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How to pass your marketing job interview

April 4th, 2012 | Posted by glenn in Job Interview in English - (0 Comments)

Often, we think of marketing job interviews as completely unstructured tests of creativity but in reality, marketing directors have their favourite questions just like all recruiters.  Choose a famous company and one of their leading products and use these as a basis to answer the following questions.

  1. Why do you think you will do well in marketing?
  2. What does “marketing” mean to you?
  3. Other than marketing, what other jobs could you see yourself doing?
  4. What do you do when customers tell you “no”?
  5. What resources will you use in order to increase the sales of this company?
  6. What do you think of our current campaign?  How would you improve upon this?
  7. What would you say were the most marketable points of our product?
  8. If you were to identify our top 5 “typical” consumers, what kind of people would they be?
  9. How would you identify with our target audience?
  10. How do you cope with pressure?
  11. What do you think is the best way to convince someone in that building over there to come to this building just to buy our product?
  12. What campaigns have you run in the past and what were their strengths and weaknesses?

 

Buzzwords for marketing job interviews

And no marketing job interview would be complete without dropping the following buzzwords:

  • Search Engine Optimization (SEO) – Putting your website #1 on Google search
  • Lead generation – Getting the contact details of people who might buy
  • Conversion rate optimization – Making sure that leads are good
  • Mobile media – Getting your message on Blackberries, iPhones and other smart phones
  • Social networking – Face book, Twitter etc
  • Market segmentation – Knowing who your “typical” consumers are

 

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Job interview follow-up

February 23rd, 2012 | Posted by glenn in Job Interview in English - (0 Comments)

So the interview is over now and it is just a matter of waiting for the response now, is it?  Wrong.  If you are really interested in the job, you need to stand out from the rest by communicating more with the interviewers than the others do.

Getting remembered in a positive way is the key to marketing yourself.

So how do you follow-up after a job interview? 

Remember to get the interviewer’s information at the interview.  A business card has the person’s name and title, the business address and the interviewer’s email address.  You will need these four things.

Send an email as soon as you get home.  Do not wait or you may forget.  When you send the email, make sure that you spell the name of the interviewer correctly (compare it with the card), otherwise, you may be remembered but not for the right reasons.  Thank the person for their time and let them know that they can contact you anytime.

Timing your job interview follow-up

If you have not heard from the interviewer after 5 days, give them a call and just reiterate your interest in the position and let them know again that if they require any further information or documentation to aid them in their decision-making process, they can contact you anytime.

Some people even recommend sending a letter (traditional, postman-style letter!) as this will show that you are very excited about the opportunity (not just with words).

Keep in mind that the more you communicate with the interviewer, the more you will occupy their mind and sometimes, sad to say, those who are not memorable are cut first.

You might need to follow up by phone or by email. At Live-English.net, we will help you get ready and confident for your job interview in English through online English lessons. And after the interview, you’ll need to show that you’re English is up to expected!

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What is your body language saying about you in job interviews?

January 23rd, 2012 | Posted by glenn in Job Interview in English - (0 Comments)

Recently there have been a few good TV programs about people who use people’s body language to tell what they are really thinking.  Programs like Lie to Me and the Mentalist.  Being interested in psychology, I love to learn more from programs like this that are based on real research.

Body language and job interviews

Here are a few things that we can take from these programs (all verified in other sources too) that will help us to project ourselves as honest, genuine, dedicated candidates in a job interview.

Open gestures.

When you are speaking, use wide, open gestures as these show that you are genuine and you have nothing to hide.  Holding your arms in front of you with the palms facing up is a good example.  Crosiing your arms will of course make you look defensive and hands in your pockets makes you look unconfident.

Feet first

The way you sit at the interview table tells the interviewer a little about where you want to be as your subconscious will often point your feet in the direction that it wants to go.  So if you sit with your legs crossed and they are pointed towards the door, you look uncomfortable.  You look like you want to escape this situation.  The same is often true with your eyes glancing at the door (or a clock), and the direction of your shoulders.

Smile with your eyes

The way to tell if someone is giving you genuine smiles is to look at their eyes.  When you offer a fake smile, you use all of the muscles in the lower part of your face but your eyes do not smile.  Try this in front of a mirror.  Cover the lower half of your face and give a fake smile and the upper part of your face will not change.  Now, think of something that amuses you and you will see how your eyes smile when you are genuine.

Seasoned interviewers know to look for the smiling eyes.

