How to be A.S.T.A.R. 

Never forget, they asked to see you, it means they are interested. Recruitment is expensive both in management time and resources.
Google the company, find out who they are and what they are doing. Write eight questions about the company, and your responses as to why you ask. It lets you talk about additional skills. For example:
Q I see you have a new contract with Joe Bloggs and sons, how will this impact your deliveries?
A Because logistics is something I have always been interested in
Q You have recently moved offices and split your sales team, is there any overlap between teams?
A Well whilst the job is in UK sales, I do have some experience with the French market
Q I see you have won an award, how has that impacted on your growth?
A I like to take pride in my company and want to work for a growing business
Don’t forget the key employer’s questions:

    1. Can you do the job?
    2. Are you willing and able to do the job?
    3. Will you ‘fit in’ as one of the team?

 

No But…
Never just say no to a question, you have shut down the interview process, offer an alternative.
Q have you ever driven a large van before?
A No, but I have ten years driving experience and a clean licence. I have driven a variety of vehicles and I an sure once familiar, I will be comfortable with it. I wouldn’t have applied unless I was sure.
Q you haven’t actually been a manger before?
A No, but I have deputised for the manager in my last post and it was assumed whenever he was on leave or indisposed, I would fill in. As you can see from my CV, I am a manager in my voluntary work. My current manager has supported me and helped in my development, and I want to use my skills here.

Are you overqualified?

The first one seems obviously simple, but not necessarily so. If your experience is at a higher or managerial level, your operational skills may be rusty or out of date.
The next two questions are the main ones. Do you actually want this job, or are you just ‘killing time’ until a better position comes along? Will you resent working with and under people less qualified then you, will you work with and take a advice from people who, while less qualified, have current operational experience and knowledge of your operational policies and procedures.

Possible answers:

  • Rather than overqualified, I would say fully qualified, and as you are a growing company, ready and able to grow with you. I see your potential and the way I see it, if I can prove myself in this position, in a few years, I can advance.
  • I have enjoyed my time in management, but the reason I entered this field was to actually do the job (i.e. nurse, be a social worker, sell product, write copy) and am actually looking forward to this. I think I am mature enough to see beyond job titles and position.

N.B. be careful, saying that financially you don’t need the money of a higher position or you don’t want responsibility or prefer an easier position are not selling points, a manager may think you can’t be bothered with this job.

Why did you/are you leaving your last job?
This is crucial, the employer wants to know you are positive about this job, and you are not just jumping ship. Whatever you do, do not badmouth the boss or the company.

Possible answers:

  • While they are an excellent company, as a smaller operation they can’t offer me the potential [responsibility, promotion, career potential] that you can offer me.
  • I have worked hard to achieve my qualifications and want to put them to use
  • I have been informed that restructuring means a transfer to a new department and I feel my skills can be put to better use
  • Company restructuring has reduced both my work load and its variety, I need to be challenged
  • I wasn’t actually looking for a new job, but I saw the ad and was excited by your offer
  • While I still enjoy my job, you can offer me [better terms, local employment] and I want this opportunity

 

This up and coming year, we have a number of projects that you will ask a lot of us all in both time and flexibility, how do you feel about that?
There may be a hidden meaning in this if you are a single parent, as they cant ask you outright about your childcare arrangements, however it may be a general good question, asking if you are up to the challenge in a growing business.

Possible answers:

  • I have read your brochure and researched your company on the internet (shows you are genuinely interested in this job not just after a job anywhere or only here under threat from the jobcentre), so I know about your new [contract/plant/expansion programme] and I am exited that I can play a part in this.
  • I am so lucky I have such a supportive family, I know the demands this job will place on me and have no worries there

 

What to do or say if you left your last job on bad terms

Firstly be positive in your letters and application forms, don’t be negative and mention any problems yet. There are two basic rules to follow:
First, don’t lie, this can come back to haunt you, and if offered the job, it may be used to end your employment. You don’t want any of these problems raised until you are able to defend yourself.
Secondly, don’t rubbish your former employer or company. It shows disloyalty and your interviewer and ex-employer may know each other through trade associations or other organisations.

Remember employers are often influenced in the first 2 minutes of an interview. If these have gone well, it may be time to bring up the negative first before they do and give a positive spin, before moving on to the rest of the interview. Remember that whatever happened, they have asked to see you so you already have something they want to see.

If you were asked to resign or accept redundancy, it is best to find out what sort of reference would they offer. If there were no documented issues then an employer may be reluctant to be totally negative, they may be worried you may sue if they can’t prove what they say. A letter of reference to take away with you is useful to keep on file, as any negative reference later on can be balanced against this one.
Examples:
Before we go any further I want to say that I didn’t leave my last job on the best of terms, I regret that, and now looking back I wish I had done some things differently and addressed the problems, I didn’t realise were there until too late as I don’t want them to affect my future.

