Help Me Get A Job Please! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Stick to relevant information

I spent several years sifting through C.V's. and carrying out interviews, and many people simply cannot distinguish between relevant and irrelevant information. It is tempting to list everything you have ever done from the time you were a toddler, but too much emphasis on things such as cub and scout badges, chairperson of the stamp club, winner of the egg and spoon race, etc. can make it look as though you have done nothing worthwhile in adulthood. List your education and employment history. If you are a university of college graduate (or are about to graduate) show your GCSE's as 8 GCSE's - 2 at A Grade or similar, don't list each and every one individually. List any professional qualifications individually, with the dates gained, and give a small amount of personal information, such as social or special interest club memberships, including, if appropriate, the fact that you are an officer of the club, and main hobbies. This shows that you are a well rounded person.

Remember your C.V. is your shop window, and whilst you want to show your educational achievements you do not want these to distract from later and bigger achievements that are more relevant to the job you are applying for. The exception to this is if the job calls for a degree, in which case emphasise the fact that you have this qualification, especially if you got a good one.

Make sure the C.V. is well laid out, grammatical and typo free. It should also be fairly brief. You are aiming for a professional look. Handwritten C.V's. are a complete 'no-no'. A good company will look at every C.V. they receive and anything that cannot be easily read will put you in the discarded pile immediately. Never lie on your C.V. If you get the job on that basis you will be found out sooner rather than later.

Answer: Some background research on the company

Even if you already know quite a bit about the company you have applied to a bit of quick research will still help. It will bring you up to date on any new fields they are about to branch out into, or any recent changes at the top such as a new chairman. If, at the interview, you can show that you are interested enough to be up to date this will put you ahead of those candidates who haven't bothered to do this.

Giving in your notice before you have a new job is a very bad idea indeed, unless you are financially independent.

Answer: Their shoes

I have carried out dozens of interviews over the years, and so many people come in beautifully dressed, hair immaculate, but with scruffy, dirty shoes.
Even if you are a bit hard up make sure you attend any interview clean and tidy, and wearing polished leather shoes. Wearing trainers, even expensive upmarket ones, to an interview is not acceptable. Remember, interviewers are trained to pick up on the smallest point in your overall grooming.

Answer: Be on time

Punctuality is vital. The interviewer will probably have several people to see on the same day and one late arrival throws his/her whole day out. It is a good idea to arrive early so that you have time to visit the cloakroom, tidy yourself up, and be in the waiting area, ready, slightly before your appointment time. Being late for something as important as an interview will make the interviewer wonder if you will bother about arriving at work on time.

Never call the interviewer by their first name unless invited to do so.

There is no need to take proof of qualifications with you unless asked to do so.

Attend any interview as clutter free as possible. For ladies a small handbag is enough and for men either nothing or a small document case.

Answer: Admit you cannot answer the question

If you don't know something the best thing to do is say, "I'm sorry I don't know the answer to that". Unless it is something basic and fundamental to the job that any prospective employee should know, this will not do you any harm. No-one can know everything and by admitting this you display honesty. Bluffing will get you nowhere, the interviewer knows far more than you do anyway. Diversionary tactics rarely work, the interviewer will just come back to the subject, and sitting there saying nothing will not do your prospects any good at all.

Answer: Wait until you get to their section and then say, "Hello, good to see you again"

The purpose of the tour is for you to see where and with whom you may be working. If you see someone you know then when you get to their section greet them, ask after their wife/husband/children/parents as appropriate, but don't stand gossiping to them.

It would also be polite to explain to your host how and from where you know them. Any of the other options are rude to both the person taking you round and the people to whom you are being introduced at that time.

Answer: Focus on the person talking to you at any given time

Try to ignore everyone except the person talking to you. When you answer their question make sure the answer embraces everyone, then direct your whole attention back to the person talking to you. If necessary, move your body position very slightly. A panel interview is daunting but if you cannot cope with this then you will not be able to give a presentation to or take questions from a group of people.

Answer: Yes

Before you commit yourself to a company where you may spend many years it is important that you understand the whole package on offer. Many extras, such as company-provided health insurance or non contributory pension schemes, add monetary value. Equally, it is important that you understand their sickness policy and holiday provisions before you accept any job offer. Once you have accepted a job offer and started work you are bound by these terms and conditions, and it is too late to find out that these are not as generous as you have expected.

Answer: Ask if there are arrangements in place for you to top up the pension

Most Companies pension arrangements are based on everyone making the same basic percentage contribution but there are usually arrangements in place for you to make extra payments. If the salary is high enough ask if there are such arrangements in force, and if there is a qualifying period before you can start making these extra payments.

The basic arrangements are not normally negotiable as they are the same for everyone, and it would be a shame to turn down your dream job without thinking long and hard about it first.

Answer: Thank the panel and commiserate with the other candidates

Thank the panel for appointing you then turn to the other candidates and shake their hands and wish them better luck next time - try and think how you would feel in their position. The panel will also speak to the others thanking them for their interest and commiserating with them, wait quietly while they do this. Once the other candidates have left they will then discuss starting dates, letters of appointment etc. with you.