News & Views From Our Cheltenham Recruitment Agency

You have just received the call or message that you’ve been selected for interview! Panic sets in and you are not sure what to do next – take a deep breath, inhale, exhale…. and don’t worry, you have Hooray’s interview tips for professional roles to follow!

We have lots and lots of experience in placing good candidates with good clients and will support you all the way as you make your next career move.

To ensure you perform your best and have the best chance to succeed in securing the role, please see our hints and tips below but what we always like to emphasise for success is….preparation, preparation and some more preparation!

Before the interview

By doing some preparation you’ll feel more confident, and will appear cool, calm and collected as a result to your prospective employers – qualities always looked for in the right candidate.

Here are some preparation tips to help you make a big impact…

Review your application and the job description

It can be hard to keep track when you’re applying for various jobs, so make sure you print off a copy of the selection criteria and your application. It’s a rookie mistake to go into an interview unsure of what the actual job is or what you presented to the employer which got you the interview in the first place!

Re-read everything to make sure you’re confident in what is expected of you. This is also a great place to start thinking of any questions you would like to ask in the interview. Keep a copy of your CV in a nice folder and take it along on the day, it will make you look organised and prepared.

When you’re job searching, it’s important to be prepared for a phone interview at very short notice. Many businesses and recruiters start the process with a phone call to discuss the job opportunity and determine whether you would be a good fit, and to gauge your interest in the position.

Quite often, a phone call may come out of the blue and so it is imperative to answer the phone professionally, especially if the number is an unfamiliar one. If you are unable to have a detailed conversation at that time, politely take the details of the caller and arrange a suitable time to pick the conversation back up. Most importantly, always call back or answer your phone at said time!

Have you started your job search? Dusted off that old CV from your emails several years ago?  The first stages of seeking new employment usually start with finding the CV you had from your last role, and just adding a bit and then applying for multiple roles via a jobsite. This is how the majority of people apply for jobs and on average 250 applications are received for a particular role, so how do you stand out from the crowd? Hooray recruitment represents high quality candidates and we know what a great CV looks like – here are my top tips to improve your CV and increase the likelihood of that exciting first call back.

Hip Hip Hooray! Happy 1st birthday to us! THANKYOU so much to everyone who has supported us in our first year of business, it’s been fantastic and we are very grateful!

1. What attracted you to this role? 

This will tell you how much research they have done into the role and your company. You want a candidate who has a clear idea of what the role encompasses and why they would be successful in it.

2. What are your main motivations? 

Are they looking to develop their skills with your company or do they feel passionate about the industry you operate in?

A job interview can be intimidating and certainly make you feel uneasy. But stress can inhibit your ability to think clearly. Ensure you remain cool, calm and collected. This will help you to listen and better answer questions.

Interview tip time! Make sure you do your research on the company by checking out their website and social media platforms. Making comment on some of their recent news or market sector will make you look credible and interested!

Very pleased to announce we are now a member of the REC. The REC are the professional body for the UK recruitment industry and this membership hopefully demonstrates again how dedicated we are to adhering to the highest standards and practices.

A little tip for you – many hiring managers will look at social media accounts before selecting who to interview so make sure your accounts are squeaky clean 👊🏼