Now to specific areas:

  • If your employer said you weren’t up to the job.

Your responses:
I was like a square peg in a round hole, I didn’t realise until too late that my skills weren’t right for that job, unlike this one, but I wanted to work so badly I didn’t look into it objectively, I definitely learned something from that. It was a learning experience for me and I would never consider applying for anything I didn’t feel sure I could handle
We had a new manager with new ideas that I wasn’t up to speed on and didn’t realise until it was too late. By the time I realised that my skills were wrong it was too late, with hindsight I would have asked for a meeting to discuss how I could retrain to get support.
The new [manager/owner/foreman] had a team she wanted to bring in and unfortunately people had to go to make way. 

  • Trouble maker

Your responses:
The team I was in originally I got on really well with, but when we: [merged/I was transferred/a new management team took over/we gained-lost a contract] which meant everyone was moved. I hadn’t realised how much things had changed and by the time I realised I was like a fish out of water. The others had bonded but I was on my own
I was moved from one job/role/section to another and I had difficulty adjusting, I was so used to my original job/role/section I had trouble adjusting and wanted to go back, I didn’t realise that that option wasn’t available to me.
While I was protesting, I was mainly concerned about safety and the reputation of the company. I would hate to see an organisation I was proud to work for, have its name undeservedly dragged through the mud. It was funny but at the end, I had a few senior people who didn’t want to make waves say they wished they had done what I did
At the end of the day, as a union representative, I was there to represent the interests of my members. Like a lawyer, I didn’t always agree with them but I had a duty to represent them and I take my responsibilities seriously.
I felt bad about complaining about another member of staff, I tried everything I could to resolve the matter quietly but eventually felt I had no recourse to take it higher. Looking back I still felt I did the right thing, but regret deeply what happened.

  • Stealing time, or goods falsifying timesheets

Your responses:
While I agree it was technically theft, it was custom and practice and I just did what everyone else was doing, I felt uncomfortable being the only one who wasn’t.
Clocking off late was something our old manager allowed us to do as a thank you as he couldn’t give us anything for working hard, and we never took advantage. When the new manager started, I realise now I shouldn’t do it without his say so, but I didn’t think and carried on.
I was under a lot of stress and did it without thinking. Now I feel really bad about it and realise what I did was wrong and I won’t let this affect the rest of my career, I feel so stupid that one thoughtless act could affect the rest of my life. I certainly won’t make that mistake again.

Telephone Interviews

  1. Remember, this is your chance to stand out! They will make their decision who to see from this conversation. You have a chance, managers are too busy to call people unless they are genuinely considering them
  2. The interview starts as soon as the telephone is answered. The only thing they have to go on is your voice. Have a calm clear telephone manner, do not swear, even if you stub your toe mid interview. Practice speaking with someone you hold in high regard and speaks well and listen to their answer. Don’t try to be ‘posh’ it sounds false and be polite to everyone, you never know who you are speaking to
  3. Make sure there are no distractions, turn off the mobile and let someone else answer the door, asking an interviewer to wait while you deal with an interruption is never good, any goodwill built up has to be rebuilt and make sure your phone is fully charged (mobile or cordless)
  4. Make sure you have a copy of whatever you sent them, i.e., your CV and application form. They are bound to refer to them
  5. is there anything in your CV or application form you think they may ask you about like a gap in your work history or a qualification? Be prepared.
  6. have a pen and paper handy so you can make any notes, you can refer back to anything you discuss
  7. Google the company and print up anything relevant about them, especially anything in the news, you can discuss a new contract or recent expansion, it shows you are interested
  8. Remember the three questions they want to know. What do you know about us, why do you want the job, and why should we consider you?
  9. you want to be called for interview, make sure you know already, any periods you can’t make and how much notice your current employer requires
  10. have some questions prepared for them, generally speaking, questions about the benefits (i.e. salary, holidays etc are bad, questions about training, the role etc are good)

 

Video Interviews

All of the rules for telephone interviews apply, with some additional ones:

  1. check your appearance, have spare shirt or blouse ready, spilled breakfast or baby milk etc always looks bad
  2. shaven and hair combed, they can and want to see you
  3. check the background, what is behind you, piles of washing etc
  4. makes sure everyone else knows not to walk into view and they are dressed
  5. can anything offensive be seen? It doesn’t have to be yours, but you will be judged on it
  6. don’t be afraid to be seen checking your notes, but have them ready
  7. smile and relax, they asked to see you, it means they are interested