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There is no defined rocket science for seizing your dream job, but it will take lots of research and PREPARATION to rocket pass any job interviews.
Preparing for a job interview, regardless of whether you are a fresh graduate just out of university or someone seeking greener pastures in the global workforce, the job interview is your doorway to rich and untapped opportunities but if not well-approached will result in career damnation, or worse, the loss of one’s personal self-esteem.
In this employability article this week, we will look at preparing for your first job interview and this will be segmented into a few articles per week to be posted on JobParade.
Most fresh graduates and job-seekers perceive that the preparing for the job interview is ONE of the steps in getting a job; I personally believe that IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT step in getting a job. I’ve spoken to dozens of head-hunters and HR Managers and a large majority has commented that 95% of failed job interview stem from a poor or lack of preparation for the job interview. |
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Preparing for Your 1st Job Interview:
Everyone preparing for their first job interview should take note that preparation is the key to the success of any venture, always remember:
Preparation meets opportunity!
I’d like to share some practical tips and hints to getting yourself prepared for your first job interview:
• Talk with as many people as possible
This will ensure you get the right information about your desired industry, speak to anyone who has been or are in the industry now; people who can help would be your parents, relatives and siblings. Head-hunters or industry leaders (if you are fortunate to have access to them) would be invaluable sources of information and may provide a wealth of insider information (i.e. interview tips and such)
• Read industry news, publications or newsletters
Read, Read and Read More! Learn more about your industry to ensure you know the latest news and events. Employers are always looking out for a street-wise and knowledgeable individual to hire.
• Improve and Enhance yourself
Learning does not end after you get your scroll or when you leave your current job, it is still on-going and there is a huge plethora of soft skills training available now. Attend training courses to enhance your soft skills (to be discussed) and improve your marketability but please choose the right training programmes to ensure effective learning and skill dissemination and enhancement. Take heed these wise words:
Continuous learning – NOT strength or intelligence – is the key to unlocking our potential.
- Winston Churchill
• Match desired job to your core competencies
If possible, sit down with a Graduate or Life Coach to discuss and analyse your core competencies based on your personal skill-sets, qualifications, personality with a proper psychometric tool, this will ensure that your core skills and competencies are matched to your job scope.
• Visit education fairs and consult Head-hunters
Visit as many education fairs or consult head-hunters to get valuable information about the industry of your choice, determine what are the current recruitment needs, industrial job specifications and such. Gaining intelligence and insider information will give you an edge over other job-seekers in the market.
Remember: You are not the only ones in the job market; there are also other job-seekers, your university mates who graduate at the same time. It pays to be KIASU here; this is your future we’re discussing here.
• Update your CV or Resume with relevant references
Relevant reference letters will make a clear difference during the final selection process of any recruitment process, ensure that the reference letters are current (if you are older job-seekers) from credible sources and relevant to your job scope. It would not be wise to get a reference letter from your Malaysian Studies lecturer for an Internal Financial Auditor position in an audit firm, it does not make sense.
Conclusion:
This concludes Part 1 of the Seize Your Dream Job articles series, in the next article we will look at the actual interview preparation and potential pitfalls that may doom your interview even before it begins.
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