Rule 10

Write a thank you note to your potential employer and recruiter

Please make sure you send a thank you note to the interviewers and recruiters within the next 48 hours after the interview and keep your fingers crossed!

Your thank you note can be something like this:

Dear Mr. A,

It was a pleasure meeting you and Mr. B yesterday. I enjoyed talking with you about the Analyst position. I am more convinced now that Company A is the right place for me to start my career and develop myself. I'm willing to learn and learn fast enough to keep up with the fast growing pace of the IT industry.

Thank you for taking your time to meet me yesterday. I look forward to hear from you soon.

Regards,
Signature
(Your full name)

Rule 9

Interview the Inteviewer.

Most of the time at the end of your interview you will be given an opportunity to ask question. Use the opportunity to get to know more about the actual job scope of the position and career progression plan. Maybe a little bit of corporate strategy questions. It is only appropriate to ask about the compensation and benefits package for this position and salary package negotiation when they have SHORTLISTED you. When the interview ends, make sure you shake their hands and thank them for their time.

Rule 8

The panel interview. The mother of all interview.

When you enter the interview room greet your interviewer(s) with a big sunny smile. Give a warm and firm handshake and sit only when the interviewers ask you to. Sit up straight, do not hunch, and do not sit TOO comfortably.

The interviewers will usually start by asking you to tell about yourself. Start with your education background, what you have done so far in terms of academic and co-curricular, and what you would like to do. NEVER go into an interview for position A and tell your interviewer(s) you would like to do something else. This will blow your chances in getting the job.

Make sure you know what you are talking about. Listen attentively to the interviewers, understand the question, if you can't give a straight answer take a few seconds to think then only answer the question.

To ease your interview process what you can do is to jot down your 5 year career plan (Career progression, academic progression, and interesting things you would like to do in life). This is one of the most important and common question that interviewers will usually ask during interview.

If the interviewers ask you about your weaknesses tell them honestly about it and your action plan to rectify them. As for your positive attributes you can elaborate more on how you can still improve on them. Be showy but not too much.

Rule 7

Be actively involved. Play your cards right!

Interview process has evolved a lot from what it used to be ten years ago. The conservative panel interview session will not be enough to know whether the candidate is the right person for the job. The purpose of having an interview is to observe certain competencies required by specific position. Interview process can include written test, case study presentation, group discussion, aptitude test, and in depth interview session. Different competencies are observed in different processes.

First and foremost before the interview start you are required to fill up an interview form. Before you start filling it up, you must go through the whole form first and understand the informations needed to avoid mistakes and waste of time. Don't forget to bring your own pen. The best is to invest on a nice stainless steel pen that will suit the whole corporate look.

Written test can be in many form; letter, report, proposal, or a case study. Make sure you know which is which. Understand the case study given. Then start drafting out your points. Get your points flow right and start writing. You can use SWOT analysis method to help you answer your case study questions. A case study will always have a follow up Q&A session. The questions given will be based on your writing so ALWAYS REMEMBER what you have written.

If you are required to do a presentation, understand the case study given first. Draft out your arguments. be careful with your voice volume and body language during the presentation. High pitched voice and repeating gestures can be annoying and distracting. You can improve on this by practicing in front of the mirror. That way you will be able to observe your body movement and make necessary improvements. Make sure whatever facts you are using are valid; NEVER EVER create your own facts.

When you are nervous and run out of words, the best thing to do is smile and take some time to catch your breath. It will help to ease the tense situation and give you time to think and gather your thoughts.

Fidgeting is a sign that you are nervous. It is OK to be nervous but you must know how to control it. Be aware of all your body parts. Do not shake your legs, rub your nose repeatedly, and play with your hair; it shows how uncomfortable you are. You hands should be on your lap, sit straight up, and try to be relax but not too relax that you treat the interview like a 'mamak session' with your friends.

It is the interviewers job to put you in a very uncomfortable situation just to see how you can handle the stress. Whatever it is REMEMBER not to engage in a fierce battle with the interviewers or be in a defensive mode. Stay calm and listen to what the interviewers have to say. Tell them that you understand where they are coming from but you have your reasons and stand firm with your opinions. Again SWOT analysis will be a good method to use to draft out your points for the presentation.

Different people act differently when they are nervous, some talk really fast, some shake their legs vigorously, and some constantly clicking their pen. Whatever it is that you are doing, STOP! Catch your breathe, gather your thoughts and start speaking again.

