How should you prepare for a panel interview - Hays Viewpoint Viewpoint careers advice blog

How should you prepare for a panel interview - Hays Viewpoint Interviewing with one person is daunting enough, but the prospect of facing a panel of multiple interviewers can feel even more intimidating. And, if you’re currently preparing for this kind of panel interview, I’m sure visions of sitting in front of several stony faces, being bombarded with quick-fire questions in rapid succession may well be flashing through your mind. So, in this blog, my aim is to settle your nerves and provide you with some actionable advice which you can use as part of your interview preparation. But first off, let me clarify why exactly you have been asked to attend a panel interview: Why do employers conduct panel interviews? One of the main reasons panel interviews are conducted is so that a balanced and considered approach is taken to hiring decisions. It’s an unavoidable fact that each interviewer will have opinions and have had experiences which mean that they are inclined to gravitate towards when considering a potential candidate. This often subconscious preference is referred to as bias and it can be conscious or unconscious. And each one of us have them. Therefore, by involving a diverse range of multiple interviewers  the possible play out and impact of these biases is mitigated and the evaluation and selection process becomes more balanced and less biased. Panel interviews are often introduced as a key assessment stage before a final hiring decision is made. Often, the candidate is only facing one or two potential other contenders at this stage, therefore including more stakeholders and getting a range of opinions during this final stage increases the likelihood that a person is considered on all their merits and the right person is offered the job. Another reason why panel interviews are often used by employers is to assess how the candidate responds and deals with some additional pressure that this format inevitably introduces into the assessment and selection process. Are they able to stay calm and focused, whilst sharing their expertise and building rapport, or do they succumb to their nerves and put in a less than average interview performance? How should you prepare for your panel interview? Researching the company and its products/services online, following their social media accounts, reading recent press coverage, reviewing their Glassdoor profile, preparing answers and swotting up on your CV/resume â€" these are all great ways to prepare for any interview. But when it comes to a panel interview, you should take your interview preparation to the next level â€" after all, more interviewers means more research. So, prior to your interview, ask your recruiter to confirm the name and job title of each interviewer that will be sitting on the panel. Once you have this information, research each one, both on LinkedIn and via a Google search. Try to find out what each of their roles are, what their career path has looked like, as well as any recent successful projects or awards or accolades. Putting in the time to do this detailed pre-interview research will: Take away some of the fear of the unknown and help you feel more mentally confident and prepared prior to the interview; Help you understand the unique priorities and agenda of each interviewer, as well as the role they play in the business/team, allowing you to predict and pre-empt interview questions each may be likely to ask you; By conducting thorough research online, you’ll likely be able to find blogs they’ve written, quotes they’ve provided to the press or videos they’ve appeared in. This information will help you further understand their specific communication styles ahead of time â€" this will increase the likelihood that you are able to connect and build rapport with each interviewer. This brings me on to my next point. Another great way to prepare for a panel interview is to ask family and friends to rehearse with you. Multiple people asking you multiple questions in quick succession and about a variety of topics is a great way to prepare. Think of your job interview as a performance, as Cathy Salit, CEO of Performance of a Lifetime puts it in this Harvard Business Review article, “In the job interview, you are literally  auditioning  for a new role. Developing your skills as a performer will help you not only to land the job, it will also help you grow and gain a new skill that is critical in the 21st century workplace â€" navigating constant change that requires flexibility and new performances all the time.” How to build rapport during a panel interview: The introductions: When you walk into the interview room, and as you start to introduce yourself, greet the interview panel with a smile. A firm handshake along with eye contact displays confidence and good manners, which both have a powerful part to play when making a strong first impression. Also, during these initial introductions, try your best to memorise each interviewer’s name â€" one way to do this could be to sketch an image of the table on your notepad, writing down the interviewer’s name in the relevant seating position. This will help you in feeling confident to address each interviewer by name throughout the conversation, and as and when questions are asked.   