One of the most important aspects that job seekers tend to neglect is preparing themselves mentally for what lies ahead. This is extremely important and it is essential to establish a positive attitude and be emotionally prepared when finding a new job. Our colleague Justin Kamihara from the Tokyo office discusses this.

To read more, click here.

hiring process, interview preparation, job interview, job search, job seeker, staying positive

The market is very tough now and competition is extremely high between professionals for a smaller pool of jobs. Our colleague Justin Kamihara from the Tokyo office discusses why job seekers should keep an open mind when seeking job opportunities.

To read more, click here.

Career advice, job search tips, job seeker

A few years ago, my client asked me, “Sagar, I’ve never interviewed anyone before, how do I run it?”

It got me thinking – we’re heavily focused on providing interview tips for job seekers, however it is equally important that the interviewer is confident and comfortable during this process. So here are a few tips for the interviewer:

1. Be on time – This might sound obvious but I have lost count of the number of times that an interviewer has arrived late. An interview is a two way street and first impressions matter for both parties. Being late will give an impression of not considering the interview important.
2. Set the agenda – Interviews have a time limit, so it is important to utilise the time properly. Setting an agenda can help to structure the interview and let the job seeker know what to expect, helping them to feel more comfortable.
3. Ask open ended questions – A good interviewer gives the job seeker ample opportunity to speak. Asking questions that require more than a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer will give job seekers opportunities to provide examples and demonstrate their communication skills.
4. Be honest – A lot of people are passionate about the companies they work for. This can sometimes result in only portraying the positive aspects of the role, team and company. This can influence a job seeker’s decision and might result in unrealistic expectations.
5. Listen – The most important aspect of the interview is to listen. Listen to not only the answers, but also the context and the tone.
6. Pay attention to nonverbal communication – These can say a lot about a person’s character. Be aware of job seekers’ timeliness, their presentation, facial expressions, eye contact and body language.
7. Take notes – It is important to take notes during the interview so that you can revisit them during the decision making process. It also eliminates the need to ask the same questions during next round interviews.
8. Opportunity to ask questions – The opportunity to ask questions gives an insight in the job seeker’s thought process. The questions that the job seeker asks will give you a good idea of their level of interest.

Body language, interview agenda, Interview tips for the employer, job interview, job seeker, nonverbal communication, open ended questions

I am often asked if dealing with Generation Y job seekers is as difficult as is the perception. This stems from the fact that the characteristics associated with those of us who belong to the Gen X and even Baby Boomers generations range from independent to ambitious and ’family-centric’ (just to clarify I am Gen X!), whereas Gen Y are often nicknamed ’Generation Me’. Several personality surveys have shown increasing levels of narcissism among this generation compared to their predecessors when they were in their twenties.

Gen Ys are also sometimes referred to as the ‘Peter Pan Generation’ because many of them tend to delay some rites of passage into adulthood for longer periods than previous generations, for example living with their parents.

So is there a pattern in the behaviour of job seekers who were born anytime after Wham broke up and tragically the A-Team was cancelled? In my experience firstly, some appear to move around a lot more and in a much shorter period. Secondly, most Gen Ys tend to have more confidence in asking for a jump in salary outside of the ’traditional’ 10-15% range. Thirdly, a trend I have noticed is that the more senior the professional is, the easier they are to manage, which may seem surprising.

As an example, I have been dealing with a few Gen Y job seekers who are looking to return to or enter the market. Amazingly when employers have asked to meet with them during lunch time, after work or shock horror, before work, several of these unemployed job seekers have literally baulked at such a suggestion. Clearly finding a job might not be their top priority, or if it is, they don’t fully understand what a priority is! Making yourself available for interviews demonstrates your commitment to your potential employer as well as your recruitment consultant. We tend to remember those who are always unavailable in a negative light!

I have tried calling these same available job seekers before the ungodly hour of 10am only to be told they are too tired to talk. And then there are those who ignore the early morning call completely which whilst this may be their prerogative, can seriously harm their chances of making shortlist since they never have voicemail.

So to summarise, all job seekers have their quirks but if you don’t want to seem ’generationally challenged’ I would advise not to give the impression of being hard to manage when looking for a new role.

A-Team, baby boomers, Career advice, Generation X, Generation Y, interviews, job seeker, Wham