CVs, covering letters and application forms

The majority of companies have moved away from receiving CVs in favour of their own application forms. This is primarily to encourage candidates to complete a specific application in response to the company’s requirements. (This does not always work, as some candidates still copy and paste responses from one application to another, sometimes without even changing the company’s name.)

Companies often find the standard of applications received is better with the use of their own application form. Previously students would not think about the specific role requirements and would send the same CV to several companies in the hope that one would invite them for an interview. The application form in most cases forces students to match their strengths to the requirements of the role they are applying for.

The CV is still an acceptable form of applying for some roles, but also serves as a very useful marketing tool for undergraduates. It encourages students to evaluate their skills in relation to their specific discipline, extracurricular activities and current part-time work and analyse what skills they have developed. Often students feel they have very little to offer, but if you complete the following exercise you will find that throughout your time at university you will have developed a range of skills.

Draw up a table like the one above and see what skills you have developed. Use this information to build your CV.

Formatting your CV

A standard CV is two pages in length and contains the following:

• personal details
• contact details
• profile
• educational institution and qualifications (including grades achieved and dates attended)
• work experience in chronological order
• voluntary and extracurricular activities, highlighting achievements
• hobbies and interests.

Here is a good CV checklist:

• Name
• Home and term-time address
• Email
• Mobile
• Profile
• Qualifications listed in chronological order (most recent first)
• Institutions listed
• Dates attended
• Relevant subjects
• Dissertation topic
• Work experience listed in chronological order with summary of duties
• Summary of relevant skills and levels attained
• Summary of key achievements
• Summary of interests.

The table below shows how not to write your CV.

Voicemail message

When applying for roles, remove any joke voicemails and record a standard message asking the caller to leave their name and contact number. The use of music, jokes or funny phrases should be avoided.

Answering your phone

When answering your phone, be professional as you never know what opportunity lies on the other end of the line. A badly answered call indicates to a potential employer that you lack customer service skills. Is this how you will answer the phone to their clients?

Qualifications

List your qualifications in chronological order, stating the institution from which you gained the qualification, the date and the grade. Qualifications should be listed with the most recent first. Ensure accuracy in this section as employers will want to see certificates supporting your qualifications.

How to prepare for pre-employment screening

Companies use pre-employment screening to verify the information provided by a candidate when applying for or being offered a job. This ensures there has been complete honesty and full disclosure from the candidates at an early stage of the recruitment process, which substantially reduces the risk of a company investing time and financial resources in an inappropriate hire.

When applying for graduate roles, candidates should:

• provide correct identification details which can be supported with a valid passport or driving licence
• ensure all qualifications can be verified by the institution from which they were attained
• declare any criminal offences, where relevant to the role
• ensure all previous employment information and references are accurate and true.

There is a wide range of checks available, from previous employment reference, credit and criminal record checks, right the way through to international referencing, educational qualification checks, directorship searches and identity verification. These checks can be applied on a selected basis, depending on the requirements of the hiring company, type of position the candidate is applying for and the level of risk that the candidate will have in their new role.

With more and more businesses realising the importance of background screening and crucially the potential impact of not screening a new candidate effectively, it is almost certain that candidates will experience some form of pre-employment screening.

Rupert Emson, Vero Screening

Writing a profile

The profile is a summary of your brilliance. You will need to highlight your achievements, strengths and key skills. Remember to review the skills required for the role you are applying for and ensure you make reference to these skills here. An employer should read this statement and think WOW! This is where I would encourage you to blow your own trumpet.

Here is a profile checklist:

• The profile should be no more than six to eight lines.
• The first sentence should be a strapline which summarises your key skills and achievements.
• Use action verbs which suggest efficiency and effectiveness, such as managed, delivered, achieved, etc.
• Avoid overused common terms such as communication and teamwork and instead highlight specific tasks. For instance, ‘I delivered a winning presentation’, which inherently highlights strong communication skills.
• Include details of your skills and knowhow relevant to the position with reference to your work experience.

