It’s not just a song lyric. It’s the reason you applied in the first place.  When do you discuss money, how do you work out what the hourly rate is, minus tax, plus super, including bonuses?

Negotiating the salary and associated benefits is tough (isn’t everything).  So do a little research before going to the job interview, if you are considering a corporate job in administration, management, IT, Accounting, Marketing and the like a good place to start is Hudson Salary Guides, if you are looking at a retail or trades role check out other similar companies and their going rate.

“Ring Ring! Honey its for you… some dude … names Tony, hey thats not your new boyfriend is it?”.  Really, how do you recover from a bad first impression in a telephone interview?

The hardest job of them all is waiting… waiting and wondering… did you get it or didnt you… can I go on with my life like nothing happened (with a knife through the heart) or am I going to be donning my new outfit (because you have to treat yourself) and turning up for a brand new job.

Yes first impressions count.. but not many people tell you that so do last impressions!  In interview one of the worst things that you can do is get up and say “well it was lovely meeting you all, good bye”  why? Because no matter how good or bad you did in the interview (or think you did), you need to close the deal!

What is an interviewer really looking for when they ask ”tell me about yourself?”  Do they want to know the in’s and out’s of your marriage problems or that your mothers angry with you for not calling – of course not!

One of the intersting things that I have noticed about interviews is that they are all different, no matter if the same panel members do all the interviews and all ask the same questions… each one is individual.  Nervousness is definately a given, even I (yes I know its surprising) get the jitters every now and then – it how you deal with it that matters.

In a interview that I have recently had the opportunity to sit on the selection panel, the one applicant that we had all agreed was perfect on paper and basically had it in the bag, floundered badly and was so nervous that she could not answer the questions, she just clammed up and shook uncontrollably.  Although the panel treated her with kid gloves and tried to make it easier for her she failed simply because the role she was interviewing for was one in which you had to be able to keep your cool – in all situations.

First impressions count! No really, you might think that I am repeating the obvious, but they really really count!

One of the most important things to remember is that most interviewers have already chosen who they think is the best person based on the paper work the interview can and will change their minds.  Some people who have come across as confident on paper totally lose it in a face to face interview situation, especially if there are 3 or more panel members.

Why do businesses like panel interviews, well its to get more than one perspective of course, however its more likely that the panel will all agree on the same person, they all see the same answers to the same questions, it would be more effective if they each individually interviewed each applicant, but this takes time and many businesses dont see the benefit of spending time in the interview process. 

In any interview there is likely to be two people sitting in a room discussing a business or a role, yes one person will have more information about the business than the other, especially if that person is employed in the business.  This makes that person more self assured than the other because they “know” things and they have the benefit of being in the power position, however even the most self assured interviewer who knows it all is still a human being with the same self doubts, insecurities and worries as everyone else in this world.

If your whole future rests on this one interview, I could understand you being nervous.  If you were only this once able to apply for this one job and you will never get the opportunity to ever apply for this one and only PERFECT job, I would understand.  But I have to say that to get sooo worked up about one job opportunity when there are many, many, many other opportunities out there is actually just distracting.

If you find your self shaking in your boots and terrified of attending the interview, take a couple (more if you have to) of really big deep breaths and remember that this is just practice for the next one.  If you can tell yourself that this one doesnt matter that much and the next one is the one that you really have to worry about, then it lessens the impact.

Quick its time to start to panic… Im sure your very happy that you got through that last stage but OMG you now have to go and actually speak to someone!  Its enough to make you turn and run!

In a word… YES!  But what is the best way to write your resume, do you aim to stand out from the crowd or do you hope your wonderful skills will shine through?

One of the most important letters you will ever write in your life… where do you start… Eeek!!  You know you have to do it but how should it be written, structured and signed.

Applications are tough.  They ask many questions and some even try to get you to answer tests to gather psychometric information on you.  Many big business make you fill out forms prior to looking at your resume.

Some business use psychometric tests to gain a better understanding of what makes you tick.  They are looking for qualities and traits that may not be evident in interview.  I personally believe that these tests dont really prove much at all.  As with most other areas in recruitment, if you are switched on enough you can probably bluff your way through these tests, as most people would answer the way they think the business wants them to. 

I cannot believe that many people would answer yes to questions such as I find it hard to fit in with others, or I seem to get into constant arguments at work, I mean REALLY would you say yes?? If you do, please, please, please call me to discuss… no dont argue with me .. do it NOW !!

Businesses may also ask you to fill in an application to ensure that they have similar information for all the candidates.  Target for example have a recruitment application form on their website that you need to fill in prior to applying in person at their store.  The information gathered on this form covers most of the information you should have on your resume, however I would still provide a resume with the application form.

This brings us to the question of spin doctoring… no its not lying or fibbing, you really shouldnt do that, however putting a little bit of spin on your answers is a good idea.  Dont worry that all your previous work history has to be on the form, put the most appropriate qualities, for example if you are applying for a role at Target as a customer service assistant and you have had similar experience in this area but it was some years ago, put that experience in over the most recent job that may have been working as a plumbing apprentice.  The business probably wont really care that you have had your hands down people’s toilets for the last two years but they will be intersted if you worked at Kmart for 3 years, 10 years ago in a similar role.

