Some employers still insist on using forms for job applications as it enables them to compare candidates more easily. Application forms are increasingly being made available online, meaning candidates can save the form and sharpen up their application until they are ready to send it off.
Taking the time to fill out a lengthy form in detail shows commitment and interest, and allows the employer to extract more specific information from the applicant than is included in a CV. It makes it easier, for example, to spot gaps in employment history or to note that a box asking about a criminal record has not been ticked.
Employers may also hold your application on file for the purpose of matching you up with any suitable vacancies that may crop up in future. If the company seeks your permission to do this, it makes sense to agree. Under the Data Protection Act, organisations are required to keep the information held in your application confidential, using it only for the purpose of recruitment and for no longer than necessary.
There are a number of things you should do to give your completed form maximum impact:

• If you are filling in a paper copy, photocopy the form first to allow for a practice run.
• Read the instructions carefully and make sure you fully understand each question. Careless mistakes will severely dent your chances as the employer will simply put you at the bottom of the list.
• Take your time on the section about what you would bring to the job. This is your chance to shine — but usually in a limited number of words — so be succinct!
• Concentrate on selling achievements that will be most relevant to the job in question.
• Write legibly if you cannot type the information into the form. It should be easy to read, so keep your handwriting to a decent size and don’t be afraid to leave some empty space.
• Use black ink. It makes for clearer photocopies at the other end.
• Read your completed form carefully, checking for grammar and spelling errors and, if possible, get a second opinion.
• Keep a copy of your completed form for your own records. You don?t want to forget what you?ve written if you get to the interview stage.

In addition, avoid the following pitfalls:

• Answer all the questions. If a question is not relevant to you, you need to explain why.
• Only attach a copy of your CV if the recruiter has specifically requested it. If you are asked to include a CV or covering letter, you can find out more information here.
• Be honest. If you are caught lying, an employer is unlikely to accept any future applications from you. Many employers use information service companies to check the information provided in application forms.

Before the interview:                                

Research the organisation, check the company website and search them on the internet
If changing career/industry, research the industry
Prepare answers to standard interview questions
Make sure you know the name of the person or people interviewing you
Check the format of the interview
Check the formality of the interview and prepare an interview outfit
Print out spare copies of your CV to take with you
Re-read CV
Plan the journey to the interview
Check the news/traffic reports to make sure there are no problems
Take a contact number for the company with you in case there are any problems
At the interview:

Switch off mobile phone
Ask when you can expect to hear back
After the interview:

If appropriate, email to thank the interviewer for the opportunity
If unsuccessful, contact the interviewer and ask for constructive criticism/feedback

Personal Motivation and Traits
How do you feel about your present workload?
What motivates you to do your best work?
How can we best help you get your job done?
Tell me about a time you went “out on a limb” to get the job done?
What are the disadvantages of this line of work?
What do you find most frustrating at work?
Tell me about a project that got you really excited?
How do you define doing a good job?
What makes a job enjoyable for you?
Under what conditions do you work best?
What is your greatest strength/weakness or deficiency?
Tell me about a work task you enjoy.
Goals
What are your 5-year goals?
Tell me what “success” means to you.
What does “failure” mean to you?
Do you consider yourself successful?
Do you set goals for yourself and how do you do that?
Communication
Tell me about a work situation you had that required excellent communication skills.
Do you prefer to speak directly with someone or send a memo?
How would you grade your ability to communicate with upper level management, customers, and peers?
What was more important on your job, written or oral communication?
Flexibility
Tell me about the last change which occurred in your office. How did you handle it?
I’m interested in hearing about the last time you took a risk. What was it and in retrospect, was it the right decision?
How important is communication and interaction with others on your job?
How many departments did you deal with? What problems occurred?
Tell me about a time when a work emergency caused you to reschedule your work/projects.
Give me an example of the last time you went above and beyond the call of duty to get the job done
In what areas do you typically have the least amount of patience at work?
Stress
Tell me about a deadline you had to meet. How much advance notice did you have?
You have worked in a fast paced environment. How did you like the environment?
What kinds of decisions are most difficult for you?
What is the most difficult work situation you have faced?
What types of jobs do you have the most difficulty with?
What do you do when you’re having trouble with your job?
What do you do when you have a great deal of work to accomplish in a short period of time?
Manageability
What do you do when you’re having trouble with a boss?
If your boss knew you were interviewing, what would he say?
What do you feel an employer owes an employee?
Your supervisor tells you do to something in a way you know is dead wrong. What do you do?
If your supervisor unfairly criticized you, what would you do?
Would you like to have your boss’s job? Why or why not?
Tell me about a time when your manager was in a rush and didn’t give you enough attention.
What are some of the things about which you and your boss disagree?
What are some of the things your boss did that you disliked?
In what areas could your boss have done a better job?
I would be interested to hear about an occasion when your work or an idea was criticized, what was criticized, who criticized you, and how did you handle it?
Describe the best manager you ever had. The worst. What qualities did each of them have?

