START YOUR JOB HUNT NOW!
Kong Hoi Yoon
konghy@utar.edu.my
Department of Soft Skills Competency (DSSC)
Andrew Wilfred
andrews@utar.edu.my
Department of Soft Skills Competency (DSSC)
Job Hunting Checklist
• Dress Code
• Interview Plan
• Contact
• Documents
• Your mindset
Dress Code - Example
Dress Code – Male
Male
• Long-sleeved light
colored shirt
• Dark tie
• Dark slack
• Dark belt
• Dark sock
• Dark working shoes
Dress Code – Female
Female
• White shirt
• Dark coat (optional)
• Dark skirt or pant
• Dark belt (optional)
• Dark shoes (high heel)
Contact
‘Always be reachable’
• Mobile phone number
• Home telephone number
• Home address
• Email address
Document
Certificates
Document
Transcript
Document
Testimonial
Document
Passport-Size Photo
Full Name:
NRIC:
Document
Resume
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•
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Chronological Resume
Functional Resume
Combination Resume
Curriculum Vitae
Electronic Resume
Functional Resume Template
Functional Resume Template
Functional Resume Sample
How you should present your
documents?
How you should present your
documents?
How you should present your
photocopy document set?
What is the most important
equipment that you should have?
PART 2
INTERVIEWING
SKILLS
AGENDA
Moments of Interview
10 Rules of
Successful Interview
Top 10 Most Famous
Interview Questions
MOMENTS OF INTERVIEW
BEFORE THE INTERVIEW
• Do some research / homework
• Arrive 15 – 20 minutes early
• Be prepared when you go to the interview.
- extra copies of your resume,
- a notepad
- a pen.
• Dress for Success!
THE START OF THE INTERVIEW
(BEGINNING)
• Inform the secretary/receptionist that you
have an interview, whom it is with, and the time
of the interview.
• When you meet the interviewer, look straight
into his/her eyes, shake hands firmly, introduce
yourself, smile, be confident and wait until you
are offered a seat.
• Be positive in your communication.
- not too bold
- not too shy
• Let the interviewer lead the interview
• SMILE….SMILE…. SMILE !!!
• DO NOT:
- Smoke before the interview
- Yawn during the interview
- Eat chew gum during interview
- Wear too much of body cologne
- Switch on the mobile phone
- Wear piercing
THE INTERVIEW (MIDDLE)
• Always face the interviewer with good posture and
body language.
• Stay positive with your attitude and your answers.
• Let the interviewer know about the skills,
knowledge and experience that make you a qualified
candidate.
• Know your resume and portfolio well and be
prepared to answer questions about them
• Be thorough with your answers. Never answer
with just a “yes” or “no.” Always provide
explanations and examples.
• If you don’t understand the question, ask the
interviewer to explain.
• Feel free to think for a moment about tough
questions.
• Watch for illegal questions, such as
information about your age, religion, race,
ethnicity or marital status.
• DON’T:
- Emphasize your weaknesses.
- Criticize former employers
- Discuss salary or benefits unless the
interviewer brings it up first.
THE INTERVIEW (END)
• Ask the job-related questions you prepared for
the interview.
• You may be offered the job immediately. In that
case, you should ask about specific salary,
benefits, and work hours.
• You do not have to give them an immediate
answer. Ask for a day to think about it.
•
If you are told you will be contacted, ask about how
long it will be. Offer to call in a few days to find out
the decision. This shows your continued interest.
•
Make sure the interviewer knows how best to
contact you and that you are available for any
additional information that may be needed.
•
Thank the person for the interview and their interest
in you as a potential employee or student. Shake
hands firmly on the way out.
10 RULES OF THUMB OF A SUCCESSFUL
INTERVIEW
• Come Prepared
• Arrive Early
• Dress Smart
• Reply Calmly
• Don’t Shoot Your Ex-Boss
• Focus
on the Company’s Interest
• Don’t talk about money too soon
• Ask away
• Don’t act desperate or be apologetic
• Observe proper etiquette
TOP 10 MOST FAMOUS INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
TELL ME SOMETHING ABOUT YOURSELF.
• Prepare
a two – three minutes presentation.
• Content of the Presentation:
- Name
- Place
- Personal Interest (Hobbies,
Community involvement etc.)
- Work history/experience (if any)
WHY DO YOU WANT TO JOIN THIS COMPANY?
DO NOT ANSWER:
• Oh, because it’s such a cool place to work.
• I like your salary and benefit package.
• My friends are already here, and it makes it easier for us
hang out together.
RECOMMENDED ANSWER:
•
•
•
•
Facts of the company
It’s working culture
Market performance
How your skills and your experiences will match
their requirements?
WHY ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A NEW JOB?
• If terminated:
- Honest explanation
- Brief (K.I.S.S)
- Positive
• If you left voluntarily:
- I wanted to move my career in new
direction.
- I decided to make a change because I
wanted to keep developing new skills but
was unable to this in my previous company.
WHAT POSITION ARE YOU INTERESTED IN?
For example:
• By using my good communication skills, I
can market the product well, as my 2 years
experience as a marketing executive in
Company X.
• I also believe that I understand the consumer
industry well.
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER ARE YOUR STRENGTHS
AND WEAKNESS?
STRENGTHS:
• Good qualities/behavior/traits
• Social skills that you possess.
WEAKNESS:
• Being organized wasn't my strongest point,
but I implemented a time management system
that really helped my organization skills.
• I used to like to work on one project to it
completion before starting on another, but
I've learned to work on many projects at the
same time, and I think it allows me to be more
creative and effective in each one.
WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT YOUR COMPANY?
• Facts of the company
• It’s working culture
• Market performance
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE YOUR GREATEST
ACHIEVEMENTS?
• Mention two to three achievements
• FOR INSTANCE:
• Relate your achievements with your
organizational skills, problem solving skills and
critical thinking skills.
WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF FIVE YEARS
FROM NOW?
In five years, I wish to have refined my social
skills and customer relation skills.
I intend to be a manager in the customer service
department.
After having proven myself as a manager, I hope
to help shape the strategic direction of customer
service relation.
I could do this in any number of official roles. The
important thing is that I will continue contributing
my abilities in a challenging and rewarding
environment.
WHAT TASKS DID YOU PERFORM IN YOUR
LASTJOB?
• Take the opportunity to mention about
any special projects/ community
involvement projects and related those
experiences with job you are applying
HOW WOULD YOU ESTABLISH GOOD WORKING
RELATIONSHIPS WITH NEW COLLEAGUES AND
SUPERVISORS AT THIS COMPANY, IF SELECTED
FOR THE JOB?
• Explain the relationship between yourself
and previous company manager /supervisor
and colleagues.
• Also can explain about your networking
skills and your ability to interact with different
people at different levels of the office
hierarchy.