Solving your people puzzles............

Swindale Parks are pleased to announce we have partnered with Thomas International, the globally recognised provider of objective management systems, psychometric analysis and business assessment tools. Combining our 20 year experience of Sales, Marketing & Creative recruitment and Thomas’s unrivalled understanding of behavioral assessment (they complete nearly one million assessments per year by the way) will undoubtedly further improve the quality & value of the service we are able to offer clients and candidates alike.
We have long taken great pride in getting to know our recruiting managers and job seekers & developing a thorough understanding of their needs, adding Thomas’s full range of services to our offering will further enhance our ability to do this. With the tools we now have at our disposal not only will we be able to advise on the more tangible aspects of a client’s requirement, but also the behavioral characteristics required in the successful candidate. All of this is, of course, aimed at improving our chances of delivering an appropriate solution. Peter Cash said “the benefits extend beyond simply aiding the recruitment process, as it also has implications for clients to help improve retention, succession planning & appraisal, and for individuals to aid personal & professional development. To find out more contact your consultant.

Killer Interview Questions........

Swindale Parks' Top Tips to help you secure your next Sales or Marketing & Creative job...........

Picture the scene - the interview is going well, you are getting on famously with the interviewer and a job offer is so close that you can almost smell it - surely nothing can stop you fulfilling your destiny and claiming your prize!! Wrong – you haven’t allowed for the killer interview question!!! Every interviewer has one, a favourite ‘teaser’ designed to test your ability to think on the spot and react under pressure. The killer question will be the straw that breaks the camel’s back for many an unsuspecting interviewee – make sure you are not one of them. To ensure you don’t come unstuck with the finishing line in sight think about the kind of questions you may be asked and even rehearse your answers. Here are a few of our favourites……

1. What is your biggest weakness and how do you manage it?
2. What is your greatest strength and give me an example of how you have exploited it to your benefit?
3. Who will you miss most when you leave your current employer and why?
4. What do you have to offer that the other applicants don’t?
5. What value will you add to my business?
6. I think you are over qualified for this job?
7. What would your priorities be in your first 12 months of the role?
8. I don’t think you can do the job. Do you agree?
9. Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
10. Describe a difficult situation you handled well??
11. Describe a difficult situation you handled badly?
12. Define profitability?

And our personal favourite and aptly numbered……..

13. What’s 30% of 90!!!

How you respond is just as important as what you say, your preparation will allow you to be calm, relaxed and considered when put on the spot. Rather than appearing to jump in feet first and blurt out the first thing that comes to mind. Take a moment to collect your thoughts before confidently delivering your upbeat, positive answer.

PS – if you can’t work out what 30% of 90 is don’t guess and don’t prolong the agony – be honest and move on. The interviewer will appreciate your candour.

For more advice or assistance with your job search contact a specialist sales or marketing consultant via email or on 0121 585 6079

Things not to do at interview........

Swindale Parks' Top Tips to help you secure your next Sales or Marketing & Creative job...........

If you are smartly presented, adhere to basic social etiquette and contribute sensibly to a progressive meeting then you are well on your way to your new sales or marketing job. However there are some blunders to avoid:

Don’t be late, but if you can’t avoid it make the call – and don’t say it’s because you overslept!
Don’t drop your guard - your interviewer may be relaxed but you need to keep your wits about you - so, answer questions concisely, without waffling, and maintain a professional body posture at all times.
Don’t think you can wing it; preparation is a must – if you know very little about your prospective future employer then this just makes you look ignorant (and quite frankly you don’t deserve to receive a job offer).
Don’t be negative, especially about former employers or bosses, this is always frowned upon.
Don’t lie – by all means emphasise the positive and minimize the negative, but most important of all be honest.
Don’t dress down – if you look the part then you’ll feel the part, and if you feel the part you’ll perform well in the interview. The shinier your shoes the more confident you’ll feel – trust me. How many times have you heard the adage “first impressions count”.
Don’t try and dominate the meeting - but play your part – afterall, interviewing is a two way process. Ask the interviewer questions that will enable ‘you’ to decide whether you want to work for him or her.
Don’t provide a reference from a disgruntled former employer or colleague – choose someone who has lots of positive things to say about you.
Don’t forget to close! Sales person or not why walk away from the meeting not understanding how you have performed? Ask the interviewer the direct question, “am I the kind of person you are looking for?” You have the perfect opportunity, as they are sat right in front of you- don’t leave it to chance!