Ask Adrienne

In my last article, we looked at ways in which you can best prepare for a job interview. Now it’s time to consider the key “dos and don’ts” of the face-to-face interview.

DO

• Present with a positive and enthusiastic attitude
• Dress neatly and conservatively. (Dark colours preferable)
• Offer a firm handshake and maintain eye contact during the interview
• Listen carefully and answer clearly
• Display good, open body language, which will convey your interest in the role
• Answer questions in a direct and concise manner. This is not a time for story telling!
• When answering questions, give specific examples which highlight your abilities
• Promote your strengths...be confident in your own ability
• Ask questions in relation to the role and the company
• Seek clarification if you don’t understand a question

DON'T

• Arrive late. There will never be an excuse for this
• Give long-winded answers, however ensure questions are never answered with  a simple “yes” or “no”
• Discuss information that is not relevant to the questions asked, or role you have applied for
• Never lie and don’t exaggerate your experience
• Talk about salary, holidays etc. in your interview, unless specifically asked
• Criticise current or past employers and avoid negativity in general
• Elaborate on your personal situation outside work unless specifically asked and you are comfortable sharing such information. Ensure detail shared does not negatively impact on your ability to fill the role
• Be over confident or “cocky”

GOOD LUCK...

Shamrock Food provides specialist recruitment services to the Australian, New Zealand and Asian Dairy and Food Industries. For more information, contact Adrienne Heslin This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or phone 0414 585 510.

Candidates: Prepare for the interview

No matter how qualified you are for a role, failure to adequately prepare for the interview can mean failure to progress. Careful preparation for the interview makes the process considerably more comfortable and relaxed. Let’s explore some of the key areas in which you can positively influence the interview process:

Research, Research, Research:

• Use all appropriate resources to research the company whom you wish to join. Company websites and Google will provide you invaluable information on the products, size of the company, key personnel, locations, customer base etc.
• Wherever possible, seek a detailed job description prior to the interview in order to fully understand the requirements of the role for which you are applying.
• Brush up on the facts and figures of the companies you have worked for.

Know the key selection criteria:

During the course of the interview, you will be asked a number of questions in relation to the key selection criteria, most commonly listed in the job advertisements. To avoid replying in a vague or generalised manner, candidates are strongly advised to plan in advance for expected questions in this area. Preparation takes considerable stress out of the interview process and you are able to put your best foot forward.

• Think about your experience in previous roles in relation to the key selection criteria. Facts and figures are important here. For example, were you a key player in % increase in sales, increase in throughput, Cost savings in relation to wages or wastage, reduction in customer complaints?
• When appropriate, relate to the interviewer specific examples which fully illustrate your abilities in the area.

Question Time:

Usually towards the end of the interview, you will be asked if you have any questions. It is important to take this time to ask questions, as the interview process is a two way street! As per the key selection criteria, prepare questions before you arrive at the interview and write them down. Asking questions will convey genuine interest in the role and company to the interviewer.

• Ask questions in relation to the role. Questions may include those about reporting structure, training opportunities and key focus for the role in the short and long term.
• Enquire about the company as a whole. For example: Growth plans for the future, products and services, career progression possibilities, target markets etc

General presentation & preparation tips

• Ensure you are clear on the interview time and place. Allow extra time for contingency- there is no excuse for being late for a job interview.
• Be clear on the interviewers name and title- do you have the correct pronunciation?
• Dress neatly and conservatively. (Dark colours preferable).
• Be relaxed and smile! First impressions count. Offer a firm handshake and maintain eye contact during the interview.

GOOD LUCK...

Shamrock Food provides specialist recruitment services to the Australian, New Zealand and Asian Dairy and Food Industries. For more information, contact Adrienne Heslin This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or phone 0414 585 510.

 

You have found the job of your dreams and it is offer time? You have firm expectations on what you are worth. However, when it comes to the crunch, the offer is less than you expected. Rather than feeling deflated, turn a negative into a positive! Take the opportunity to consider alternative benefits the organisation may be able to offer.

Firstly, take time to think over your career goals. Large $$ are always hard to resist, but if your primary focus is on the bottom line, you may be ignoring many important areas of your career development which will ultimately lead to a more rewarding and lucrative career path. Reflecting over your career goals may also bring you to realisation that large salaries do not necessarily go “hand in hand” with flexible work hours and set tasks, for example.
Career considerations may include:

• Are career progression prospects evident?
• Does the company provide professional development opportunities- training courses, opportunity to attend conferences etc.
• Does this role present an opportunity to work with a reputable or leading employer in a specific field?
• Mentorship- does this role enable you to work with people you admire in the industry?
• Is this an opportunity to learn new skills and broaden your horizons?
• Is there potential to “make a name for yourself in the industry” in this role? ie. Turning around a poor performing plant, launching a ground breaking new product to market
• Position status: is this an opportunity to move to the next level of management that may be difficult to achieve with your current employer?

