In order to progress to the interview stage of the hiring process, your resume needs to be able to hook in its reader as soon as it’s viewed. Recruiters go through so many resumes, and sometimes it takes them less than a minute to decide whether you are a qualified candidate that will move on to the interview stage.

You can only put so much in your resume; you have to make sure that it is enough clear, concise, and consistent information to get you that interview. So what do recruiters look for in a resume? Here are the top things you need on your resume to secure that interview:

Correct Roles and Responsibilities

You need to customise your resume according to the job you’re applying for. It is important to know your audience and make sure that the roles and responsibilities you are offering to the company are the qualifications they are looking for. Showing the recruiters that your previous roles and responsibilities are the same or similar to what they are looking for immediately makes you a match and a qualified candidate.

Experience

Expertise is based on experience. Experience is immediately scanned by recruiters as employers can be specific in the years of experience they want their hire to have. Did you have any career progression? Did your responsibilities add up as the years go by? These are indicators of how experienced you are in the industry.

Useful Skills

Make sure the list of skills are useful to the position you are applying for. Unless you’re a chef, cooking skills don’t matter in your resume. Include all the skills you’ve used and learned from your previous roles. This ensures how capable and suitable you are for the available role.

Achievements

Including industry accomplishments, lets recruiters know that you’ve done more than just an average job at your last post. This is also a clear picture of the results of your work. Recruiters know that having achievements means you’re not just doing the bare minimum job, you’re doing it very well! Achievements don’t always have to be industry specific, if you are a software developer, you may have built a cool application in your spare time that effectively schedules all the teams for soccer practice at your local school.

Education

Make sure to put relevant educational certificates, particularly the ones that are deemed desirable or even essential in your field of work. Although this is not as relevant as experience and achievements, some companies require their upper management employees and leaders to have certain masteral degrees in the field.

Readability and Clarity

The recruiters will not have time to read long paragraphs so make sure your resume is clear and concise. You may use bullet formats. Keep sentences short and straightforward and consider they may be read on a mobile device so keep them mobile-friendly. Remember that recruiters will not spend hours on your resume so giving them all the information they need easily makes it easier to process your qualification. Only put the necessary information and be consistent.

If you’re planning to apply or level-up your career, take time to review your resume. Keep these in mind and you are sure to get that interview!

Ready to boost your profile? Start the conversation with the best IT recruitment consultants in Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide and Brisbane by emailing office@redwolfrosch.com.au or calling 1300 544 652.

In almost every industry globally, there are countless companies tanking left and right because of the crippling effects of the Coronavirus pandemic. But some companies are able to stay afloat more steadily than others, and then there are those that even manage to thrive during such uncertain times.

For both categories, most companies come from the tech industry. And it should be no surprise seeing as digital technology is in the middle of the #NewNormal’s business and economic development. But this doesn’t mean that these companies aren’t doing their share of planning and adapting. If anyone can survive this, it’s companies that know change forces innovation, tech companies.

Agility and Adaptability

Most tech companies like Apple, Atlassian, Google have seamlessly switched to 100% remote work. This came easy as a significant number of tech workers already work remotely. This also made use of data and experience easy to apply and adapt company-wide. This is a good example of agile leadership in terms of decision-making.

Great decision-making skills equip a company to survive a sudden change in the economic environment. A tech company’s ability to adapt may seem easier because of existing resources; nonetheless, the countless points to consider would’ve been chaotic in the wrong hands.

Hiring Made Better

Now that remote work is the #NewNormal, tech companies will be able to hire experts from around the world. Tech companies are no longer bound by geographical limits. The best hires might even appear during these times. A team can now be composed of different people from around the globe, and be the best team it could be. Thanks to technology, tech companies are getting stronger than ever with remote work.

Organise. Organise. Organise.

