At Byron Thomas we have the tools and resources available to provide you with the most up to date advice on a number of aspects on your career development, including job search guidance and interview tips. We also provide one on one consultations offering continuing professional education. To back this up we have recently published a number of articles and resources to help you get ahead in today’s job market.

The following information is set out to help you get started. No doubt many of you reading this will already have professional CV’s and have had interviews and know the techniques already. This information will help those individuals who are starting out. However, we are only a telephone call away if you would like further assistance in preparing for a job interview or applying for a top job, please call us.

Do you need help writing a CV? Before you begin, have a look at the following useful tips needed to help you get all of the appropriate information required. Remember, the first impression is the one that matters the most.

Choosing an appropriate CV format It needs to be specialised for the position, for which you are applying. For example, if you are applying for a Fellowship, then you will not need to include the personal information that may be required in an International one. Review online CV samples for the format suggestions.

Have several versions of your CV Do not just write one CV. Make a blueprint then create targeted and tailored versions to use in each job application that you submit. This will enhance your opportunity in an interview situation.

What to include in your CV In addition to your education and work history, your CV should contain your research experience, publications, grants and Fellowships, courses taught, institutional service, professional associations, accreditation, presentations, licenses and awards.

What not to include There is no need to include your photo, your salary history, the reason you left your previous position, or references in your CV. References should be listed separately and given to employers upon request.

Proof your CV Double check it for typing and grammatical errors. Then ask two different people to review it for you, as it is often difficult to see your own mistakes. Is it cluttered? Does it come across clear and to the point? Is the formatting consistent? (Spacing, bold, etc).

Keep it short If possible, keep your CV short and concise. There is nothing worse than an employer trudging through pages of information that may be irrelevant to the job. Include summaries of your employment and education, rather than using a lot of details. Use formal and well constructed language, writing simply and clearly. Do not use abbreviations like don’t or won’t and avoid using slang.

Tell the truth It can be very tempting to over-polish a CV and make educational qualifications or work history sound better than the reality. If you are tempted to stretch the truth about your work history, our advice is don’t! It will eventually be found out. Start as you mean to continue, be honest from the beginning. Most employers conduct reference and background checks at some stage and if the information you have stated is untrue, then trust is lost and you will either be fired or not be considered for the position.

Here are a few tips and strategies for effective interviewing. Be prepared.

Company Research

Go to the company website and find out as much as you can. Before the interview, request to be sent some literature about the business. Memorise details about the company so that in discussions you can be proactive and knowledgeable. Know about the company’s past performance and future plans. Show them you have done your homework.

Behavioural Interviews

Behaviour based interviewing is becoming more popular. It is based on the premise that a candidate's past performance is the best predictor of future performance. Rather than the typical interview questions on your background and experience, you will need to be prepared to provide detailed responses including specific examples of your work experiences. Refer to the BBI section above, for more detailed advice on this type of interviewing.

Prepare for the Interview

Always arrive at the interview at least ten to fifteen minutes before it begins. Drive to the office ahead of time so you know where it is and allow for traffic. Find out the interviewer's name before you attend so that he or she can be properly greeted. Bring extra copies of both your resume and of your references.

Behavioural Based Interviewing is based on discovering how the interviewee behaved in specific employment-related situations. The logic is based on how past behaviour reflects future behaviour. Questions may include how you may have handled a situation in the past.

Here are some typical questions:

Behavioral interview questions will be more pointed, more probing and more specific than traditional interview questions:

• Give an example of an occasion when you used logic to solve a problem.
• Give an example of a goal you reached and tell me how you achieved it.
• Describe a decision you made that was unpopular and how you handled implementing it.
• Have you gone above and beyond the call of duty? If so, how?
• What do you do when your schedule is interrupted? Give an example of how you handle it.
• Have you had to convince a team to work on a project they weren't thrilled about? How did you do it?
• Have you handled a difficult situation with a co-worker? How?
• Tell me about how you worked effectively under pressure.

Follow-up questions will also be detailed. You may be asked what you did, what you said, how you reacted or how you felt.

Prepare answers in advance to both the traditional interview and behavioural one.

Before beginning to negotiate pay and benefits with a prospective employer, you need to find out how much you are worth and how much the job is worth. To do this you are advised to research comparative salaries which will enable you to attain a realistic and reasonable job offer.

Negotiating Salary Once you have substantiated what you should be earning, how do you go about getting it? Patience is always advisable. If you are asked what your salary requirements are, say they are open to offers. Another way of responding to this question is to say that the salary depends on the responsibilities and challenges of the job and you would like to learn as much as you can about this first, before discussing salary. Once you have received an offer, ask the company to confirm it in writing in order to make a decision. This will allow you to think about it. If you think it is not the right job for you, always say you need to consider it first. Occasionally the employer will raise the offer and you may change your mind.