• Describe the most difficult problem you had to solve. What was the situation and what did you do? Would you do anything different next time?
• In general, how do you handle conflict?
• Describe a creative solution that you have developed to solve a problem.
• What solution are you the proudest of?
• Describe a time when you had to use fact-finding skills.
• What has been your most important work-related idea?
• Who or what caused you the most trouble in implementing your ideas?
• What kinds of problems do you normally experience in a day?
• Tell me about a situation that got out of control. How did you handle it?
• Describe the best/worst co-worker you’ve ever had.
• Tell me about something you achieved as a group member.
• How would you define a good working atmosphere?
• Tell me about a time you came up with a new idea. Were you able to get it approved? If so, how did you go about it?
• Can you think of a time an idea of yours was rejected? Tell me about it.
• Tell me about a time an idea or task of yours was criticized.
• Tell me about a time you had to work according to a policy you disagreed with.
• How do you go about making important decisions?
• Tell me about the last time you made a good decision and describe what it was and what the results were.
• Tell me about an important decision or judgment call you’ve had to make on the job.
• Describe the worst decision you ever made and how you corrected it.

Do…

• Respond to the question positively without stating specific amounts. (Examples: “I’m earning in the low 30s.” “As a student, my jobs to this point have been geared toward gaining experience and making money to cover my educational costs.”)
• Mention your desired salary, either saying that salary is negotiable depending upon the position or giving a $3-5,000 range (if you know the market value for the position and for someone with your skills and background). You may also use terms like “competitive” or “open” if you are responding to this question on an application form.
• Know your salary requirements as well as what you hope to make. You shouldn’t mention these in your response to the salary history question, but you need to give this some thought for when you get to the negotiating stage.
• Be prepared to respond to a request for previous salaries in an interview. It can be handled by responding without stating specific amounts. Avoid specific amounts if at all possible.
• Prepare a list of your positions (in reverse chronological order) for your own reference and just in case an employer in which you are very interested is absolutely adamant. (This will not happen often!) The list should include name of each company or organization, your position title, your compensation, and a brief synopsis of your position.
• Research Salaries in Your Field: Look at recent salary surveys, talk to others working in your field, and contact your trade or professional association to find out what other people are paid for doing the same work.
• Be Flexible: When going through a salary negotiation you aren’t likely to get the exact amount of money you want. You will probably have to compromise. The trick is to figure out how much you are willing to compromise and what you will do if your boss doesn’t offer you a salary you find acceptable.

Don’t…

• Include your salary history on your resume. What you did in a job is much more important than what you were paid.
• Lie about your previous pay rate. Employers can often verify your salary history through your reference checks.
• Look at How Much Money Your Friends in Other Fields Are Making: You may be envious of your friends who are earning more money than you are. If they aren’t working in the same field you shouldn’t make those comparisons.
• Talk About How Much Money You Need: When you are going through salary negotiations, don’t tell your boss (or future boss) that you need to make more money because your bills are high, your house was expensive, or your child is starting college.