Nervous legs

If you do cross your legs in the interview, be aware of your feet and legs.  If you shake your foot or bounce one leg on top of the other, you look nervous.  Interviewers are usually looking for someone who looks confident that they can do the job without looking arrogant.

Why your body language is important in job interviews

Keep in mind that first impressions are made in the first 7-10 seconds of an interview and that 55% of communication is through body language (38% through the tone of your voice and only 7% through the actual words that you choose).  So, if you are not sure about what your body is saying to interviewers, practice in front of a mirror.

If you have been following this blog, you have already written a resume that stands out and a good cover letter.  But make sure that hard work does not go to waste, interviewers will judge candidates on the their feeling about the person as much as or more than their qualifications. Read about some other things to avoid in a job interview at Top six interview faux pas.

 

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Bad job interview

January 12th, 2012 | Posted by glenn in Job Interview in English - (0 Comments)

I would like to share with you the story of one bad job interview that I had a couple of years ago in the hopes that you can learn some things about what not to do at job interviews.  I know that you might be thinking, “of course, everyone knows not to do that!”  But this is a true story and you would be surprised how many people make similar mistakes.

The interview did not start well as while the candidate was waiting in the waiting area, he was listening to his iPod.  This is already bad because candidates appear to be uninterested and selfish.  But soon, he closed his eyes and started tapping his feet to the rhythm.  That’s not so bad I hear you think but then he started singing.  It was just a couple of lines before he caught himself and looked around to see if anyone had noticed.  He thought no one had but the centre that I managed was made of glass.  Someone notices everything in a centre made of glass.

At one point during the interview, I asked why he left his customer service job and he replied that he didn’t like working with people.  I asked if he knew that teachers need to work with people too.  He changed the topic.

The worst part though is that the candidate chewed gum throughout the entire interview.  Maybe he thought he wanted to have fresh breath but when that gum fell out of his mouth while he was speaking, it became the nail in the coffin.  It was at this point that I decided that I could not possibly offer this person a job based on his performance in this interview.

After the bad job interview, I was in the staff room and one of my staff asked me if he would be getting a call-back.  I never answer this question as you never know what will happen but in this case I gave a confident no.  The staff member asked me if I had noticed that he had been wearing white socks with black pants and black shoes.

The moral of the story is; if you want the job, be interested, don’t chew gum, dress properly and choose a job that suits you.

  • Candidate- a person who is being interviewed
  • Slumped posture- he did not sit up straight
  • His true colors- his real personality
  • The nail in the coffin- the last chance is gone
  • Get a call-back- to be invited back for the next round of interviews

 

Tricky Interview Questions

December 4th, 2011 | Posted by glenn in Job Interview in English - (0 Comments)

So, you are sitting in the nice comfortable office, waiting for your job interview in English to begin.  You have been both looking forward to and dreading this interview for days now.  It is such a good opportunity but since you already told all of your friends about it, there’s also a lot of pressure to nail it too.

You wonder what the questions will be and if you are really prepared enough to answer them well.  Perhaps you should have read more online information or tried to guess more potential questions to rehearse.  Either way, time’s over now.  You just gotta hope you did enough.

Some tricky interview questions to thing about

In this situation, which are the questions you are dreading the most? 

For most, it’s the weakness question or the salary question.  Most people are never quite sure about what to say.  But then there are the questions that you just start answering and then you wish you hadn’t. 

Here are some common answers both what people “say” (and what the interviewer hears).

Tell me something you don’t like about your old job

It’s a trap.  Take a second to think about it.  They want a happy, positive hard-working employee but here they are asking you to rag on your old employer. 

“My boss was not the most organized and I am looking for a more positive environment.”

(I am doing it politely now because I’m at an interview but complaining is my favourite hobby.  I was probably the reason for the negative atmosphere I am trying to escape so I probably won’t be with your company very long either.)

“I really enjoyed my time there but unfortunately, there was really no room to grow, I am looking to take on a lot to build my skills and get the experience I need to truly succeed in this industry.”

(I have mad skills and I’m looking to apply them)

Other things you shouldn’t mention here:

  •        “Working hours” (lazy)
  •        “Colleagues/customers” (unsociable)
  •        “Boss” (hates authority)
  •        “Salary” (greedy)

What is your biggest weakness?
Be honest here but not too honest.

“I work too hard and I care too much.”