Five top tips to make your CV stand out

Lose the anonymity and include a photo of yourself: Adding a photo to your CV is not mandatory but it does put a face to a list of skills and experience. It allows you to stand out from the pile of similar CVs that consist of only text. And believe it or not: recruiters are also people and people just like (seeing) people.

Add a personal statement: Starting off your CV with a personal statement about your strengths and goals gives it a definite boost. Similarly on Magnet.me, a strong headline will help you stand out from the rest of the generic headlines (‘Looking for a challenge’ probably being the most common). It is one of the first things a recruiter looks at and allows them to quickly identify you as a strong candidate.

Use approved templates and forget the glitter: Rather than struggling to get the layout right, just use a standard template to create your CV. It is not only much easier but also looks professional and allows you to do it quickly. You can always customise the colours and fonts to your liking but don’t go mad. Lots of colours, headers, borders and images is definitely going to make your CV stand out – but not in a positive way.

Keep it relevant: We are sorry to break it to you, but the babysitting job you took on when you were 16 is not going to help you get a job as a graduate trainee at a multinational or a lawyer at a prestigious law firm (or marketing internship at a start-up for that matter). Make sure you only include relevant things in your CV. Put the important things at the top and leave irrelevant experiences out. If you don’t, it only shows you are not able to make choices.

Describe what you accomplished, not how you accomplished it: Most CVs demonstrate a function and then go on to explain the responsibilities. However, it is obvious that as a social media manager you regularly updated the company’s Facebook and Twitter. A recruiter is much more interested in your accomplishments and impacts such as ‘I grew the Facebook community by 40%, grew our user base by 20% thanks to a Facebook campaign I set up’.

Vincent Karremans, Founder and Managing Director, Magnet.me

Voluntary and extracurricular activities

Often if students lack work experience, they can demonstrate their employability skills through their extracurricular activities. Highlight the skills relevant to the role to emphasise your suitability.

Hobbies and interests

Include a few lines about your hobbies and interests as they can make an interesting talking point.

What to do and not do when writing your CV

Be meticulous – spelling mistakes, inconsistency in dates and general errors instantly land your CV in the reject pile.

Spend the time making your CV as marketable as possible – writing a CV is not a quick task.

Don’t use the same CV for several jobs. Employers want to see how you will fit a specific role, so amend your CV to the skills required for each application.

Don’t use cheap paper – the quality and cleanliness of the paper reflect you as a person.

Covering letters

A covering letter is a brief letter that:

• tells the reader why you are writing to them
• states why they should read your CV or application
• thanks them for their time.

It should have three main paragraphs which highlight the role you are applying for, why you are interested in the role and how your strengths demonstrate the competencies outlined in the job description. The standard of your covering letter sets the tone of your application. Incorrect spellings, how it is addressed and the wording all make statements about your attention to detail and the level of effort applied to constructing the letter.

All too often companies receive letters addressed to the wrong person with silly spelling mistakes and not specifically tailored to the role being applied for. Remember that this is your marketing document and the presentation and content will be the deciding factors on whether or not a company will take your application further.

How to write a covering letter

• Use plain white photocopy paper (expensive paper is not essential as the selling point will be the format and the content).
• The length should be about one page of A4.
• Address the letter correctly. If the name is stated, use ‘Dear Miss Smith’, ending the letter with ‘Yours sincerely’. If the name is unstated, use ‘Dear Sir or Madam’ ending the letter with ‘Yours faithfully’. Where possible, find out who the letter should be addressed to as it makes it easier if you wish to follow up.
• Quote the reference for the job (if there is one).

The first paragraph should provide a strong introduction and reason for your letter. Make reference to the role you are applying for and where you found the advert. Highlight why you are interested in the role and also the company.

Review the job description and demonstrate how your skills relate to the competencies listed in the job description. Be very clear and concise on how your skills match those required. Summarise your overall strengths and why you would be an asset to the company.

In the final paragraph, state any particular dates that you will be unavailable for interview. Then thank the employer for the time spent reading your covering letter.

Yours sincerely/yours faithfully depending on who the letter is addressed to, followed by your signature and your name printed in full underneath.