Countless organisational resources put us on top of our game. This shouldn’t be an excuse to be complacent. Keeping everything organised and on time lessens everyone’s stress level. It also puts high trust in your company. As a company, you must always keep the trust of employees and partners. The building is only as strong as its foundation. Organise daily or weekly company huddles to keep everyone on track. Organise and ins and outs of new and old clientele. Organise the equal distribution of energy between accounts. An organised system is easy to maneuver, hard to fail. A well-organised digital-only workflow cannot be beaten. How was Apple able to unveil iPhone 12 in the middle of a pandemic? Organisation.

Collaboration Tools

More than ever, company employees need each other to support and work together. The digital-only workflow inspires to create new ways of collaborating, maybe even more effective ways. Atlassian believes that because of digital collaboration tools mean we can access work anywhere, but it also means we’ve managed to learn new tools in collaborating. Not only is it more inclusive than pre-#NewNormal emails, but it also helped a lot of companies evolve digitally.

If your company has managed to survive the roughness that is 2020, you must applaud yourselves and your team.

It’s one thing to adjust, adapt, and consistently plan for what’s ahead, but it’s another to still strive for great output in these uncertain times. A smooth sea doesn’t make a skilled sailor, but let’s hope these storms calm down soon.

Need to talk to someone about building and onboarding your team in the #newnormal? Start the conversation with the best IT recruitment consultants in Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide and Brisbane by emailing office@redwolfrosch.com.au or calling 1300 544 652.

They say first impressions last, and a job interview is one of the first impressions a potential employer can get of you. It’s where you’re given a chance to further elaborate on your skills and experiences, as well as demonstrate the qualifications you have that are relevant to the role you’re interviewing for.

Knowing what not to do during an interview can help you better prepare and think of ways to show interviewers that you’re taking the interview seriously and that you can act appropriately in a professional setting. Here are some common slip-ups you’d want to avoid if you want to show a potential employer that you’re qualified for the job:

Common Job Interview Mistakes

Not doing your homework

This one might sound basic, but you’d be surprised how many job seekers fail to impress potential employers simply because they didn’t do sufficient research before the interview. Being able to answer the question “What do you know about our company?” should be easy if you do your homework properly. Be genuinely curious about the company, find out about their history, mission statement, locations, divisions, and more.

Bonus: It also helps to learn about the company’s culture by checking their social media pages (if they have any), especially LinkedIn.

Inappropriate attire

No matter what job you’re applying for and no matter what company, it’s of vital importance that you’re appropriately dressed and put together. Even if it’s a company with a casual dress code, make sure you look professional. This will show your potential employer that you’re taking the interview seriously and have a high sense of professionalism.

Arriving late

Make sure you don’t give your potential employer a bad first impression before they even meet you. Arriving late at an interview not only shows unpreparedness and poor time management skills but also demonstrates a lack of respect for the company and the interviewers. So make sure you arrive on time for your job interview, or even early. But not TOO early.

The earliest you should arrive is 10-15 minutes early. This will give the interviewer time to finish any work that they might be doing and prepare for the interview.

Using your phone during the interview

If you can put your phone on silent before you step into a movie theatre, then surely you can do it before getting to your job interview as well. Using your phone during an interview not only screams rude, but it’s also disruptive and shows that the role you’re applying for and the interview aren’t on top of your priority list.

Losing your focus

Make sure you’re not only well-prepared for your interview, but well-rested and sufficiently energised as well. Get enough sleep and eat a nutritious breakfast before your interview because it’s imperative that you’re refreshed and alert. This will help you focus on the things the interviewers are saying, which will in turn help you better answer questions that they might have.

Staying focused and listening to everything the interviewer says will also help you know what questions to ask or what information you should share.

Being unsure of your own resume facts

Even if it is your resume, make sure you refresh yourself on its details. Prepare a copy for yourself so you can read it over while waiting for your interviewer. Some companies will require you to fill out an application form even if you’ve already submitted a resume, so make sure you have all the details you’ll need such as dates of prior employment and names of former employers.

It might be a little difficult to recall details about some of your older experiences, that’s why it’s a good idea to review the facts prior to your interview. This will help you answer any questions the interviewers might have regarding your previous experiences more confidently.

