Navigating hurdles to a great job interview

Caroline Mboijana, Managing Director, The Leadership Team (U).
What you need to know:
- If you are asked this question, you must answer it. A response, “ I know this role is within a salary structure, so I shall take what you have set”, is not an answer and recruiters get irritated when we receive such a response.
I was recently invited to speak to an audience of young people, a combination of soon-to-be graduates, young people who have recently joined the world of work and youth still job hunting for their dream job. I thought sharing some of the questions they raised during our discussion was a good idea.
Q What should go in my CV to stand out from the 100s of applications?
My response was a combination of advisory notes. First, keep the CV short; even if you have limited work experience do not make it more than 4 pages. Ensure the content is tailor-made to the role that you are applying for. Your CV should not be copied and pasted from the last one. The key word here is relevance. Remember, the person reviewing your CV is likely reading so many CVs that you must retain their attention to read it.
Q: What if I have some of the requirements for the role but not all?
Should I still apply for the role? It’s important to ensure that you have spent time reviewing the role and what it requires and that you take time to reflect critically on what you have to offer. You may not have all the abilities; the question you need to answer is how far off you are from the requirement. You may consider placing in your CV a section that speaks about what you are doing to get the skills and abilities that you are doing- either academic or practical.
Q: How do I answer the question about salary?
If you are asked this question, you must answer it. A response, “ I know this role is within a salary structure, so I shall take what you have set”, is not an answer and recruiters get irritated when we receive such a response. It shows that you may not have put sufficient thought into your application. The recommendation is to ensure that you think through what you are worth and what you have to offer. Make sure you have a clear rationale for the figure you are discussing. If transitioning from one role to another, consolidate what you currently earn, including cash and benefits, and then consider what is reasonable. Hopefully, your numbers will also be updated by research.
Q: what are the one or two things that irritate an interviewing panel?
Showing up late for an interview, forgetting to switch off your phone and getting into a room where you have no understanding of the role or the organisation. It is critical that before you apply for any role you fully understand the role and how it impacts the organisation ( as shared in the JD). It’s equally vital that you know the organisation so that you can not only speak about what the organisation does and why but also have an appreciation of its goals, values, and vision. The last aspect is how this role and organisation will add value to your career. I can assure you that this is a question that is asked, and you need to describe how it will add value.
Caroline Mboijana, Managing Director,
The Leadership Team (U) caroline.
[email protected]