PHONE INTERVIEWS
Phone interviews seem to be growing more common as search committees try to make the difficult decision of who to invite for a campus interview. When you pass this level you will pass to the interview, and to campus for in-person interviews, and ultimately offered the position! If you are not interviewed by phone, these same questions are likely to be asked on site.
Some helpful hints:
Introduce yourself clearly and directly. Engage in some “small talk” at the start of the interview, just as you would a face-to-face interview.
Speak clearly into the receiver and modulate your voice. Your voice is the only way you have of showing eagerness, enthusiasm and zest for the job. Your voice reveals both your personality and your attitude toward the caller. Don’t forget to smile! It makes a big difference in a conversation, even on the telephone.
Have your resume and the job advertisement with you for reference, and a pencil and some paper to make notes.
Some students find that it helps to dress for a telephone interview as you would for a face-to-face interview – it often helps to psychologically prepare you for this form of business “meeting”.
No matter how or where your interview is conducted, you should still have the same goal: to communicate to the interviewer that you are the best candidate for the position for which you are being interviewed. If the interview has been scheduled in advance, you should prepare as carefully as you would for a formal “sit down” in someone’s office.
Eliminate any distractions from your immediate environment (desk toys, newspaper clippings, your shopping list). Dress professionally and maintain good posture. The one bonus to a telephone interview is that you can prearrange notes to prompt you and to keep you on track, but only if you can refer to them unobtrusively. You do not want the person on the other end of the line to hear you shuffling papers in the background!
Phone Interview: Tips and Tricks
Companies frequently use phone interviews as a way to pre-qualify your interest and expertise after seeing your resume. This kind of interview also gives you an opportunity to decide if the job is worth pursuing.
Here are some recommendations to ensure your next phone interview is successful.
Isolate Yourself
Phone interviews place you at a disadvantage because you have only one tool of communication: your voice. The interviewer’s impression of you is shaped by all the sounds coming through the phone. When the interviewer first contacts you, make sure you can talk on the phone for at least 20 minutes. If it’s not convenient, recommend rescheduling the call. Also, isolate yourself from distractions and background noises. Don’t have your interview when you’re surrounded by a lot of noise like at an outdoor café at a busy intersection. If the call is on your cell phone, make sure the interviewer can hear you clearly and that your battery is fully charged.
Schedule the Phone Interview
If you’re unable to do the interview when the employer’s representative makes his or her initial call, ask to schedule a specific time for the phone interview. Be sure to define who will call whom, but offer to be the caller. This ensures you’re fully prepared and in a situation in which you can speak without interruptions. Schedule the phone interview just as you would any face to face interview.
Stand Up
Stand up, walk around, and smile during the call. All these things make a big difference in the projection and quality of your voice.
Prepare Your Responses 
Phone interviews follow a similar pattern of questioning with the purpose of screening you out of consideration or placing you on the short list of strong candidates. Here is a list of questions most phone interviewers ask. Write down your responses and practice saying them out loud.
• Tell me about yourself.
• What do you know about our company?
• How did you learn about this position?
• What is your current salary?
• What are your compensation requirements?
• Why are you looking for a new position?
• What are your strengths?
• What are your weaknesses?
• Do you have any questions?
Ask Questions
Questions are your primary tool of influence with an interviewer. They help you direct the conversation and assess if the company is right for you. Here are some questions to ask during a phone interview:

• Opening Questions: 
  o What is your position with this company?
  o How much time would you like to speak on the phone?
  o What position are you considering me for? (If it has not been made clear.)
  o What are the key things you’d like to learn about my background?
• More Questions:
  o What business imperatives are driving the need for this position?
  o Describe the top three challenges that I’ll face in this job.
  o What are the characteristics of people who are most successful in your company?
  o What are the key deliverables and outcomes this position must achieve?
• Closing Questions:
  o Is there any additional information you would like me to provide?
  o What concerns about my background or qualifications do you have at this point?
  o When is the best time to follow up with you?

Get Face to Face
At the conclusion; ask the interviewer about the next steps and timing of the employer’s hiring process. If you remain interested after the phone interview, ask for a face to face interview. Remember that your objective during the phone interview is to secure an in-person meeting, where you will be most effective discussing your background and assessing the company.
Fill your resume with “PAR” statements. PAR stands for Problem-Action-Results; in other words, first you state the problem that existed in your workplace, then you describe what you did about it, and finally you point out the beneficial results.

Interviews are about presenting yourself in a positive and confident manner and we have interview skills and tips to help you. Many candidates are often worried that by “overselling” themselves they may appear arrogant and, as a result, they opt for mainstream answers which can sometimes appear fairly vague.
In our courses there are a number of interview techniques that you can apply to ensure that you do yourself justice and improve your interview skills to a level that will make you one of the strongest candidates. For some free interview skills and tips continue reading and we’ll tell you 10 crucially important interview skills and tips:

Interview Skills Tip 1. Spend time to know yourself

It may sound corny, but many candidates fail simply because they have not spent any time thinking carefully about what they can offer. Take time to think about your experience, why it would make you an ideal candidate for that post and how you can demonstrate it through concrete examples. Practicing too early can be detrimental to your confidence as you will keep repeating the same mistakes and will get frustrated. Only practice and go through mock interviews once you have gathered your thoughts.