What about gaps?  So you have been out of paid employment for the last 5 years, recently a good friend of mine stated she would never tell a potential employer that she was a mum.  I was flabbergasted, why not??  They look down on you and they think you wont be there when your needed she said.  Well I can tell you as someone who has interviewed mums in the past, this never entered my mind, in fact when a woman comes into an interview with me and looks me in the eye and says “I am a mum of three wonderful children who are all at school and I have spent the last 5 years giving them all that I can to reach this point and now I am ready to reenter the workforce, I love my children dearly but now I have to do something for me.”  I believe her.. wouldnt you?  I would say good on you, congratulations on your children and hopefully you can work as well for me as you have with them.  It takes a special person to look after children – yours or others – and it always amazes me that someone could think that bringing up children doesnt give you a whole lot of new skills to add to your portfolio.

Don’t worry about the gaps in your resume, I don’t know many people who sit and look that intently at the resume that they count the years, they really only look at the experience and the depth of it.  If your really worried, consider some retraining, look at some short courses and get back into the industry by attending seminars or conferences in your chosen industry.  This will be a great way to explain that yes you have been busy working at home for the last few years but you have recently attended training to bring your skills back up to standard and are now ready to put them to use.

Ok so you know you have to go back to work and you have worked out your skill set, how do you get THAT job? You know the one that suits you down to the ground!

Well interestingly, no matter what the job is, no matter where the job is there are certain tips and tricks that can help.

Most importantly the best way to get the job that you want is to understand what the actual position entails.  The right way to go about this is to investigate and research as much as you can prior to making any applications.  Most businesses have websites these days, get online and find out the local business names for the industry you are interested in.  Don’t think that you have to be in the city centre to make the $$.   You might be interested to know that the companies in the suburbs pay just as well as the companies in the city, sometimes better.   I would personally prefer to work closer to home and lose a few $ than to compete with 30,000 other people trying to get to work at the same time and relying on public transport.

Check out  all you can about these companies, some even have employment opportunities on their website.  Search on Seek or MyCareer for positions in the areas that you are intersted in, ring the companies that do have adverts and ask for  a copy of the position description.

If you are looking for a trade position or a role in a retail store, call the company or drop into the store and ask the existing staff for assistance.  Tell them that you are intersted in a role in the industry and ask them how they got employed and what opportunities might be available and always ask if they know of any openings in the store in the near future and/or if they know of other opportunities in other businesses in the same industry.  As I stated before it is always good to get information directly from the industry you are intersted and better yet someone working in that industry.

Check with friends – you might be surprised about who they know and what they know about the company you want to work in.

Quite obviously before you can consider applying for any role, you need to know your strengths and weaknesses.  It not much use applying to become a Manager of the local supermarket if you have not have any experience in supermarkets in the past.

As a person who has been on the receiving end of over three hundred job applications for one job, I can tell you that applicants that do not have any experience are the first ones in the bin.  If you are applying for a role that you have no experience in consider why you are doing this.

The first step is to consider what you are good at and enjoy, if your not sure or cant make up your mind ask those people that you are close to, ask them to give you an honest opinion of what skills they think you have, be careful and pick those people very carefully, it might be best to ask someone neutral.

Personally I can not understand how people go to work each day doing a job that they hate.

Obviously it is easier to work in an area that intersts you – you don’t have to be an expert to get there, sure if you really want to be a brain surgeon then there might be problems but if you love working in your garden consider applying at the local nursery, or if you enjoy painting look for a role with kids holiday programs.  If you love cooking maybe a tea house would be a wonderful place to show off your skills.

The important thing is that you are applying for something that you enjoy doing.

Anyone who has recently considering looking for work knows that it’s daunting, it’s scary and i’ts down right terrifying to put yourself out there.

The fear of failure and rejection puts many people off even trying to knock on doors and even if you do get enough gumption to try there’s that horrible little devil who sits behind you whispering about how you are no good and you will never be able to do what the job entails anyway.

Why do you even bother!!

Well if your anything like me it’s because you have to… theres the mortgage to pay and kids to educate, food to put on the table and insurances to pay and with your kids begging to go to Queensland to ride the wonderful slides and see the dolphins etc etc etc…. Sound familiar??

I am writing this series of informative blogs not as an employer or as a recruitment agent but as someone who has attended their fair share of interviews and who has worked out the process that best suits me… will this suit you… who knows!  Your not me - however, I believe that I have picked up a couple of tips and tricks along the way.  

Most businesses try a number of different ways to pick the best person they think will suit their organisation, these might include employing recruitment agencies, different testing programs and selection processes, but really it is a just a popularity contest.  If you know the right things to say and say them in the right way and present yourself properly and do your homework you should stand as good a chance as the “best” person for the job.  You dont have to know all the right answers to their questions you just need to answer them in the right way.

In the  next couple of blogs I hope you can find some information that you can use to tread through this minefield and come out the other side a little less weary and hopefully with that job you do want.

Good luck