Tips for a Successful Job Interview
Avoid talking about yourself…
Some candidates have this bad tendency of making the whole conversation about them when they are face to face with a recruiter, therefore forgetting that a job interview is about two people meeting, sharing and not a one way conversation. Even though it is true that the recruiter is the one calling the shots and asking all the questions it shouldn’t be a reason for them to be inactive. The recruiter shouldn’t be the only one to decide where the conversation is going. As a candidate you actually have a voice too.
Show that you are curious, the recruiter will definitely appreciate that…
A certain sense of curiosity will always be appreciated by the recruiter who will see you as someone intelligent with a clear interest in the company. The fact that you would try to find out more about the company is proof of your motivation and that will be a plus for you. So you must ask the recruiter some questions about the company. If as a candidate you decide to go to a job interview, it shows that you are interested in the company. Therefore, you need to show them. You must show them that you need to know more about the company to help you make your decision. And in order to do that, you need to find out more about the company, its philosophy, its work method, its plans. You must also have a clear idea of the job they are offering you: what kind of job is it? Who would you be working with? Under whose authority? Is the company offering any prospect of developping within the company?
Do not let the recruiter believe that you are ready to do any job available…
The fact that you would ask the recruiter some questions during the interview will set you apart from the rest in a way because he will not see you as someone desperate who is ready to do any job. If you decide to be inactive and to not ask any question then the recruiter will think that you have no interest in the position and that you will do just about any job whatever it is. Do not be surprised if they don’t select you because recruiters are interested in candidates who are motivated and know what they want.
The company sells itself too…
No matter how eager you are to find a job, keep in mind that this process of selling and being sold goes both way. On one side you want to sell yourself but on the other side the company sells itself too. Companies give to recruiters the mission to find the best profiles and convince them to come work for them. Thus, they will try to have an objective idea of the potential of the candidate beyond his C.V. Don’t be fooled by their speech. They will lure you with promises of big responsibilities, a fair wage, amazing prospective for career development in the company… ask them to be more specific without getting into the details. However it is, remember that you have the right to ask some questions during the job interview and we advise you do so.
The 6 winning attitudes at work
Life at a workplace is not always easy because it is naturally a complicated place where we work with people who are not always easy to deal with. Between a clash of ideas on one side and a clash of personalities on the other side, it is impossible for coworkers to not have a hard time working with each other. So in order to be successful in the world of work and have a chance of developing, there are certain attitudes that need to be adopted.
1. A good sense of problem solving
As a worker, it is crucial to have a good sense of problem solving. That refers to possessing the skill of dealing with unpleasant situations that could possibly happen at the workplace, with the good attitude. It is a precious quality to have not only at work but also in your personal life. Workers who have it have a higher chance of climbing to the top and having strategic positions.
- Creativity and initiative
An employer will always appreciate having a worker who knows how to take initiatives and have a sense of creativity. As a matter of fact, plenty of companies find this attitude valuable. So as an employee you must not be afraid to voice the ideas that come to your mind. However, try your best to be relevant so seduce your manager who will see you as an efficient coworker and not just someone who acts like a robot.
- Being a good team player…
There is no company nor business where teamwork is not wanted. It is probably one of most valuable characteristics in the work world, whatever the company is. It’s actually something that employers usually check for during the process of a job interview, to see if potential candidates possess it. Being able to work with other people and build a team for a professional project to go well is a good asset for any business to have.
- Be opened to criticism
Majority of the time, it is very difficult to be open to criticism, we usually don’t like it. A lot of people feel impacted in their proud when people question their work. However, if the criticisms are constructive criticism then we can take advantage of it.
- Flexibility or adaptability
When you are a worker, you shouldn’t expect your company to adapt to you. We actually should be the one to adapt to them. We will not always be in the position to ask for changes in working hours, office, basically working conditions. We should adapt to the company’s way of operating. This is a quality that you must definitely have if you want to develop in a company.
- Ability to plan
Finally, the last quality that we recommend you have, as a worker is the ability to organize or to plan. This last quality is among the ones that can help you reduce the everyday stress. Setting up your goals, filling in your calendar and sticking to the program, will all help you tremendously to be more productive. It might not be much of a complete list but those attitudes that we just told you about can certainly help you be successful and develop in a company.
Tips to boost your confidence during an interview
If you don’t believe in yourself, it will be difficult to convince others to believe in you.
During a job interview, the first thing that the recruiter will notice about the candidate is his lack of confidence. So, in order for you to not miss out on that opportunity of getting the job of your dreams, our specialists have made a list of some tips to help you boost your confidence during an interview.
1- Breath
Taking a deep breath is an excellent way of dealing with stress. So before you start the interview it is recommended to calmly take 6 breaths. “ it is not just a psychological thing, breathing also has a real impact on your nervous system » explain specialist Josiane de Saint Paul.
2- Tell yourself that the job is for you
One way for you to work on your confidence before the in interview is to be 100% sure that this job is for you. « before you even start preparing for that interview, it is crucial to believe that we were made for that job », reminds Josiane de Saint Paul, therapist, co-founder and former director of French Institute Neuro-Linguistic Programming (FINLP). Without that belief, the person you will be speaking to will feel a lack of motivation. He will conclude that your lack of confidence is proof of how unfit you are for the position you are applying for. We suggest that you know exactly what you expect from the interview before you go on and take it.
3-Take it easy
Making the situation bigger than it really is will not bring you anything. Remind yourself that this is not the end of the world and it is just an interview. Even if it is true that when you want a job you will do anything to get it, keep in mind that it is not a matter of life and death. During an interview, it is important to not put too much pressure upon yourself. “There might be something better around the corner for that person”, says Josiane de Saint Paul, before adding that : « Eric Berne, the father of Transactional analysis said that ‘a winner doesn’t talk about what he’ll do if he wins but knows what he’ll do if he loses.”
