About Hounslow Connexions

A CV is your first chance to promote yourself. A good CV might get you a job interview.

If you want to learn how to write an effective CV, get in touch with us.

See also: National Careers Service website - How to write a CV

Sending a cover letter along with your application or CV makes you stand out.

A cover letter is a short introduction about you. It tells the employer:

• who you are
• why you're applying for the position
• why they should consider you

It is typically no longer than half a page of A4.

If you want to learn how to write a great cover letter, get in touch with us.

See also: National Careers Service website - How to write a cover letter

Interviews give the employer an opportunity to ask you questions about your:

• experience
• skills
• strengths
• personality

They are also a great way for you to ask questions and find out if the job suits you!

For help with interview preparation, get in touch with us.

See also: National Careers service website - Interview tips

Preparing for telephone and video interviews

Tips for telephone interviews:

• Treat phone interviews like a regular interview
• You may be using your mobile phone, but this isn’t a chat with your best mates. You still want to make a good impression.
• Research the job and employer
• Show the employer you really know what the job involves and what the company wants to achieve. This will help you shine in your interview.
• You can research the role by reading through the job description. You can even print it out so you can use it to refresh your memory during the job interview.
• See what the key skills and requirements are for the job. Then you can use the phone interview to show you have the skills and meet the requirements.
• Keep your CV nearby during your phone interview and you won’t have to worry if your mind goes blank. It will help you remember your past work and education experience, and what you’ve achieved in any work done so far.
• Prepare any questions you want to ask.

If the interviewers ask if you have any questions, it’s important to be prepared. Some good questions to ask are:

• Can you tell me more about what work I would be doing?
• What personal qualities are you looking for?
• What do people like best about working for this company?
• What are the next steps in the interview process?

Questions like this show you have a professional attitude and you care about the job.

Tips for video interviews

How to prepare

Lots of businesses have staff who work from home. This means video interviews are a popular way for employers to interview candidates.

It is important to prepare for a video interview as if you are meeting in person. You should:

• Get everything ready before the interview. Is your mobile, laptop or tablet fully charged? Do you have good reception or internet connection? Prepare in advance to make sure technology won’t let you down.
• Find out what video product the employer wants you to use. Microsoft Teams, Skype, Shortlist or Jobvite are some examples. Download the software in advance and make sure you are using a professional name and photo when setting up your account.
• It is helpful to practice the interview, either solo or with a friend. This will help you check the sound and video quality and if you are unable to use the product the employer has suggested. If you do have difficulties it is important to let the employer know in advance so that you can make alternative arrangements.
• Set the scene for your video interview, remember first impressions count. Find a quiet and clean place indoors with a good connection. Many devices allow you to apply a blank background so that you can cover up your surroundings.
• Pick a quiet spot for your interview so that you won’t be disturbed by children or pets for example. Make sure your TV, radio and washing machine are turned off.
• Wear appropriate business clothing so that you look smart and professional, just like you would in person.

During the interview

Communication is key. You should:

• Make the interviewer’s face the main focus on your screen so you can share friendly eye contact.
• Speak clearly and not too fast.
• Not panic if your technology or internet connection let you down. Video interviewers understand this - you just need to explain the situation.
• Try to feel relaxed - video interviews are just another way to talk to someone.

Employers often use pre-employment testing as a part of their hiring process. This is to help them understand if you are the right person for the job.

They include: 

• Verbal reasoning - Testing your understanding of English
• Numerical reasoning - Testing you ability to work with numbers
• Abstract reasoning - Reasoning skills without words or numbers
• Personality testing - Understanding if your personality fits the job description and company values
• Situational judgement - Understanding how you respond to situations that may happen at work

For help with interview preparation, get in touch with us.