Interview Skills Tip 2. Research the job and your future employers

Your interviewers will want to know whether you are fit to join their company. At an interview, you will find it difficult to demonstrate that you are the best candidate if you don’t know what they are looking for and how the company may fit within your overall career plan. In addition, demonstrating knowledge of the company will ensure that you come across as a motivated individual. Use all the sources available to you, including any information sent to you by the company with the application, the company’s and other websites, their Annual Report & Accounts (which can usually be downloaded from their website – if not, ask them), etc.

Interview Skills Tip 3. Keep your answers between 1.5 and 2 minutes

Lengthy answers do not make the points clearly enough, whilst short answers tend to make too few points. No one will be prepared to listen to you for more than 3 minutes anyway. So as a general rule, ensure that your answers fit within the 1.5 – 2 minutes timeframe, with a bit more maybe for answers to some of the more open interview questions (such as “tell me about yourself”).

Interview Skills Tip 4. Structure your answers in 3 or 4 points maximum

In order to make a strong impact with your interview answers, you must ensure that the message is coming out loud and clear. By adopting a 3- or 4-point structure, you will help your interviewers identify the important themes in your answer and they won’t have to work so hard to get the picture. If you have more than 3 or 4 things to say then you should organize the information differently. The human brain cannot take more than 3 or 4 things at a time. Don’t drown your interviewers with information.

Interview Skills Tip 5. Clearly headline each point in your answers

Too many people waffle around a topic without stating clearly what they are trying to say. Once you have derived a clear structure, ensure that each section is headlined by the message that you are trying to convey. For example, if you are being asked a question such as “What are your main strengths?”, you could structure and headline your answer as follows:

• One of my key strengths is my ability to keep a team motivated, even at difficult times.
• I am also a very approachable and supportive person.
• Another one of my strengths is my resilience and hardworking attitude, and particularly my ability to complete projects.

Interview Skills Tip 6. Expand on each point with your personal experience

Simply stating a series of headlines will make your answer sound “cheesy” i.e. no more than a succession of sound bites which have no real impact by themselves. Interviewers do not only want to know your own opinion of yourself, they want you to back up the claims that you make with examples from your experience. If you adopt a 3-point structure over 1.5 to 2 minutes, this gives you on average 30 or 40 seconds per point. You must therefore ensure that you keep your examples succint and to-the-point.

Interview Skills Tip 7. Avoid announcing a structure upfront unless you are absolutely confident

Although it can make you sound very confident and “in control”, it can also be dangerous to announce the structure of your answer upfront. For example: “There are many things that characterise my experience: one is my in-depth experience of project management, one is my ability to manage a team and the last one is my interpersonal skills”.

• It will force you to have a ready-made structure as soon as the interviewer has finished asking his question. This could be awkward if you haven’t prepared the answer previously
• You will lose flexibility. As you develop your answer, you may find that you want to introduce something that you had not originally thought about or, on the contrary, that you want to scrap something that does not sound so good after all. If you have announced the structure of your answer upfront, you will not be able to change it half-way through.

Interview Skills Tip 8. Use active verbs and power words to describe yourself

Most candidates, in their fear of overselling themselves, use words which do not reflect their true level of confidence, skills, competence. If you want to make a strong impact you cannot use expressions such as “I was involved in” too often as they reflect a situation in which you played a role rather than the role itself. You should use words and verbs such as: “played a key role in”, “managed”, “elaborated/built on”, “was instrumental in”, “achieved”, “proposed”, “derived”, “proficient/competent in”, “confident in”, etc

Interview Skills Tip 9. When answering questions asking for examples, use the STAR framework

The STAR framework is a well-known (though often neglected) interview technique to answer questions asking for an example, and it is certainly a method which all HR professionals will have trained in and learnt to recognise. It is important that you practice it thoroughly so that you can use it naturally at your interview. See our separate page on the STAR interview technique for full details.

Interview Skills Tip 10. Behaviour and body language

Your body language will give a lot of information to your prospective employers about you. They probably will not be looking at it specifically (unless it is so bad that they can’t miss it!) but they will be subsconsciously affected by it throughout the interview. For a comprehensive look at how your body language affects the interviewer’s perception of candidates, see our special page on interview behaviour and body language.

