Hello Rachel,
Thank you for being supportive to me all the time.
I am glad to inform you I have secured a position in a consulting agent. They actually do recruiting as well. So the interview tips I have got from you did work well with all the interviews.
I would like to share my interview experience with all other trainees.
Interview with agents:
1. Over the phone agents can ask you a lot of questions, get ready for that.
My very first telephone interview was with an agent. I was in a busy grocery shop and I did not want to lose any chance in getting a job. The lady over the phone asked me more than 10 questions. For example:
• Can you tell me a bit about your self?
• What’s the reason you applied for the position?
• Why you resigned from last job?
• Do you think what can be the motivation for work?
• Can you be initiative? Give an example?
• What’s your strength and weakness?
• What do you think is the challenges in accounting area?
• What’s your career plan in the following five years?
• What type of team member you are?
• What type of team I would like to work with?
• Can you tell me any accomplishment in your work?
• What’s your expected salary package?
This lady eventually invited me for a face to face interview in her office and put me in her shortlist. During the interview, the lady emphasised the importance about the answer about initiatives and motivation which will definitely impress the possible employers. You need to make a short but impressing description about this point.
Tips:
• You have to bear this in mind. You have to be prepared to answer phone calls all the time when you are in job hunting. Thus you would know who you are talking to and have idea what you need to say. You’d better have some notes to help you answer the questions over the phone.
• After you send out your resume, you shouldn’t think they might not response to your application. My experience is, sit down, grab a piece of paper, read the ads over and over again, try to think what questions they possibly ask if they call you. And prepare answer for that.
2. To impress the agents or employers by ringing them with brief but clear introduction.
When I first started job hunting, I did not want to spend too long because I have been confident that I can find an idea job. When I saw a job advertised on Gumtree, and the description just matched what I learnt from Rachel, I think I am definitely capable for this position. I rang up this agent and impressed the agent by my brave and confidence. This agent helped me a lot including advising for modifying my resume better. I finally got a job offer from the agent with all his kind help.
Tips:
• It’s quite possible the agent show you impatient attitude over the phone. And most of them will ask you just send them a resume first. Please don’t be sacred of it because you are trying to win the 10% or maybe less opportunities. But at least you have tried and it works when you meet the right person.
• Achievements in your resume are the sparkle for your skills.
3. Interview with employer
I got HR’s phone call from a construction company which is nearby me house. After confirm the expectation salary package and my language is ok, I was invited for an interview to their company.
The staff in this company did seem very friendly, but I was trying my best. During the interview, the finance manger passed me a water bill and asked me to find out the problem of this invoice. I was thinking that this is impossible to be so easy, and I spent half minute to look at the format of the invoice, the description, balance, but everything seems right. And then I told them that I can only say water bill doesn’t including GST and there is no mistake in this invoice. Amazingly, that was the answer they were after. The Human resources manager asked me about my MS Office skills and which functions I can use in Excel and Word. I am quite confident to describe functions as Rachel told me to prepare it, v-lookup and pivot table are good functions I can definitely show up. But for Word, it’s a bit hard to tell what function is exactly. I told them I can show them if they provide me computer. Everything seemed going alright. But the interview was ruined till the HR manager asked my visa status. The day after, I was told over the phone that I did not get this job. Well, I don’t like the company anyway.
Tips:
• Interview questions are all similar. Self-introduction is the important part to impress your interviewer. They will always ask the reason why you leave the previous job. A good presentation for your resume can impress yourself as will organised person.
• When they ask if you have any questions, there are some questions you prepared beforehand maybe being answered during the interview. Try to prepare more questions just in case.
But please remember, follow what Rachel said during the class. And don’t give up anytime.
Cheers
Carrie |