QCF 2013 Supplement En

7/28/2019 QCF 2013 Supplement En

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Q ata r C a r e e r F a i r j o b s e e k e r s m a n u a l


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02 Plan your move

09 your online identity

18 Common interviewquestions

04 write your Cv

10 PrePare for your interview

21 Commoninterview mistakes

07 write a Cover letter

12 a tyPiCal job interview

23 after the interview

15 styles of interview

24 in the job

l'

your job should be more than something you

do to earn money. It will take up the largest part oyour day, most days o the week, so you want tomake the most o the hours you spend working. Youwant a job that brings you satisaction and a sense oachievement, as well as a salary, and will orm part oa long and ullling career. This guide is about helping

you nd that, and making sure your next job is the rightopportunity or you right now, and will lead to evenbetter opportunities in the uture.

In these pages, we show you how to use theexperience you already have to take the next step in

your career journey. We will oer careully designedstrategies or planning a job change, writing CVs andcover letters, applying or jobs, perorming well in aninterview, and ollowing up your interview so you stayin an employers mind while they are deciding whichcandidate to hire. We include advice on handlingsome common job interview questions, and avoidingcommon mistakes. We also give you tips on how to getthe most out o your job and position yoursel or yournext career move.

This advice holds true whatever stage o your careeryou are at, whether you are leaving education andlooking or your rst role, trying to move orward atergetting your oot on the career ladder, or even i youhave been working or several years but eel yourcareer has become stuck. It is your ticket to making sure

your job gives you more in lie than just the money paidinto your bank account.

nextsteP

your

Contents


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Career 3

MOVEPlan your

in your Career, Planning is everything.When you look back, you may see your career path asa series o chance opportunities that came your way, andthere will be some truth in this. However, planning andpreparation will allow you to seize those opportunitieswhen they happen, and create new ones.

1IdentIfypossIble optIonsThe goal here is to predict the

opportunities you are likely tosee in the medium term. Thinko key search terms relevant tothose jobs and type them intojob-search websites. Lookingthrough the search results,choose jobs that t your goalsand save the results. At thisstage you are not looking orspecic jobs to apply or, soit does not matter where theemployers are.

2

4

3IdentIfy therequIrementsFor the job advertisements youhave saved, make a list o allthe skills and qualications theyask or. These will oten beseparated into categories suchas essential and desirable.Categorize your own listaccording to these terms. I

something is essential, youmust have it on your CV to beconsidered or the role, whilei something is desirable, itis not absolutely necessary.A successul candidate will,however, usually meet some othe criteria on the desirablelist. Ater you have made listsor each job advertisement,combine the results into onemaster list.

AnAlyzeyourselfCompare your lists o essentialand desirable criteria to yourown skills, qualications andexperience. I you meet thecriteria, write yes against that

item. I you do not meet thecriteria, write no. For eachitem where you have writtenyes, write a short paragraph oapproximately 30 to 40 wordsexplaining how you meet therequirement. These paragraphswill be useul later in writing

your CV and or cover letters.I you nd you cannot writea paragraph, change youranswer to no.

Assess your lIstsDoes your list mostly read yes when

you considered how well you matchedthe criteria? I yes, then start applying orjobs. I your list mainly reads no, ndways to resolve this problem, although itmight still be worth applying or positions.There is no hard rule on this, as yourchance o success is always relative to theother candidates applying. You might getlucky, or the employer might consider youor an alternative position.

5fIll the gApsI you have any noanswers on your list, youneed to x that. I you lacka ormal qualication,

enroll in education or training. I youlack previous work experience, lookat options such as volunteer work ortraineeships. Qatar Career Fair canhelp you nd options relevant to yourneeds. HR departments at companies

you want to work or can also giveyou advice.

I you have put no againsttoo many criteria, perhaps

you need to look at more

junior roles that will buildtoward your ambitions.Go back to the jobwebsites, this time looking

or roles where you do meet the criteria.Use this knowledge as a reerence whenidentiying jobs that you have a realisticchance o winning. Once again, however,do not think that just because you do notmeet all the criteria you should not applyor a job. Your applications should be amix o realism and ambition.

AIm hIgherI you meet all the criteria,perhaps you have underestimated

your value on the job market. Go backto the job websites again, this time beingmore ambitious in your job search, andidentiy more senior roles.

thInk AheAdEach job in your careeroers a path to your nextjob, so you should always

be considering what your next move

could be. That applies whether youwant a promotion within your currentorganization, or expect to apply orjobs with other employers. Once youare established in your position, goback to the beginning and start over,this time thinking o your current job asa springboard to your next one. As youmake your list o criteria or jobs at amore senior level, you will be able toidentiy ways you can use your currentwork to turn no into yes when it comesto analyzing your potential.

AImlower

6

7

8

There is no single place to fnd a jobto apply or, and the most importantthing is to be proactive. Some jobsare advertised on websites, butthe best way is oten to contactemployers directly and ask whetherthey have vacancies available. Inmost cases, they will be able todirect you to the jobs section otheir own website, or direct youto places where they and theircompetitors advertise vacancies.

where shouldyou look?

www.qatarcareerair.com.qa2


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www.qatarcareerair.com.qa Career4 5

writeyour Cvd the Latinphrase, curriculum vitae looselytranslates as the course omy lie. A CV tells employerseverything they need to knowabout a potential employee.

It must be a showcase oryour experience, convincingemployers they need you aspart o their organization.

1.your basiCCv

You will need multiple versions o your CV, but theyshould all include certain elements.

PErsOnal dEtails

This is how employers contact you, so include your name,your address, your phone number, and your email address.

