Aptitude Test

Showing posts with label interview. Show all posts

How do you impress an interviewer? This is a question everyone asks themselves. While we could give you many tips and pieces of advice ourselves, we thought it would be to ask prominent hiring managers from top firms to tell us what they like to see in an applicant.

“Research the company to determine fit, as well as the type of post-MBA role that best suits you. Consider internship opportunities at the company between your first and second year of business school. This is a key way to garner both work experience, exposure to the company, and, if successful, the possibility of a full-time offer.”

Scott Swayne, General Mills

“The biggest [mistake] is being unprepared. There’s a lot of competition out there and there’s a lot of people who can do the same jobs, so what is that differentiator for you? Being able to describe that uniqueness and creativity is what separates you from others.”

Cindi Harper, Intel

“When our clients describe what it’s like to work with a team of A.T. Kearney Consultants, they tend to talk about the ‘people’ element. We want people who care about the work and the people they work with who show intellectual curiosity and the spirit to do well.”

Phil Morgan, A.T. Kearney

“Give us an insight into what excites you, and what your passions are. That stuff at the bottom of your resume: tell us about it, and what makes you unique.”

Russ Hagey, Bain & Company

“The biggest mistake that a candidate can make during an interview is not researching the position that they are interviewing for. At the interview stage, they should be asking specific questions about components of the program, not, “so tell me about the program.”

Chris Thomas, General Electric

“At Accenture, we look for people who can communicate effectively and work well on teams. For current MBA students, it’s important to hone in on the skills that will make you successful in your career.”

John Campagnino, Accenture

Want more advice from hiring managers, read more here.

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About the author: David-Anthony Gordon is a journalist at BusinessBecause, a professional networking and news site for the business school world. It also includes helpful information such as MBA rankings and MBA jobs and has fresh daily content.

~ JobTestPrep Team ~

The Star Method Interview Example 1 by JobTestPrep

As part of our STAR Method Explained Series, we bring you a sample response to a popular STAR Method style question.

Question

Tell me about a time when you were in charge of a group.

Answer

At University I was in charge of a group assignment involving a fictitious company that we had to run. There were various steps and duties involved in this task from the marketing to the accounts as well as myriad things in between. We had to find a new office for relocation of the company. This involved a cost-benefit analysis as to where to move to vis-à-vis office space, rent, location as well as some other details such as travel time for our workers and the funding for this.

The exercises that we had to do for the task were not the main challenge though. As the project leader, it was my job to ensure that everyone had a task to do and that meant ensuring that everyone was up to speed on where everybody else was at. However, we had a problem in that one member of our team was unable to attend many meetings. This not only harmed him but also the rest of the group as we all needed to contribute and help each other in order to succeed.

As a group without this person, we had a meeting in which it was decided that I should have a quiet word with him to discuss his absence. It transpired that he was going through a very tough time in his personal life with a member of his family being seriously ill. He was overstrained and trying his best but his work was suffering.

I suggested that we take up this matter with the course lecturer as even though I felt that he should be allowed some dispensation regarding this assignment it wasn't my call to make. We managed to arrange this meeting at which time we explained the problem both with regards to his personal issues but also to our group work as a whole. This was because the workload was too great for a team of four being reduced to three.

The course lecturer decided that he would get a dispensation from this project that could be made up at a later date and that we as a group would get a week’s extension in order to complete the work. We managed to do this and due to the fact that through this crisis we had grown stronger as a group and were able to produce the required results on time. In fact, as a group we got a distinction on this piece of work.

As we can see from the above answer, this is a complete story with the added attraction of pulling the heartstrings of the interviewer. It is a showcase of team working skills, empathy, results orientation as well as the ability to build a rapport with the interviewer. For a first hand try and extra guidance take a look at our Skype interview package.

We hope you have enjoyed this guide and look forward to serving you in the future. Good luck with your next application!

~ JobTestPrep Team ~

How to Sell Yourself Effectively in an Interview - JobTestPrep's Blog

It is easy to have a casual attitude towards interviews, particularly if you have attended many in the past. However, you may find this isn’t working anymore. Why?

The jobs market has changed drastically since the recession forcing recruitment to take a new form. Of course, CVs are still the backbone of any job application, but there are also ways in which to stand out amongst other candidates when it comes to your interview. First impressions count and you will get a very small window to show off what you can offer.

This is why it’s important now more than ever to learn how to ‘sell yourself’ as effectively as you can. Think of it as if you were selling a product to a customer in a store. Remember to keep in mind what you are selling, who you are selling to, and what the unique selling point is.

