Candidate cake preparation
November 21, 2007 12:32 PM
I was challenged (by someone close by) to write a blog on the subject of cake. I must admit I am finding it difficult. So I have mentioned it here, whilst I can now talk about something completely different. Or is it different? Preparing for an interview requires getting all of the ingredients right so that on the day you can just rise to the challenge (I know, the puns are coming thick and fast - DOUGH!)
So which ingredients are important. There are probably hundreds of questions to ask and things you could take with you before a big interview. So here are a few ideas (and I would love to hear your suggestions) to put into the mix.
So I am a candidate the day before the big day.
If they talk in depth about the company do I feel comfortable that the background knowledge I have is sufficient, both on the company and the industry sectors in which the organisation works? Is my research accurate, or did I get hearsay from Wikipedia.
Do I know why I am leaving my present organisation and can I communicate this clearly?
What will make the difference between a great interview and a brilliant interview? What is my strategy and how do I want to come across?
Which are the most important skills I use in my current role, and which ones do I envisage using in my future role? What training needs might I have? How long before I believe I would be up to speed?
Have I made a checklist of the simple things I need to leave by the frontdoor so that I do not forget to bring them with me on the morning of my interview (spare change for the coffee machine etc, a map of where I need to go, my prepared questions for the interview, a notepad and two pencils / pens, the phone number of the interviewer and of the main office should something go wrong, my mobile phone on silent mode, a copy of the job spec, two spare copies of my CV in dry plastic covers, a bottle of water, a handkerchief, breath freshener etc).
The simplest things on that list may not be that important on their own. I am sure that the majority of people are resourceful enough to get around the absence of each of the above. But it is one less thing to worry about on a day of apprehension. Why make it harder?
Comments
Cake Yes. Cake we all like a bit of cake, don't we? I know I do. I love, I do I love a bit of cake. I do. I just like cake. I'm one of those people. I come home and all I want, I just love cake. I just love cake, I just love a bit of cake. CAKE. I love a bit of cake. Cake. Lovely
Marjorie Dawes - November 22, 2007 9:05 AM
What kind of interviews do you go to where you need breath freshner? Hmmm?
Joking aside, more than anything, you need to know what you want from an organisation and the role. You are interviewing them as well remember.
Questions you take with you aren't just to impress the interviewer that you have prepared something, they're there to help you make decisions.
Rob Gordon - November 23, 2007 12:04 AM
I completely agree Rob, on the questions point. A very important point. The other point is also incredibly relevant.
With regards to the breath freshener though, maybe from an interviewer point of view I wished more of the people I have previously interviewed had brought breath freshener. Without going into specific details... Not that there was anything dodgy going on!
Joe Mc - November 23, 2007 11:20 AM
On the breath freshener front, I couldn't agre more. From a slightly different angle, the amount of suppliers I have had meetings with over the years that seem to suffer from paint peeling breath is unbelieveable.
How can one be expected to concentrate on negotiating when the only thing going through one's mind is 'try not to breathe'!
NickH - November 26, 2007 4:42 PM