Talking too much

Yes, the interviewer would like to get to know you better. But no, they don’t need your entire life story. Remember that no matter how friendly or welcoming the interviewer is, interviews are professional situations, not personal. So make sure to answer questions succinctly to avoid unnecessary rambling. Also, you may feel nervous or really want the job and you “over answer” the questions that have been asked. It’s a good idea to be mindful of the interviewer’s time and read the room to see if your long answers are welcome or just tolerated.

Backbiting previous employers

No matter how terrible a past work experience or previous employer was, make sure not to badmouth them. It might be tempting to share how incompetent your old boss was, but talking ill about your previous employers or co-workers wouldn’t help in showing the interviewers that you work well with other people. It can even come across as insecurity.

Talk about the things you learned and the skills you developed from your past work experiences instead. When asked the common job interview question “Tell me about a time you dealt with a difficult colleague”, make sure you answer it positively. This will demonstrate your ability to work well with other people and resolve issues maturely and professionally.

Ready to find the best and most suitable job vacancies in Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane? Let us help you boost that profile and CV by starting the conversation with the best IT recruitment consultants in Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide and Brisbane by emailing office@redwolfrosch.com.au or calling 1300 544 652.

For many companies in countless different industries, the Coronavirus pandemic has resulted in recruitment coming to a complete standstill. On the flip side of that, there are also sectors — essential services and remote-friendly roles in particular — where the pandemic has caused the opposite, which is a fast and high volume rate of hiring. 

Recruitment planning is looking a little more than uncertain because of Covid-19. But it’s not impossible to find your next great hire in the middle of a pandemic. Here are a few tips that can help you navigate through recruitment and hiring during a pandemic.

Adjust your recruitment and onboarding policies

Just because the Coronavirus pandemic has made it quite impossible to be in the same room as a job seeker or a new hire, doesn’t mean you can’t reshape your processes, particularly to be tech-driven and remote. But it’s also important to ensure that everyone is as ready and comfortable as possible with the changes to avoid unnecessary hiccups.

The use of internal communication and courier services can also help in ensuring that job seekers and new recruits alike will still be able to feel welcome. These efforts can also be a great way to remotely demonstrate the culture of your company.

Your next great hire can be made remotely

Video interviews done via Zoom are fast becoming non-negotiable and communicating via email or phone has now become the primary choice for both job seekers and companies. You may be new to hiring remotely, but fret not, because great hires can be made remotely!

Just ensure that you have the right tech and tools to make communication easier and streamlined and a strong remote onboarding process in place. 

Using proper assessment tools and exercises such as skills assessments (e.g. typing, Google Suite tests), simulations (e.g. answering calls, mock presentations), work assignments (e.g. writing exercises), personality and integrity evaluations, cognitive ability tests, and more also have a wide range of benefits. 

Remote work is now the default standard

Currently, there are millions around the world working remotely because of lockdown measures that have been put in place in countless cities. The good thing is that this is proving that most people are just as productive (some, even more so) when they work from the comfort of their own homes. This means that there will be roles that might go remote permanently, and as a company, you will run the risk of missing out on great talent if you can’t adapt.

At the end of the day, the companies that will be best-equipped for remote recruitment will be those who have embraced and mastered the art of working remotely and managing remote teams. Now, more than ever is the best time to consider developing your company’s onboarding and training methods to translate seamlessly into the online world. 

Continue on (or start) your hiring now

If you wait for “all of this to blow over” before you start hiring again, you’ll run the risk of losing valuable time and talent. Until the economy allows more people to go back to work in offices, get right on track with filling roles that you need not only now, but those you’ll need in the future too. 

Demonstrate your resilience as a company by keeping a steady rhythm going and being ever present. Showing your company’s ability to wade through the murky waters that is this pandemic will not only attract job seekers now but for future ones as well. 

Your hiring journey doesn’t have to be put on a halt but with the current state of things, you definitely need to learn to adjust, adapt, and do things differently. 

Ready to make your next great hire, even in the middle of a pandemic? We’d be more than happy to lend a hand in finding the next exceptional addition to your team. 

