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Interview Tips

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BODY LANGUAGE IS IMPORTANT – EVEN DURING YOUR ZOOM INTERVIEW

 

body language
Your smile is key to landing your next job!

 

Body language – how important is it? After you practice your responses to a list of the most common legal competency-based questions, you must make sure you don’t miss this critical component to your next interview. Whether your interview is virtual or in-person, your body language could be the key to helping you get the job.

Professor Albert Mehrabian did extensive research into the impact of our verbal and nonverbal communication. In his communication model, he identified three key points regarding body language: 

  • 55 percent of the message you communicate relates to your body language and facial expression; 
  • 38 percent of the message you communicate relates to the tone of your voice and your manner of speech; and
  • Only 7 percent of your message relates to the words we communicate.

From unconscious fidgeting to awkward facial expressions, our nervousness in an interview can easily lead to a host of body language mistakes.

So here some suggestions on how to improve your body language:

MAINTAIN EYE CONTACT

One of the biggest mistakes you can make during your job interview is to avoid eye contact with your interviewer. Hiring managers want to see the confidence in their prospective candidates, and keeping your vision cast down towards the floor makes you look nervous and lack confidence. Though this can be a part of your personality, it’s something you need to consider and address.

Make sure you look at your interviewer as you answer their questions and show you are actively listening and engaged in the conversation.

THE BODY LANGUAGE OF A SMILE 

Not only can smiling make you appear warm and friendly, but it may also help you with your interview-based nerves. Employers want to hire someone who has a pleasant manner and fits into a legal firm’s culture.

LIMIT YOUR HAND GESTURES

Although you may gesture with your hands with your friends and family, it is best to keep hand gestures to a minimum during your job interview.

Moving your hands around can be distracting, especially on a zoom job interview.

UNCROSS YOUR ARMS

Though you might think this doesn’t happen anymore in an interview situation, however, surprisingly it still does. Remember, especially in an interview situation, crossed arms may be seen as a sign that you are disengaged, bored, or even worse – defensive.

By keeping the frame of your body open and angled towards the interviewer, you can portray interest and engagement with your body language, 

KEEP YOUR BODY POSTURE STRAIGHT 

Sitting with a bad posture will not help you appear confident. Make sure you sit up straight, with spine straight against the back of your chair, and square off your shoulders. A strong posture helps you look more like a leader. 

Strategic Recruitment Solutions has been matching top companies with top talent in the Gulf Region for more than a decade. We specialize in Legal and IT recruiting. Also, our industry-expert recruiters can offer insight and guidance. Call us today at 888-366-6508 to learn how easy partnering with SRS can help you reach your business goals. Best of all, we offer a free resume review. Find out more information here.

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TELL YOUR RECRUITER THE TRUTH – Transparency is Key to Finding the Right Job at the Right Pay

 

Recruiters are like good therapists, they should know the truth. If you are thinking of changing jobs, you need to share your full job history with your legal or IT recruiter.  The more they know, the more they will be able to help you find your dream job.

Recruiters should know:


1. Recruiters should know about all your prior jobs, even the ones not listed on your resume 

 

Did you know that 78 percent of job seekers lie on their resume! For the most part, this applies to positions post-college.  You should reveal every position you’ve held, even if for a short time. At best, you will appear to be a well-rounded candidate who has the ability to work in a variety of roles. At worst, it avoids the possibility of leaving something in your work history that may come back later to haunt you.

2. Tell your Recruiter the truth about why you are leaving your current job

 

Employers will always want the answer to this question. Tell your recruiter the truth about the circumstances that led you to consider changing jobs. If you choose not to share the “real” reason at your interview, your recruiter can help you answer the question in a way that puts you in your best light. It may help to make a list of pros and cons regarding your current job: what are the positives and what are the negatives? This information is invaluable in your recruiter’s hands for assisting you in finding the best job for you. He or she will help you avoid toxic environments that pushed you to move on from your current job in the first place.

 

3. Recruiters need to know what salary you have in mind

 

Advocate for yourself in terms of salary. If you have a minimum salary requirement, tell your recruiter! Not only will this help you find a job with the right compensation it will also save everyone time. Once you let your recruiter know what you want, the prospective positions can be narrowed down to find the best fit for you.