EMPlOyMEnt histOry

For each past job, include your job title, time spentin the role, responsibilities, and the name o the

company. List your most recent role rst. Each CVyou send out should be tailored to the job you areapplying or, so emphasize previous roles that are oparticular relevance. Highlight skills and experience

you have gained, such as dealing with customers orcommunication skills.

EducatiOn histOry

List all academic institutions you have attended, whatyears, qualications achieved, and subjects studied. Listyour most recent qualications rst. Employers will bemore interested in what you have done recently. Also

highlight qualities and skills that are relevantto the job. This can be particularly useulor younger job-seekers, helping make upor lack o employment experience in anemployers eyes. Avoid boring clichs, such as socializing

with riends. Do not put passive activities, such as

watching television or going to themovies, as these can make you seemlacking in people skills. However, eventhings such as stamp collecting or building

model airplanes can be positive, bydemonstrating an ability to show attentionto detail or carry a project throughto completion.

Show a range o interests to avoidcoming across as too narrow.

Hobbies that are out o the ordinary canhelp you stand out rom the crowd. Forexample, skydiving or mountaineeringwill make you memorable.

Any interests relevant to the job areworth mentioning. For journalism, aninterest in writing, or or the nanceindustry, managing a antasy stock-market portolio.

Ensure you mention any evidence oleadership, such as within clubs orstudent societies, as captain o a sportsteam, or or events you have organized.

3.arranging your CvThere is no single correct way to present

your CV, but rom the categories we havedescribed, a good starting point is topresent your inormation in the ollowingorder: personal details, personalstatement, employment history, educationhistory, achievements, skills, otherinterests, reerences.

For the design, most word-processingprograms include CV templates, which

include training and qualifcations gained inthe course o your employment.

rEfErEncEs

Have two or more people who can providea work or personal reerence. Ideally, oneshould be your most recent employer, andask them to agree to this beorehand. Youdo not need to submit the details with yourinitial CV, but include the comment thatreerences can be provided on request.

2.your exPandedCvAs well as your basic CV, there areseveral other elements you can include togive a more rounded impression o yourexperience, talents, and character.

PErsOnal statEMEnt

This is a short statement at the beginningo your CV to sell yoursel your skills,experience and personal qualities. Tailorthe statement to the requirements o eachjob you apply or, to highlight why you areperect or the role.

achiEVEMEnts

List relevant skills and achievements romprevious jobs, and be able to give exampleso how you have applied these in practice.Some people combine this element with

each entry under Employment History.skills

These are personal or proessional skills thatwill be useul in a job, but may not requireormal qualications. Language skills areimportant, particularly English and Arabic inQatar, and computing skills are also useul.

OthEr intErEsts

Mentioning things you do in your owntime can support your application i they

you should write and

format your Cv with

Care and attention,

keePing a master

doCument, whiCh you

Can edit into more

sPeCialized versions

targeted to PartiCular

jobs. there is no

PerfeCt temPlate for

a Cv, and different

Professions have

different requirements.

for examPle, some

Professions emPhasize

formal eduCation and

qualifiCations, while

others want to know

more about your

exPerienCe and Career

history.


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o saying the same thing, and possiblysaying it better. Here are a ew morewords that may seem simpler, but are alsoless likely to have been overused in thepast: Accurate Adaptable Condent Friendly Hard-working

Innovative Pro-active Reliable Responsible Smart

Looking at these lists, you could replacethe word fexible with adaptable to

create an impression o being someonewho is comortable dealing with change,or innovative to show you are someonewho actively solves problems.

You can also use careully chosen wordsto make your previous experience moreimpressive, showing that you were pro-active and achieved results in your pastwork. Consider using words such as:

Achieved Formulated Planned Broadened Generated

Managed Represented Completed Implemented Shaped

The most important thing with any wordis how you use it to create a picture inthe employers mind o the work you havedone, and what you have achieved. For

example, i you are in the IT departmentyou could say:Attended IT strategy team meetings,ORContributed to ormulating IT strategy,

and helped implement innovative solutionsto our most persistent IT problems.

Finally, many employers now usesotware to lter applications based onkeyword searches, so make sure youinclude words and phrases rom the jobdescription in your application.

you can adapt to your needs. Chooseone that looks ormal and proessional.

4. handy tiPsHere are a ew simple points to rememberwhen writing your CV: Your CV should be neat, typed, and to the

best standard you can achieve in contentand layout.

Keep your CV short and to the point; twopages o A4 should be enough.

Be positive; emphasize your

achievements, strengths, and successes,and do not mention negative actors. Use correct spelling. English or Arabic? This will depend on the

job. I you speak both languages, makesure you have a version o your CV in each.

5. the right words

Choosing the right words is importantin setting yoursel apart rom othercandidates. Here is a list o some commonterms job applicants use to describethemselves:

Excellentcommunicationskills

Goal-driven Flexible Motivated

Strong work ethic Reliable Multi-tasking Independent Detail-oriented Sel-motivated

Each o these terms says somethingpositive, and will oten be used indescriptions o the jobs you are applyingor, in which case it is wise to use them tomatch your CV to the job requirements.Whenever you use a word to describeyoursel, make it more powerul by usingreal examples o how it applies to you.

Sometimes, however, words are usedso many times they lose their value, so it isalways useul to have more than one way

dO yOur

hOMEwOrk

Beore you write thecover letter, makesure you go throughany job descriptioncareully, i there isone, and match yourown skills to thoseoutlined. This willshow you which partso your experience

you need to highlight.Next, nd outeverything you can

about the company and what it does,and how the role you are applying or tsinto the overall operation. Understand thecompanys aims and objectives, its placein the market, and its competitors. Makenotes o how you can help the companyachieve its aims.

