September is on its way: are you interview ready?

We’ve all known what it feels like to be sitting in the hot seat, waiting to be interviewed for a new position. So whatever side of the job fence you’re now on, recruiter or interviewee, you’ll probably be able to relate to these recruitment interview turn offs, courtesy of Reed.co.uk. See the full recruitment article here.

Meanwhile, if you’re thinking about returning to work in September when the kids start back, or if you’ve just grown out of your current role, here are some top job interview tips to help you tackle your next interview.

Check out the support that Ten2Two offer

Firstly, book into one of our free workshops, happening across the southeast through your local Ten2Two branch. We have all sorts of events aimed at helping job seekers to find flexible and part-time work, including CV writing, flexible recruitment interview techniques and confidence boosting exercises. Find your nearest Ten2Two event here.

Refresh your CV

Secondly, take a look at your CV now. It shouldn’t be more than two A4 pages where possible, and presentation is key. Here are some starters for ten:

• Grammar and presentation. Make sure the formatting is consistent and always proofread your work. Ask a friend to look at it to double check for errors and general flow.
• Think about your audience. Ask yourself, ‘is it relevant?’ Every point needs to be there for a good reason. If you can’t think of one, delete it.
• Edit and keep re-reading. Always edit your CV after you’ve written it: that means, cut it down and keep cutting until you’re happy with the end result. If it doesn’t fit on two (maximum three) pages, it’s too long.
• Avoid clichés where possible. You’ll see in the Reed article that the phrase ‘good team player’ was one of the biggest CV bugbears for employers.

Plan for your interview

Thirdly, think about the actual interview. If you’ve had time off work for any reason, work out how this time has helped you to be a better employee. For example, has having a child has made you more time efficient? Or if you had time off due to illness, are you now more determined because of this adversity?

There are lots of ways you can boost your confidence after a gap in employment. You may need a new outfit for the day of the interview. If you feel good, you’re more likely to do well at the flexible recruitment stage. But remember, it can take several interviews to find your ideal job role. So don’t be downhearted and put your best foot forward. Your ideal employer is out there waiting for you to fill their latest flexible recruitment role! And if you’re a business looking for new talent for a flexible or part-time position, we might just have the ideal candidate to help you fill it.

September is a great time to find or to fill a new role, so contact us today for more advice, recruitment support and general enquiries. We look forward to hearing from you.