(I am a liar and I will tell you whatever you want to hear at the interview)

“I would say my time management skills could use some improving.  I am currently reading a book to help me improve my time management skills and it’s really helping.”

(I know my weakness and I am working on it- No-one is perfect)

 
What salary do you expect?
No one can tell you how to negotiate.  It depends on the situation.  But it is often said that you should never bring this up at the first interview.

  • To nail it- to do a great job at something
  • To rag on someone- to complain about someone

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Questions to ask during an interview

November 19th, 2011 | Posted by glenn in Job Interview in English - (0 Comments)

At the end of a job interview, the interviewer almost always gives you the chance to ask him some questions. It is always good to respond quickly with some intelligent and appropriate questions.  This means that you should be prepared with a set of options but also that you should adapt and use the right questions for the situation.

So here are some questions that you might want to consider asking but remember to adapt them to the situation and what has already been discussed.  Be careful not to memorize a list of questions and then ask the interviewer about what he had just spent time explaining.

 

Questions to ask during an interview

  • What are you looking for in a candidate?
  • What potential is there for growth within the company?
  • Is there training provided and will there be a probationary period?Questions to ask during an interview
  • How much guidance or assistance is given to employees in terms of professional development?
  • What can I expect to be doing in the first week of employment?
  • What skills would you recommend I work on to ensure success in this position?
  • How many people would be working in the team with me?  How long have they been there?
  • Could you describe the atmosphere of this company for me?
  • Could you describe the company’s management style?
  • What do you think the employees enjoy most about working in this company?
  • What do you think are the strengths and weaknesses of this company and how do they compare to the industry standard?
  • What are the plans for development over the next 5 years and how does this department/position fit into those plans?
  • How will my performance be evaluated and will the criteria be made available to me?

 

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Role play job interview

November 16th, 2011 | Posted by glenn in Job Interview in English - (0 Comments)

It’s just a game.  Take it too seriously and you have already lost.  Job interviews seem like the most serious thing in the world when you are sitting in front of the manager being interrogated but I choose to see the manager as my opponent.  The game is to score more points than the previous players and the best points to make are the points that show you are right for this job.

The first thing everyone knows about training before a big game is practice makes perfect.  If you want to improve any skill, you should practice it and interview skills are no different.  The question is do you want to practice by having a hundred interviews in the next few weeks or by simulating interview conditions so that you can get the job in the first few interviews that you do?

Role play interview: practice before the game

To help you in your training for your next match,  think about how you would answer the interview questions below.  Practice them with your family or friends in as realistic a situation as possible.  Sit on opposite sides at a table but remember to have fun.  When you are finished, ask your interviewer the following questions:

  1. What did you like about me during that interview.
  2. What answers do you remember the most?
  3. Did I do anything you didn’t like?
  4. Did I say anything negative?
  5. How was my handshake?
  6. How was my body language?
  7. Did I smile enough?

See my tips for suceeding in interviews

Job Interview Questions to role play

About your previous jobs

  1. What were your responsibilities?
  2. Why did you choose this job?
  3. What did you enjoy most about this job?
  4. What was your greatest challenge in this job?
  5. What did you learn from this job?
  6. Tell me about a time that you went beyond the call of duty.
  7. What was it like working for your supervisor?
  8. Why did you leave?

About you and the position

  1. How would your last employer describe you?
  2. What are your strengths?
  3. What are your weaknesses?
  4. Describe your work style.
  5. What motivates you?
  6. How do you handle stress?
  7. What is the number one criticism about you?
  8. How would you help this company to succeed?
  9. Do you prefer to work individually or in a team?

 

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The top 6 interview faux pas

October 22nd, 2011 | Posted by glenn in Job Interview in English - (0 Comments)

Making a good impression is all about the first few minutes of the interview.  You need to be able to show your potential employer that you would be a good fit in their image of what their company is.  Here are some pitfalls to avoid when you are at the interview.

Tips for English job interviews

The dead fish

The dead fish

When you shake hands, it is important to have a strong grasp, a cool, dry hand and good eye-contact.  Don’t just offer your finger-tips and don’t be too aggressive, but a hand-shake should be firm.  If your hand is limp and sweaty we call it a dead fish.  Not a nice image, right?

Rabbiting on

This means that you are talking too much.  Ask questions, involve the interviewer as much as possible and answer questions concisely.  If you are not an interesting person to talk with, you are lowering your chances of being remembered favourably.  If the interviewer hasn’t been able to ask questions for the past 30 minutes, you might want to consider stopping to breathe.

