How to get a job interview?

Oh gawd, just realised! I really should check out dates!!!

Fabulous advice! I would add that dependent on the job role you’re seeking the Civil Service are not a bad call as they have such a variety of roles, some work g from home, and do give older people a good shot!

Just coming here to wish you luck

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Why don’t people RTFT?

Another old thread resurrected by a spammer [sigh]

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This thread is nearly three years old. I imagine that the Op has found a job by now.

While a well written CV is important and can also act as a good prompt...in all honesty a lot of companies no longer rely on the CV.
I've actually spent this morning shortlisting from application forms which are (for us) done online.

I'd advise you to read the question and give examples of what YOU did in response.

Reported.
Spam magnet thread.
Good to see Spangler and Stardreamer though

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Thank you.

I know it’s an old thread but I must reply to StarDreamer
No CVS are presented in paper form now. And haven’t been for the past 18 years when my daughter started her own recruitment agency.
When my daughter is very busy she will ask me to sort through the cvs. I can assure you that every employer is looking for the best candidate for the job: not the grey person.

??
Hope OP isn’t still waiting!

MawtheMerrier

Another old thread resurrected by a spammer.
I hope OP has had some success by now

Ooops! I didn't notice that! ??? That'll teach me to be more observant, I'm off to detention and I'll write out 100 lines!

Daddima

Interesting how much of the advice you were given was relating what to do at the interview, rather than how to get an interview, which was what you also asked!
I always looked for a short, relevant, well laid out CV, and an eye catching, hand written, covering letter. Anybody wading through loads of applications just wants to see that you have relevant qualifications and/or experience, so no need to include every certificate since nineteen canteen.
A short covering letter stating briefly why you’re the one for the job should get you an interview, and that’s when you can really shine.
Good luck.

The majority of jobs are now applied for online....hand written letters are no more

Another old thread resurrected by a spammer.
I hope OP has had some success by now

Actually applying for the job is a good starting point. Have an up to date CV and tailor your application to the job description. Be careful to not be repetitive with words.......a thesaurus is useful for that.

I'm male, fully retired, so not loking for a job myself.

Several posters have mentioned "dress appropriately" but what exactly is the way the candidate should dress?

For men, a suit is almost obligatory. But suit colour? Shirt colour? Tie colour?

For women, what exactly?

Years ago, when out of work, I went to a JobClub and one woman came back after having attended a job interview the day before saying that as she left, a receptionist at the employer's had said to her "You won't get the job, he won't employ a woman unless she's wearing a skirt." I know, I know, it wasn't me who had that attitude.

Also, for those who have interviewed, sifting through CVs, if most are on white paper, how would you react to one on tinted paper? It would stand out. Would that catch your interest in the candidate, or would it seem like you had better not bother with that candidate, or have no effect? Would the specific colour make a difference, pale pink, bright yellow?

Would the font used influence you?

Most might be in Times Roman. Yet Times Roman is narrow setwise as it was designed so as to be able to pack information into newspaper columns. Fonts used for books are often wider setwise.

Would you regard a heading in a display font rather than just a larger size of an ordinary font interesting to you? Or a sign of a 'troublemaker'.

What I am meaning here is that people often used to claim that they were looking for "the outstanding candidate" but in practice they were often "looking for a grey, to fit in".

Good Cv, good manners, find out plenty about the company you would like to work for, smile, wear the appropriate clothes, be confident, don’t slouch, oh I love interviews

Interesting how much of the advice you were given was relating what to do at the interview, rather than how to get an interview, which was what you also asked!
I always looked for a short, relevant, well laid out CV, and an eye catching, hand written, covering letter. Anybody wading through loads of applications just wants to see that you have relevant qualifications and/or experience, so no need to include every certificate since nineteen canteen.
A short covering letter stating briefly why you’re the one for the job should get you an interview, and that’s when you can really shine.
Good luck.

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Dress appropriately for the interviw. Many interviews nowadays are online, Zoom or something else. Think about how you look on the screen, have a look at the lighting in your room and adjust it with table lights. Information is available online on how to do this, and think about the background.

