Career advice

The interview process is constantly evolving and employers are coming up with new ways of assessing a potential hire’s ability before bringing them on board.  This has also become increasingly important to the organization given how expensive the cost of a wrong hire can be to them. As you seek out new opportunities, you need to be prepared for various types of interviews that you may encounter while on the job hunt.

In this blog, we highlight the different interview types you are likely to encounter and how you can prepare and ace them. Read on to learn more.

Screening Interviews

Typically the first interview in a recruitment process, recruiters often use this method to screen and evaluate whether applicants meet the basic requirements. They can be either in-person, phone or video interviews. Communication is largely visual in case of in-person or video interviews, however, with phone interviews, it is critical to have positive and sharp answers ready and deliver them with enthusiasm.

💡Here are some questions you can expect during a screening interview and what a good answer looks like.  A few things to keep in mind with screening interviews:

• Take this as seriously as you would an in-person interview – one of the ways recruiters narrow down on the most suitable candidates is through initial screening interviews hence you need to bring your A-game.
• Ensure you are in a place where you can speak comfortably; don’t be afraid to ask the recruiter or interviewer to reschedule the call if the proposed time will not work for you.
• Review the job description and be prepared to show how and why you are a fit for the organization. Be sure to show how your experience ties into the role requirements.

Panel Interviews

This interview typically consists of two or more people from different departments in the organization. For an organization, they use this as an opportunity to see how you will perform in a group setting, and how you react in high-stress situations. Panel interviews are preferred based on the notion that interviewers are able to get a more accurate assessment of an applicant’s fit for a position and improve the efficiency of the hiring process by saving time.

💡Here are a few tips to help you prepare:

• If you can, find out who will be on the panel and look them up on LinkedIn This helps you familiarize yourself with who will be interviewing you and may make it easy for you to break the ice when you first interact with them.
• Remember to address each panellist by their names and engage all of them equally. Each member in the room has a say in the final hiring decision hence be careful not to be dismissive of any member.
• Bring extra copies of your CV and hand them out to each panellist.
• Ensure you have questions of your own. Research the organization as well as your role to come up with questions that can help you dig deeper into how the organization operates and what would be expected of you.

Interview questions in this type of setting will include both general and behavioural questions. Check out a few of the questions you can expect and how to answer them.

Group Interviews

Depending on the nature of the role, some organizations will take candidates through a group interview. These are common with entry-level positions and where an organization needs to hire multiple people for the same function/role. Some of the instances where you might encounter group interviews include graduate recruitment programs and some entry-level positions that may involve mass hiring.

💡A few tips to keep in mind should you be invited to a group interview include:

• Prepare your introduction in advance.
• Engage with all team members involved in the process. Remember a key success metric for the interviewer is determining how you would handle yourself in a collaborative environment. Avoid trying to outshine everyone as this might come off as aggressive.
• Answer questions in a confident manner and be yourself.

Behavioural Interviews

It is a popular way in which employers assess candidates based on their past behaviour. The theory being that past behaviour in a similar situation is the best predictor of future performance. This type of interview focuses less on hypothetical questions and more around situational questions. Interviewers will use these questions to get to know you better, hence there aren’t exactly any right answers. The key to acing such an interview is preparation and knowing how to structure your responses.

💡Pro tip

Behavioural interviews will require you to share specific examples of situations you’ve been in that required you to use certain skills. Your answers should show evidence of how you’ve handled issues in the past and what value you brought to the situation at hand.

• Here’s a guide on how to structure your responses using the STAR method.
• Remember there are no right answers so be honest.
• Practice your responses aloud.
• Check out these top questions you may encounter in a behavioural interview.

Here’s a sample question and response structure using the STAR method:

‘Tell me about the most difficult problem you’ve overcome in the last year’

• Situation: Earlier this year, I was working on one of my firm’s largest clients.
• Task: Two days before our big year-end review meeting, I discovered that we were analyzing data from two years back. I had to decide what to do about it. If we didn’t fix it, it could have put our whole contract at risk.
• Action: I quickly set out to make sure my seniors were aware of the problem and presented a plan of action that would allow us to correct the mistakes before our meeting.  I had to recruit my colleagues to work late nights to get it all done.
• Results: We were able to re-run our analysis and present the correct report to the clients.  After the meeting, they renewed our contract.  The whole team went out to celebrate.  I learned the value of double-checking your work, and of teamwork during challenging times.

