A good interview is informative, professional and establishes trust. Here are some tips to help you prepare.

Understand the Job Description & their business
Make sure you understand the requirements of the job by requesting a detailed Job Description prior to attending your interview.  Check out their website, take as much information in as you can about their business.  For example; if you are applying to a shipping company, find out their trade lines, where they have other offices, the type of cargo carried etc.   Smart research pays off!

Know where you're going
Make sure you have the correct street address and parking information.  Take a contact number with you just in case of driving difficulties.

Dress for success
Professional business dress is standard for most office related vacancies.  However, check with your Recruitment Consultancy.

Arrive on time
This is a career opportunity.  Make the best possible first impression and arrive early enough to guarantee being on time for the interview.  If an unforeseen difficulty arises, call your recruiter contact and let them know.

Prepare for questions about recent jobs
Many leading companies, use  “Personality Profiling Assessments or Behavioural Assessments"  as a tool to identify top candidates and their strengths.  The idea behind such assessments is simple - your behaviour in the past can help understand and predict your success in the future. Here are some questions you should know how to answer in the category of past performance:

1. Describe your current/most recent job duties and responsibilities.
2. In what sort of work environment/with what sort of supervisory style are you most successful?
3. Of which of your past accomplishments are you most proud?
4. What are the most valuable lessons you've learned from past work experiences?   How have you applied them?
5. Which of the skills you've picked up at the positions on your CV do you are most relevant into this position?  Why?
6. What are your long-term goals in this industry?
7. Describe a problem you encountered at one of your jobs and how you handled it.

Ask questions
Don't be afraid to ask questions based on what you need to know.  What kind of benefits are important to you?  What would be the next step in your chosen career path?  What are the internal training/education opportunities you might be interested in?

Make Your CV Stand Out

Don't be scared of CV writing - it's a chance to show off!
Before you send off a CV, it's a good idea to take a look at it and see what modifications or changes you might want to make so that you've highlighted the qualifications you possess for job you're going for.

Before you write, take the time to do a self-assessment.  Write out your skills and relevant experiences.  Look at the requirements for the jobs you want.  See what matches.  This will make it easier to prepare your CV.

Formatting your resume
To maximize the computer's ability to read your CV, provide a clean original on plain paper and use a standard style.

The most difficult CV for the computer to read is one of poor quality, that has unusual formats such as a newsletter layout, adjusted spacing, small font size, unusual fonts, graphics or lines, script type styles, type that is too light, paper that is too dark, marbled paper, or heavy paper.

Maximize the quality of your CV
Use white 8 1/2 x 11 paper, with black ink, printed on only one side.

• Text can continue on the next page for a maximum of two pages.
• Use a font size of 12 to 14 points.   Your name can be up to 28 points in size
• Use standard typefaces such as Arial, Courier New, Times
• Avoid fancy treatments such as italics, underlining, shadows, and reverse image (white letters  on black background).
• Place your name at the top of each page.
• Include your contact information , including e-mail address.
• Use standard address format below your name.
• DO NOT include pictures, graphics, or "favorite quotes."
• Make sure to spell check!

Enhance your CV
Describe your experience with concrete words rather than vague descriptions. For example, use "managed a team of software engineers" rather than "responsible for managing, training . . ."

• Be concise and truthful.
• Use two pages if necessary. The computer uses all of the information it extracts from your resume to determine if your skills match available positions.
• Use jargon and acronyms specific to your industry (You may wish to have a second CV for human readers, where you would spell out the acronyms).
• Increase your list of key words by including specifics. For example, list the names of software you use such as Microsoft Word or Excel.
• Use common headings such as: Objective, Experience, Employment, Work History, Positions Held, Appointments, Skills, Summary of Qualifications, Accomplishments, Strengths, Education, Affiliations, Publications, Papers, Licenses, Certifications, Examinations, Honors, Personal, Additional, Miscellaneous and References.
• Use complete school names, degrees and any relevant special awards/studies.
• Use complete job information and dates.  DO NOT include salary history unless asked.
• DO NOT list age or marital status.
• If you have extra space, describe your interpersonal traits and attitudes. Key words could include skills in time management, dependability, high energy, leadership, sense of responsibility or good memory.

Gaps in Work History
In every case, these must be stated and as positive account as possible made as to why they occurred, as is always the case, honesty is the best policy, mistakes made at this stage could cause you to lose your job later