• Tell me about your last position and what you did.
• Tell me about the last time you made a mistake and how you corrected it.
• If you don’t leave your current job, what will happen there? How far can you advance?
• Of all the work you have done, where have you been most successful?
• I see you were unemployed for a period of time. Tell me about it.
• Give me an example of when you’ve demonstrated your customer service skills.
• How do you define continuous improvement? What is the last new procedure you integrated into your job?
• What makes you stand out among your peers?
• What have you done to reduce your department’s operational costs or to save time?
• What would your current supervisors say makes you most valuable to them?
• If I asked your boss to evaluate your performance, what would he or she say?
• Have you held positions similar to this one? If so, tell me about them.
• What is the most important thing you learned at a previous job?
• What did/do you enjoy most/least about your last/present job?
• If there were two things you could have changed about that job, what would they be?
• How did your job change while you held it?
• Describe your supervisor’s management style.
• What kinds of people do you deal with on the job?
• What qualifications do you have that make you successful in this field?
• What have you learned from previous jobs?
• Describe a typical day at work.
• How have your previous positions prepared you for this one?
• What parts of your job do you consider most important?
• What job tasks do you feel most successful doing?
• What special skills or knowledge have you gained to help in this job?
• Describe an important project you worked on.
• What sort of person do you enjoy working for?
• Define excellent customer service.
• You have a lot of experience. Why would you want this job?
• What do you consider your greatest strength?
• What is your most significant professional accomplishment?
• What was the last job related book you read?
• What was your favorite job? Why?
• You’ve stayed with the same organization for years. Why have you decided to leave?

Transferable skills are those that you have gained in one context — in or outside work — that can be used in another. Many of your existing skills could well be useful in a new job, career or industry.
Transferable skills tend to be generic skills that most employers will be looking for to some degree, such as numeracy, IT literacy or leadership. But different sectors and professions put different emphasis on these skills. If you are thinking of moving into teaching, for example, coaching or presentation experience could stand you in good stead. If you think the finance industry is for you, then you will almost certainly need to be numerate.
Career moves
Before embarking on any career move — whether it’s looking for promotion, returning from a career break, changing careers, or getting your first job — you should re-evaluate the skills you have and compare them with what employers in your chosen field are looking for.
Trade and professional associations are a good source of information and the Higher Education Research Opportunities (HERO) website carries a comprehensive list in its research and reference pages.
Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) can also help. These are employer-led bodies charged with raising skill levels across the UK. They cover most industries and sectors and most carry extensive information on the skills and qualifications employees need to succeed in the sector.
Returning to work
Skills gained away from the workplace are often just as valuable to a new employer as those gained in work. For example, voluntary work often involves all the softer communications, motivation and leadership skills that employers value.
If you are returning to work after a career break, write a list of everything you have done since you left your last job and list your achievements. Think about how you might use these to convince an employer that you have the skills he needs. If you are still in touch with your employer or colleagues, ask them for help. They will have a more up-to-date view of the workplace than you.
New to work
Those seeking work for the first time will also have transferable skills. They could have been gained on the sports field, in an amateur production or through voluntary work. Prospective employers will know from your CV that you do not have extensive work experience, but they will be looking to see if you use your other achievements as evidence that you have what they want.
This is especially important for students seeking their first graduate job because employers will want them to hit the ground running. University careers services are well aware of this and many carry extensive lists on their websites of the skills undergraduates will have gained that can transfer to the workplace. Visit our Graduate Zone for more information.
Types of transferable skill
These can include technical skills such as driving, languages or IT, or they can be limited to softer interpersonal skills. The following list is not exhaustive, but it gives guidance about the type of skills employers are seeking that you might have:

• IT literacy– there are fewer and fewer jobs that can be done without some IT skills. Make a list of all the packages and software programs you have used. You might be surprised by how much you know.
• Leadership– being able to motivate and coach others is crucial for anyone with management ambitions. But employers also look for these skills in the wider workforce.
• Research skills– the ability to gather accurate information and compare and contrast your sources is invaluable in most jobs. You should be able to demonstrate this if you have recently completed a period of study.
• Foreign languages– the expansion of the European Union and the globalisation of trade are putting a premium on language skills. But your prospective employer might want Polish or Chinese, not French and German.
• Presentation skills– these could relate to verbal or written presentations, or both. You might have formal experience pitching to clients or, perhaps, you regularly present your ideas on a work issue to colleagues.
• Organisational skills– these concern self-discipline and the ability to meet deadlines. Think of the times you have had to balance several activities at once. It could have been at work, home or a mix of the two.
• Problem-solving– employers want people who can think issues through logically, determine what the issues are and come up with possible solutions.
• Numeracy– most jobs need a degree of numeracy, so if this is your strength, be ready to emphasise it to an employer. Managing the local playgroup or tennis club accounts could be hugely valuable in the workplace.
• Commitment – employers want people who are self-motivated and who can get on with the job. Workplace examples are best here but, if your experience is not great, consider your other achievements. It takes time and commitment, for example, to learn an IT package, musical instrument or other skill.
• Driving– don’t assume that everyone drives, or underestimate how useful this can be to an employer.

