On the couch with the Chairman : Face-to-face Interviews versus Phone/Skype Interview

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Face-to-face interviews versus phone/Skype interview Both have their advantages – the key is to be prepared for either scenario – that is, do your research and have key questions ready when it’s your turn to ask.   Pros for phones or Skype interviews: Why? You can’t attend a face to face interview due to time …

Good vs Bad Bosses – How Do You Tell the Difference?

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It’s no secret that “People don’t leave jobs they leave managers” according to Gallup’s Chief Scientist of Workplace Management and Well-Being. At least 75% of the reason people quit is influenced by their manager. A boss who you respect as well as one who respects you will help create a happy environment where you will thrive. If you are going to have a positive working relationship with your manager is a big consideration when deciding whether to accept a job offer.

The ideal is a boss who motivates you and gives you consistent feedback, allowing you to improve. If you need help assessing whether the person interviewing you is a boss you WANT to work for – here’s what to check 

One of the most important things to check are their references. This is easily done through reaching out to the previous employees from the organisation on sites such as LinkedIn. This way, you are able to find out about their experience working for that individual as well as the company as a whole. This is a better idea than reaching out to current employees – rather reach out to those who no longer have strings attached. You can also look on company review sites such as Glass Door, to get a feel for the company. Similarly, you can do a social media search through taking a look at the company Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to see whether they post regular and engaging content. This will give you a feel for the company environment and allow you to judge whether you can see yourself working there.

Moreover, remember that interviewing is a two-way street, so a useful approach is to ask your own interview questions. Ask about management and working styles, so you can find out if the company shares the same values as you. If you find that their working style differs to yours, have a conversation with your potential boss exploring new ways to work that suit both of you. Their response will give you a good indication of whether this would be the right boss and company for you. If you connect early this will also allow you to eliminate any unnecessary stress.

 

Making your interview less trick and more treat this Halloween

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Here at Media Contacts, we understand how frightening the interview process can be, and if the pressure is starting to freak you out, try not to panic. We’ve come up with a list of ways to make your interview less trick and more treat this Halloween.

  • Arrive on time – There is a certain balance here as you must never be late for an interview, however, try not to arrive more than 5-10 minutes early to your interview. If you are running late due to transport issues, always make sure to phone the interviewer in advance and apologise.
  • Read the job specification – One of the best ways to make a great first impression and to really sell yourself in an interview is to highlight your experience and how its fits with specific aspects of the job description. This shows them that you are what they are looking for and can solve problems they may have effectively.
  • Research the company – Always be prepared and research the company including their achievements, any special events that have taken place, their social media pages as well as your specific job role and the tasks you’re particularly interested in doing. This shows a keen interest in the company and the effort you’ve put into research aspects other candidates may not have taken the time to do. You can also go into more depth and research news about them and what their competitors are up to, giving suggestions on ways to move forward in the future.
  • Prepare questions to ask – Don’t get spooked at the end of the interview when you’re asked if you have any questions. Ensure you have some prepared beforehand.
  • Get clothes ready in advance – We bet you didn’t know that according to a recent survey 33% of hiring managers knew whether they would hire someone in the first 90 seconds. Therefore, it goes without saying that first impressions are very important.
  • Smile and maintain eye contact – Don’t show your fear to the interviewer! Always show confidence by making eye contact throughout the interview, they want someone who isn’t spooked out by talking to people!
  • Never lie – Interviewers will know if you’re lying, so don’t make anything up to try and seem smart – as when they probe you with questions that you can’t answer correctly, you’ll be in for a fright!
  • Prepare your answers to common questions – Use your experience from previous interviews to help with your preparation. Its highly likely that you will be asked common questions such as ‘give examples of when you were faced with a challenge and how you overcame this’ and also about your strengths and weaknesses and why you would be suitable for the job, so make sure you have answers well memorised for these questions.

How to get over the post-summer blues

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So summer’s over, you are back at work with a fading tan, feeling gloomy as the nights draw in. This can make getting out of bed to get to work the morning harder. Don’t worry, you’re not the only one and we completely feel your pain! We have come up with a list of ways that you can use to stay upbeat at work this autumn.

  1. Book next year’s holiday – Give yourself something to look forward to by booking next year’s holiday early. You can bag the dates you want before your colleagues and get the best travel deals by booking early.
  2. Give yourself a winter break – You don’t have to wait a whole year to have another holiday, why not give yourself a treat this winter and escape to a log cabin for a long weekend?
  3. Reassess your job – It might not be the weather that’s the only thing getting you down, maybe it’s your job that’s the problem. You may need to look at your current employment situation and ask yourself if you’re achieving everything you want to. If you find that it is your job getting you down, you’ve raised the subject with your boss and had no joy, now is the perfect time to job hunt. If you leave it until January a lot of the best jobs will have been filled already and the competition will be stiffer.
  4. Exercise – Get outside for a walk or a run through the autumn leaves and feel those exercise induced endorphins kick in. It’s amazing the difference it makes, keeping you cheerful even whilst sitting in yet another meeting.
  5. Get inspired – Hopefully you already have an inspirational boss at work, but you can also find inspiration elsewhere. It can be easy to slow down when the winter months hit, so to ensure you don’t stop altogether, make a list of things that inspire you or things you want to achieve. You might also include searching for people who inspire you professionally on sites such as LinkedIn, to see how they got to where they are now and read their success stories online.

 

5 Ways to Make Friends at Work

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  1. Introducing yourself – This may seem obvious, but being the first to introduce yourself, gives a great first impression of a friendly and approachable personality, instantly making the other worker feel they can easily strike up a conversation with you.
  2. Showing an interest/small talk – This again may feel like an obvious one, but engaging with small talk, asking questions and showing a genuine interest in your colleague’s life can go a long way. You may find that you have a lot in common and similar interests.
  3. Going for lunch – Lunchtime is the perfect time to get to know a fellow colleague, asking if they want to go for lunch with you instantly makes them feel included and part of a team.
  4. After work drinks – This is also another great way to get to know your colleagues in a more relaxed and informal environment. You’ll be amazed at the stories you’ll hear!
  5. Local events – Similarly, have a look to see if there are any events taking place near to your office. This could be as simple as a film showing at a local cinema, a comedy night at a local pub or a BBQ in the park to bring workers together to know each other.