What are you selling?

Remember that in this situation it is yourself that is the product up for grabs. You want to highlight your strengths to maximise the conversion rate, like you would do if you were selling an item on eBay.

So, how do you make yourself look as good as possible? Firstly ensure that you have the correct qualifications needed for the position. It is true that more employers are looking for people with experience, but for many academic careers, a minimum educational level is a must. If you don’t have the formal qualifications to argue that you’re knowledgeable on a topic, why do you think you’d be good for this position? Make sure you have adequate experience to make up for this.

Alternatively, turn to the internet. There is a wealth of free information online, so although you may not have the means to attend an education establishment, it doesn’t mean you can’t advance your knowledge.

In terms of experience, get out there and get some! It’s important to bear in mind that employers will consider your past performances as an indication of your potential future accomplishments.

Phil McCabe of the Forum of Private Business lobby group has stated that the education system doesn’t produce the right level of work-ready young people.

More than one million 16-24 year olds are now unemployed in Britain and study after study has shown that employers would rather hire someone with some work experience under their belts, than a degree.

If you’re new to the jobs market, try some unpaid work experience. The fact that you have sacrificed your time and money to advance your career prospects speaks volumes to an employer. They don’t always want the finished package. They want someone who will develop and grow within a company. If this is you, state it explicitly in an interview. The employer will be impressed at your straightforward approach and willingness to progress.

What’s most important to a company is proven results. Whether you get this from a previous job or from an unpaid internship, it doesn’t matter. Better yourself, not just for the interview, but for you career in the long term.

Who are you selling to?

Make sure you research the market you are looking to enter. The majority of interviews fails due to a lack of preparation or because of nerves. Kill two birds with one stone here by over-preparing. If you are well researched, you will come across as more confident.

Also think about how you match up against their criteria? Is it a small business? If so, they may want someone who can multi-task and take on more responsibilities from the beginning.

If there is a minimum requirement for the position, then it would be necessary to make sure you pay attention. Recruiters prefer when their instructions are followed. Saying this, if you feel you have ways to make up for a lack of experience, for example, make this clear in your covering letter, and it’s worth a shot.

One way to stand out in your interview is through questions. Look through the job description and other company literature to find relevant questions you could ask.

This shows enthusiasm and confidence. If you ask about the company’s plans, it shows you are thinking about long term plans. Furthermore, asking questions in reference to their website, or business strategy, or press they have received, is evidence that you’ve done your home, and makes a fantastic first impression. You’d be amazed how many people don’t research prior to interviews. Make sure you’re not one of them.

What’s the USP?

Put yourself in the position of the interviewee. What is it that you offer that someone else can’t?They might see a large number of candidates in one day, so find a way to be memorable, whilst professional.

When discussing experience, you don’t always have to reference an employment example. Perhaps an unusual hobby of yours has given you some desirable skills for the job.

There are three Ps to think about when it comes to your USP: Performance (what have you achieved so far in your career?), Potential (what are you capable of in the future?), and Perseverance (enthusiasm can speak volumes).

Go through these prior to the interview and think of evidence where you have shown these traits. If you have any documentation or a portfolio to back it up, always bring it with you.

But most of all, relax and be yourself. Just because the situation is formal, doesn’t mean you can’t be cheerful. Most people are so nervous, showing your smiley bubbly side could be the easy solutions to stand out amongst the crowds.

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About the author: This guest post was written by Karen Asbury from The Coaching Academy, the world’s largest training organisation for coaching.

Note: If you wish to receive new articles and product updates directly to your inbox, you can subscribe to our newsletter.

~ JobTestPrep Team ~

Dress for success for your interview - JobTestPrep's Blog

Interviews are one of the most daunting processes you can experience. Whether it be a group or individual interview, it can be difficult to keep your nerves under control when all eyes are on you. With this in mind, it is important that you look your best as first impressions are everything.

What should I wear?

Dress smartly and comfortably. If you attend the interview in clothes that don't fit or are too casual, the interviewer will think you're not serious about the job role. As you enter the room, offer your hand to the assessor and shake firmly. This touch of confidence combined with your well-dressed appearance should create the impact needed to positively influence the employer’s initial thoughts about you.