Be mindful of your body language: As Charalambos Vlachoutsicos says in his Harvard Business Review article, ‘…how we say what we say to people is at least as important as what we say to them.” So, avoid fidgeting, maintain eye contact, sit up straight and don’t interrupt. Not only will your body language have an impact on how you are perceived by the interviewers, but it will also impact your own frame of mind. Research from Princeton University has found  that by proactively altering your body language you can actually change your frame of mind. If you’re hunched over and fidgeting then you’re only going to heighten your anxiety, if you’re sat straight with your chin up then you’ll exacerbate your feelings of confidence. Pay equal attention to each interviewer: Be sure to make eye contact and engage with each interviewer in the room. Don’t be tempted to direct most of your attention towards the interviewer you may have met previous interview rounds. As AJ Harbinger, author of the ‘Art of Charm’ states in his Business Insider article, “Eye contact is one of the easiest and most powerful ways to make a person feel recognized, understood and validated.” Ask each interviewer a question: When the time comes for you to be the one asking the questions, ask each interviewer questions based on their respective roles, priorities and passions. Again, this will show that you have done research into each person’s area of expertise and will impress the panel, enabling you to deepen your connection with each interviewer. For some question inspiration, read our blog, ‘15 questions to ask your interviewer’. Keep calm and remain focused Whilst a certain amount of stress can be a positive thing, for many, any interview experience, no matter what the format, can feel overwhelmingly stressful. And it’s not surprising that they are, as Anna Ranieri, executive coach and career counsellor writes: “The problem is that job interviews are an unusual kind of conversation: one that we have only so often, where there’s a huge imbalance of power, and that  requires the type of confident recitation of our strengths that wouldn’t fly in other social interactions.” However, stress levels some experience during a panel interview may well be elevated. But, with proper preparation and the right mindset, they don’t need to be. As there’s more people involved, more voices in the room and more agendas to meet, panel interviews may not be as finely tuned or perhaps run as smoothly as a one-on-one interview. Interviewers may talk across each other or add to one another’s questions. If this happens, take a breather and wait until everyone has finished talking, then provide your answer. There is nothing wrong with politely asking for clarification on the original question if needed, you could even try repeating the question back to the interviewer to limit any confusion and demonstrate that you are listening attentively. Also, don’t feel as though you need to answer the question right away, take some time think it through in your head, whilst applying the STAR technique. Some of the interviewers may even ask the same question or similar question as another interviewer. If this is the case, give the same response, but phrase it differently. If a question relates to a former query, cross-reference the previous one while providing your answer. And, once you’ve provided your answer, it is also a good idea to ask the panel if they’d like you to give any further information. What to do after your panel interview Send a follow up note: After any interview, it’s always good practice to send a follow up, thank you email (this is usually done via your recruiter). In this note, be sure to thank each interviewer for their time, reiterating that you enjoyed meeting them, and outlining your genuine interest both in the role and the company. The sooner you send this email the better, as, by doing so, you will show that you are enthusiastic, and therefore will stay at the forefront of the interviewers’ minds when the time comes to make the final hiring decision. Take a step back and assess fit: Panel interviews are also a great opportunity for you, as the candidate, to really build a picture of the company and its people. Make a conscious effort to analyse the relationships and team dynamics at play during the interview, as this will provide you with unique insight into the culture of the company. Although no doubt, you’ll be feeling drained after the interview, take some time to reflect and honestly ask yourself a few questions â€" were you really sold on the job? Is this really the right company for you? Can you see yourself working with the people who interviewed you? I hope the above advice has helped relieve some of the natural anxiety you may be feeling as the prospect of attending a panel interview looms closer. To really ensure it is a success, make sure you don’t cut corners when preparing, work hard to connect and build rapport with each person you meet, and remember, this panel interview is a unique opportunity for you, as a highly skilled and sought-after candidate to make some important assessments of your own. Job interview  coming up? These blogs will help you ensure it’s a success: Jobseekers you really do need to be yourself in the interview What to expect from your first ever job interview Introverts: heres how to shine in your interview So, talk me through your CV