We’re ready for remote zoom and coffee! 🙂 Start the conversation with the best IT recruitment consultants in Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide and Brisbane by emailing office@redwolfrosch.com.au or calling 1300 544 652.

Companies are responding to the unpredictability unveiled by the Coronavirus pandemic by asking their employees to work remotely. As a result, there’s now a multitude of managers, team leaders, and supervisors who suddenly find themselves needing to manage remote teams. And for many of us, it’s the first time we’ve ever had to do so, with barely any time to prepare at all.

This scenario that managers have suddenly been plunged into might be a little more than difficult to come to grips with, leaving some feeling like they have lost control over things and even affecting trust levels amongst teams. But with up to 90% of all employees saying they would like to work remotely at least part of the time for the rest of their careers, the remote work model is definitely something that we all need to embrace. That’s why the Redwolf & Roch team have gathered some tips to help make it easier for you to manage your team remotely: 

Use tech to your advantage

This is the first thing you need to ensure, and this applies to both hardware and software. Technological tools will be the ultimate key in nailing communication and efficient collaboration. Allocate resources into making sure your team has all the tools they need to get the work done. This can range from apps, laptops, mobile devices, and even high-speed internet. It’s presumptuous to assume that everyone has access to these tools, and it’s your responsibility as a manager to ensure that your team does.

Streamline communication

Create a communication strategy and establish “rules of engagement” to help make remote work become more seamless and efficient. This means setting expectations for frequency, ideal timings, means, etc. for the team’s communication. And while certainly, maintaining professionalism in virtual communication is important, there’s nothing wrong with making use of appropriate emojis here and there. 

Set expectations

And clear ones, at that. Whether it must involve demonstrating how you want things done via video coaching, showing examples through Loom videos, or sharing calendars and project management outlines, make sure your expectations are as clear as can be for (and from) those you work with online. The better prepared the team is, the better they’d be able to execute plans and projects effectively.

The proof is in the outcome, not in the activity

When transitioning into a remote workforce, the focus should be on the goals and managing expectations. Worry less about what things are being done and how they’re being done. Instead, focus on what is being accomplished at the end of the day. Besides, it’s impossible to manage every aspect of the work that your team is doing, especially when your team is distributed across different locations (and maybe even time zones) so it would be futile to even try. A better way to measure your team accordingly is through the outcomes, not on the hours worked or how those hours were spent.

Be Flexible  

During such uncertain and worrying times, you need to understand that even (or especially) outside of work, your team has a lot on their plate. While that’s no excuse for not getting work done, it’s a great reason, as a manager, to give some thought to what productivity really means. With the current state of things, the “9-to-5” and punching a clock for 8 hours is definitely out of the question for many of us. That’s why you need to learn to be flexible with your team and allow them a schedule or a working groove that helps them be their most productive. You’d thank yourself for it because, in the end, it would be best not just for the team, but for the entire company as well.

Offer Encouragement & Support 

Because of the abrupt shift from office based work to remote work, as a manager, you need to not only acknowledge but also understand the new and unique stresses that your team will be facing. Be even more open to discussing things with your team members, whether it’s concerns about the future or anxiety about work, learn to empathize with their struggles effectively, even if it’s through virtual communication. And if a team member is clearly showing signs of distress and struggles, don’t hesitate to be the first one to approach and check in on them.

Want to manage an awesome team of great individuals?

Start the conversation with the best IT recruitment consultants in Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide and Brisbane by emailing office@redwolfrosch.com.au or calling 1300 544 652.

Recruitment is a dynamic, expansive, and ever evolving field and it has become quite infamous because of the myths that surround it – many of which are simply untrue. Some of these recruitment myths are brought on by the industry adapting its tactics and processes to the shifting workforce demand and technological advancements in the field. Others are hauled from outdated ways of the past that no longer work in today’s market.

It’s time we uncover the truth behind these recruitment myths because believing in them not only waste companies a lot of time and money – they can also completely derail the hiring process.