Clothing for Men

Men should opt for a dark coloured matching 2-piece suit. Dark blue or grey suits are generally the preferred option as black can seem too sharp and severe. Slim-fit suits look good but generally, as long as your suit is well-pressed, square at the shoulders, long enough in the arm and leg length and not too loose or too tight you will present a solid prepared and smart image. You don't have to spend too much on a suit but if you have to wear it for work, it will be convenient to invest in one that fits correctly so you can use it for a few years.

Choose a long sleeved, light coloured shirt to match your suit. Make sure the colour you choose compliments well; white and light blue are the safest options. The collar should be buttoned at the top to help emphasise your professionalism.

To complete the look, wear a matching suit tie and ensure the tip reaches the belt buckle. Avoid loud colours, characters and patterns; this can give an informal appearance. A Windsor knot is the most traditional way to secure the tie so to save time, make sure you know how to fix one correctly before the day of your interview arrives.

Polished Shoes - Be ready for your interview! - JobTestPrep's Blog

Shoes should be polished and dark; socks and belt should match in colour.

Keep accessories to a minimum and wear non-perfumed cologne. Any visible body piercings should be removed and tattoos covered. You don't want to distract the attention away from the main focus which is your suitability for the role!

For a more casual style interview, opt for chinos, shirt or polo with a jumper or cardigan. Stay away from jeans and trainers as they look too relaxed for the purpose of your meeting.

Clothing for Women

Avoid tight-fitting attire. Dark coloured trousers or a knee length skirt will help you look professional and smart. Alternatively, a plain suit dress will also be appropriate. With both combinations, make sure they are accompanied with a blazer that corresponds with the outfit.

Pale coloured blouse - Be prepared for success for interview - JobTestPrep's Blog

Stay sensible with a pale coloured blouse to match your suit trousers or skirt. Ensure that the neckline is not low; the employer may view you as unprofessional.

For footwear, stick to pumps or shoes with a low heel. Heels can help you with your posture and make you look smart and classy.

Keep jewellery and make-up to a minimum. Heavy make-up can make you look cheap and this isn't what you want to be remembered for.

For a business casual style interview, day dresses and maxi dresses are appropriate but combine them with a smart blazer to keep your outfit well-dressed and suitable for the interview.

Conclusion

Preparation is key so check your employer’s website to see if there are any clues to the company dress code and if in doubt, it’s better to go too smart than too casual. You will not be judged if you turn up too smart but they will be less than impressed if you turn up in a tracksuit and trainers. Most importantly remember to smile! It shows you are a confident, sociable person with a positive attitude towards working for their company.

For more interview preparation tips and example questions, check out our interview pages.

About the author: This is an article by India Cash, a music graduate from Leeds who works on behalf of ASOS who are retailers of suits, maxi-dresses and footwear.

Note: If you wish to receive new articles and product updates directly to your inbox, you can subscribe to our newsletter.

~ JobTestPrep Team ~

These ten job interview tips on how to successfully pass an interview are from the Executive Recruiter’s point of view.

From how to dress, to how to follow-up on an interview, these tips cover the major bases:

Dress up for the event - show you know the form, honour your interviewers by looking smart.
Dress right down to your shoes. Accessories matter - clean shoes, no tattoos, less jewellery.
Know where you are going (literally) and get there on time – nothing winds a busy person up more than someone who wastes their time.
Know who you are going to see and find out as much about the organisation and their challenges as you can.
Know the answers. OK you can’t know all the questions but you can anticipate some of them. Have really good answers ready for those predictable ones.
Be likeable - shake hands, smile, look them in the eye, be pleased to be in their company. Not gushing, but you need to come over as someone they would want to have around.
Be clear - to sound confident you have to speak clearly, open your mouth, open your lungs, breathe deeply and annunciate. Pause before you answer and structure what you want to say.
Be slow - nervous people will talk really quickly, you need to speak slowly and clearly.
Be still, be really careful to sit up and keep your chin up, it affects your ability to speak up and makes you appear more confident but don’t fidget. Video yourself on your phone in a practice session; eliminate any silly mannerisms. And no flirty gestures.
Say thank you and do the hand shake, smile, eye contact at the end. If you can, do the follow up email saying how much you enjoyed meeting them, want to work with them, etc.

These ten job interview tips form the introduction to Mary Hope’s CD "Turbo Charge Interview Confidence Booster" available in the UK at Mary Hope Career Success.

About the author: Mary Hope is a careers coach with experience as a psychometric tester and executive headhunter. Her website Mary Hope Career Success can help you achieve what you want in your career whether it is immediate success in a recruitment process, or a more strategic approach to career management.