• What five adjectives describe you best?
• Why should I consider you for this position?
• Why are you the best candidate for this position?
• Tell me about the one thing in your life you’re proudest of.
• You’ve changed jobs frequently. What makes you think that this position will be different?
• What qualities do you think are necessary to make a success of this job?
• Describe your ideal job.
• How did you find out about this job?
• What do you know about the job?
• What do you know about the department?
• Is there anything that will prevent you from getting to work on time?
• Is there anything that will prevent you from working the job’s regular hours?
• What kinds of work interest you the most?
• What interests you most about this position?

Interview skills and communication skills are not just about speech techniques and structures. You may have come across studies or statistics which state that up to 60% of the impression that you make is through your body language. Whatever the reality behind this statement, it is undoubtable that the way you dress and behave at an interview will strongly influence the person who is looking at you, even if it is subconscious.
To make a strong impression, there are a number of rules regarding correct body language that you need to reflect upon and adopt:

Choose a good position within the room

At an interview, you will normally be directed to a specific seat (i.e. you will have no choice). However, interviews can often be conducted in oversized environments (e.g. a meeting room with a table for 8 when there are only 3 of you). Make sure you choose a seat which enables you to see everyone involved without having to rotate your head exaggatedly. In most cases, it may be best to hover around to see which chairs the interviewers are aiming for before making your selection.
If there is a window, choose a chair that faces it so that your face is lit from the front, unless there is good lighting all round. If you turn your back to the window, the interviewers may see you in sepia!

Maintain a good posture

If you are being interviewed at a table, make sure that you are not too close to the table. As a rule of thumb, your body language should be such that if you let your arms fall loosely on the table in front of you, they should fall with your elbows slightly outside of the table. If you elbows are actually on the table then you are too close. If your elbows are more than a few inches away (or you have to lean forward a lot to put your hands on the table) then you are too far. For most people, the ideal distance between chest and table is about 4 inches.
Plant both feet onto the ground so that you remain stable; and put your hands on the table (people who place their hands below the table come across as having something to hide). Keep yourself upright, with a slight slant forward and relax our shoulders. Slouching is bad body language!
If there is no table (or only a low table) then simply rest your hands on your lap.

Don’t be afraid to “own the space”

Just because your are under observation, it does not mean that you should recoil in a corner. It is okay to stand or sit with your legs slightly apart, and in fact, it is a sign of confident body language (don’t overdo it though, it would become indecent!)

Limit you hand and arm movement

It is perfectly okay in your body language to move your arms and hands around, and if that is the way that you normally behave then don’t try to become someone else. Your personality and enthusiasm are as important as everything else. However make sure that such movements do not become distracting and do not take the focus away from your face. To achieve this, make sure that your movements are limited to the corridor in front of you, never higher than your chest, and never under the table. If there is no table, you can let your hands go as far down as your lap.
If your hands go outside towards the left or right, your interviewers will follow them and may stop concentrating on you. If your hands go over chest level, you will most likely obscure your lips or eyes.
If you have a tendency to fidget in a very distracting manner, entertwine your fingers and rest your hands on the table.
Whatever you do, never cross your arms. It will make you look unreceptive, guarded and lacking in confidence.

Smile

A nervous smile is better than no smile at all. No one wants to recruit a grumpy person or someone who looks like they are not enjoying themselves. Good interviewers will understand that you may be nervous and will make attempts to put you at your ease. Make sure you reward their efforts with an easy smile. No need to overdo it. It is not a contest for straight teeth, but simply a reasonable attempt to engage with them.
Smile lightly also when you are being introduced to each member of your panel. With this body language you can build a good rapport.
It is also perfectly acceptable to laugh if the situation warrants it (but avoid making jokes just for the sake of introducing a laugh into the conversation. You’ll probably end up being the only one laughing, and you’ll soon be crying.)

