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Do you have your game face on during job interviews?

Research shows many interviewers make hiring decisions within the first moments of an interview so it’s important you’re putting your best foot forward even before it begins.

In fact, start by making a good first impression with reception staff – you never know what they may say to the manager once the interview is finished.

In this blog we provide some resources to help you stand out, right from the beginning of the interview. Some pointers may seem obvious, some less so.

Start out with the mindset that you’re going to a meeting to discuss work with colleagues in your field – not an interrogation session. This will help you relax and feel more confident about your conversation.

Greet office staff and your interviewers with a firm handshake, but not a bone crusher, make good eye contact, smile and use an even, but friendly tone of voice.

Work to make an easy connection. Ask your interviewers how their day is going. If you see a picture in the office that resonates with you, make a comment on it. Look for other ways to bond. For example, if you’re a golfer and you see a set of clubs in the corner, mention how you enjoy time on the links as an ice breaker.

Display good posture social skills – no slouching or fidgeting and be mindful of physical, facial and grooming gestures. More on your presentation here – https://bit.ly/2IEyeGX

Be sure you’ve brushed up on the contents of your own resume and the company itself – familiarity with their operations and language is a plus.

Often you won’t be asked for a portfolio, but it’s a great idea to develop one and be prepared to show it, particularly if the position calls for creativity or if it helps you demonstrate you’ve excelled in a particular skill area.

Overall, consider how you will dress. Appropriate clothing and shoes will vary from workplace to workplace. You may consider asking about this when you’re called to meet with your prospective employer. You don’t want to over or under dress.

Staff at The Work Place in Grande Prairie can guide eligible unemployed or underemployed clients (visit www.gpworkplace.ca for details) on how to make a great impression throughout your interviews.

They can also assist you with your other job search tools and ensure you’re using all the resources available to you, including accessing potential training opportunities (see contact details below). Your strategies may include updating or acquiring new skills.

The first two resources are excellent videos on the importance of making a great first impression:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BP7RE7TmtA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMXvMf_2EKs

Here are two articles to help you get off to a great start in your interviews: https://careers.workopolis.com/advice/first-impressions-four-things-employers-decide-about-you-in-four-seconds/

https://www.themuse.com/advice/8-ways-to-make-a-great-first-impression-at-an-interview

Ultimately, there are circumstances you cannot control in your job search. Another candidate may have higher qualifications or specific experience the company is seeking. How you prepare for your interview and perform is up to you. Remember, it’s a lost opportunity if you don’t have questions ready for your potential employer.

If you want more help with your job search at no cost, contact us at 780-539-5477. You can send enquiries to info@gpworkplace.ca. Our office is located at #105, 9840-97^th Ave., Grande Prairie.

 We also help employers find qualified candidates.

Ahhhh, you passed through that interview with flying colours and now the prospective employer is asking for your references. Are you panicking or confident that you’ve chosen the right people who can help elevate you into that new job?awkward altogether.

Don’t take chances on someone not being able to help you put your best foot forward or, worse yet, saying something awkward altogether.

In our Feb. 21, blog, we posed the question: What Would Your References Say About You (https://www.gpworkplace.ca/blog/what-would-your-references-say-about-you/)? That article pointed to ways your references can speak to how you add value to the team.

However, you want references who can speak to your overall value and contributions. It’s important to have contacts who can address your fit and related assets, but references are not requested by hiring companies so they can hear a sugary story about you.

You want to have supervisors, peers or even customers who can confirm the accuracy of information you presented in your interview and give solid examples of your accomplishments and contributions.

In a recent LinkedIn discussion about reference checks, Michelle Precourt, CHRL, recruitment expert and career coach in Ottawa, had this to say:

“Job Seekers should provide quality references that is, those who can speak to the specific skills and abilities of the person in question but we know that is not always the case. I’ve seen references who were parents, friends and spouses. If those folks say bad things, then the job seeker should re-evaluate their personal life before seeking a new job! Kidding aside, a valuable reference should be able to speak to specific projects and accomplishments in the previous place of employment.”

From the employer side of things, she said, “If you are calling the reference, ask specific questions that will draw out specific responses. Asking if Johnny was a good employee is vague but if Johnny mentioned in the interview that he was the lead on the widget implementation project, then ask about that. Confirm what he said in the interview is accurate.”

Staff at The Work Place in Grande Prairie can guide eligible unemployed or underemployed clients (visit www.gpworkplace.ca for details) on how to prepare for the entire job search process.

They can also assist you with your other job search tools and ensure you’re using all the resources available to you, including accessing potential training opportunities (see contact details below). Your strategies may include updating or acquiring new skills.

These resources will help you select references who will help your cause in your effort to secure that desired new position:

https://www.monster.ca/career-advice/article/avoid-mistakes-with-references

https://alis.alberta.ca/look-for-work/resumes-and-references/choose-the-right-references/

https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/aacc/managing-your-references

Think of your reference checks as the final stretch of the race to the finish line. You want to be on solid footing and raise your hands in victory, not be hampered by weak references.

 If you want more help with your job search at no cost, contact us at 780-539-5477. You can send enquiries to info@gpworkplace.ca. Our office is located at #105, 9840-97^th Ave., Grande Prairie.

 We also help employers find qualified candidates.