 

Strategic Recruitment Solutions has been matching top companies with top talent in the Gulf Region for more than a decade. We specialize in Legal and IT recruiting. Also, our industry-expert recruiters can offer insight and guidance. Call us today at 888-366-6508 to learn how easy partnering with SRS can help you reach your business goals. Best of all, we offer a free resume review. Find out more information here.

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VIRTUAL JOB INTERVIEWS ARE HERE TO STAY- Here are tips on how to prepare!

Are you ready for your virtual interview?

As the world continues to adjust to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) businesses have found new ways to attract and hire new employees. Virtual meetings are utilized for recruiting, interviewing, and onboarding employees. Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, many employers are conducting the first interview virtually. Your second or third interview, maybe a face to face interview, however, you must be prepared to ace the virtual interview first.

Preparing for a virtual job interview

A virtual interview may seem easier because there is no parking involved, however, sometimes that is not the case. You will still be asked questions about your work history and job-related skills; however, you will be asked additional questions as well. Be prepared to talk about how you managed your time during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as your ability to handle stressful situations.

Below are sample questions that may be asked on your virtual job interview:

How do you stay motivated?

When you are on the job, it is easier to stay on track because you are accountable to others. In order to prove that you are the right choice, you may need to provide a few solid examples of how you stayed motivated. Prepare your answers in advance and practice your virtual interview with a colleague. You will want to make sure that when giving personal answers you remain professional.

Are you comfortable working remotely?

Prior to COVID-19, many business professionals had not worked from home. In answering this question, it’s important to show that you can quickly adapt to handling situations remotely while still exhibiting professionalism. Even after the pandemic is over, telecommuting may be here to stay.

How have you handled stress associated with COVID-19?

Regardless of your profession, we have all faced trials and tribulations surrounding the state of global health these past few months. Currently, employers are searching for people with the ability to overcome and adapt to high pressure and high-stress situations. Flexibility is an invaluable skill that employers will seek out in their talent pool. Show potential employers your ability to keep a level head and approach stressful situations directly.

What is your work-from-home approach? Can you utilize your space for virtual team meetings?

Employers will want to know if your environment at home and is cohesive with a full-time job. Practice answering this question by describing your workspace. Do you have a reliable and fast WiFi and a computer that will support your work?

How did you spend your time during stay-at-home orders?

This may seem like a trick question, but it is really about your ability to adapt. Have you been keeping your professional skills sharp and investing in your career? How well have you handled the distractions related to the pandemic? Were you able to remain productive?

For more than a decade, SRS has been helping job seekers find their ideal opportunity. If you are a top performer in the Legal Industry or Informational Technology, submit your resume.  Exceptional talent is in high demand at the top-performing companies. Ready to make a career move?  Contact SRS today!

 

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BEHAVIORAL INTERVIEW QUESTIONS – How to Prepare Your Responses

Tips on answering behavioral interview questions
Be prepared to answer behavioral interview questions.

Have a stellar resume? Years of technical experience? These are all impressive, but for most jobs, fitting into a culture and demonstrating adaptability and responding to pressure is just as important as technical skills. Likely, you will be asked behavioral questions at your next interview.

WHAT IS A BEHAVIORAL QUESTION?

Behavioral Interview Questions are situational questions designed to uncover your skills and talents (competencies). They are questions that make you think and reveal qualities about yourself indirectly. They may make you uncomfortable because they require that you “think on your feet.” There is no right or wrong answer. However, there is a correct way to prepare your response to reveal the personality trait/work habit the interviewer is seeking.

Some of these questions are in the category of “When did you stop beating your wife?” They have an underlying assumption that you did something wrong. For example, “Tell me about a time you did not properly handle a disagreement with a co-worker.” If you can not think of an answer immediately, ask for clarification. This will give you some time to figure out the underlying purpose of the question so that you can prepare your response.

Employers are not trying to trick you. They ask behavioral questions so that they can hire the right person for the job.  The questions they ask are to determine if you have qualities such as integrity, decisiveness, adaptability, sensitivity, tenacity, and diplomacy. They want to know if you are a self-starter and if you feel comfortable in a leadership role.

Here are some common behavioral questions:

How did you handle conflict with a co-worker?

Describe a time when a co-worker approached you and criticized your work. How did you handle the situation? What was the outcome?

Tell me about a time when you had to persuade someone to see your point of view. What tactics did you use?