Maintain eye contact

If you do not make eye contact, you will come across as evasive and insecure which is poor body language. If you stare at people too much, you will make them insecure. There are two situations here: either you are being interviewed by just one person, in which case you will have no choice but to look at them all the time;  or you are being interviewed by more than one person. If this case, then look mostly at the person who is asking you the question, and occasionally glance aside to involve the others (they will be grateful that you are trying to involve them into the conversation even if they have not asked that particular question).

Beware Of the Props

If you have a pen with you, avoid fiddling with it. It will only end up flying in the wrong direction. Similarly, if they offer you a drink (tea, coffee, water, etc), make sure that you can cope with it and that won’t need to go to the loo or start crossing your legs half-way through the interview. Generally you should avoid picking up any drink if you can. Other than the fact that it may end up down your shirt or on your lap, the movement of the water in a glass that you have just picked up will reveal just how nervous you are.

Mirror the Interviewer’s Behaviour

Mirroring (i.e. acting similarly) to someone is an indication that there is a connection through body language. It should happen normally but you may be able to influence it too, if only to give the interviewer the feeling that you are getting on. For example, if the interviewer is sitting back then you may want to sit back a little too; if he leans forward, you may lean forward to. Be careful not to overdo it though and do not mirror instantly, otherwise it will look like some kind of Laurel and Hardy sketch.

And Relax…

At the end of the day, you can’t spend all your energy focussing on body language. There is no point having a brilliant body language if you are talking rubbish. Bearing in mind that body language is a reflection of your level of confidence; it is important that you build your confidence up first through good preparation and then go to the interview relaxed. You will be surprised of how much of the above you can do naturally.

Headhunting has long been seen as the undercover arm of recruitment. Much of the work is secretive because companies using this technique often don’t want to alert their employees, competitors or shareholders to their intentions.

Headhunted candidates are handpicked, so it’s a costly and time-consuming business generally reserved for positions paying more than £40k. Traditionally, a proven track-record has been vital and most enquiries have come from personal contact and word-of-mouth recommendation.
But online recruitment is blurring the edge between headhunting and conventional recruitment. The growing number of candidates storing their CVs in online databases means it is now simple for headhunters and employers to track down people with specific skills and experience.
If you want to improve your chances of being one of the chosen few, there are plenty of things you can do to raise your profile:

• Consider contacting a headhunting agency to see if it has relevant jobs waiting to be filled.
• Drop hints to friends, contacts or even suppliers that you could be persuaded to change jobs.
• Get your name on any PR being conducted by your company. Potential employers could pick up on it.
• Start networking and increase your profile at industry events and conferences. Self-promotion is a vital skill.
• Upload your CV to totaljobs.com. Thousands of employers search our database for their next employee.

Headhunters are usually pretty forthright when they contact you, immediately outlining the opportunity. Ask them to call back at a more convenient time if you’re at work, as a conversation of this nature would be quite hard to keep discreet.
It’s a good idea to have a face-to-face meeting with the headhunter before any interview with the company so that you can get a full job description and receive answers to any other questions you have.
Being headhunted can bring more money, benefits and promotion prospects, so if you are approached, make sure you get the best deal:

• Let the headhunter make the first move; you may underestimate your worth.
• Look carefully at the total package. A higher basic salary is attractive but make sure you do not lose some of the benefits you’re currently enjoying.

Once you have received an offer you’re happy with, you may decide to use it as a bargaining tool with your current employer. But tread very carefully; you do not want to antagonize both your current and prospective employers.

Whether it is your first time searching for a job or you haven’t been around for a while, jobseeking can be a daunting experience. You can look for a job by visiting a job centre or searching online but before you start, why not having a look below to make sure you’ve got it all covered? Here at

totaljobs
we have broken down the online process into 10 easy steps so you can make sure you’ve ticked off all the items!
1. Find out what suits you 
With so many options out there, it can be confusing to work out where you want to go.

• Take an online psychometric test to see what industries suit your personality.
• Choose which roles you like the sound of using the in-depth job descriptions from a variety of industries on the Careers in… pages.

2. Create your CV 
Ensuring your CV is the best it can be is crucial in landing your dream job.

• Decide what type of CV to write with totaljobs’ CV tips and templates.
• Guarantee you CV is spot on with the CV checker tool.
• Check out sample cover letters
  to make sure you show off all of your skills.

3. Complete your profile 
Setting up a profile gives you access to a variety of tools on totaljobs.com

• Upload your CV and store it online for quicker applications.
• Make your CV searchable and let recruiters find you.
• Remind yourself of the applications that you have already completed.