As you prepare for different interview formats that you may encounter, don’t forget the basics of interviewing. Take time to remind yourself of the basics of interviewing that you need to apply regardless of the situation. Here’s our guide on how to prepare before the interview, how to act during the interview and how to ace your post-interview follow up.

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NEW JOB OPPORTUNITIES

It’s that time of the year when graduation season is upon us. Graduation marks the beginning of a new life for many. With all the great plans you have made on the type of career you will have, you want to make sure you set yourself up for success. With your uni days behind you, it’s time for a new life adventure as you strive to become your best self. In this Shortlist blog,  we are sharing 10 things you should keep in mind as you start out:

1. Your first job as a recent graduate isn’t going to make your career and neither is it your last.

It’s easy to convince yourself that you have to get your dream job right after you graduate and keep it for the rest of your career. As a matter of fact, that is almost unheard of these days. Keep in mind that your first job is your entry point, a chance for you to learn what it takes to succeed in the business environment.

Consider your first job a journey to learn about yourself. The purpose is to discover what you’re good at, what you love to do, and what you dislike. Be open to opportunities, look at the bigger picture and focus on the ultimate goal.  If you are offered an opportunity outside your scope of the study, for instance,  go for it and take the learnings with you.

2. You may not know what you want to do for the rest of your career, and that’s perfectly okay…

Believe it or not, it is completely normal for people to graduate from school and not know what career path they want to follow. You may have an idea based on the courses you studied but oftentimes you find that your goals change as you gain experience in the workplace.

Being open-minded and exploratory will definitely help you figure things out in time. As a new graduate, take advantage of the opportunities around you, ask questions, take initiative and above all don’t be afraid to fail. You will work on projects that excite you and some that bore you to your very core, but ultimately this is what will help you understand your strengths and find your sweet spot.

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3. The learning does not stop at graduation….it’s only the beginning

You may not be in a classroom setting anymore but with the world constantly changing and evolving, what you know today could be useless information tomorrow. Even as a new graduate, you’ll quickly realize that there is always more to learn.  If you focus on consistently sharpening your knowledge in your field and honing your skills, you will not only stay relevant but also grow in your career.

Though you’ll have plenty of distractions, don’t be too caught up in life that you ignore your lifelong learning. Making constant progress and being more knowledgeable can increase your motivation and self-confidence. You’ll discover your personal interests much faster by exposing yourself to new ideas, concepts, viewpoints and beliefs. You can also improve the quality of your life with a commitment to lifelong learning.

4. Don’t burn too many bridges

Always remember that jobs will come and go, but your reputation will stay with you forever.  You are free to choose to exit a company for a better opportunity and that is okay. Your boss knows at the back of their mind that this is always a possibility; similarly, this applies to interviews or turning down job offers. Should you come to a place where you want to leave an organization, be careful about how you go about it, think clearly and rationally about the actions you are going to take and how you will end the relationship with your employer at this point.  Remember to be polite, timely, and appreciative in your communications – especially when you’re leaving a job or declining an opportunity.

Our actions can sometimes come to haunt us in the future – remember it’s never about the leaving, it’s about how we leave. Your reputation, work ethic and how you treat people are the things that will define you as a person. So don’t get carried away by how you feel in the moment and think about the actions you are taking as well as the long term effect.

The business community and the world, in general, is much smaller than you think. Chances are you will work with the same people again at some point in your career.  Think about being on your best behaviour (the way you’d behave or prepare for that all-important interview) on your way out of a company as well as on your way in.  Who knows what doors will open up down the line as a result…

5. The secret to your success lies in the person you haven’t met yet

Networking is about building long-lasting relationships with others. It’s about making a deep connection with someone such that if you call them a year from now, they’ll be happy to hear from you. The old adage “ Your network is your net worth”  proves to be true, especially as you grow in your career. People with a solid circle around them can rely on those networks to open doors and help them out. Recommendations and strategic partnerships can accelerate your growth at pivotal times in your career.

