Five things you should never do at a group interview

Five things you should never do at a group interview by Amber Rolfe Group interviews can be pretty stressful…  When you’re not the only one in the room, working out what the interviewer actually wants from you may seem even tougher than usual. Not only do you have to prepare for a new format (cue: group interview questions, role plays, and activities), you’ve also got to factor in the competition.So what’s the best way to stand out, and what should you avoid doing?We’ve already covered group interview dos and don’ts, but here are a few more things you should never do at a group interview:  Forget you’re always being assessedIn almost all group assessment situations, your interview starts as soon as you enter the building. And you know what they say about first impressions…Many employers will even ask other members of the business (including the receptionist) for feedback on how all the interviewees did on arrival â€" so take the introductory stage as an opportunity to give yourself a head-start.After all, your initial interactions with both your fellow interviewees, and the organisation’s current employees could make or break your chances.And, making sure you’re positive, friendly, and polite at all times won’t just demonstrate your suitability. It’ll also prove that your personable behaviour isn’t fake from the outset.Make comments that have no real meaningIn an attempt to contribute as much as possible, it’s tempting to say absolutely anything just to get your voice heard. But remember: what you say is more important than how much you talk.Take the time to think before you speak, and most importantly, have confidence in the point you’re making.After all, if your answer is filled with ‘maybes’ ‘probablys’ and ‘sorrys’, you’re unlikely to convince yourself of what you’re saying, let alone a room full of people.Similarly, answering any question with a rehearsed stock response will do everything but help you stand out. So instead of making sure you’re always first to speak, come up with answers that’ll actually impress the interviewer, and make you a memorable candidate.    Be judgmentalSilent judgments (see also: rude glares and snide remarks) have no place in a group interview. So when it comes to interacting with other interviewees, always play fair.Instead of letting the competitive nature of the interview take over, working with your fellow interviewees instead of against them is far more likely to win you points.After all, group interviews are often designed to test your ability to get along well with others and work in a team, and putting your fellow interviewees down to get to the top definitely isn’t the way to do that â€" no matter how subtle you think you’re being.And, in the interviewer’s eyes, the best candidates won’t need to feel superior to others to make their skills known.Copy everyone elseNo matter how well you think the other candidates are doing, copying their responses, tactics, or attitude won’t get y ou anywhere â€" for two main reasons.Firstly, it won’t make you unique or memorable. And secondly, they might not be doing as well as you think.For example, you might see someone who’s overly confident, loud, and is showing ‘good’ leadership skills. But even if you feel like they’re impressing enough to get the job, the interviewer might see it differently.Instead, use your own skills, experience, and personality to your advantage â€" and stand out in a way that’s different to everyone else. Icebreaker scenarios in particular are a great way to show your individuality â€" so always think of a few distinctive things to say about yourself beforehand.  Refuse to take criticismRemember: you’re not always right (despite how much as it may seem at the time).Group interview situations are no different. And taking all feedback and criticism on board is vital to showing you can listen, improve, and understand other peoples’ points of view.Letting other candidates speak up won ’t damage your chances of being considered (it will more than likely improve them), and neither will being wrong â€"as long as you don’t react with a defensive argument and/or sulk.If you feel strongly about something, backing your points up with good reasoning will help to boost your case â€" but no matter what, always take everything else into account first.Because no one wants to employ someone that can’t take a little criticism on board…If you’re still not sure what to expect, read our guide on how to answer group interview questions.  Still looking for your perfect position? 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Executive Summary Resume Example - What Is The Best Example To Use?