The Basic Facts of Tips on Writing a Resume Stay at Home Mom

<h1> The Basic Facts of Tips on Writing a Resume Stay at Home Mom</h1> <h2> Who Else Wants to Learn About Tips on Writing a Resume Stay at Home Mom?</h2> <p>While scanning for a decent resume format, verify that you take a gander at the subtleties with respect to whether it's totally free or paid. All your data will be in basic sections that are easy to skim through and your best focuses will stand out. The following activity is to support your abilities where the question of the best approach to form an introductory letter is tended to fittingly. As opposed to following a great deal of tips and rules a decent resume can simply be simple and adequate. </p> <h2> The Nuiances of Tips on Writing a Resume Stay at Home Mom </h2> <p>If a resume is unmistakable and not quite the same as the remainder of the resumes coming in for the indistinguishable post, it will get basic for the questioner to pick from different a huge number of resum es. Resumes come in different structures and arrangements. Using resume layouts empower you to ensure that you are fittingly spreading out all of the achievements which you have done, and furthermore license you to verify you can set your contemplations together such that will make you get alluring for a wide assortment of remarkable work in the business in which you're applying for. </p> <p>Applying with the errand focused on continue for each activity is an extraordinary practice as opposed to sending same resume for each activity. Try not to compose what you might want in work. In case you're searching for work and you have the stuff however don't generally see how to sell it out then what you will require is a decent resume. You aren't the just one applying to a specific activity! </p> <p>Resume isn't just a report. be that as it may, it characterizes you and is the absolute first significant key that guarantees your forthcoming manager looks into you. A free resume layout is a sort of fundamental example for a resume that an individual may need to create. Utilizing Microsoft word to make a resume can be exceedingly clear yet at the indistinguishable time only somewhat complex on the off chance that you don't discover how to do it. Your resume ought to be arranged in a simple, proficient way. </p> <p>Resume composing is a scary activity for everyone. On the off chance that you get a thought regarding How to form a resume. Everybody can profess to have accomplished extraordinary things, however not every person can bolster or demonstrate they really did them. A decent resume doesn't imply that you should adhere to a book loaded with rules to make a resume. </p>

The Benefits of Using a Salesperson Resume Template

The Benefits of Using a Salesperson Resume TemplateA salesperson resume template can help you avoid costly mistakes when creating your own. A salesperson resume template is a tool that can save you thousands of dollars and create an amazing career for yourself in the future. These tools have been designed by professional resume writers, who understand how important it is to produce the best salesperson resume possible.When you need to find a salesperson resume template, it is best to get one that can help you get the job you want. You can never be too careful when applying for a job. If you are seeking a sales position, then you need to focus on getting your resume to stand out above the rest. This means that you need to hire a good salesperson resume template.A salesperson resume template can help you do this. It can provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to make a good impression. There are also other benefits to using a salesperson resume template. For example, many of these templates will help you to manage your time more effectively. This means that you can spend less time applying for jobs.Finding the right salesperson resume template is simple. All you need to do is search the internet. Remember that finding the right salesperson resume template is much easier than you might think.A great salesperson resume template will provide you with exactly what you need. After all, no matter what kind of salesperson resume template you end up using, you want to have one that will highlight your skills, your education, and your professional experience. You do not want to have one that only focuses on your skills and experience, because this is not what the employer needs to see.Once you have found a salesperson resume template that you like, you will be able to use this template to help you create a resume that will give you the most professional look. You will also want to ensure that the salesperson resume template you select is one that is well-made. This means that it is one that has all of the necessary features, such as headers, styles, and colors.The salesperson resume template you use will include a bunch of different formats. This is to make sure that it is compatible with all of the applications that will be used by your prospective employer. This is why it is important to get a salesperson resume template that will work with Microsoft Word, Power Point, Adobe Acrobat, and Apple iWork Pages. You want to make sure that the resume template you are using is compatible with these applications.As you can see, using a salesperson resume template is essential if you want to have a successful career in sales. After all, many people don't even know what a salesperson is. Therefore, they can make the mistake of trying to use a salesperson resume template without understanding the importance of making their resume stand out above the rest. With the salesperson resume template you get, you will not have to worry about this at all.