Tips for English job interviews

Bad-mouthing

Bad-mouthing

This means that you are saying negative things about your past employers, company or colleagues.  This is bad because if you cannot be positive for the duration of the interview, you probably will not be a positive employee.  Also, if you didn’t fit well in your last company, you might not fit well in this one so paint all past experiences beautifully.  If your last job was hell, talk about how you enjoyed the tropical climate.

Being rude to the gatekeeper

The first impression that you make is actually on the receptionist.  Managers often take into consideration feedback from the staff as they will need to work with that person too.  So make a good impression on the gatekeeper and also look interested in your surroundings while you are waiting.  If you don’t look interested in being there, the interviewer might be less interested in speaking with you.

Becoming a burden

Showing up late for a job interview is obviously not good but often companies will frown upon candidates who show up too early as well.  If you show up too early, you risk becoming a burden on the company so going early and waiting at a nearby café is always a good.  Taking a pillow or a tent is obviously going a little far.

The stare down

Too much eye-contact can seem intense.  Too little eye-contact can make you seem disinterested.  The rule of thumb is to keep the eye contact fairly constant but keep in mind that it’s not a date.  

Best of luck with your next interview!

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Getting that dream job overseas

October 9th, 2011 | Posted by glenn in Job Interview in English - (0 Comments)

Interviewing for a job overseas can be a different story to interviewing in your own country.  So, here is the guide to getting that job when you haven’t even seen the company yet.

Do your homework if you want to succeed

When you interview for an overseas company, you will not be able to see the building, meet a lot of the people and the tour of the office to see what resources you are supplied with and what the atmosphere is like. 

This means that it is even more important to do your homework and gleam all the information that you can from what is available online.  Make sure that you check out the company’s site thoroughly but don’t just look at one side of the story, check out what other people have to say about that company too.

You won’t get the job if you don’t answer your phone

Some people take ages to reply to emails.  If you are one of these people (and I am too), you need to make a special effort during the job-hunt to check your emails twice a day.  Imagine how you would feel if you lost an opportunity because you were just to slow to reply to it.

This also means that you need to make sure that your phone is working and charged at all times and if you do turn it off for a movie, flight or interview, remember to turn it back on and check it!

You don’t have to wear pants but make sure that your tie is straight! 

When you interview on Skype, you should follow the same dress code as when you are interviewing in person because you will be judged on the same criteria.  Make sure that you have a nice, plain background behind you and make sure that you are free of any distractions; so put the kids in the other room, turn off the movie and put your phone on silent mode. 

Check your microphone, camera and Internet connection well before time and be sure to connect to the person’s Skype account 30 minutes before the interview.  If it is your first time to use Skype, make a call to a friend first so that you get used to using it.

Remember, you only get one chance to make a first impression so be organized and have all your documents ready before you connect.

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How to handle your first English job interview

September 25th, 2011 | Posted by glenn in Job Interview in English - (0 Comments)

Going to your first job interview in English can be an intimadating experience  so here is the secret to facing those nerves and being able to impress where others fail.  The secret to gaining that competitive advantage.

Be prepared

The most important thing you can do to handle your nerves in a situation like this is to go into it prepared.  One way to ensure that you feel ready for the interview is to prepare what I would call elaborations.  The interviewer does not expect you to give him the information that is already in your resume so when they ask you questions about your work experience or your education, they are asking you to elaborate or to give more information beyond what’s there. 

Try looking at all of the parts of your reume individually and guess what questions they might ask you to elaborate on that aspect of your history.

For example, if you list work experience in a bank, they may ask you the following questions:

  • What were your duties?
  • What did you enjoy most about this job?
  • Was there anything you did not like about this position?
  • Why did you leave?
  • What did you learn from this experience?

 If you can prepare good, positive answers for the most common questions, you will feel more prepared and therefore more confident on the day.

Relax 

Of course, you will not be able to predict every question so the second step is to relax.  Looking confident even when you are asked a question that you did not prepare for is all about controlling your mind to focus.  Remember, getting nervous is a good thing.  It releases adrenaline that can help you if you can control it.  Just stay focused.

One last tip is to line up the right number of interviews.  If you feel that you need to take them more seriously, arrange one at a time.  If you need to relax more, set up a few so that each one doesn’t seem so important.  Creating the right frame of mind is the key to looking confident and well-prepared in the interview so take a deep breath before you go in and just take it easy.