Common errors with covering letters

Here are some common errors:

• Not customised to reflect the skills and competencies highlighted in the job description.
• Addressed to the wrong person.
• Silly spelling mistakes that spell checking and proofreading would have spotted.
• Not stressing the reasons for the candidate being the best person for the job.
• Too long – covering letters should be clear and concise.
• A scattergun approach, sending letters with no specific relation to role or company.

Application forms

Your application determines whether you will be successful in being selected for an interview. The form represents your first formal communication with the company, so it is important to give a good first impression. When completing online or written applications, be clear when the form needs to be submitted by as applications received after the deadline won’t be considered.

Read through the job selection criteria and the job description and map these against your skills and experience. This will enable you to clearly demonstrate your suitability. Use a wide variety of examples, both academic and non-academic. Read and answer all of the questions as an incomplete form will be rejected.

Competency-based applications will ask you to provide examples to outline when you have demonstrated the specific competency. The application will require specific examples, where you will be asked to provide details of your experience and the impact or results of your actions.

Here are some competencies that you may be required to demonstrate on your application:

• adaptability
• teamwork
• effective communication
• self-motivation and drive to succeed
• client focus
• leadership.

If you are completing a handwritten application, photocopy it first. Do several drafts before attempting to complete the actual form. Remember there is no excuse for mistakes and mis-spelt words. With online applications, you are usually able to save the form or your progress to date. Ensure that you draft your answer and read it through before submitting.

You may feel that you need to book a skills session on CVs and applications with your careers service.

Answering competence-based questions

Employers often look for candidates who can display evidence of their capabilities against key competencies as part of the application process. The competencies are based around the skills they feel are important for success in their company. This might include team-working skills, problem-solving, a particular technical ability or softer skills like communication or planning and organisation.

Most employers are very open about the competencies they look for and the first step to completing a strong application is to research them. Application forms regularly include competency-based questions so you’ll need to think about situations where you have demonstrated your skills in these areas. These examples, which might come from experiences you have had at university or elsewhere, will form the basis of your application.

Employers love to hear about examples. Your past performance is often a good guide to your future potential, but don’t just limit your examples to situations where everything went wonderfully well. Talking about an experience where things did not go quite to plan can be valuable, especially if you can show that you have learned lessons that you can apply in the future to do a better job.

The CARL acronym is a great way to structure these examples: outline the Context of the situation you faced, talk about the Actions you took, describe what happened as a Result and then summarise what you Learned from the experience.

Top tips for application forms

• Tailoring your approach will make your application distinctive. Why do you identify with this organisation over and above their competitors? What is it about this role that excites you? Which of your strengths do you think will be the most useful if you get the job? The more personal your application, the more it stands out from the crowd.
• Use examples that you can expand on if you are invited to interview, and remember to talk about what ‘I did’ rather than what ‘We did’ to make it clear what your role was.
• Writing a good application takes time, so don’t leave it to the last minute. Employers don’t always stick to deadlines and may close a vacancy early if they feel they have enough good candidates.
• Care and attention to detail is very important. Read the questions carefully, stick to word limits, use clear, concise language and check your spelling and grammar. A sloppy application suggests that you’ll adopt a similar approach in the workplace.
• Keep a record of all your applications. If you are called for interview at a later date you need to know what you have already told that employer, and this can be hard to remember if you have made applications to lots of companies.

Gary Argent, Graduate Transitions

What to wear for a pre-interview

To dress up or dress down? Many organisations have adopted a dress-down policy in relation to staff who are not customer-facing. As a result, on a day-to-day basis staff can be seen to be wearing very casual wear to work. Always remember they are on the inside of the organisation and already work there. You, on the other hand, are trying to get on the other side of the wall. As a result, it is always best to create a good first impression by adopting a more traditional sense of dress for an interview. This way the company knows that if you are required to present to a client you can dress appropriately.

What do we mean by a ‘traditional sense of dress’? A navy blue or black suit. This is applicable to both males and females. Women should avoid tops that reveal too much cleavage, heels over two inches and tight-fitting clothing. A court shoe with up to a two-inch heel would be more suitable.