Recruitment Myth #1: Selecting Candidates Based Solely On Their Job Skills And Experiences

It’s certainly important to choose a candidate with the right skills and experiences needed to be successful in the role you’re trying to hire for. But those two things shouldn’t be the ONLY thing you’re on the lookout for when it comes to scouting for the best candidates. Another factor you should be considering is whether or not a candidate is a good fit with your company culture. Making the mistake of hiring someone who isn’t a good fit with your company culture typically results in people quitting or needing to be terminated not long after being hired.  This can have a cumulative and negative impact on your employee turnover rate.

Scouting for candidates that are aligned with your company culture could be worked into your hiring strategy by clearly defining your values and culture as a company, and including it in all your job ads and descriptions. This will help attract candidates who fit into your company culture early on in the hiring process and filter out those who are not suitable.

Recruitment Myth #2: Employers Have All The Power In The Recruitment Process

As an employer, it’s easy to believe that you hold all the power in the hiring process. But with the current Australian unemployment rate at just 7.62%, it’s very much a candidate-led market and this allows job seekers to exercise more sway. This could present challenges to employers trying to recruit for open positions with a small pool of applicants to pick from. Aside from the limited amount of candidates, fighting with competitors to attract and retain top talent could mean being more flexible when it comes to offering higher salaries, and making quick and decisive moves once you find the best fit. Offering higher salaries and competitive benefits to help incentivise top talent to make a career move might cost you more when hiring a new employee, but it can save you even more in the long run once you have the best people in your company.

Recruitment Myth #3: Finding The Best Candidates Is All About Well Written Job Descriptions

Well written job descriptions are helpful for attracting the ideal candidates for your job openings… Ideal candidates that are actively looking for a job, that is. Because according to LinkedIn, even though only 15% of people are satisfied with their current positions, only 25% are actively looking for a better one. That means there are a lot of people out there that would love to make the switch if the right opportunity presented itself. Unfortunately, these people aren’t actively looking for said opportunity. So while job descriptions definitely work, they only work on people who can see them. And that doesn’t include these “passive candidates.”

So how do you reach these passive job seekers? Recruitment agencies have a better chance of knowing who these people are, how to contact them, and what benefits you can throw their way to help incentivise them into making a career move. 

Recruitment Myth #4: You Have To Handle Recruitment Internally

The recruitment process can be overwhelming, time consuming, and resource-draining; especially when you take on it without the help of professional recruiters. As your company grows, so do the roles that you need to hire for. Because of this, simply working with in-house HR staff might not be enough in ensuring that you get the best talent to fill your open positions. This is where recruitment agencies come in handy. Aside from collecting and assessing CV’s, conducting interviews, and checking references, agencies also have specialist recruitment consultants that are well-informed in specific roles, skills, and industries that in-house recruiters might not always be familiar with.

Recruitment can be filled with misconceptions and uncertainties. But working with an effective recruitment agency in Australia can help you overcome these challenges and better ensure that you hire only the top talents for your open positions.

Connect with us today to find your next great hire! Start the conversation with the best IT recruitment consultants in Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide and Brisbane by emailing office@redwolfrosch.com.au or calling 1300 544 652.

Looking for a job and getting hired is never uncomplicated. But the Coronavirus pandemic has brought on challenges in the job search process that both employers and candidates have never seen before. As companies move their workforce to remote settings and the number of layoffs and furloughs increase, many job seekers wonder if they should even be sending out applications.

We believe that you shouldn’t stop networking and applying. What you should do? Adapt your approach to fit these uncertain times. Here are a couple of tips to help you navigate through the job search process and get hired during the pandemic.

Research Industries And Companies That Are Actively Hiring

In general, the job market outlook is looking bleak, at least for the moment. But believe it or not, there are still companies and entire industries that are trying to ramp up their hiring. To help with your job search, find out about who these companies are, what skill sets they are looking for, and how you can shift your experience and expertise to meet their needs.

Take Advantage Of  The Current Downtime To Boost Your Skills

Take the current downtime to pick up new skills. Not only will these new skills make your resume look sharp and aid in your job search, you can also highlight them during interviews to show recruiters and employers that you have the ability, eagerness, and motivation to learn new skills. 