Granted, networking doesn’t always seem easy – especially when you’re starting out.  But the good thing is that with constant exposure and concerted effort, you will become more comfortable.  If you are just getting started, go for the low hanging fruit. Start with the people around you. Your old school mate, someone you worked with in the past, your neighbour or lecturers. Start by asking someone for coffee or a 30-minute chat to offer their advice. Here are a few tips to get you started on networking.

6. People will come and go …..learn to adapt

Throughout your career, you will meet new people who will have an impact on your day to day life in different capacities. Your office bestie will move to another organization, and it will suck, but you will have to move on. (And you might find that you stay in touch for many years even after you’ve both left that job!)

You will also love your colleagues but as you grow in your career, you too may have to move to another organization to explore new opportunities for growth. Leaving your colleagues or workplace may be hard, however, you will need to do what is necessary for your career.

Keep in touch with colleagues even after your working relationship ends. This is a great way to build a deep and meaningful network that will set you up for the rest of your career.

7. Patience is a virtue

As a new graduate, give yourself the gift of time. You’re probably not going to be an overnight success, – no matter what some people make it look like on social media. If you’re like most people, you are going to start from the bottom and that’s okay. Put your pride aside and realise that this is just a starting point. As you build your career, you will face varying degrees of setbacks, and your level of resilience is what will help you get through these times and come out better on the other side.

Accept that sometimes delays are likely in a variety of situations but practising patience with yourself will ultimately increase your capacity to achieve long term success.

8. Seek out a mentor

It is never too early to have a mentor, but it is important to remember that true mentorship, like friendship, is a two-way street, you also need to do your part, do the work it takes to maintain the relationship. There are also no rules on who can be your mentor. Peers make great mentors too because they are in the trenches with you and may have skills you wish to learn. So no pressure to seek out a CEO or Director to mentor you.

Mentors can help you avoid the frustrations and mistakes they made and get to the desired outcomes faster. This is because they’ve been where you are and they know what it takes. Finding the right mentors takes time.

9. You don’t have to “fake it till you make it”

Chill out! Nobody expects you to know everything about your job as a new graduate and faking it isn’t going to cut it. Instead of trying to pretend you know more than you do, you can actually get to know more than you do by acknowledging the skills and experiences your colleagues have. Ask questions often, try your hand at new projects, practice more to actually be good at your job.

Get all the advice and guidance you need early on in your career and expose yourself to environments that push you out of your comfort zone.

10. You want to be a part of the Shortlist community! 😀

At Shortlist, we are passionate about unlocking professional potential. From bi-weekly newsletters to career coaching and career success modules. We provide you with resources to help you kickstart your career and guide you on your professional journey. Check out some of the candidate features and resources available to you as a member of the shortlist community.

•  Looking to spruce up your resume? Check out our CV builder that will help you create one that clearly showcases your skills and achievements to a potential employer. Sign up to create yours today.
• Career Coaching: Looking to discover your strengths and find some guidance on your career? Sign up for coaching sessions on our career coaching app CoffeeChat
• Not sure what career path is right for you or are you looking to switch paths? Check out our Career Success Modules. Designed to help you as a graduate kickstart your career exploration journey. You will have different modules to guide you on a self-discovery journey with personality assessments. You will also determine paths you could explore based on your interests and strengths.
• Are you increasingly coming across job applications that require you to take competency-based assessments? We have resources to help you get a feel of these assessments and practice beforehand. Create your profile and check these out.
• We go a step further to keep you informed with up-to-date job opportunities. You also get professional development content and any career-related events that are happening in your area. We also give you a weekly dose of Monday motivation to kickstart your week with a bang!

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What are some of the things you wish you knew as a graduate? Share with us on our Twitter handle with the hashtag  #RisewithShortlist.