Avoid making any fashion statements, so piercings, radical hairstyles and tattoos should be avoided at all costs. These may be appropriate while at university, but do not transfer well into the world of work. If you have dyed your hair a bright colour while studying, dye it back before applying for jobs. Once you get the job you can be as radical as you like, when you have proven your worth, but until then stay within the guidelines.

If you are confident in the way you are dressed this will translate into your overall appearance of being a confident candidate. Dress to impress as first impressions are formed within the first 30 seconds.

What to do and not do before an interview

Do your research before attending the interview.

Do not be afraid of LinkedIn stalking the people interviewing you. Research them and their background before. Find out what you have in common with them. Perhaps they have an article online which says they support a certain football team or their LinkedIn page shows they attended the same university as you. Draw reference to it.

Introduce yourself to reception or security. The interview begins as soon as you step foot onto their premises.

Prepare yourself for difficult interview questions such as what was the last mistake you made at work or university and what you learnt from it. Also questions around your development areas and weaknesses.

Don’t come to an interview after you’ve been shopping, even if you arrive to the area to early. Do not see that as an opportunity to do some clothes shopping and bring the bags to office. Even leaving these with reception while you attend your interview is not professional.

Don’t wear too much make-up or fragrance. This can be distracting and off-putting

Don’t forget what you’ve written on your CV – even what you’ve listed as your hobbies. Be prepared to be asked what the last book you read was if you’ve listed reading as a hobby.

Krystle Siaw, HR Manager, Premier Foods

Planning your journey

Arriving late speaks volumes to interviewers. In just ten minutes you have demonstrated:

• an inability to project-manage your journey
• a lack of organisational skills
• a lack of time management
• lack of respect for their time.

As you can imagine, unless there has been a natural disaster there is no excuse for being late. Ways to avoid being late include the following:

• Do a practice run of the journey, so on the day you know exactly where you are going and how to get there.
• Plan your journey so you arrive at least 30 minutes early and allow time for train delays or cancellations.
• If the journey involves you travelling long distances, see if you can stay with a friend or relative who lives closer.

Researching the company

Knowing about the company and the industry is an important part of interview preparation. This demonstrates to the interviewer that you not only want the job but also want to work for their company. Having an understanding of the industry, their competitors and the challenges the company faces shows initiative on your part and will make your answers more relevant.

There are many sources to access information about companies:

• company website
• annual report
• industry magazines
• Google alerts for current information.

How to create a Google Alert

1. Go to www.google.co.uk/alerts
2. Create an alert. Type in the company name.
3. Options – choose the frequency of the updates.
4. Type in your email to create the alert.
5. Add additional alerts such as the industry sector and competitors.
6. Google alerts will help you to increase your commercial awareness and ensure you are knowledgeable about the challenges and opportunities in your sector

The handshake

A crushing handshake can leave the interviewer dreading shaking your hand on exit, but a weak, wet handshake is not impressive either. So practise shaking hands so you have a firm handshake that exudes confidence.

Five top tips for a Brilliant handshake

1. Make eye contact and smile.
2. Extend your hand.
3. Take a firm grip.
4. Shake the hand up and down two or three times.
5. Say your name.

Getting this right takes practice, so use your careers service, your friends or lecturers to not only practise but also receive feedback on your handshake. It is important that you get this right as this brief exchange makes a statement about your confidence and self-esteem.

Preparing a presentation

Communication skills are an essential part of any role and students may be asked to prepare a three, five or ten-minute presentation as part of the interview process. As with any presentation, it is essential that you understand the task. Presentation topics can range from current topical discussions in the media, understanding the current challenges facing the industry or demonstrating why the company should hire you.

The main challenge of the presentation is to capture the essence of your key points and convey these points within the time specified.

Here are some examples of presentation questions:

• What are the challenges facing the industry?
• Do you think a university degree is value for money?
• Why did you choose to apply to our graduate scheme and how will you add value to the organisation?
• Should senior executives still receive their bonuses even though their organisation has made a loss?
• How do you think technology will change our industry and the way we work in the next ten years?

