent to prospective employers.
What should I do after I have attended an interview?
After attending an interview, you should write a Thank You letter to your interviewers. By sending a Thank You letter, you are:
a. Telling your interviewer that you appreciate the time he/she spent interviewing you
b. Showing that you took the job interview seriously
c. Demonstrating that you are a person who is likely to build good interpersonal relationships
d. Reminding the interviewer on the positives of your interview
e. Giving yourself a second chance to tackle the questions which you feel you did not answer well during the interview.
SG Course Guide Special Tips
Your resume should be Customized!
1. Every resume must be customized to suit the requirements of the job you are applying for. Employers do know whether you make the extra effort to write a customized resume or you are just submitting a ‘one size fits all’ resume.
2. Moreover, by customizing your resume you show them that you are THE ONE by writing down all the attributes they are looking for. Hence increasing your chance of landing an interview.