You can fix the background, it doesn't have to be the room you are in, download a background from the internet.. DH does this. His favourite is a south sea island background, but all his work meetings are with people he knows and they know what he is like, as they have had many personal meetings as well.

Spangler

salafo Fri 28-Aug-20 15:55:17
How to get a job interview? How can I prepare in advance?

MawB2 Wed 30-Sep-20 17:11:24
Find out everything about the company.
This is sound, sensible advice.

PinkCakes Wed 30-Sep-20 19:32:08
You need a good C.V. to begin with. Ensure that spelling and grammar are correct.
This piece of advice couldn't be more important.

Salafo, my career was in management, so many interviews, so many applicants, all desperate for work, preferably well paid work. The two pieces of advice above have a lot of bearing on whether or not an applicant reached an interview.

When you research a company, get as much information as you can, don't keep it in your head, written notes in front of you mean that you're telling the truth about your research. Use that information to impress the interviewer.

To get to that interview, your CV must stand out amongst all the others. Try not to start every sentence with the letter "I." Obviously you want to make an impression, but skillful use of language will make you stand out. For example, when you worked at Bloggs & Co, you should start the sentence thus: "At Bloggs & Co my duties were," as opposed to: "I was the **** manger, in charge of, at Bloggs & Co."

The interviewer wants to find the sort of person who will dovetail into the vacancy and into the company. So ask questions, ask all sorts of questions. For example: "It says, on your website, that you do this, that and the other, can you expand on that."

Putting the interviewer on the spot won't go against you, after all, you are not going to stay with a company that bends the rules. It's not easy, and the fallout from Covid is going to make it a tough jobs market, but the applicant that makes getting a job, a job in itself, is the one who will end up employed.

Good luck.

Apologies, just saw your inquiry is 'the way to get a meeting'. Something different you could attempt is cold pitching organizations you might want to work for. Set up your cv and a manually written covering letter and, in the event that you are sufficiently courageous, think about it in literally, routed to the HR Manager. Far better in the event that you can get her/his name from the organization site. Dress as though for a meeting as, in the event that you are fortunate, you may move beyond gathering and to the extent the HR division. A companion of mine attempted this as of late and found an employment the very day. www.ditrc.com/

salafo Fri 28-Aug-20 15:55:17
How to get a job interview? How can I prepare in advance?

MawB2 Wed 30-Sep-20 17:11:24
Find out everything about the company.
This is sound, sensible advice.

PinkCakes Wed 30-Sep-20 19:32:08
You need a good C.V. to begin with. Ensure that spelling and grammar are correct.
This piece of advice couldn't be more important.

Salafo, my career was in management, so many interviews, so many applicants, all desperate for work, preferably well paid work. The two pieces of advice above have a lot of bearing on whether or not an applicant reached an interview.

When you research a company, get as much information as you can, don't keep it in your head, written notes in front of you mean that you're telling the truth about your research. Use that information to impress the interviewer.

To get to that interview, your CV must stand out amongst all the others. Try not to start every sentence with the letter "I." Obviously you want to make an impression, but skillful use of language will make you stand out. For example, when you worked at Bloggs & Co, you should start the sentence thus: "At Bloggs & Co my duties were," as opposed to: "I was the **** manger, in charge of, at Bloggs & Co."

The interviewer wants to find the sort of person who will dovetail into the vacancy and into the company. So ask questions, ask all sorts of questions. For example: "It says, on your website, that you do this, that and the other, can you expand on that."

Putting the interviewer on the spot won't go against you, after all, you are not going to stay with a company that bends the rules. It's not easy, and the fallout from Covid is going to make it a tough jobs market, but the applicant that makes getting a job, a job in itself, is the one who will end up employed.

Good luck.

Make sure you change your CV and covering letter to match the job. I don’t mean “make it up” but I do mean emphasise the most relevant experience.

These days employers are looking for ways to “weed people out”. Make sure it’s not easy for them!
Good luck.