~ JobTestPrep Team ~

A common Assessment Centre exercise is giving a presentation. There are lots of things to think about when giving a presentation aside from content – PowerPoint design, body language, interaction with the audience, etc. Here is our insider advice on how to go about presentation preparation, for more about Assessment Centre practice visit our Assessment Centre Presentation page onsite.

Assessment Centre interview presentation tips

1. Structure of the presentation

Plan the structure and timing of the presentation in advance. Make sure everything is clearly sectioned and that there are section summaries. Recommended structure:

Introduce yourself – See 2. below.

Background – It is important to introduce the concept in a broad and general manner, giving explanations where appropriate.

In-depth analysis – This is the main and most substantial part of the presentation, you should appoint most time to this section. This is an informative stage.

Interim summary – One or two sentences which summarise the in-depth analysis.

Advantages / Disadvantages – In this section, present short, different opinions about the topic. Opinions should be objective and not personal at this point.

Solution – Suggest solution/s to the problems that were raised.

Personal opinion – This should be a short section. The presenter gives across his personal opinion on the topic, and the reasons why they chose this topic.

Questions – Invite the audience to ask you questions.

Summary – A short summary relating to the background of the problem, and how to drive the next stages plus food for thought.

Conclusion – Don’t forget to thank the audience for listening.

2. What to say when you introduce yourself

When you introduce yourself, it should be short and to the point – maximum 30 seconds. We recommend you introduce yourself in the following order:

Full name

Current role

Previous role (if relevant)

Education

3. Tips for body language

Stand straight - this is likely to give an impression of confidence.

Don’t put hands in pockets

Make sure you are making eye-contact with the audience

Speak loudly and clearly

Don’t directly read your presentation off notes (cue-cards are fine).

Be enthusiastic about the topic

4. Tips for content of the presentation

Be attentive to the allocated time given for the presentation.
It is better to speak about fewer aspects of the problem in greater depth, than to talk about more aspects in lesser depth – it is more memorable.
In order to clarify your ideas, try and relate to the audience as much as possible using examples and analogies that are not topic-specific.
Do not use generalisations or stereotypes, you do not want to say anything that could insult your audience.

5. How to order your slides

Title slide – Name of the presentation, name of speaker and the speaker’s role in the presentation
Slide 1 – Aims of the presentation
Slide 2 – Contents of the presentation
Slide 3 – Body of presentation as outlined above Summary slide
Slide of thanks
Back-up slide – It is good to have a number of back-up slides with examples or additional information for complicated topics.

6. Design

Be consistent with the background colour.
Write shortly and succinctly.
We recommend no more than five lines per slide, a maximum of seven words per line, "Arial" font and the size to be between 34 and 56.
Any topic that needs an explanation should be explained orally and not on the slide.
Each section should have a unique colour, picture or some other uniform sign so that people know when you have moved on to a new section.

7. General interview presentation tips

Humour– It is good to use humour once in a while, but be careful not to embarrass yourself!
Practice the presentation several times beforehand!
Succeed at your job interview with JobTestPrep's online interview preparation pack designed by psychologists and experienced hiring managers.

Good luck!

~ JobTestPrep Team ~

How to do your research, what to do when there are holes in the job spec' and what to ask the interviewer.

Preparing for interview with Tim Thomas and JobTestPrep

In speaking with candidates, the most frequent questions I get asked involve investment banking interview technique and the best strategy to take when speaking with interviewers.

Interviews and interview technique is a very wide topic and the advice I give depends on a number of things such as the type of interview which is being conducted or may be at which stage the candidate is in the interview process – is he just about to embark on the first round or is he nearing the final stages.

If you’re not working with a headhunter to a find a role and don’t have the benefit of his advice and have secured an interview through your own initiative then your performance here boils down to essentially how well you have prepared for it.

Research

The quality and strength of your preparation is determined by your willingness to engage in research. There are three areas to which you should focus your energy when doing this; researching the company which is hiring; researching the position you’re interviewing for and lastly, your background and experience and how it applies to the job.

« Your objective is to be as informed and as well researched as possible about your potential employer. »

If there’s news or information about the company and it’s in the public domain then you should know about it. When it comes to researching companies there are plenty of avenues you can use whether through the internet and in particular Google or Linkedin or if it’s a smaller organisation perhaps referring to the local newspaper, either online or offline will give you any background on the firm.

Always, always, make sure you look at the company’s own website; here you will find general information as well as press releases. Starting at this point you will be able to identify any relevant news stories which you can use to develop and widen your research through Google.