What makes a successful presentation? Although every presentation is different, there are key ingredients for success:

• Understand what the question is asking you.
• Research the topic.
• Identify two or three key points.
• Develop a clear structure: Introduction, key points and conclusion.
• Time management is essential.
• Practise, practise and practise.

When reviewing your presentation the panel is judging your ability to communicate and organise your thoughts. Your preparation and research will be evident, as to deliver a short presentation you will need to have completed considerable preparation beforehand.

Your verbal communications skills are paramount, but also your body language throughout the presentation. In those five minutes an employer will be able to assess your dedication to the task and how well you prepared, which is an indication of how you will work in their organisation.

Do not dismiss the five-minute presentation as a simple exercise. It is actually a chance for you to shine and show your ability to interpret instructions and deliver to a presentation to a high standard.

Preparing questions

Don’t forget that the interview is your chance to find out more about the organisation, so come prepared with a few questions about it. Your research of the company may have raised some questions, but try to avoid questions about salary. Although this may be at the forefront of your mind, with your increasing student loans, avoid focusing purely on the financial aspect of the role. (The job advert should have given some indication of salary bracket.)

Questions can focus on the following areas:

• What are the next steps following this interview?
• What is the career development and progression for someone at this level in your organisation?
• Use your research to formulate a question in relation to the company’s current climate.

How to prepare for an interview

• Prepare, research and understand the company you are applying to – they will want to understand your motivation for applying.

Think about the activities, work placements or projects that you have been involved in and consider how you could use them to demonstrate key business competencies such as leadership, influencing, teamwork, etc. Organisations will all use slightly different words but the key competencies they are looking for will be similar.

• Don’t over-rehearse because you may be thrown by different interview styles or techniques.

Helen Alkin, Head of Future Talent Recruitment,
Marks and Spencer plc

What to do and not do at the interview

• Remember that the interview is a two-way interview. Be prepared to ask your interviewer questions.
• Be confident even if you’re not usually. Fake it but don’t be arrogant.
• Smile. It’s important to smile and be at ease. It will automatically put the person who is interviewing you at ease too.
• Don’t be defensive or aggressive.
• Don’t fidget as it can be very distracting.
• Don’t forget to sell yourself. Too many candidates answer questions with ‘We did’. You are not in a group interview, so show what you did and why you are the right person for the role you are interviewing for.

Krystle Siaw, HR Manager, Premier Foods

Interview skills

The interview is your chance to demonstrate why you are more suitable for this job than any other candidate. Central to a successful interview is preparation, but how do you prepare for the unknown? This section aims to provide information about the format of the interview, the structure and possible questions. More importantly, the tools for you to communicate your excellence without saying a word.

Types of interview

Interviews vary depending upon the size of the company and the sector. Often the invitation to the interview will provide more information. Below are the different types that are commonly used.

A telephone interview

Telephone interviews are becoming more frequent. Candidates are given a time to expect a call from the interviewer when the details of the name and person will also be provided. Be ready. Don’t be caught on the hop. Find a quiet place to take the call.

Because the interviewer cannot see you, your diction, intonation and pace become even more important when delivering your answers. You could sit at a desk to sound professional on the telephone. It is very easy for the interviewer to tell if you are still lying in bed.

Make sure you are well prepared as how you perform will determine if you are selected for the next round of interviews.

Top five tips for a telephone interview

• Find a quiet place to conduct the interview.
• Ensure there are no technical issues with your phone.
• Review the job description and your application form.
• Research the company and the challenges faced by the industry.
• Practise responding to interview questions.

A video interview

Skype and video interviews are becoming more commonplace. This also creates another dynamic as the interviewer can now see and read your body language. The preparation for the interview is the same, but avoid any technical issues as this will knock your confidence. So check all the equipment prior to the interview.

Practise a Skype interview

Skype interviews are often used as a screening tool, because they allow an employer to interview you without the need for travel, and at a time that suits you both.