Resume Trends The Shocking Truth About Your Executive Resume

Resume Trends The Shocking Truth About Your Executive Resume As an accomplished executive, you’ve spent the last 10+ years climbing the corporate ladder, developing critical skills and working tirelessly to build a name for yourself in your industry. As you get ready to update your resume for the next big opportunity or to shop around in your market, you might be feeling overwhelmed with the task of trying to capture everything on 2 sheets of paper. Where to start?! As someone who has spent many years writing professional resumes for executives, I’ve experienced the first-hand shock of clients at the visual simplicity of their summarized accomplishments on paper after hiring a professional resume writer. The truth is: The application process has evolved since the last time you’ve applied for work and you’ll need to take note of current trends if you’re hoping to compete in today’s job market. How the Application Process Has Changed All applicants feel like they have to try to stand out from the crowd somehow, and I have seen some interesting methods: special paper, crazy and creative fonts, and colorful graphics. But what looks good to you might not look good to a recruiter. In fact, all that creative work you thought would make your resume stand out visually might actually block it from successfully getting through a company’s applicant tracking system (ATS). The ATS, like the human eye, favors simplicity. Think about it: if you go to the resume section of Staples, you’ll simply find many versions of white paper. Most application submissions are electronic now; paper doesn’t matter. What Really Happens After You Submit Your Resume There are so many people applying to any one position that companies now follow many steps to hiring. They use ATS and other search engines to keep track of the onslaught and to electronically filter out hundredsâ€"sometimes thousandsâ€"of applicants. If your resume makes the initial cut, Human Resources will probably print your resume on its own plain white printer paper. Regardless of the size of the company, a person then has to review multiple resumes for interviews. The reviewer wants the resume to be calming and easy to read and will look for any reason to discard an applicant. If you chose a fancy script font, lack of readability might be a reason to discard your resume. Also, sometimes there are compatibility issues from machine to machine and system to system. It’s best to stay as plain as possible. Plain formatting and appropriate white space with one to two simple fonts, maximum. No fancy borders. No charts. No graphics. Check how your name lookscan you read it? Why You Need to Adopt New Resume Best Practices If all this seems contrary to what you’ve been told about resumes in the past, know that this resume format is based on research into the latest recruiting practices and the current job market. The purpose of your resume is not to make you feel warm and fuzzy. The purpose of your resume is to get past the ATS and into HR’s hand so you can to land an interview. There you can expand on your resume and talk about how you will help the company and all those fantastic and impressive achievements you’re so proud of. Don’t let what you think looks good on a resume stand in the way of what works for the hiring system. Instead, work with the hiring system. The Key to a Successful Resume On receiving a professionally written first draft, some executive level clients have responded, “This is a plain Word document!” as if they were expecting some kind of complicated 3-D model instead. That’s rightâ€"it might feel really awkward to do so, but you have to keep your resume simple. Substance is the key to a successful resume. It’s okay if you’re unhappy with the resumeâ€" as long as the recruiter is happy with it. The more simple the resume, the more likely the chances of landing an interview. What HR is Really Interested in with Executive Resumes Human Resources will not care about the pretty bird your best friend drew in the background or whether the type is gray-black or deep black. The company needs help. The company needs growth. Your accomplishments and overall content should speak to those needs. Stop worrying about the paper and start explaining all the ways you have helped companies stay in the black or expand. Share that example of how you launched a successful new product. Companies like that. Listing strong accomplishments is one way to make your resume stand out against the competition. How to Make Your Executive Resume Stand Out from the Crowd The visual appeal, or formatting, is another way to stand out in a pile of resumes. There are some executive resume basics that youll want to consider before sitting down to write your resume. The format is a critical part of this. There are a few different formatting options to choose from, depending on your next career move. Once youve selected the format its important to include a few critical parts that will optimize your resumes visual and content impact: A descriptive title that is specific to each position you apply to A tagline or subheading that gives a general overview of your talent using keywords A summary of your experience and accomplishments that is supported by specifics from your background Core Competencies/Key Skills names specific skills you use in your field pulled from your experience Job descriptions in justified paragraphs followed by bulleted accomplishments. This format provides plenty of opportunities to describe what you’ve been doing and how you’ve succeeded at each position. You also add juicy, searchable industry keywords in their appropriate context. Try this tool to help you find the best industry keywords for your resume. How to Stand Out as a High-Achieving Executive Make your statements short, specific, and focused on the job you want. Start each statement with a verb, if possible. Try some of these high impact resume keywords.  The more descriptive action words you use to characterize your duties and accomplishments, the more you seem like an achiever. You’ve gotten this far in your career; if you want to further advance, then you want to come off as an achiever, a contributor who really creates benefits for a company. Try this formula for generating your career achievements.   You might also enjoy these helpful blog posts on how to achieve application success: How one client landed 2 job offers in 2 weeks 5 Common Resume Mistakes IT Executives Make 4 Dangerous Mistakes Youre Making that Are Killing Your Career