This research will give you the knowledgeyou need to tailor both your cover letter

and your CV to the needs o the company,and also demonstrate you have a realinterest in the company itsel, and are notjust applying or jobs at random. Try tond out who will be handling your jobapplication, and address the cover letterto them personally. This is usually includedin a job advertisement, but otherwise aninitial phone call to the recruiter, or thecompanys HR department, should providethe inormation. The person you speak tomay be the person who will handle your

application, in which case a phone call is agood way o showing initiative and helpingyou stand out.

what tO includE

A good ormula to ollow or a cover letterincludes our paragraphs covering anintroduction, experience, potential, andconclusion. This helps an employer makea quick, positive assessment o you, andput your application in the pile markedmaybe instead o the one marked no'.

writea Coverletter

y c introduces youto an employer, and convinces themto look at the attached CV in moredetail. Expect it to receive about 30seconds' worth o attention beorethe employer moves on to the nextapplication in the pile.


building on the

information

Contained in your

Cv, the Cover letter

should state Clearly

why the emPloyer

should hire you.

everything you write

should enCourage

them to read your Cv,

whiCh in turn should

ConvinCe them they

should Call you infor an interview.

WRITE YOUR CV


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thE right lOOk

Your cover letter should look proessional. submitted as hard copy, it should beormatted as a business letter, with yourname and contact details at the top othe page, and signed with a pen at thebottom. I you used a template or yourCV, use a business letter version o

the same template. This will ensure theormatting is neat and proessional.The wording o your letter should,

however, be unique to you, so do not cutand paste paragraphs rom letters yound online. Employers want to see youas a capable individual who will makea valuable contribution to their business. they notice two applicants handingin almost identical documents, this willundermine the impression o competencethey are looking or.

The easiest parto this is email.

Only send jobapplicationsrom an emailaccount with asimple, sensibleaddress. Thebest option is touse a variationo your name.

A moredicult issue issocial media.Your posts onFacebook,Twitter andthe like can

be seen by the world, and so can thethings other people post on your prole.That could include your boss, and many

employers now check the proles o jobapplicants. I yours is ull o content thatmake you look irresponsible, this can aect

your application.Having separate private and

proessional proles is useul i you usesocial networking or work, but does notsolve this problem. An employer might askto see both proles, and become suspiciousi you do not show them. The same appliesto setting up ake work-riendly proles,which seem suspicious i there is little activity

lEttEr Or EMail?

It is now common or many job applicationsto be submitted by email, but you should stillbe ormal in your approach.

Always read the requirements sent to youby the employer, and ollow all directions tothe smallest detail. I you are asked to sendan email with your CV as an attachment,

then the main body o your email messageshould be written like a business letter.Make sure the subject line o your email

includes key terms such as the emailspurpose, which is a job application, whatjob you are applying or, and your name.Thus, an application or an engineering jobby Mohamed Ali would read:

Job application, engineering vacancy,Mohamed Ali

This will allow whoever receives youremail to identiy its purpose easily.

on their timeline, while nothaving a prole at all can

make you seem antisocial.Changing your securitysettings to maximum is nouse either, as you might be asked to log induring a job interview.

The only sensible option is to keep tightcontrol o your existing prole. Only postthings you would be happy or an employerto see, and delete any posts rom otherpeople that do not t this prerequisite.Likewise, be aware that the things youlike can also aect the way other peopleperceive you. You can still have a socialmedia presence that refects your personalityand interests, but in a way that presents

you as a responsible person, whom anyemployer would be glad to hire.

ConClusion

Reiterate your interest in the position, and why youwould be right or the job. Indicate that you wouldlike to meet with the employer or an interview.I you know the name o the person you are writing

to, address the letter ormally, such as to Dear MrSmith or a westerner, or Dear Ms Noora or anArabic name. For westerners it is conventional touse someones amily name, rather than their givenname, as is the Arabic custom. I you do not knowtheir name, Dear Sir or Madam will suce. Endthe letter with Yours sincerely, and your name.

Potential

This is where you emphasize what you can do orthe employer. Outline your career goal, making itrelevant to the position you are applying or, andexpand on relevant points in your CV.

introduCtion

This should be onesentence to introduce

yoursel and state yourinterest in applying orthe job. It is also useulto include how you havecome to contact them, suchas via a job advertisement.


emPloyers are as

aware as anyone ofthe Power of soCial

networking, and

are inCreasingly

worried by how the

online aCtivities of

staff Could refleCt on

their business. you

must be aware of this.

make sure any online

aCtivity a Current

or future emPloyer

sees Presents you in a

mature, Professional

light.

your onlineidentityo activities have become an important parto modern lie, but they are also putting our privateworld on display in a way that was inconceivable inthe past. This could aect your job prospects.

exPerienCe

Tell the recruiter why you aresuitable or the job. Briefydescribe your proessional andacademic qualications, relatingthese to each o the requirementslisted in the job description.

Just as social networking isimportant in our private lives,proessional sites such as LinkedInhave become part o the way wefnd career opportunities. Register

with LinkedIn, and careully constructyour profle, based around yourCV, to develop networks in yourproessional community.

Professionalnetworking

WRITE A COVER LETTER


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???

1. cOnfirM thE tiME and lOcatiOn

Know exactly where the interview will beheld and how long it will take to get there.Make a practice run o the journey inecessary. On the day itsel you should aimto arrive at least 30 minutes ahead o time.