Your presentation should be clear and simple. You can use visual aid such as graph, flow chart, timeline, and mind mapping to help make your presentation easier to understand. Make sure your handwriting is clear and big enough for the interviewers to read. You can use different coloured markers but not too many (4 max) to help you differentiate your points.

In a group discussion it will be best if you act like a diplomat. REMEMBER true leaders will never dominate the team for the sake of getting sole credit or to shine. Be an idea contributor but give chance to other people to share their ideas as well. Stand firm on your opinions while respecting other people's opinions.

As for aptitude test. If it requires accuracy and speed, give accuracy and speed. If it requires speed give speed, if it requires accuracy give accuracy.

Rule 6

Create a good first impression: Power Dressing, DRESS TO KILL, What does it mean?

The first thing the interviewer will judge when meeting candidates is of course their physical appearance. That is why it is important for you to pick your outfit for the job interview carefully. Physical appearance includes dressing and personal grooming. Different positions may require you to dress differently from one another. It depends on the industry you are going for. If it is the banking industry, suit will be the best choice but it won't work for advertising or entertainment industry. The key is to dress appropriately, REMEMBER not to over do it. So how to dress appropriately? Below are some tips you can follow to help you to get your outfit right for your job interview.

GENTS

• Neat hair
• Long sleeve cotton shirt / cuff shirt
• Never roll your sleeves
• Button up and wear a matching tie
• Front part of your tie should reach the waist of your pants
• Black or dark coloured pants
• Black & shiny, belt and shoes
• Dark coloured socks
• Have a handkerchief
• Press everything
• No sport's watch
  

LADIES

• Neat hair / hair scarves Three piece suite is the best
• Neutral coloured finger nails
• Neutral make up
• Covered pumps or heels
• Matching coloured shoes and handbag
• No excessive accessories
• Press everything
  

EVERYONE

• Nobody odour
• Lightly scented
• Fresh breath
• Firm handshake always
• Big bright smile
• ALWAYS 10 minutes early
• Find out how the interview is going to be
  
  

Have your portfolio ready!

Your portfolio will be the most important tool in your search of getting a job. Portfolio includes cover letter, CV, and certificates. It is part of creating a good first impression. Your CV is your representative before you meet the interviewers. This sheets of paper will determine whether you will get that call or not. So make it as pleasant to look at as possible. Bind your cover letter, CV, and all certificates together. Arrange your CV followed by highest qualification to the lowest. For example your if your highest qualification is Bachelor's Degree that should be the first page, followed by your foundation or matriculation certificate, then SPM so on and so fourth. Remember to bring your original certificates and out them in clear folder to ease viewing.

Rule 5

Do your homework!

What the organization is all about? Who are their main competitors? What are the current happenings in the organization? These are the important questions you have to ask yourself about your prospective employers. Dig as much information as you can about the organization and industry. Go to the company's website and learn about the company's nature, structure, board of directors, and current happenings. Do get yourself updated with current issues by reading business magazines or newspaper that gives you an inside scoop on what is happening in the industries and current economy situation. REMEMBER these extra effort will help you sail through your interview and prepare you to answer questions that will require you to give opinions on the industry or current issues.

Rule 4

Practice makes perfect.

As cliche as it may sound you can't deny its truthfulness. To be able to speak confidently in English YOU HAVE TO PRACTISE using it. English language skill and communication skill are two very important skills required by most employers nowadays. In a survey conducted by University Putra Malaysia (UPM) spearheaded by UPM's alumni centre, they discovered most employers emphasis on English language in hiring fresh graduates. Communication skill includes speaking, writing, listening, and reading.

But what if your English sucks and your communication skills are bad? What else?! Start practising using the language. You may find difficulties using it at the beginning but as time goes by and the more you use the language the better you will be at it. Be open to criticism, even better if you ask for it. Get help from your family members and friends who are good at speaking. Practise conversing in English with people who are close to you then slowly you can use the language with other people. You can invest some money and take English or communication classes. It will help you in a long term basis for your career.

The simplest thing to do is to buy English newspaper everyday and read it out loud. You can kill two birds with one stone. You will improve your English as well get yourself updated with current happenings in the world. You can always use websites such as:

http://www.forvo.com/
http://www.cooldictionary.com/
http://www.howjsay.com/

to check on the proper pronunciation and meaning of the words you are not so sure of.

Organize a mock interview with your friends. You can easily get samples of interview questions from the Internet and practise answering them. You can get HR people from companies or your lecturer to be the interview panel. You can also collaborate with your university to organize such workshop for students. It will be easier for you to get the companies to collaborate with university's approval.