Some lifestyle benefits to consider:

• Flexible working hours- including work from home options.
• Location, Location, Location! Is this an opportunity to work close to home, catch the train to work, pick the kid’s up from school or have that sea change you have always dreamed of?
• Family friendly employer

Alternative remuneration opportunities:

Some key areas for negotiation on a “less than ideal” offer may include:

• Performance reviews- instead of pushing for an upfront increase in the base salary, consider suggesting periodic salary reviews, based on performance. This will give you the opportunity to show off your successes and demonstrate your value to the company.
• Annual bonus or share options. This may be performance or loyalty based
• Car allowance / Mobile phone / Lap top
• Other benefits such as Memberships, health insurance, personal training sessions

Shamrock Food provides specialist recruitment services to the Australian, New Zealand and Asian Dairy and Food Industries. For more information, contact Adrienne Heslin This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or phone 0414 585 510.

Your organisation has identified a need for a new employee: where to from here?  No matter if you are part of a large or small organisation, considerable planning must go into the recruitment process to ensure you attract the right person for the job.

Select the right recruitment agency:

Time is well spent researching your potential recruitment agency. Some key areas for consideration are:

• Is the agency a specialist recruiter in your area? The key to a specialist recruiter’s success is strong connections to industry ie) Dairy and Food. Specialist recruiters are more likely to have a bigger and more active network of active candidates in the field.

• How does the recruiter target potential candidates? Reliance on advertising as a sole source of potential candidates provides poor service. Seek a recruiter with excellent networking practices and an active industry database in order to find the right person for the role.

• Does the recruiter understand the nature of the industry in which you work? Do they have experience in general management, technical, sales, production roles in the dairy and food industry?

Prepare a detailed recruitment brief, including:

• A detailed job description- a clear and defined job description is necessary to

a)    provide to potential candidates, as requested, so that they get a clear picture of the job requirements and thus enables them prepare for the interview process
b)    provide a clear picture of the requirements of the role, so that recruiters may accurately hone in on the most suitable candidates for the role

• Overview of the organisational structure- important for the reasons mentioned above
• Clear and defined key selection criteria for the role. Decide which criteria are most important- this may include work experience or personality traits which are best suited to the role
• Key advantages of working for your company or taking on this particular role. This will enable the recruiter to more effectively “sell” your role to potential candidates.
• An overview on the challenges a potential candidate may face within the role or the organisation- again, this is very important in finding a person who is the right fit for the role.
• Remuneration information. Give careful consideration to the remuneration on offer for the role and feel free to seek advice from the recruiter if required. Remember: specialist recruiters have a excellent knowledge on remuneration within the industry & therefore can guide you on remuneration packages that are likely to attract the “right candidate” for the role.

Interaction during the recruitment process:

There are some key points that will help the search process progress smoothly and in a timely manner. These include:

• Communicating any changes in the recruitment brief to the recruiter as soon as they arise. Changes to the brief can potentially affect the type of candidates targeted for the role. This may include:

a)    Salary on offer
b)    Job responsibilities
c)    Job title or seniority of the role
d)    Job location

• Provide feedback to the recruiter on candidates forwarded as soon as possible- this will enable them to keep the process on track by:

a)    Keeping suitable applicants interested and informed
b)    Understanding if there is a need to change direction on the type of candidates forwarded.
c)    Organising the next steps in the process as required, such as interviews and referee checks, negotiation of salary packages etc.

Shamrock Food provides specialist recruitment services to the Australian, New Zealand and Asian Dairy and Food Industries. For more information, contact Adrienne Heslin This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or phone 0414 585 510.

Have you ever wondered why you don't get an interview for a role you consider yourself perfect for? Chances are that your CV is not working for you! There is enormous benefit in taking the time to review your CV and customise it for the role you are applying for. It is the ideal opportunity to highlight why you are perfect fit for the role. Recruiters agree that it significantly increases your likelihood of getting noticed in the crowd.

 

Tips for customising your CV:

Job Adverts:
Take a good look at the job advert and take time to understand the key selection criteria for the role. Make sure your CV or covering letter addresses your experience in relation to the key selection criteria.

Research the company / industry you are applying for (if this information is available):
This will enable you to add detail to your CV, which may highlight your relevant experience in relation to their products and / or services.    Note: Interestingly, providing such information also helps you stand out in recruitment databases.

Career Objectives / Objective Statements:
If you are including such a section in your CV, please make sure it is relevant to the role you are applying for! For example, it makes no sense to state in your career objectives that you would like to pursue a career in Quality, when you are applying for a Production role.

Significant Achievements:
It is best to list significant achievements that highlight your experience and performance in relation to the role you are applying for. Format the CV so that these achievements "stand out".

Company descriptions:
Don't assume the recruiter will be familiar with all the companies you have worked for. In your employment history, consider adding a brief snapshot on each company: include information such as products and services, size of the company and other pertinent information.

Irrelevant information:
Consider deleting irrelevant information from your CV- your relevant experience will stand out that way. Alternatively, List your experience with the most relevant skills at the top. Remember though, do not alter your job history.

Applying for a role outside your specialty?:
Include information in your CV which demonstrates you possess the relevant skills that will enable you to be considered for the role.

Queries?:
It is always worth talking to the recruiter- you can often gain a a better insight into the company and role this way and it helps you customise your CV