2. find Out what tO wEar

Dress or the interview the way the companyis likely to expect you to dress or work.For Qatari nationals, that means nationaldress. Expat applicants should wear suitablebusiness attire: suit, shirt, and tie or men,and the equivalent or women.

3. rEsEarch thE cOMPany

Go back to your job-search notes and makesure you clearly understand: The organizations mission and key values The company's size and activities

Consider how you can contribute toachieving the jobs objectives, and writenotes to help you remember key points.

5. clEar yOur diary

Make sure you have nothing else plannedon the day o the interview so you cangive it all your attention and energy. Alsoschedule plenty o time or preparation inthe days beorehand, rather than leavingeverything until the last minute.

6. knOw yOur intErViEwEr(s)

Find out who is interviewing you and their

role in the company. You may need to gothrough two interviews. One is to screencandidates based on their applications,and this will be with the HR department ora less-senior manager. The second is morelikely to be with a senior manager.

7. PrEdict thE quEstiOns

In any interview, you should be able topredict many o the questions you will beasked. Think about what these are likely tobe, and practice your answers.

8. rEhEarsE thE intErViEw

Ask someone to go through your researchmaterials and then interview you as i theywere the employer. You should choosesomeone you view as an authority gure,who will take the exercise seriously, and

will be tough on you. I you know someonewho interviews job applicants as part otheir own work, so much the better.

9. Pack yOur bag

Gather everything you need or your interviewa day in advance. Include copies o your CV;examples o previous work i appropriate; anotebook and at least two pens; your ID orpassport; and any relevant proessional oreducational paperwork, such as certifcatesor your qualifcations. I you think something

Market competitors The latest news about it in the media Important people in the organization,

particularly who is interviewing you Plans or the uture.

Write notes on each topic to help youremember key points during your interview.

4. rEsEarch thE jOb

Go back to your job-search notes and makesure you know everything you can about thejob itsel, including: Qualications required Tasks you will be ullling Objectives o the job Role the job plays in achieving the

companys objectives Challenges you can expect to ace How the job will build toward your own

ambitions.

might be useul, include it. Having plentyo supporting material will make a goodimpression, even i you do not use it all. Packeverything in the type o bag you wouldexpect someone to carry to a businessmeeting. Finally, make sure your clothes areready to put on in the morning; you dontwant to discover your shirt is crumpled justbeore you need to leave home.

10. a gOOd nights slEEP

The evening beore your interview, go tobed early, and set your alarm so you haveplenty o time to get ready in the morning

and arrive at your interview well aheado your appointment. Know how long itwill take you to get ready and travel to thelocation, and add an hour and a hal.

11. allOw PlEnty Of tiME

Take your time to get ready in the morning.Have a shower, use deodorant andmaybe perume or cologne, eat a relaxedbreakast, brush your teeth. Get dressed lastto avoid spilling ood down your ront. Give

your bag one last check, and as soon asyou are ready, start making your way to theinterview. You can always wait in the lobbyi you get there early.

PreParefor yourinterviewYour CV and cover letter perorm

one unction: to get you a jobinterview. The interview is whereyou convince the employer thatyou are better than the rest. Likeeverything in your search or a job,preparation is essential.

When you arrive at the interview

location, ollow whatever instructionsyou have been given to be at theright room at the right time. Youshould now be as ready or yourinterview as you ever will be. Relax,think about the preparation youhave done, and wait or your turn

with the interviewer. Turn o yourphone and any other mobile devices

you have with you. There should beno interruptions until your interviewis fnished.


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Confident

a tyPiCaljob interviewA job interview can be stressul, so we willstart with some simple words o advice:Dont panic. You are ready or this. Be calmand condent.

Think o your interview as a conversation,

not an interrogation. Just as everyconversation is dierent, so is every jobinterview, and the path o the conversationwill be decided by the things you say. Mostinterviews do, however, ollow a airlystandard pattern.

A typical job interview will consist oour parts:

The interviewer will tell you about thecompany and the job

The interviewer will ask you to tell themabout yoursel

can explain yoursel and how confdent youare. It is not a trick question, but it is a test,and the interviewer will be judging how well

you describe your abilities without promptingby specifc questions.

Outline your basic inormation, andhow perect you are or the job, in a shortstatement o between 50 and100 words.

In some cases, the interviewer might quiteliterally need to be reminded o who youare. They have probably read your coverletter and CV, but in a day ull o interviewsit becomes hard to tell one applicant

rom another.answering questions

Each question is designed to gatherinormation, so be sure to answer properly.Pause or a moment and take a breathwhile you think about your answer, andstart composing your words in your headbeore you begin to speak. Appearing togive thought to your response will be to

your advantage. Even i you know exactlywhat you want to say, it is still worth taking

a pause beore speaking. Speak clearly,choose your words with care, and do notrush your answer.

Give ull answers to any questions, andtry to use examples rom past experiencein your answers when appropriate. Thereis rarely such a thing as a yes or noanswer. When asked a question that couldhave a one-word response, provide somesupporting inormation to expand on theinterviewers understanding o your talents.For example, i you are asked whether youhave a particular skill or qualifcation, i theanswer is yes, provide a brie example o

how you have used these skills. I the answeris no, provide an example o a related skillthat you do possess, showing you wouldeasily be capable o learning new skillsas required.

When you have fnished answeringa question, stop talking. Do not repeat

yoursel, or let a sentence drit away tonothing. Answering a question clearly andully, and then showing you are ready tomove on to the next point, shows you areconfdent about your abilities. Repetition or

as you walk towardthe interview room,

Put anything you are

Carrying in your left

hand to leave your right

one free to shake hands.

as you enter the room,

greet the interviewer or

interviewers Politely, and

take a seat when invited

to do so. oPen your bag

and Calmly take out all

the materials you have

brought with you, laying

them on the table in

front of you.