Preparing for a Skype interview involves many of the same steps as a normal interview, but because you won’t meet your interviewer the experience will feel different. Some Skype interviews will be ‘voice only‘ without a video connection, and the lack of non-verbal communication offers an additional challenge, because you can’t see the person you are talking to, and they can’t see you.

It is important to practise before you do the real thing. Set up a mock Skype interview with a friends or a careers advisor to get used to conveying your message without the normal non-verbal cues. If your Skype interview is going to include a video link use your computer’s built-in video camera to practise, recording yourself answering questions and watching yourself to see how you come across from the interviewer’s perspective.

A Skype interview might seem daunting at first, but you can turn the situation to your advantage. Have your application form or CV to hand to boost your confidence. You could write down bullet points for examples you wish to share, sticking post-it notes around your screen so they are easy to see, and jot down a couple of questions that you want to ask at the end of the interview.

The more prepared you are, the more confident you will feel.

Gary Argent, Graduate Transitions

How to prepare for a Skype interview

• Make sure you have somewhere quiet to do the interview, where you are comfortable and will not be disturbed, and with a stable internet connection which won’t drop out.
• Think about the lighting and background and what the interviewer will see behind you.
• Be prepared. Have a drink of water ready to combat a dry throat, and a pen and paper to take notes.
• Dress as you would for a normal interview. Wearing a suit or smart business attire will put you in a professional frame of mind. This is especially important if there is going to be a video link.
• Remember to smile when you are talking and if the recruiter is not using a video link, consider standing up. Both of these techniques will help you to project your voice and make you sound more confident.

Gary Argent, Graduate Transitions

Interview structure

Whether you find yourself in a panel interview or a one-to-one interview, the structure will be similar. The interviewers will try to relax you with a general question, possibly about your journey or the weather. Do not ramble on and on about this (unless you are going for an interview with London Transport!). Recognise that this is just a warm-up question, so keep it brief.

The interviewer will then ask you a series of questions that draw on the selection criteria and the skills required for the post. Tailor your responses and examples to the question being asked. Take some seconds to ensure you understand the question and have a good example to support your answer.

Take your interview letter

When attending an interview I always bring along the interview letter, just in case I forget the contact name due to nerves. The letter also reminds me of any specific details of where to go on arrival.

A business graduate

Interview questions

What will they ask you? The job selection criteria and the job description will provide you with the hints and tips you need to prepare for possible interview questions. A good framework to use is STAR: Situation, Task, Action, Result. This framework encourages you to provide specific examples to demonstrate both the competencies and the behavioural criteria outlined in the selection criteria. Read both the job description and selection criteria and identify key skills (usually marked as E for essential).

• Situation – Think of a situation when you have demonstrated the skill. Try to use examples that are drawn from your course, but also from extracurricular activities.
• Task – What was your aim or purpose?
• Action – What was your role? Outline your actions.
• Result – What was the outcome?

To practise, give examples of when you have demonstrated the skills listed below.

	Situation	Task	Action	Result
Leadership
Team-working
Organisation
Project management
Initiative
Commitment
Determination

Here are some other possible questions:

• Why do you want to work for . . . ?
• What do you think you can offer . . . ?
• What are your strengths and weaknesses?

What to do and not do at the interview

Listen to the questions or brief you are being given so you don’t go off track.

Dress appropriately, in line with the role that you have applied for.

Give yourself time to read, understand and plan for the exercise and think about the points you want to make – for assessment centres specifically.

Don’t worry if you need to take a few seconds to formulate your answer in your head before responding.

Don’t panic at an assessment centre, even if you feel one exercise has gone badly. The decision will be based on your performance and each competency will be rated more than once, so all is not lost.

Helen Alkin, Recruitment Manager,
Marks and Spencer plc

Non-verbal communication

During the interview it’s not always what you say that makes a difference, it can be what you do! Your appearance will make an impact and other factors are your posture, facial expression and how you walk. These actions all talk to the employer about your suitability, so make sure they are sending the right message. If you are prone to slouching when you walk or sit, correct this for the interview. A confident walk sends the right message when you enter the room.