Rule 3

Initial contact (pre-interview qualification)

When you have applied for a position in an organization, logically the next step would be expecting a phone call from the HR people or recruiter. But you won't know when the call will come. Will you miss it? Will you answer it too casually? Will you decide to ignore it that day? What you can do is to get a cheap phone and a number just for your job hunting purposes. This way you will always be prepared to answer any calls from potential employers.

When you receive a phone call from the organizations you have applied to, always remember to answer the call in a very positive tone. HR people or recruiters are the gatekeepers, and have the power to decide if you qualify for the next round of interview. Smiling on the phone will also help in giving a positive vibe to the person you're talking to on the phone.

3 important details to know about the interview are the date, time, and exact location. Learn on how to get to the location, especially when you're not familiar with the area. You should make a trip to the area and be sure of directions days before the interview date. This is to ensure a smoother journey for you to the interview. It will also help you to keep calm and maintain your composure.

Always remember to keep the HR people or recruiters posted. If you can't make it, call them. If you fall sick, call them. The gist of it is CALL THEM! Don't waste their time waiting and preparing for an interview that will never happen. The wait will kill any chances of you rescheduling your appointment, or any possible future in that organization.

Rule 2

Personalize your CV

This is the most important tool in job hunting. It represents YOU to the employer. It is the deciding tool for them if they are interested in meeting you or not. It has a voice of its own and you determine what it speaks and portrays. Having said that, time and attention needs to be taken in preparing a Curricular Vitae (CV).

There are many samples of good resumes on the Internet that you can refer to, but which one is the best one? A CV can be good or bad for a lot of reasons. Therefore, the most important question is deciding what best suits you and the job you're applying for. My advice will be to go through a few good CVs you can find from the Internet or other sources and compare them. Take what you like from each sample, combine them to design your own CV.

DO NOT ever copy and paste your resume. The worst is printing it out directly from a job search website. As a representative of yourself and the first point of contact with your potential employer, a CV has the right to be treated better than just a copy paste from other people. It's your baby in job hunting, it grows with you as you peak in your career, and retires when you do. So pay more attention to it. Spend more time creating and designing your CV and custom made it to suit yourself and the job you are applying for. It has to be up-to-date, organized, complete, and easy to understand.

Make sure there's a flow in your CV. Start with your personal goals, followed by academic qualifications, working experiences, achievements, and reference. Interviewers will be looking for information that will depict your character and that will show how suitable a candidate you are. Do not waste pages by including irrelevant information that will not benefit you in any way. Highlight on your achievements but do not be too showy. You can briefly explain on your achievements but don't overdo it. Humility is an essential characteristic to show in your CV.

One more important thing is the email address used in your CV. Make sure that it is appropriate. The best is just using your own name such as mohamad.ali@yahoo.com or nora_ahmad@gmail.com. It will be also easier for the interviewer to recognize it as your email. DO NOT put email addresses such as cutegal_1999@yahoo.com or chubby.teddy@gmail.com. It reflects your level of maturity. Remember your CV reflects you!

Below are some of the websites that you can refer to for good CV samples and guidelines to write a good CV:

www.resume-help.org

www.bestsampleresume.com

www.hrworld.com

We are more than happy to help you improve your CV. Feel free to send your CV to me at ali@talent-lab.com for feedback. My colleagues and I will do our very best to help and get back to you within a week from your date of submission. I hope this post will help you to create a CV that is honest and true to you.

Rule 1

First thing first. Understand yourself.

It is very important for you to understand yourself before applying for a job. The objective of a job interview is for the interviewer to get to know the candidate and determine if the candidate is suitable for the applied position. It will be hard for the interviewer to match you with the position if you can't tell them what your interests are and what you want to do career wise. At least have a rough idea on what you want in terms of career. The best is to have a 5 year career progression plan. You must be clear on what you want and can do, and know what you are worth for. Then only will it be easy for you to convince the employer that you're IT.

What you can do is to first list down your interests and what kind of job you are interested in doing. Spend time to really think about this. It may sound like an easy question, but a lot of people have problem listing down their interests, strengths and weaknesses. You can seek opinions from people who are closest to you. People who have been working with you before, have known you long enough are usually the best people to ask.

Find out what kind of job you can apply for, something that matches your interests and your qualifications. Find something suitable. Do not waste your time applying for a job that you will definitely not get. Look at your qualifications and compare it with the job requirements. Remember, BE REALISTIC!

To sum things up, knowing yourself will make job hunting so much more easier, not only for yourself, but for the potential employers as well. It will also make your job interview much easier as you know what you want and what you are really getting yourself into.

Stay tune for the next rule! :)