Add Remote Work-Friendly Keywords To Your CV, Cover Letter, And LinkedIn Profile

Since many companies have moved their current employees to work from home or remote work schemes, most of them are beginning to recognize the importance of flexibility and adaptability to work through these challenges and uncertainties. Many of them are also keen on ensuring that the talents they bring on board in the future are adept and experienced in shifting through these types of unpredictabilities. 

When sending out applications – and even on your Linkedin profile – be sure to include and highlight relevant tech tools that you have experience using, as well as soft skills that come in handy when working remotely such as written communication, time management, and the ability to work autonomously. This will help recruiters and employers know that you’re well equipped to work in #TheNewNormal and can also help take your job search to the next level.

Ace The Video Interview

Interviews have always been nerve-racking. But video interviews can be even more daunting and stressful because it’s more difficult to build rapport and pick up on social cues over Zoom. With that said, it wouldn’t hurt to be overprepared: Dress as you would for an in-person interview (yes, including pants or skirt!), test your audio, framing, and background well before the interview is set to begin, and engage by nodding along and smiling during appropriate times.

Work With A Specialist Recruitment Agency For Your Job Search

Even before the Coronavirus pandemic wreaked havoc across all aspects of our lives, looking for a job has never been a leisurely walk in the park. By teaming up with a recruitment agency, you can make your job search a little less challenging.

Recruitment agencies work with businesses who are looking to fill up open positions with suitable candidates so not only will they know more about which companies are hiring, they’d also be able to match you with the most ideal job for your skills and experiences. This will help you save time and give you access to more (and better) job opportunities, and even if you don’t get hired for the first potential match, you stay in the recruitment agency’s database for future positions. Lastly, job agencies make money by placing candidates and they don’t earn anything until after a successful hiring process. This motivation can certainly do good for you and your job search.

Ready to boost your job search and find the most ideal job vacancies in Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Sydney? Boost that Profile and CV and send it across to us, we’d love to hear from you! 

Start the conversation with the best IT recruitment consultants in Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide and Brisbane by emailing office@redwolfrosch.com.au or calling 1300 544 652.

The only way you could have avoided getting hit by the doom and gloom brought by the Coronavirus pandemic would be if you lived under a rock. Considering the very real and very daunting challenges the world is currently facing, it’s hard for even the most optimistic people to stay positive. For many of us, our effort to stay on top of the news has left us seemingly unable to focus on anything other than the calamities, tragedies, and disasters that are happening around the globe. After all, it’s all we ever seem to see in the news these days.

It’s obviously important to stay informed, but this doesn’t mean you have to allow yourself to be bombarded by them from the moment you wake ‘til the moment you sleep. And if you want to be able to stay productive during the Coronavirus pandemic, maintaining some positivity is very important. Here are a few things that can help:

Limit Your News Intake & Reward Yourself  With Some Funny Videos

There are countless news channels, websites, radio shows, and web series that serve piping hot news, round the clock. But in our effort to stay as informed as possible, we need to make sure we don’t end up drowning in all of it, especially since many news headlines these days are negative. You should instead pick a handful of trusted sources to receive your news from, and then decide how much limited time in a day you’d want to spend reading from them. And as you’re consuming content on the internet, make sure you give yourself a break from all the seriousness by watching some funny videos. A little laughter can go a long way, especially during such stressful and uncertain times.

Self Care 

While it’s easy to want to skip on the self-care during a pandemic, it’s actually more important than ever to focus on it. You’ll want to boost your immune system so it can do its job (and provide a tiny bit of peace of mind while it’s at it). You can also take advantage of the extra time you have these days to get some good sleep and exercise in. Read a book, listen to music, anything to help you relax and reduce stress. These activities will not only make you feel better physically but mentally as well.

Connect With Friends &  Loved Ones

Physical distancing has been put in place in many cities all over the world, but this doesn’t mean we shouldn’t maintain our closeness with our friends and loved ones, nor does it mean you shouldn’t cease the opportunity to reconnect with all those people you said you would if you only had the time (which you do now). And remember, all of us are being affected by the pandemic, some worse than others. Make sure you don’t forget to check in on your friends and family.