Eye contact is essential. Try to build some rapport with the interviewer by looking at them when you speak. If you are addressing a panel interview, make eye contact with the person who is asking the question, but during your response try to look at the other members of the panel as well. This is easier said than done: it takes practice. Make use of your careers service to practise your interview techniques.

Stay focused throughout

Your exit is just as important as your entrance. I was so excited that the interview had gone well. I was able to answer all the questions. My preparation had paid off. We shook hands and I turned to exit. Forgetting that we were in a glass office, I walked straight into the glass door. I tried to recover quickly, but you could see the amazement on their faces. I composed myself and exited successfully on my second attempt. My advice is stay focused till the end of the interview and your exit needs to be clean. By the way, I did get the job.

An IT graduate

Psychometric tests

Psychometric tests are often included in the selection process and can take various forms. The most common tests are:

• verbal reasoning
• numerical reasoning
• personality.

Companies will often inform you which of the above will be involved in the test.

How do you prepare? Prior to attending you can take practice tests. Your careers service should have a selection of practice tests, but you can also go online to www.shl.com, where you’ll find the majority of tests used by employers. You can then practise the sample tests online.

How to prepare for psychometric tests

• If appropriate, get in touch with the prospective employer and ask for more information about the tests. For example, what does it measure? How long does it take? Are tools such as a calculator allowed for a numerical reasoning test?
• Do some research. Look for more information via the test publisher’s website and explore whether you can sit online practice tests to familiarise yourself with the type and format of questions that you are going to face. If you are unable to find examples of the exact test, practising other tests measuring the same ability will help. However, if this is the case, be prepared for a different look and feel when you sit the real thing.
• Ability tests will have a set time – normally around 20 to 40 minutes. Rehearse concentrating for that length of time, either via practice tests or an activity related to what you will be measured against.
• If you are sitting a verbal reasoning test, practise reading such material as editorial from a reputable news source or industry-related information. Similarly, apply the same preparation to abstract or numerical reasoning assessments.
• Personality assessments are designed to discover whether you are a potential fit to the organisation. Any inconsistencies in your answers are likely to be picked up by the employer, so it is best to be true to yourself. It is of no benefit to either party for you to work somewhere where your values conflict with the organisational culture.
• Prior to the test exercise, sleep and eat well. The key to performing well in any test is to be calm yet alert. Feeling good when you begin the test will significantly improve your chances of giving a true representation of your ability. Naturally, the opposite also applies.
• Sit the test with no distractions. This ideally means in a room by yourself, with phones and anything else put aside that could steer you off course.

Matt Stevens, Pearson Talentlens

Post-interview

The interview is over and there is nothing you can do to change your performance. But it is good to reflect upon what went well and what you would change for next time. Learn from every interview as the more you do the more experienced and ready you will be for the next one.

Reflect on the examples you used to answer the questions. Were they sufficient? Were you clear in explaining your role and the actions you took? Don’t be impatient and call the company the next day for the result. Wait to be contacted.

Top tips for interviews

• Ask for feedback if you have been unsuccessful so that you can learn for next time.
• Follow up with the organisation if you have not heard anything in the time they had specified.
• Don’t give up if you are not successful first time – there is more than one way to access opportunities in an organisation.

Helen Alkin, Head of Future Talent Recruitment,
Marks and Spencer plc

• Shake the interviewer’s hand and thank them for their time.
• Remember that the interview hasn’t finished until you’ve left their premises.
• Don’t inundate them with calls and emails for feedback. If they say you will hear back within a week, only chase after the week has gone, but in a respectable manner.

Krystle Siaw, HR Manager, Premier Foods

• Use your careers service.
• Identify how your existing skills translate into skills valued by employers.
• Identify any skills gaps and create an action plan to develop these skills.
• Preparation is central to all elements of the selection process.
• Research the company, the industry and its competitors.
• Think of relevant examples to selection criteria drawn from both academic and non-academic activities.
• Use STAR to structure your answers.
• Remember that communication is both verbal and non-verbal.
• Always remember that you only get one chance to create a first impression, so make it a good one.