Executive Summary Resume Example - What Is The Best Example To Use?If you have ever written a resume, then you have probably come across the phrase 'executive summary resume' at one time or another. This particular type of resume is designed to summarize the job you are applying for in just a few pages. Most of the time, this will be done by simply summarizing your entire qualifications, but sometimes it can take more detail and effort to do so.This is because there are several different ways that this type of resume can be written. While you can find a number of templates and samples online, many times these will not be the best examples to use when writing your own.The best way to start with your executive summary resume is to simply look through all of the sample resumes you can find online. You may find that there are other factors to consider when writing a resume, such as how you address each section or how you start each paragraph. You will probably discover that these tips an d tricks can also be helpful in coming up with the best executive summary resume for your own needs.Another tip that will help you in coming up with the most effective executive summary resume is to think about the exact manner that the potential employer will read your resume. Often times, this can be slightly different than when someone who is reading through a traditional resume would read it. One way to make sure that you can come up with the best summary is to ensure that you list each section in order of importance and end your resume on a strong note.It is also very important to remember that when you are creating an executive summary resume, you need to make sure that you keep it simple. There is no need to go overboard with your details. This means that if you have been hired as a social media manager, for example, you should refrain from including an impressive amount of detail in your description of what you did before your current job.You also want to make sure that you avoid the temptation to write an executive summary resume by listing the sections in a confusing way. For example, instead of listing each job you have held, try to list each job you worked on. If you have worked in sales before, instead of listing sales as a job that you worked on before you became a social media manager, consider listing sales as a different job.As long as you avoid using a more detailed outline than what is available, you will likely be able to come up with a good template to use on your own personal example. This is also a great method to use if you don't have a lot of experience with writing a resume. The key is to create a resume that is as easy to read as possible, but you do need to make sure that you do not end up making it seem too long.As you can see, there are a few tips that you can use when creating your executive summary resume, but remember that there is no hard and fast rule. Rather, use the above examples as a starting point and begin to add your o wn unique flair to the document that you are creating.

Beat Stress and Be a Happier Person - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Beat Stress and Be a Happier Person - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Many things in your life can cause your stress levels increase. Especially unexpected events at work or in your personal life make changes in your body and when your body try to make adjustments, stress happens. Unfortunately, stress has many side effects such as upset stomach, headache, exhaustion, sleeping problems and many more. Although some stress is necessary in your life to stay alert, you need to keep it in a lower level in order to prevent health issues. Therefore, you need to manage your stress levels and below you can find some helpful tips for it. Talk About Your Problems: Don’t keep your problems only to yourself. If you endure in silence and try to suppress your problems within yourself, then, you can get exhausted psychologically. Talking about your problems with others can make you calm down and see everything from a different point of view. Other people may have different perspectives on issues which you never think of before so you can be enlightened about new solutions. If you cannot talk with the people you know about your problems, then, try talking to a complete stranger. Think this as a therapy session or you can go to a psychologist to get more professional help. Get Moving: Exercise or go outside and spend some quality time with your friends and family. Especially during summer days, being outside will help you refresh your body and mind so you will feel much more relaxed. When you do an activity outside, your creativity level increases plus you take a break from your status quo and this improves your overall well-being. Especially, finding a hobby that you can do outside with other people is a great way to push away stress and boost happiness. This hobby can be joining an exercise group, drawing, cooking, gardening, hiking or etc. Take Control of Your Life: Most people work hard and some work very long hours but every once in a while, you need to take a break from this life and do something for yourself. Whether you go for a vacation or change your work style or even change your job completely, you need to take control of your life and lower your stress levels in order to maintain your health. Also, try to get rid of the negative factors and negative people in your life and bring in more positivity to boost happiness.

Application rejected How to combat CV failure

Application rejected How to combat CV failure Having a job application rejected can be disheartening, especially when you know youre plenty qualified for the role.  But the most likely reason for this is that your CV didnt grab the recruiter’s attention. By taking some time to strengthen your CV, you’ll stand a better chance of securing an interview next time. Andrew Fennell, founder of StandOut CV  describes how you can review and improve your CV, so you can boost your application and increase your chances of success. Assess your goals and CV Obviously, youre looking to secure an interview (and hopefully the job!) but you also need to put some real thought into what your goals are in terms of the role you want. For example, if youre hoping to secure a job in an accountancy firm that offers room for growth, does your CV reflect this? If the answer is no then you need to re-assess your CV and cover letter to ensure they clearly outline your career goals. Make your CV easier to read When writing a CV, the temptation can be to try a quirky design or to stuff every inch of the page with facts about you.  The reality is that you want your CV to look neat and be easy for recruiters to read. Otherwise, it’ll quickly end up in the ‘rejected’ pile. In order to make your CV easier to read, start by choosing a clear font and make sure it’s not too small. Next, ensure it’s broken down into the appropriate sections: profile, education, experience and so on. Smaller paragraphs make it far easier for the recruiter to digest the information.  It’s also a good idea to use bullet points where appropriate. Re-focus your CV profile Your profile is one of the most important parts of your CV. It’s the first thing that recruiters read, so it needs to grab their attention.  If your profile is generic, unfocused or packed with clichés, they certainly arent going to put your forward for an interview. Spend some time editing your profile so that it includes the specific requirements the employer is looking for. This helps the employer to quickly recognize that youre a good match for the role.  For example, if they have specified that you need a relevant degree, be sure to mention your that degree in your profile. It’s also a good idea to take keywords directly from the job description and pepper these throughout your profile. Remove irrelevant info While you might want to wow the recruiter with all the part-time jobs you’ve had and extracurricular activities you’ve been part of, you need to make sure these are relevant. Packing your CV full of useless information is going to damage your chances. Review what you have included and ask yourself ‘is this really relevant to the role, company and industry I’m applying for?’  Take out any irrelevant information to make room for skills that match your target roles. Try different job search channels Another reason you may have been rejected is that youre simply not looking for the right jobs in the right places.  To increase your chances of having your application accepted, try out new job search channels.  These could include networking sites like LinkedIn, employer review sites, company careers pages and particularly niche jobs boards, such as those aimed at graduates. If you’ve had a job application rejected, it’s time that you reviewed your CV. By spending some time perfecting your personal profile, ensuring that your CV is clearly laid out and that you only include relevant information, you’ll drastically increase your chances of landing an interview. Andrew Fennell is the founder of CV writing advice website StandOut CV â€" he is a former recruitment consultant and contributes careers advice to websites like Business Insider, The Guardian and FastCompany.