Explore & Learn New Skills

While this pandemic has undoubtedly caused many devastating effects, it’s also brought forth something that many of us didn’t really have before — free time. And as appealing as it might be to sit and wallow on all our plans that got cancelled because of the pandemic, it’s better to spend your time on things that you can control and are more worthwhile. Such as learning new skills. Whether it be cooking, a home repair hack, or painting, it wouldn’t hurt to come out of the other side of this pandemic a better version of yourself.

Do An Inventory Of  Your Day

Make sure you close your day, every day, by acknowledging the things you have learned, accomplished, and are grateful for. While it wouldn’t exactly make all the negativity go away, acknowledging these things might help dilute them and remind you that in the midst of all this craziness, there’s still some good to be thankful for.

Start the conversation with the best IT recruitment consultants in Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide and Brisbane by emailing office@redwolfrosch.com.au or calling 1300 544 652.

The entire process of job searching can be very nerve-wracking. But one of the most (if not the most) intimidating parts of it is the interview. Getting the chance to get your foot in the door is without a doubt something to be excited about, but when you think about how the interview is your only chance to make a great and lasting impression, it starts to feel more than a little daunting.

Importance of job interviews in the application process

Interviews give you and your potential employer the opportunity to determine and decide if your skills align with the company’s needs, values, and culture. It also allows you to become more familiar with your potential work environment, colleagues, and other information that will ultimately help you decide whether the job is a good fit for you or not.

With that said, showing up to your job interview the right way is of the utmost importance. And while it’s true for both in-person and virtual job interviews, screenings and meetings conducted via Zoom or Skype have become more commonplace because of the Coronavirus pandemic. So we’ve compiled tips to help you ace both your in-person and virtual job interviews.

General job interview tips

Do your research
Not only will doing research about the industry and the company help you better determine whether or not the role would be a good fit for you and your skills, but it will also help you go into the interview with confidence.

Learn about and practice answering common interview questions
Being prepared to answer common interview questions like “Tell me about yourself” and “What makes you interested in the role?” is a great way to effectively (and quickly) communicate who you are and the value that you have to offer the company.

Be prepared with examples of your work
During your interview, you’ll likely be asked about specific work experiences you’ve had that are relevant to the position you’re applying for. Reading the job description thoroughly can help ensure that you are able to think of the most fitting examples of work that you’ve done in the past that are worth highlighting.

Dress to impress
This might seem like something that only applies to in-person interviews, but trust us, this applies to virtual ones as well. You don’t have to don a tux or a gown, but dressing professionally will show you’re serious about the position you’re applying for so absolutely no pyjamas, and you definitely need to wear pants!

If you’re going to an in-person interview and you’ve been in contact with the recruiter before you’re set to meet, you can ask about the company’s dress code. If not, you can do your own research about the company to learn what’s appropriate. It also wouldn’t hurt to plan your outfit the night before your interview and to get them ready (and ironed!) for the next day.

Be early
Arriving early for an interview not only helps you get more settled in and relaxed for your interview, it also allows you the time to observe the workplace and your potential coworkers.

And while this also seems like something that only applies to in-person interviews, there’s plenty of reasons why you’d want to be early for your virtual interview as well. Being early will allow you ample time to check that your tools and tech are working properly. Overall, arriving late (or even ‘just in time’) for an interview just isn’t the best idea.

Video job interview tips

Check internet connection and do a test run
And this is something that you shouldn’t just check and test right before your interview, you should be ensuring that your tools, technology, and connectivity are all working the minute you agree to the interview. With that said, you should still check and do a test run of your internet, microphone, camera, and any other tools you’d be using on the day of your interview, just to be sure. 

Set the scene, minimize distractions
The best time to determine which area in the house you’d be having the interview in is when you’re testing your tools and tech. This will help you find the spot with the best lighting, background (tip: a blank wall will ensure you’re the focal point), and the least noise and distractions.