AnswerIng A questIon cleArlyAnd fully, And then showIng youAre reAdy to move on to the next

poInt, shows you Are confIdent

About your AbIlItIes.

The interviewer will ask specifc questionsto assess your abilities, personality andmotivationYou will be given a chance to askquestions.

At the end o the interview, you should betold what the next stage o the recruitmentprocess will be and when you can expect tohear whether you will be proceeding to thenext stage.

telling you about the ComPany

When the interviewer talks about thecompany and the job, listen politely andattentively. Their comments should match

your own research, but i not, do not say soout loud. Think about the new inormation,and how you may need to adjust youranswers during the interview.

The interviewer will probably not phrasetheir comments as a question, but remember,your interview is a conversation, and aconversation has two sides. When theinterviewer fnishes speaking, provide aresponse, even i it is a simple one, suchas: That sounds like it would expand myexperience very well, and would be agreat opportunity.

telling them about yourself

The interviewer wants to see how well you


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fnishing an answer weakly makes itseem you have run out o things to say.The same applies to trying to list everyrelevant example rom past experience.One example shows you are able to handlea situation, two shows you can do it again,but more than that can actually make yourexperience look limited.

I you are not sure what a question means,ask or clarifcation. Nobody will judge youor it, and some interviewers will deliberatelyask difcult or ambiguous questions to see

how you react under pressure.

asking questions about the job

When asked i you have any questions, theanswer should always be 'yes'. You shouldalso come armed with a list o preparedquestions that show interest and enthusiasm.

Focus on the job in question, its potentialor the uture, and what it is like to work orthe company. You should absolutely neverask questions that will be perceived as

short-term or selfsh, such as about salary orworking hours.

Make a note o anything you want toask during the interview, but be sure yourquestions have not already been answeredas this can make you seem inattentive.

When the interview comes to an end,gather up your materials and place themin your bag without umbling, thank theinterviewer or their time, and take yourleave. Be as polite and proessional on yourway out as you were on your way in, to

make sure the good impression you havegiven remains in the interviewers mind ateryou have gone.

whAt Are thethIngs you enjoy

About workInghere?People like talking about themselves,and this will give the interviewer a

chance to do just that. Once again,it establishes you as being genuinelyinterested in the organization.

howwouldAn employeeIn thIs role exceedyour expectAtIons?This shows you dont merely wantto do the job adequately, but youare keen to be noticed or yourachievements.

If you dont offerthe job to me, whAt

do you thInk thereAson would be?This question does two things: frst, itgives you a chance to fnd out i thereare any misconceptions you shouldclear up beore the interview ends;and second, i you are not oered thejob, it gives you useul inormation oryour next application.

how hAveprevIous peopleIn thIs posItIonprogressed wIthInthe compAny?This shows you are committed tosucceeding in the job, and to beinga stable and eective employee whowants to stay with the company orthe long term.

whAt kInd oftrAInIng And

developmentopportunItIes

do you offeremployees?As above, this shows a desire oradvancement, but with an eye to thelong term rather than just using thecompany as a stepping stone.

thE PanEl intErViEw

This is probably the most commonalternative to the one-on-one interview,particularly with larger and morebureaucratic organizations. In thissituation, two or more people interview

you at the same time.This can be daunting, but the panel will

be covering the same points, and askingthe same questions, as an individualinterviewer. The panel is simply a wayor the company to get a more balancedopinion o your qualities as an applicant,and while that means major faws in

your application have a greater chance

o being noticed, it also means minormissteps can be cancelled out when theinterviewers compare notes.

To make sure each interviewer hasa good impression o you, treat eacho them as an individual. I a particularperson asks a question, address youranswer directly to that person. I youcannot identiy one interviewer you shouldbe talking to, then alternate your ocusbetween interviewers, but make sure youare looking at somebody. Do not simply

look into space or stare down at the tablein ront o you.

thE skyPE intErViEw

Interviews via Skype and similar servicesare becoming increasingly common, suchas when applying or a job in a dierentcity or country, i an employer wants tointerview you while you are away romhome, or you are studying abroad andapplying or positions or when youreturn home.

With a Skype interview, observe allthe same rules as i you were in thesame room, rom preparation to personal

presentation, to being available andonline at the allotted time. There are,however, a ew additional pointsto remember.1. Make sure your connection is astenough or smooth video and clearsound, and about 20 minutes beorethe interview have someone else call

you to check everything is working well.This will give you time to log out, restart

your computer, and hopeully resolve thesituation.

A TYPICAL JOB INTERVIEW


styles of interviewIn most job interviews, there will justbe you and one interviewer seated atopposite sides o a desk or table, butthis is not always the case. Perhapsthere is more than one interviewer, orthe interview is by telephone or Skype,or happens in a public place. Whilethe essential ormat o the interviewdoes not change, there are some extraissues you need to consider.


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do not overstay yourwelComeWhen the interview reaches itsnatural end, gather your belongingsand say your goodbyes exactly as

you would in an oce. Do not hangaround, either trying to make small-talk or, even worse, saying nothingat all, while you gulp the last o yourdrink or try to clear your plate. Thiscan eel awkward, and any slip in

your manners now will undermine thegood impression you have made.

watCh your mannersBad manners are the biggest dangero the coee shop. Do not slurp yourdrink, chew with your mouth open,talk with ood in your mouth, put toomuch in your mouth, or pick ood outo your teeth. The best approach isto avoid ood altogether, and stickto tea or coee. Adopt an attentiveand polite pose in your chair nomatter how comortable it may be.

foCus on the interviewerat all timesA public place is ull o noise anddistractions. You must ignore themand keep your attention rmly onthe interviewer. Avoid glancing atother things happening around you,or listening to other sounds rather

than what the interviewer is saying.

keeP the Conversationon traCkThe casual environment can lead

you to have more o a socialconversation rather than aproessional one. While there maybe some small-talk, the intervieweris really here to nd out about yourexperience and potential, so moveon to these more relevant topicswithout too much delay.