Writing an Engineering Resume For College Student

Writing an Engineering Resume For College StudentWriting engineering resume for college students can be complicated. Students just starting out in their careers may not know how to write resumes, and if they do, it is often badly. This is where the job market becomes very competitive as it is harder to get a job with little experience and even less so with some.Engineering schools offer many career training programs that are designed to help you with your career. If you are a young student just starting out, you should take advantage of these opportunities and look into what your options are.A number of engineering degrees focus on software. Your degree may have a field of study that allows you to specialize in a particular aspect of software development, or you may choose to go the distance and specialize in a completely different aspect of software development. The best way to choose the engineering degree program that fits you best is to talk to an advisor in the engineering depar tment at your college.Another important aspect to your resume is to state your professional goals. How long are you planning to stay in your current position? What are you planning to do after graduation?Writing engineering resume for college students often involves a lot of information about your course work, and a good way to get your data in order is to list your major in the first page of your resume. You can then move on to your specific course work in the second or third page.At the end of your resume, you should include a bullet point summary of each section and a section summary, as well as a work history or timeline. This will give you a better idea of what you want to include in your resume.It is important that you keep your job applications organized, so that the prospective employer can see that you are prepared for your work history. Write the words 'engineering resume for college student' on the cover of your application form, and you will show that you are organized a nd know how to properly prepare your application.By following these tips, you will be able to write a good engineering resume for college student. Start today by looking at college engineering schools and make sure that they offer courses specifically designed for college students.