Moving on from researching the company, let’s look research into the position itself. While it may seem an obvious thing to do, it’s important to be clear in your mind what the job you’re applying for involves and understanding what will be expected of you. Once you have this you can fine tune your “sales pitch” to the interviewer. While the pitch you use during an interview is a subject in itself, keep in mind that it will be heavily based on the research you have undertaken beforehand.

Investigate the role

Can you find similar positions at competitor's advertised elsewhere perhaps on Monster, efinancialnews or on Gerard Knight Recruitment. Does this position mention a requirement for a skill or software knowledge which is not shown in the job specification for the role you’re targeting? Do you have this experience? During the interview you can ask why it was not included. It could simply be an oversight by the person who wrote the job spec’ or it could be that particular area of responsibility is dealt with by a separate team within the company.

If you have the experience, asking the interviewer why it wasn’t included is a win/win for you because if it’s an oversight you’ll give yourself the opportunity to add colour to your CV and show yourself to have a bit of experience that your fellow interviewees might not have. If the reason it wasn’t included was because that responsibility is dealt with by a separate team then at least by asking the question you are demonstrating an awareness of the various approaches or the differing software platforms used amongst the industry’s competitors. This shows a good overall knowledge of the industry you’re in which will only add value to your candidacy.

Your effectiveness in handling the last point I identified is as much down to the quality of your research into the position as it is in understanding your own skills and the value placed on them by your potential employer. You need to really understand what it is about your CV and application that can set yourself apart from your fellow candidates/competitors. Identify your top three or five skills or bits of experience – not in the general sense but what are the skills your potential employer would be most interested in. Remember, what one employer values in you might well be different to another. This takes time and effort and requires you to gel your research into the job with your own CV or application. Your effort here will be rewarded in a better interview performance.

Play to your strengths

Finally, if you’ve done your homework and are prepared to think on your feet you can ask the interviewer himself what it was about your CV or application that prompted them to ask you in for an interview. Even if you know or can guess why it is, asking this direct question will give you a chance to temporarily move the spotlight away from you and allow you to play a neat trick with the interviewer. He of course will identify two or three points they liked about you which is effectively giving you on a plate, the chance to elaborate on skills which you’ve just been told are the bits they like most in you. Don’t miss this great chance to push your advantage here and add colour and detail to these skills.

It goes without saying that there are no guarantees when it comes to an investment banking interview. The intangibles like the rapport between you and the interviewer can have a large influence and I write about this on my own website but at least with your research you'll going a long way to moving yourself from the long list to the short list of candidates for the job.

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About the author: Tim Thomas, has been a headhunter within the investment banking and financial services industries for over 10 years. He focuses on risk and counterparty risk hires and also offers an interview preparation and careers consultancy service to all candidates from all industries. He can be contacted via his mail address or his Facebook page.

~ JobTestPrep Team ~

Welcome to the new, official, JobTestPrep (JTP) blog. You may have already visited out website or Facebook page, bought one of our packages, or taken one of our free online tests.

On our blog we wanted to show you our lighter side and of course, offer plenty of extra advice and direction for job seekers and test takers. We also hope you experience psychometric tests differently after hearing from our experts.

The JTP team is made up of organisational and clinical psychologists, test-writers, researchers and test-trainers, who all share the same passion for preparing you for your psychometric tests, interviews or assessment centres and can all offer different perspectives.

In our blog, we’ll share our experiences, advice and updates about psychometric testing, drawing from our experiences spanning over 20 years in the field. We’ll also let you know what we are working on and what new material you can expect to see in the next few weeks so you can be up-to-date with what employers are using.

From time to time we plan on inviting experts from related industries to blog about what they deem most relevant to helping you in the recruitment process. On each guest blog, you will have the opportunity to communicate with the author in the comments section.

Of course, we want to hear your comments on psychometric testing, what assessment centres you have coming up, your experiences and what you think is interesting. We welcome you to add feedback, questions and comments. If there is a topic you would like to see on our blog or someone you want to hear from send us a line through our comments section or contact form.

We hope you’ll enjoy our new community designed to pique your curiosity about psychometric test training and recruitment. If you’re interested RSS feeds are available for all posts.

For additional information about JTP, visit our website or like us on Facebook.

Thanks for visiting our blog!

~ JobTestPrep Team ~

Aptitude Test

How Do You Impress In An Interview?

The Star Method Interview Example 1