19th November 2010 – Interview Skills and Techniques

In this session, we were meant to complete the last two tasks, task sheet 15 and 16. These task sheets were mainly related to answering interview questions and how to prepare before the interview. We were also told to complete an application form, which after completing we had to send in the three email addresses which were specified. We had to also download a pdf file for creating CV for which we had to visit www.reed.co.uk.  By creating a professional CV, I found it to be really useful as I can use the same CV when applying for job applications.

However, task sheet 15 is about thinking how we will answer specific questions relating to our career goals and future job. This helped in evaluating what are my strengths and weaknesses. Also it recognizes my future career goals.

In task sheet 16, I found it to be really useful as we need to write entire process of preparing ourselves before the interview in order to make a good impression and to have more confidence in ourselves. This can be used as a check-list when I prepare myself for an interview in the future.

12th November 2010 Marketing Yourself (task sheet)

After the lecture of Mr Andy Gillman, we were told to complete task sheet 12-14 which were about the same topic as to what the lecturer were talking during the session i.e. preparing for an interview.

Task sheet 12 is about making a list about the skills and attribute that may be asked by the interviewer. It required us to make 10 important skills and within those skills to give examples of real situation where you have demonstrated those skills. I found this to be really useful as it prepared us about the 10 skills in which the interviewer may ask in the interview.

Task sheet 13 showed me what all information will be helpful for a referee apart from our grades. This task sheet was really interesting and good practise as I always tell someone to be my referee either a teacher or manager. When it comes to teacher, they don’t really know you that well as they have a lot of student as well. Therefore by doing this task sheet it can help a person itself by asking themselves what their strength and progress is over the years. This benefits yourself and your teacher for giving you a good reference rather than knowing only your grades and attendance which going to get you that job.

In task sheet 14, we had to write a covering letter to an employer. We had to do this covering letter in such a way that it will interest employers and offer us for an interview.  This was very new to me as I have never came across doing a covering letter for myself when applying for a job. It was a great challenge and a fun for me as I had to think a lot what to mention in this letter. But I remembered what Mr Andy Gillman said about selling yourself that’s why after considering this I wrote my covering letter in a good and professional way as to how business people will write.

At last, I can conclude this by saying that I believe doing these three task sheet gave me a better understanding about what I should do before the interview such as: covering letter, reference and 10 skills in which an employer may need to offer them a job. This has also helped me develop some skills about giving a good interview as I always used to feel nervous when going to any interview. This made me more confident and strong and also showed me that having an interview with business people is not as scary as you think…..

12th November 2010 – Targeting Yourself (Interview tips)

On Friday, we have had a lecture about how to market our self to any employer and in this case a business employer. A representative from the Ministry of Defence (MOD), Mr Andy Gillman, had personally come to lecture our class. He gave us some useful information about interview tips, he also told us the relevant question in which they might ask us in an interview. I found this lecture really useful and interesting as we were getting direct information from a professional interviewer who explained us about what employer look at in a interview, how to market yourself as in how to look professional and smart in an interview, what type of questions do employers ask in an interview in order to chose the right employee and how to give a professional and mature answer to them.

He also illustrated that when we apply for a job along with many other applicants, how an employer short-lists the applications, what information do they find useful, what is their first impressions when looking at an application form and what exactly are they looking for in an applicant.

We also were demonstrated with two scenarios wherein two members of the class had to volunteer to do the scene. The scenario illustrated as to how to get a job easy and then how we might fail in an interview and what not to do in an interview. It made the lesson even livelier having our class team and myself being a part of the scenario.

I found these interview tips to be very useful as he explained to us what should be done by candidate during the interview. A candidate’s first impression should always be impressive and also style of walking in to an interview, seating patterns and answer the questions in a decent and professional manner. This made me realise about my past interview when I used to go for an interview and not get selected for the job. It was not that I didn’t know the answers; it was the style of answering and professional mannerism. This session gave me a good knowledge about what the interviewer is actually looking for in an employee.

This I found it to be really useful as it will help me in my future career. It will also help me in getting the best job even in the toughest market conditions.

Website referred

http://www.easy-interview-tips.com/job-interview-questions.html

http://www.directionsmag.com/columns/top-15-interview-questions/129571

http://jobsearch.about.com/od/interviewquestionsanswers/a/interviewquest.htm

MPD Class- 5th November 2010: Planning Future Goals

Task sheet 11 was basically about planning our target and deciding what steps we will be taking in order to achieve our Career, Academic and Personal goals.  We were also told to set target dates along each goal to keep ourselves stimulated.  It was quite hard in selecting the exact dates on when the target will be completed because you never know where life takes you, for e.g. things may or may not go as they are expected to. So when completing the task sheet I had researched on the goals and these were shown below:

Career Goal                  

I have planned a time schedule as to how I will begin my professional career and progress in the same. It has helped me in planning well in advance as to how should I enact and attain these goals so as to achieve my desired reputation and career growth.

Academic Goal       

In this task sheet I have planned as to how I will progress in my academics and how I will achieve my degree and gradually a professional qualification in my desired field. I have decided and planned as to how I will move on gradually and accomplish them in the mentioned time scale.

Personal Goal                  

In Personal Goals, I could imagine and plan a schedule as to how I will allocate my time apart from my academics for my personal interests. I have planned and will try to get the desired results in the scheduled period.

Task sheet 11 has helped me in deciding the steps which I have to take in order to achieve my goals. This showed the activities in which I have to complete in the planned dates, in other words, it helped me in deciding in which goals is more important for a better future and how to achieve them timely. I would certainly keep this as a calendar for my future reference in order to remind myself of my schedule and also to help me know if I am working as per the schedule or not, and then try to achieve it.

Websites referred:

http://www.leeds.ac.uk/textiles/keynote/Keynote_PDP/plan_c.htm

http://www.leeds.ac.uk/textiles/keynote/Keynote_PDP/plan_a.htm

http://www.leeds.ac.uk/textiles/keynote/Keynote_PDP/plan_p.htm