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Forget the interview! These are the real tests

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The job market is getting increasingly competitive. Next time you apply for a job, look at the number of people who have applied for it before you. We would guess that number would be somewhere close to 1000 and that’s a lot of competition to handle. It means that, unless you are at the top of your game, you probably won’t even always make it to the interview stage. And, even after you reach the interview level, you might face tests and challenges that you weren’t prepared for. To weed out the weakest of the herd and make sure they get the best employees businesses are testing candidates in new and exciting ways. Are you prepared?

Social Media, Savvy?

 

There are two things that you need to think about when using social media. First, do you have a social footprint online? If you use things like Twitter, Facebook and others you probably do which is great. Business owners are always on the lookout for someone who has a strong social profile. It suggests that they have industry contacts. So, if you don’t have any sort of social profile, you might want to think about building one up. It can be difficult starting this from scratch, but make it easy for yourself. Begin with something like Twitter and wait until you have a few follows before moving onto the next one. Eventually, you’ll have a wide reach with a lot of followers and this looks fantastic to employers. Particularly, if you’re seeking a job in the public sector. And, let’s face it, every job is public these days.

Presentation Pro

If you’re going to be working independently rather than with a team or a group you can count on, you need to think about your presentation skills. You might be asked to prepare a presentation for your interview. Employers will be looking at how well you can present the company and interact with clients. This might include a powerpoint presentation or a simple speech. But these days, you can bet it will involve some sort of tech. The key to a great powerpoint presentation isn’t whizzes and bangs but rather minimalism. Make sure you get the key info across and be sure you know how to end a PowerPoint presentation as well. The conclusion is arguably the most important part because you need an impressive climax.

A Day In The Life

You might find that at a later stage of interviews you are brought in for a working day. This is when you will be expected to complete the job as you normally would. Be prepared for some employers to throw you in at the deep end here with very little training. Most likely, you will be handed an assignment and asked to complete it. But, it’s important to realise they won’t be expecting you to be brilliant. You just need to make sure that it doesn’t look like you’re overwhelmed or unable to cope with the pressure.

As you can see then, it’s not just about saying the right thing at the interview anymore. Employers can test you in a number of different ways and they probably will.

Have you been put through any of the above tests? Share your experiences in the comments.

 

Career CamelForget the interview! These are the real tests

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