Career Track Tuesday: Professional Awareness

Cliff Sewell
He has been in the recruitment industry for 20 years and at 27 years old, he had started his own business and more recently, had founded '15ten15' which is a recruitment agency.

Recruitment application process

• Ring them
• Find more about the recruiter 
• Ask Receptionists name and/or email and ask to send a message to the employer
• Practice speaking to employer
• Plan yes/no answers to prepare for potential outcomes
• Write a follow up email to everybody to thank them and to ask more questions to show interest

Question examples

• "As an art director, what are you looking for in an intern?"
• " What is your key client base?"
• "What are your sector goals?"

Interview prep

• Go and look at the place and people that work there
• Check the weather
• Make sure that you turn up early and prepared - at least an hour before it starts
• Research the recruiter and the business

Take notes -  show them that you are interested and want to learn. Have questions.

Learn the account side of business -  shows interest.

Dress smart.

Employers ask receptionists on how you act/appear walking into the building -  have good manners.  

Say/reiterate their name -  shows that you have acknowledged them.

People like nice people.

If you do not know an answer, don't pretend to know the answer - just say you don't know.

Recruit agencies -  ask confirm salary but do not ask employer.

Ask questions all the way through as if it was like a business meeting

• "Tell me a bit about you"
• "What is great about the business?" 
• "What are your goals for the business?" 
• "What I expected to do on day one/what does the first day look like?"
• "Why is this job position open?"

 Find out about the customers and competitors of the business.

The end of the interview process

Be relaxed when leaving the interview, take your time. Don't rush. Ask for contact details - make sure you do a follow-up.

Say something such as "Thank you very much. You offer me the job, I'll take it."

As you leave the building, remember to say bye to the receptionist.

Think, act and look like a professional.