What was the outcome?

Tell me about a time you failed. How did you deal with it?

THE STAR METHOD

Apply the Star Method to any behavioral interview question. STAR stands for:
Situational: Tell the interviewer the context or setting of your answer.
Task: What was your role in the situation?
Action: What action did you take to address the situation?
Result: What was the result of your action?

Results are the most crucial element of this equation. What did you learn? The details of what exactly happened in the proposed situation are not as important as your result.

Preparation and practice are the keys to your successful behavioral interview. Find out as much as you can about the company culture before you arrive at your interview. Review the company website, their social media platforms, and ask your colleagues. Then, practice responding to the most common behavioral interview questions. Discuss your possible answers with someone you trust, someone who has had success in your field, or your recruiter. Ask for help with specific questions that may be difficult to answer. At Strategic Recruitment Solutions, we can help you prepare in advance. Being prepared will not only reduce your anxiety, but it will also demonstrate your confidence and competence.

For more than a decade, SRS has been helping job seekers find their ideal opportunity. If you are a top performer in the Legal Industry or Informational Technology, submit your resume.  Exceptional talent is in high demand at the top-performing companies. Ready to make a career move?  Contact SRS today!

 

 

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YOUR TELEPHONE INTERVIEW WILL BE A SUCCESS WITH THESE 7 TIPS!

7 Tips to your successful telephone interview

Telephone interviews are better if you are standing and smiling!

Telephone interviews are becoming more frequent due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the job market. Most companies now employ the telephone interview as the initial interview. Your ability to excel will likely determine whether you will be asked for a second interview or offered the job. The candidates that treat the telephone interview like an “informal chat” rarely make it to the next stage of the hiring process.

Below are some useful tips and tricks to ace your telephone interview:

Do your research

Make sure, you prepare for your telephone interview like any other interview. Check the company website and write out at least three questions to ask the interviewer.

Be prepared 

If you are taking the call on your cell phone, make sure you have an excellent telephone signal and a full battery. Save the hiring manager and recruiters’ name and number on your phone so that you will answer the phone professionally. Make sure you are settled and waiting for the phone call at least 15 minutes in advance and that you are in quiet space to talk. Keep your CV, bullet points of your top skills and achievements, plus any headline information about the company in front of you in case you get stuck.

Pay attention to your surroundings

Find a place to take the call without any distractions. You will want to make sure you are entirely focused on the interview. If you don’t need your cellphone during the discussion, turn it off or put it on silent. Better yet, put it out of reach so that you will not be tempted to check it.

Get physically and mentally ready for the telephone call

Do some breathing exercises before the interview. To calm your nerves, try visualizing a positive outcome.

Prepare to speak

Make sure you drink a glass of water before the interview, especially if your phone interview is first thing in the morning. Remember, the interviewer will be unable to read your body language or see your facial expressions. Avoid speaking too quickly, interrupting, mumbling, covering your mouth or using filler words such as “um,” or “like”.

Stand up

If you have an interview via webcam, make sure you stand to make sure that your posture is upright. Standing will help you project your voice which eludes confidence. It is important to remember to smile as it helps to inflect a positive intonation in your tone of voice.

Remember your manners

Avoid eating, chewing gum or checking your cell phone. It is disrespectful to your interviewer and will show that you don’t take the process seriously. Avoid multi-tasking. Finally, avoid interrupting. Unfortunately, this is more likely to happen during a telephone interview, because you can’t see the interviewer’s visual cues to judge whether they have finished speaking. By pausing for a few seconds before you talk, you can easily avoid interrupting.

Bonus Telephone Interview Tip

Conclude the interview just as you would a face-to-face meeting. Remember, to thank the interviewer for his or her time, reiterate your interest in the role, and ask the interview to clarify the next steps. Remember, you can still leave a lasting impression with the interviewer, even with a telephone interview.

About Strategic Recruitment Solutions

Strategic Recruitment Solutions has been matching top companies with top talent in the Gulf Region for more than a decade. We specialize in Legal and IT Recruiting and have industry-expert recruiters that can offer the kind of insight and guidance that helps grow companies and careers. Call us today to see for yourself how easy partnering with the right recruiter will help you reach your business goals.

When you are ready to add to your team, consider partnering with us. We can help you recruit and retain employees now and in the future. Call us today at 888-366-6508.