Career Track Tuesdays: Professionalism

Tonight I attended a workshop on Professionalism, facilitated by Cliff Sewell, a recruitment practitioner with the fundamental belief that 'there is more to life than work.' Cliff gave advice on the transition between student and professional life, highlighting the boundaries between personal and professional life, exploring adjustments to conversations, clothes, punctuality and responsiveness, as well as suggesting areas of knowledge to develop. Cliff has recently founded his own recruitment agency, 15ten15 recruitment.

Notes

Pathways to Employment

• Job Boards
• LinkedIn
• Graduate Schemes
• Training Schemes
• Direct Company Approach
• Career Sites
• Social Media

Knowing what you would like to do will help in determining what path is best for you to go down, and to achieve what it is that you are striving for.

The Process

1. Student/Undergraduate
2. Research
3. Application 
4. Interview Prep
5. The Interview
6. The Follow Up
7. Successful or Unsuccessful

Advice

When applying for a job, there are certain steps one can take to gain an advantage over other applicants and 'get on the radar.' Tips include:

• Find out as much information as possible about the recruiter/company posting the job.
• Call the advertiser of the job. This may be found on LinkedIn, or other job-posting site. 
• Ask the receptionist's name and ask them to pass on a message to the employer. 
• Practice what you are going to say.
• Practice questions.
• Plan for all eventualities/multiple scenarios.
• Follow up any/all conversations with an email, give thanks for taking call.

Question Examples

Some good questions to ask potential employers. Remember, don't try to sell yourself on the phone.

• What are you looking for in a candidate?
• What is the interview process?
• What does the future look like for 'x'?
• What is your client base like?
• What are your goals within your sector?

Interview Preparation

• Visit the place, observe employees coming and going, see dress code etc.
• Check the weather for the day of your interview.
• Make sure that you arrive early and prepared, at least an hour before it starts (Don't go in early).
• Research the recruiter and the business.
• Check the parking situation.
• Google/LinkedIn search the interviewer.
• Make notes, write down questions.
• Learn the business' numbers/accounts.

Interview Tips

• Show interest.
• Dress smartly, always wear shirt and tie.
• The receptionist will always have the final say - make a point to introduce yourself and be polite. Address them by name.
• Remain composed.
• Be humble, show humility.
• If you don't know an answer to a question, don't pretend to know the answer - just say you don't know.
• Show willingness to learn.
• Never ask about pay at the first interview, unless mentioned by employer.
• Ask questions throughout.

Question Examples

• What's the culture like?
• Tell me about you, what do you enjoy about your job?
• What are the plans for the company?
• Clients?
• What's important to you as a business?
• What does day one look like?
• Why is this job position open?

 Additional Tips

• Find out about the customers and competitors of the business.
• NEVER ask about holidays or working hours (first interview).
• Take time leaving the interview.
• Thank interviewer for time.
• Ask for contact details/business card
• Make sure you follow-up ASAP.
• Say 'If you offer me the job, I'll take it.'
• As you leave the building, remember to say bye to the receptionist.

Points to Remember

• Think, act and look like a professional.
• People buy in to people.
• Appreciate the employers decision.
• Acknowledge openness to future rolls/opportunities.
• Working pace is FAST.

Cliff's workshop has undoubtedly given me invaluable knowledge and advice on how to approach the job application process and as a result I feel much more confident about applying for jobs post-graduation.