2. Set up in a quiet place where youwill not be disturbed, and with a neutralor proessional background. Never usea public place, such as a ca, as thebackground noise and movement canbe distracting. Ensure the area in view oyour webcam is c lean and tidy. Speakclearly and make eye contact. I youmumble on Skype, this will make youseem incoherent, and i you constantly

ook away to the side, you willseem shity.3. Do not disconnect until you are surethe interview is over. Cutting either aninterviewer, or yoursel, o halwaythrough a sentence will seem sloppy andill-mannered.

thE cOffEE shOP intErViEw

Some job interviews are in a publicplace, and well call this the coeeshop interview because that is probablythe location chosen most oten. Perhapsthe employer does not have a suitableocation close by, or either the employeror candidate would preer others notknow about the interview, which may bedicult in the oce.

It is also common or an inormal talk

about job opportunities, in which casetalking over a coee may seem morenatural and comortable than speakingacross a desk

The most important thing to rememberis that, no matter how inormal theocation, a job interview itsel is neveran inormal process. You should alwaysprepare, dress and behave exactly asyou would or any ace-to -ace inter view.There are, however, some additionalthings to bear in mind.

thE PhOnE intErViEw

Telephone interviews are particularlycommon toward the start o the recruitmentprocess, to select which candidates willbe invited to a ull interview. They may beshorter than a ull interview, but otherwisewill ollow the same ormat.

A telephone interview can also happenby accident. Perhaps you are callingor inormation, or making a speculative

call about possible vacancies, but i youspeak to one o the companys recruitmentteam, you are being interviewed. Everytime you call a poten tial employer,be prepared to sell yoursel, showenthusiasm, and make a good impression.

This is not a casual conversation. Doall your research, know what you wantto say, and know what you want to ask,beore you press the call button. Choosea quiet location or the call, and makesure you will not be interrupted. I theemployer is going to call you, be readyand waiting when your phone rings.

The important consideration is thatyou and the interviewer cannot see eachother. This means you need to make anextra eort to speak slowly and clearly.While you should still give yoursel

a thinking pause beore answeringquestions, do not let the pause drag outtoo long, otherwise the interviewer maythink you were not listening. I necessary,say you need to think about the questionor a moment, so it is clear you are givingit proper consideration and have notsimply tuned out. By all means, have

your CV and any other notes in ront oyou as a reerence, but arrange them ina way that you can reer to them easilywithout shufing pieces o paper.

STYLES OF INTERVIEW


be very PreCise inCheCking the interviewloCationI you think coee shop in Qatar,

you are probably thinking one othe popular ranchises in shoppingmalls. Make sure you know exactlywhich ranchise, and exactly whichmall, the interviewer is planning tomeet you in.

do not eat too muChThe interviewer will probably oerto buy you a coee or cake, inwhich case it is impolite to decline.Ask or something simple such astea or coee, not an extravagantconcoction that will be ussy to drink.Likewise, do not order an enormousslice o cake, but rather a small item

such as a cookie.


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Commoninterviewquestions?

?? ??

?tEll ME abOut yOursElf?

Have three or our sentences in mindthat describe your career history, yourproessional achievements, and yourcharacter. In each case, what you sayshould reinorce what you wrote in yourcover letter and CV, and demonstratepotential or the job they need to ll.

what wErE yOur

rEsPOnsibilitiEs in yOur

last jOb?

Your answer should be specic inthe details you give, and concentrate

on positives. Always try to link pastresponsibilities to the job you are applyingor, and ocus on the areas where thereis a clear link. You want to show theinterviewer you have the experience andqualications they are looking or.

what did yOu likE Or dislikE

abOut yOur PrEViOus jOb?

Be positive, and answer in a waythat shows you eel it is time or you tomove on, rather than being unhappy or

strength to a specic example, and makesure they are relevant to the job you areapplying or.

what is yOur grEatEst

wEaknEss?

Everybody has weaknesses, but do notreveal something that might make theemployer decide not to hire you. Oneoption is to look at the skills required orthe job, and describe weaknesses thatdo not relate to them, just as you describe

strengths that do. Another is to describepast weaknesses, and what you havedone to solve them. This presents you assel-aware and able to improve yourselwhen necessary. The best answer is tomix a minor weakness not related tothe job, with a couple o more relevantshortcomings you have recognized in

yoursel and taken steps to solve.

hOw dO yOu dEal with

PrEssurE Or strEss?

Possible responses include: you eelpressure, but try not to let it aect you;when you are under pressure, it motivates

you to get the job done; you try react tosituations, rather than the stresses theycause; i a task or project is becomingstressul, you break it down into smaller,

achievable goals to deal with one at atime; i the stress is caused by issues withother people in the team, you talk to themand resolve the underlying problem. Youcan also reer to things you do to relievestress outside work, such as playing sportor going to the gym.

what was yOur biggEst

accOMPlishMEnt Or failurE in

yOur PrEViOus wOrk?