4. Search for jobs 
With thousands of jobs in numerous industries and locations, you’ll be sure to find something.

• Browse jobs by location,industry,salary,company and key word.
• Use advanced search to find exactly what you’re looking for.
• Search through the employer A-Z directory to browse companies and find that business you’ve always wanted to work for.

5. Get jobs straight to your inbox 
Let totaljobs do the hard work and send you roles which match your career aspirations.

• Get the latest jobs in your inbox using the Jobs By Email service.
• Set up Instant Job Matching alerts to receive individual roles matching your requirements as soon as they’re posted on the site.

6. Apply online 
Applying for a job has never been so easy.

• Apply for jobs in one single click, once you have uploaded a CV and cover note.
• Search and apply for jobs using the job basket. You can store up to 20 jobs and then apply for them all in one go.

7. Make the best of that interview 
Interviews throw up all types of questions that you need guidance on.

• Be ready for that interview with a checklist.
• Get help with tips on interview questions.
• Dress for success with expert advice on what to wear.

8. Settle in 
Getting a job isn’t where it ends. That’s why you may need help to settle into your new workplace.

• Protect your rights in the workplace and ensure that you’re being treated in the correct way.
• Negotiate your salary and work out how much tax you will be paying.
• Achieve the perfect work/life balance.

9. Get Career Advice 
Anytime you need help, total jobs is here.

• Visit the Career Doctor for answers regarding career issues.
• Get advice to help you on your way to deciding your next career move.
• Make sure you’re prepared for work and life in a new place if you decide to relocate.

10. Keep in touch with what you’re worth
Ensure that what you’re getting paid is up there with industry standards.

• Use our salary checker tool to make sure you’re getting out what you’re putting in.

In challenging times it can be easy to lose motivation while jobseeking. Finding the perfect job can be difficult and time-consuming, but it’s important not to let the knock backs get you down.

The length of time you could be on a job hunt depends on a number of factors, mainly how buoyant your desired job sector is and whether you have relevant, up-to-date skills. But you will be more successful if you remember these general tips:

• Set goals and take regular actions to prevent your search from becoming stale.
• Keep in touch with old contacts and make the effort to meet new people to keep from feeling isolated.
• Don’t be disheartened if you don’t get a job you interviewed for. Just prepare for the next one. Read our advice on how to improve your chances.
• Sign up with recruitment consultants. They know about the current job market and have access to many jobs you won’t see advertised.
• Make the most of everything that job sites have to offer and keep on top of all the latest vacancies.
• Use our Jobs by Email service to have a regular stream of opportunities sent to your inbox.
• Keep an open mind and consider all kinds of opportunities.
• If your skills are rusty, get some training. As well as improving your chances, you may meet others in the same situation as you.
• Treat your job hunt like any other professional project. Set yourself deadlines and use your time effectively.
• Take plenty of physical exercise. A healthy body means a healthy mind.

If you can’t wait to leave your current role, or you’re getting into a desperate financial situation, perhaps a temporary or part-time position would be a good short-term option. Most British workers spend almost as much time working as sleeping, so settling for a permanent job just because it’s the only one on offer may result in you job hunting again sooner that you’d like.
The right job for you is out there and, although it may take a while to find, it will be worth the wait.

If you are interviewing with a consulting company you have a high probability of running into a Critical Thinking or Case Interview Question. These might sound ridiculous but they are gaining clout with big business. This type of interview requires much more of a two way communication between the candidate and the interviewer.

They are not necessarily looking for the “right” answer but rather they want to see common sense, creativity and problem solving skills.
Question:
How many jellybeans will fit in a 747?
Possible answer:
Does the plane have seats in it? As that would affect how many I could fit in. Also when do I need this information and what will we use it for? What size jellybean? Can I grind them up or melt them to get more in? Do we want to get more in? Does it have to take off and land? Can I fill up the fuel tanks? Etc…
Question:
Why is a man-hole cover round?
Possible Answer:
Because it is covering a round hole and that is the most effective use of materials. Also because a round cover cannot fall into the round hole it is covering.
Or they might ask you about a current case they are working on. You want to use the same problem solving skills as you would in a Hypothetical Interview: Steps to problem solving:
1. Gather relative information
2. Evaluate your information
3. Prioritize the information
4. Propose and weigh possible solutions
5. Choose and propose your solution
6. Discuss how you would evaluate the effectiveness of your solution