SUMMARY SUNDAY Always Make The Best First Impression

SUMMARY SUNDAY Always Make The Best First Impression No matter where you are in your career or job search, you always want to make the best first impression! From your email messages to your first day at a new job, first impressions are lasting impressions! Sometimes the best first impression isnt about your appearance but based on what you write or say. In todays busy and connected world, your first impression may be in the message you send on LinkedIn or the email you hastily send from your phone. Everything you say and do during your job search and early in the job is being scrutinized. This weeks articles will help you be more aware of how you communicate while networking and in an interview. Youll also find tips to help you fight ageism. Youll also be interested to see a running list of states and cities that have made it illegal to ask how much you made in your previous job! NEW JOB How to Answer Tricky Personal Questions at a New Job by Allie Volpe | The New York Times Your new co-workers want to learn more about you and have lots of questions- some very personal. How will you answer questions like, when did you graduate or are you seeing anyone and others?   Your first impression is a lasting impression so you want to be very aware of what information you choose to divulge during those first few months. OLDER JOB SEEKER An Inspirational Reminder That Youre Never Too Old to Change Careers by Stav Ziv | The Muse If you love something and you’re willing to put in the work and meet the standards of excellence in an ethical way, why should age ever matter?   This is my favorite line by Charlotte Clymer, press secretary at the Human Rights Campaign.   The Muse featured Clymers recently posted Twitter thread that went viral. See more wise words she shares about ageism. JOB SEARCH 6 Expressions To Avoid When Asking For a Referral by Judith Humphrey | Fast Company You know you should be networking, but how you request a meeting or ask questions makes all the difference. People are usually willing to help you with your job search, but you have to ask the right questions. Dont ask these! EVER! 8 Things To Evaluate Before You Say Yes To A Job by Career Sherpa.net Dont wait until the first day on the job to evaluate your new manager or company culture. These are 8 things you want to assess before you take a new job. NETWORKING How To Introduce People: Two Rules For Better Networking by David Burkus | David Burkus Introducing people in your network is a great strategy! Its kind of fun to serve as a match-maker. But, there is a right way and some wrong ways to do this. See what they are! (The video in the article is only 4 minutes and worth your time!) LINKEDIN The LinkedIn Green Dot â€" A Job Seeker’s New Best Friend by Donna Svei | Avid Careerist A lot of you have asked what that green dot means next to a persons photo on LinkedIn. This post explains what it means and why it can help with your job search! 4 Expert Tips For Writing a LinkedIn Message That Will Actually Get Read by Allana Akhtar | Business Insider Follow this advice when reaching out to someone on LinkedIn or even through email. These are classic tips youll want to use. And one reminder everyone uses email. Not everyone uses LinkedIn regularly. If your LinkedIn message gets ignored, try emailing the person. 5 LinkedIn Tips to Help Your Finish the Year on a High Note by Wayne Breitbarth, PowerFormula | YouTern Using any of these 5 tips will help reinvigorate the quality of your LinkedIn experience. All are available to those that use the free version. JOB INTERVIEWS Salary History Bans by HRDive Did you know that in some areas of the US, it is illegal to ask how much you made at your last employer? There are 17 State-wide Bans and 18 Local Bans. This is a running list of states and localities that have outlawed pay history questions. WORKFORCE TRENDS Increase in Remote Work Since 2005: FlexJobs Global Workplace Analytics Report by FlexJobs Here are just a few of the top stats from this new report: Since 2005 remote work has grown 159% 3.4% of the total U.S. workforce is remote workers Over the last five years, remote work growth is 44% 4.7 million US people currently telecommute, up from 3.9 million in 2015 JOB SEARCH WISDOM

Cooking Up A Career In High End Catering - Margaret Buj - Interview Coach

Cooking Up A Career In High End Catering If its been your lifelong dream to get a Michelin star, be as well regarded as Michel Roux Jr, or work in some of the tops restaurants like Chez Bruce in London, then a career in high-end catering is certainly for you. But just how can you get into this varied and exciting line of work? Read on to find out. Formal Training One way of getting into the world of high-end catering is by going down the education route. This is where you study the art of high-end catering, ensuring that you have the perfect foundation to cook in some of the top restaurants in the country. The usual route for this is to have some experiences in either the form of a chef qualification from school or college or time spent as working chef in a local eatery. Then with this experience, you can apply to some of the top education catering institutions in the UK like the world famous Cordon Bleu and Leiths School of Food Wine. Having a qualification from this sort of school behind you can be very advantageous when looking for a career post in high-end catering because they come with a lot of kudos. So your potential employer will know that you have trained to the best level possible and can be relied on during service to maintain the high standards that are expected in this field. That is why if you are aiming to cook up a career in the high-end food you can do no better than to attend a well-respected catering institution. Work your way up Another way to get into cooking at some of the most well established and well-regarded restaurants in the country is to start at the bottom and work your way up. OK, so peeling the vegetables and crushing those 50 garlic bulbs for the head chef might not be the most glamorous of tasks, but there is definitely something to be said for getting into the industry this way. The first thing is that no one can deny you have done you time and got your experience of every part of the kitchen. This often means that you are a better head chef, or owner when you reach that position because you know exactly what its like for every single person in the kitchen. Another advantage of taking this route is that you get plenty of time to practice the skills you need over and over again. Meaning when you do start to take on a role with more responsibility you are confident and capable during that all important meal time rush. As there is nothing worse than a chef that gets flustered when doing the simple things that service requires. Of course, the downside to this route is that it can take a while to progress up the ranks to the position that you want. As many that go into food as a career are interested in being creative and coming up with their own recipes, it can be hard for them to have to put this on hold and follow other instructions until they get their promotion. Although, having, said that working your way up from basic position like kitchen hand or porter is a great way for those without qualifications to get into the high-end catering game.