Think o something you achieved in your

dissatised. Talk about the workplace in away that shows you enjoy being part othe team, and speak o achievements andchallenges you have enjoyed, but eel youneed to nd new opportunities to develop.

what arE sOME Of thE

challEngEs Or PrOblEMs yOu

haVE facEd, and hOw did yOu

handlE thEM?

Think o specic challenges you haveaced in the past, and then write downhow you solved the situation, eitherindividually or as a constructive team

member. Pick three that you think are mostlikely to impress, which relate to the jobdescription, and show dierent aspects o

your problem-solving skills. Use these aspossible responses.

what is yOur grEatEst

strEngth?

Take a close look at the things you haveachieved in lie, work and study, and builda list o strengths around things you havedone in the past. Be able to link each

previous work that will be relevant tothe job you are applying or. Use thisas an example, being sure you canexplain clearly why you count it as anaccomplishment. Describing your greatestailure must be approached careully toavoid looking incompetent or lacking insel-awareness. Identiy something that isnot too closely related to the tasks you willbe expected to perorm, and then explainwhat you learned rom your experienceand how you would avoid repeating thisailure in the uture.

hOw dO yOu EValuatE succEss?

This is best answered in terms o youraccomplishments as part o a team,because that is what your prospectiveemployer will want you to be. You could

say you evaluate success by setting goalsand judging how well you achieve orexceed them, or through the positiveresponse o your ellow workers. Alwaysbe able to give an example o a situationthis has applied to.

why dO yOu wish tO lEaVE

yOur currEnt jOb?

Never speak badly o a current or pastemployer. Emphasize the experience youhave gained, and that you eel you need

hAve three or foursentences In mInd

thAt descrIbe yourcAreer hIstory,

your professIonAlAchIevements, And

your chArActer.


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more room to develop your skills, or wantto take your career in a new direction. the position has been advertised,you could say you were not planninga move, but saw the advertisementand it looked interesting. Explain howa new job would create opportunitiesmissing rom your current one. It is moredicult i you were made redundant ordismissed rom your last position. Mostmanagers will understand the concept oredundancy, and that this can happento the best employees, but you shouldunderstand and explain why it wasyour job that was cut. For example,the company needed to reduce costs,and decided to divide the workloadbetween a smaller team. Dismissal is

harder to explain. I you nd yourselin this position, try to present the actssurrounding your dismissal in the bestpossible light, and show you haveearned rom the experience.

why dO yOu want this jOb?

Make a list o ways in which the rolematches your proessional and careerambitions. When answering thequestion, emphasize that you are lookingor an opportunity to make the most o

your skill s and expand your proessionalabilities. Be sure to explain why the jobis an opportunity, and give exampleso existing skills that you think would beexpanded by the new role.

why shOuld wE hirE yOu?

Give examples o how the skills andexperience you have gathered inprevious jobs ulll the employers needs.Be positive, and concentrate on the

contribution you can make tothe organization.

what arE yOur gOals fOr

thE futurE?

Think ahead to the next step in yourcareer, and describe your goals in theseterms. Ideally, you should identiy goals

you can achieve within the organizat ion,as this will show commitment and that

your ambitions and the employersare the same. Do not talk about goalsoutside your career that might intererewith your work. Another commonvariation on this question is, Where do

you see yourse l in ve years time?

what arE yOur salary

rEquirEMEnts?

When applying or a job, you shouldresearch how much is a reasonablesalary or the role in question, and howmuch your experience is likely to beworth in the role. With that in mind, oneoption is to state your current packageand that you would want a salary thatcompares avorably with this. In general,however, it is best to avoid talkingabout money in a job interview. Salarynegotiations are best handled ater youhave been oered the job.

emphAsIze theexperIence you hAvegAIned, And thAt youfeel you need moreroom to developyour skIlls, or wAntto tAke your cAreerIn A new dIrectIon.


Commoninterview mistakes

There are some job interview mistakes people make time and time again,and she was the one who turned up late or he was the one who wore

jeans could be enough to put your application on the no pile.

fOrgEtting an intErViEwErs

naME

Nothing tells someone you dont careabout them like orgetting who they are.I you are being interviewed by a panel,know everyones name, and make sure

you know who is who at the start othe interview.

gEtting lOst and arriVing latE

Always make sure you know exactlywhere you need to go or your interview,how long it will take to get there, andthen allow enough travel time to arriveearly. Being late creates a bad impressionand, i the interviewer is on a tight

schedule, your appointment mightget cancelled.

aVOiding tOugh quEstiOns

There are some questions that are hardto answer, but the interviewer asks themor a reason. You will not get away withavoiding the question or not answering.The interviewer might not press you, butwill make a note o your ailure and countit against you when reviewing therival candidates.

answEring thE wrOng quEstiOn

Listen careully to every part o eachquestion, then answer each part clearly.Many people only hal-listen, and answerthe question they think they were asked,not what they actually were asked.This ails to give the interviewer theinormation they want, and makes youseem inattentive.

nOt OffEring rEfErEncEs

Employers want to be able to checkyour credentials, so make sure you havereerences ready to give them. In somecases, they might not actually use thereerences, but they want the option and

will notice i you cannot provide any.nOt asking quEstiOns

Interviewers ask i you have any questionspartly because they realize you might likemore inormation, and also as a way oseeing how curious you are about the joband the organization. Prove your interestby asking intelligent questions.

asking abOut salary and hOurs

You are denitely going to want to know

COMMON INTERVIEW QUESTIONS


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COMMON INTERVIEW MISTAKES


about these beore accepting the job,but now is not the time to ask. This willmake you look like a potential dissatisedemployee, who will want to arrive at workate in the morning, and leave as soon asyou can in the aternoon.