Mind your body language
Just because you and your interviewer aren’t in the same room, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t keep your body language in check. The fact that you’re engaging with someone virtually actually makes it even more important that you pay attention to body language. After all, you couldn’t really do the firm handshake trick on Zoom. So instead, compensate by sitting up straight, maintaining a friendly smile, and ensuring that your camera is at eye-level.

Make a connection, stand out
You’ll never know how many interviews a recruiter conducts in a day and who knows, you might be at the very end of the list. That’s why it’s important to be genuine and positive throughout your interview to allow the recruiter to be more at ease and relate with you. Mentioning relevant common interests can also help break the ice and might also allow the recruiter a bit of break from routine questions and conversations. 

Connecting with people isn’t always easy. And in our #NewNormal, it’s easy to think that having a genuine connection with an interviewer isn’t as important as it was pre-pandemic. When in fact, it’s quite the contrary. It is an integral part of interviews, even virtual ones. You want the interviewer to remember you as a capable and qualified person, rather than just a face on a screen that easily blends in with other job seekers.

We wish you luck! 

Start the conversation with the best IT recruitment consultants in Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide and Brisbane by emailing office@redwolfrosch.com.au or calling 1300 544 652.

The Redwolf + Rosch team

https://redwolfrosch.com.au/

Using job boards, attending job fairs, and asking for referrals are good ways to find your next hire. But if you want to find your next GREAT hire then using a recruitment agency (a great one) is your best bet. The basic purpose of recruitment agencies is to help companies find the perfect people to fill their open positions while also helping job seekers find the most ideal roles for their skills. But many of us don’t realise that they provide some other great benefits as well. Here are some of them:

Better Access To Quality Candidates

Recruitment agencies have access to a wide range of highly skilled job seekers that have been pre-screened and/or referred by a reputable source. The goal for job agencies is always long term and worthwhile employment, so not only will they align you and your company’s needs and values with availability, but with the right abilities as well. 

Save Time

Part of an agency’s role is to collect and assess candidates’ CV’s, filter talented job seekers, check references, and conduct interviews. This is all so companies don’t have to. Consistently working with recruitment agencies also allows them to keep track of and better understand a company’s recruitment needs, which can, in turn, ensure that they hire the most ideal candidates at a timely and cost-effective manner.

Recruitment Agencies Have Knowledge Of Specialist Skills & Industries

Together with a company’s growth, the types of roles you’ll need to hire for will expand as well. This will require special and complex interviews for positions that in-house recruiters might not always be familiar with. This is another area where recruitment agencies come in very handy because they have staff and specialist recruitment consultants for specific industries and roles. Because of their experience in specialist recruitment, they would also be the perfect resource for industry-specific trends, required skills, and salary levels.

The Focus Is Always On Fulfilling The Clients’ Needs

Recruitment agencies don’t get compensated before a successful candidate is placed. And if there is no successful placement, no fee is collected. This means that the focus is always on fulfilling the client’s needs first by ensuring the roles are filled by the best candidates who possess the right skills and are genuinely interested in becoming a part of the company.

Recruitment Agencies Have An Extended Reach

It’s easy to think that all the best candidates for your company’s open positions are actively looking for a job. But that isn’t the case at all. There are those that are referred to as ‘passive talent’, and they reaffirm the saying that the most worthwhile things take time to find. This talent isn’t really looking for a job, and it’s most likely because they are valued and are happy in their current position, which often means they have a lot to offer and contribute to the company. Recruitment agencies have a better chance of knowing who these people are, how to connect with them, and the right ways to incentivise them into making a move. 

Another benefit of working with recruitment agencies that’s worth noting is the simple fact that recruiting people is really what agencies are all about. Finding the best people to match with the most ideal roles in the most prime companies is where our focus and passion lies. With that said, we ensure to maximise not only the number but the quality of candidates we receive as well. We do this by supercharging the hiring process, from writing the most compelling job advertisements, to conducting the most effective interviews to better filter candidates, and more.

Ready to find your next great hire? Start the conversation with the best IT recruitment consultants in Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide and Brisbane by emailing office@redwolfrosch.com.au or calling 1300 544 652.