drEssing inaPPrOPriatEly

This is a business meeting, not a socialouting, so dress appropriately. Thatusually means national dress or Qatarisor other Gul nationals, or a business suitor reasonable trousers/long-sleeved shirt/

jacket combination or expats. I you arean expat male, wear a tie. I you are anexpat emale, wear a skirt that reachesbelow the knees.

using yOur PhOnE during

thE intErViEw

Do not be distracted by messages orsocial networking on your phone ormobile device. Not only is it rude, it willalso make the interviewer wonder howmuch time you will be wasting on this inthe oce. Turn your phone o beore theinterview starts.

nOt Paying attEntiOn

Your potential employer wants to knowthat you are alert and attentive, as thiswill aect how they judge your likely

perormance at work. I you cannot payattention in an inter view, they will assumeyou cannot do so at work either.

talking tOO Much

Say what you need to say, and whenyou have answered a question ully, stoptalking and let the interviewer speak.This makes you seem an eective andintelligent communicator. Your interviewmay also have an allotted time limit, somake the most o it.

not knowing about

the ComPany

I you do not know about the company,why would you care about working orit? Do your homework beore sendinga job application, and again and inmore depth beore the interview. Failureto do this will almost certainly stop youprogressing to the next stage o theprocess.

Forgetting details

oF your CV

You should be able to remember exactlywhat you have done in the past, andwhen you did it. I not, it can make youseem absent-minded, and the interviewermay wonder i your CV is completelyaccurate.

being negatiVe about

Past jobs

The interviewer wants a team-playerto join the company; someone whohas been successul in their previousexperience and is ready to move up toa higher level. Complaining about acurrent or past employer is a hallmark osomeone who has not made the most otheir opportunities. The same applies toschools or universities. As ar as a jobinterview is concerned, your past shouldbe a series o positive, rewarding, andeducational experiences.

not being relaxed

This probably seems like it goes againstevery piece o advice in this guide,but it is important to be relaxed andcomortable in a job interview, justnot too casual. Your employer wantssomeone other workers will get alongwith, and you want them tosee this in you.

1. gEt a businEss card

During you interview, ask or theinterviewers card. This gives you theoce address, contact telephone number,and email address you need to stayin touch.

2. say thank yOu

When you get home, send an emailthanking the interviewer or their time andrestating why you believe you would bean asset to the team. You can also includeadditional inormation you eel was notcovered in the interview.

3. usE thE tElEPhOnE

A week ater the interview, call the

interviewer to let them know o yourcontinued interest, and ask i they needany urther inormation. This reminds theinterviewer o you at a crucial time in thedecision-making process

4. kEEP asking

Keep in touch with the interviewer untilyou are either oered the job, or it hasbeen given to someone else, regularlyinquire about the progress o the selectionprocess, and restate your enthusiasm or

the position. This can help you stay in therunning i the selection process takes a while.Make each email or call dierent rom thelast, rather than sending the same messageover and over again.

5. why nOt ME?

There will inevitably be times when youdo not get a job you apply or, but i youapproach rejection in a constructive way

you can use it to improve your chanceso success in the uture. When yound out you were unsuccessul, ask theinterviewer or eedback. Most are willingto explain why they chose someone elseand which parts o your application, such

as details on your CV or part o yourinterview perormance, aected theirdecision. Be polite, take care not to let

your query seem li ke a complaint, andsend an email thanking them aterwards.You can use eedback on a ailedapplication to improve your next one. Thecompany will also have other vacanciesin the uture, and a polite, constructiveollow-up to an unsuccessul applicationcould put you in mind when recruiting oranother position.

afterthe interviewFollowing up your interview dramaticallyincreases your chances o landing the job. Itis oten the candidate who keeps in touch thatgets an oer.


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in

the job

When you start a new job, you should startpreparing or your next move rom your very rstday. Always remember that a successul careermeans using each job along your path as astep toward the next opportunity.

1. dressto imPress

Apply the samedress standardsor work as youdid or yourinterview. Ater a while you may nd thedress code is more fexible, particularly

or expats, but be sure o what isappropriate beore changing whatyou wear.

Do not talk too muchabout your privatelie, be too amiliarwith other people, or

make jokes that might be misunderstood.The people around you are colleagues,

not your social circle. Some greatriendships are made at the oce, butthese take time to develop.

5. behaveProfessionally

2. be on time

Always aim to arriveat work beore theappointed start time.Consistently arrivinglate will appear lazy

and uncommitted. Likewise, do not be

in a hurry to leave at the end o the day,or take too long or lunch.

3. take notes

Write downeverything you areasked to do, conrmexactly what isrequired o you, and

how you are expected to achieve it.

Being given the same instructions overand over again will seem incompetent.

4. askquestions

Ask questionswhenever there issomething you do notunderstand perectly.Your manager will

understand you need guidance in

perorming new tasks. You can also askcolleagues or advice.

8. aChieveyourgoals

Keep track o how yourwork is expanding yourCV, and fnd ways to fllany gaps you can see. Youmay ask to take on extratasks, or you can look to activities outsidethe ofce, such as volunteer work. When

your CV is noticeably stronger, it is time tothink about moving on.

Keep personal socialnetworking, textmessages, and phonecalls to an absoluteminimum at work.

I you receive a personal message or

call, only respond i the matter is urgent.Otherwise, wait until you have nishedwork or are on a break.

6. worktime is for

working

Get your work donewithout uss. Consult

your manager on aregular basis to check

your work is in linewith expectations.

This will make sure any issues are dealtwith beore they become a problem.

7. do whatyou areasked

Documents

QCF 2013 Supplement En