4- Don’t see the person you will have in front of you as the enemy
The person seating in front of you is not an enemy sent out there to get you. Just think of him as someone who is just trying to get the best out of you. To help you relax, do not see the person you are talking to as someone who is looking for conflicts but rather focus on seeing him on his “good” side“, recommends Josiane de Saint Paul.
5- Take some time to process
if you did not get the job you wanted, it is crucial to take some time to process. First, look back on what you did, but don’t be too harsh on yourself by saying things like “ I did this, I did that“ but also put yourself in the shoes of the other party. “Just like any other relationship, there are two sides to the same story”, added Saint Paul. What we consider as a failure should be actually seen as a feedback from life. ‘ What did I learn and what should I do differently next time?’. That should be the question to ask yourself.”
Stress at work in Africa
For a long time, the issue of stress at the workplace has been considered as something that only Western countries were affected by. Yet, no matter where you are, no employee is spared by that issue which diminishes the company’s productivity as well as the motivation of workers. So basically, stress as work is also present in emerging countries.
If, in the past a lot of the Southern countries did not take this issue seriously it is not the case anymore. As of now, many of those countries officially take the issue seriously. Developing countries do not ignore that issue of stress at work anymore, like psychosocial problems and their impact on the economy. Thus, even though there are no official statistics, the issue is nonetheless real in Africa. Therefore, African countries are starting now to be concerned by it despite the fact that we can’t really measure it. It is even more true knowing that official numbers only exist for rich countries.
In Europe around 30% of workers admit being confronted with stress. That is at least what the 2009 Eurostat Union statistic study report revealed. In the US, the cost of stress at work (absences, less productivity, sick days etc) was estimated at 300 billions dollars in 2010 (202 billions euros). With no existing data on the issue, in emerging and developing countries, the International Labor Organization (ILO) decided to focus on the problem. This Organization that mainly focus on work related issues has decided to organize the World day of Safety and health at work. The ILO launched a whole study about that topic. The results of that study should allow to have a clear understanding of the situation related to stress at work. With the same goal. In mind, China turned to the ILO to establish psychosocial risk management tools.
Also, a network has been created in South America with countries like Colombia, Mexico, Argentina around the issues of mental harassment. According to Valentina Forastieri, coordinator of the ILO health at work unit “the reorganization that happened because of the crisis have led to job loss, she said. But for those who have kept their jobs, the stress has gotten higher because of the increase in working hours and the multitasking skills that we expect from them.” In her 2010 report on “emerging risks”, the ILO has already pointed out the risks caused by the new working conditions, mentioning also the situation of migrant workers and undeclared economy. It is a good thing that Southern countries have finally started to be aware of the gravity of that phenomenon because workers well-being is crucial. Many African countries have come to realize that profits are directly linked to workers well-being.
How to deal with a recruiter who is trying to bully you?
Sometimes during an interview you can happen to deal with a recruiter who is deliberately trying to push you to the limits. This unexpected situation can be very difficult. How can we overcome it? We will present you some examples of uncomfortable situations… and some possible solutions.
The recruiter finds it fun to interrupt you every time you are speaking
It is rude and unpleasant to have the person you are speaking to interrupt you every time you are trying to answer a question but he enjoys doing so. Don’t get mad, don’t crack under the pressure and stay calm. Show him that you know what is going on and you can keep track of what you are saying and answer to his questions at the same time. That would convince him that you are capable of doing two things at the same time.
The recruiter is being aggressive towards you…
The recruiter keeps on being despicable to you despite you being nice and polite. This situation can get you so upset that you might start seeing the person you have in front of you as an enemy who is deliberately asking you disturbing questions. It is not true however. You must know that the recruiter does not have any personal issue with you and that he is giving you the same treatment like anyone else who would be sitting in his office. It is just an interviewing method. You must take up the challenge of the recruiter and understand that it is just a job interview, nothing else, nothing more. No matter what shot comes at you, you must see it as a game. If the recruiter asks you an aggressive question and you answer it with a smile that would definitely show that you are turning the situation in your advantage.
What about the indiscretions of the recruiter?
Even though an interview is not an excuse to step into your personal life, one must admit that when it comes to it, there is a thin line between invasive questions and private ones. It makes even more sense knowing that apart from your skills, the interview must also show your personality and your character. So expect to have some personal questions thrown at you, here and there. Questions like, « Are you married, do you have kids? » or again « do you plan on having any? » are obviously, invasive questions… You must however face the facts… Those invasive questions do have an impact on your work. The fact that you are married and have kids can have an impact on your flexibility and your availability at work but also reveal a sense of responsibility and some sort of stability. So you must accept the fact that you will be asked some personal questions. If however the person you will be talking to tend to ask questions that are getting too personal then be evasive.
Minimum wages In Africa: what countries pay better?
Minimum wages set by the country’s legislation is known under different names (SMIG, SMIC, SNMG) and is subject to a lot of debates among social partners from different countries. Depending on the country, we call them guaranteed minimum pay among professionals (SMIG), growth minimum pay among professionals (SMIC) and or minimum national guaranteed pay (SNMG). It actually refers to countries’ minimum wage set by legislation. We will be looking at finding the French speaking African countries that offer the highest paid salaries.
A comparative analysis of different minimum wages that African countries offer allows us to say without an ounce of a doubt that Morocco is at the top of that list. They set the bar high with their minimum wage of 137,095 FCFA which is the highest. So on a scale of 1 to 18 countries, Morocco is the number one African country in terms of minimum wage in African countries. In the country of sheikhs, the latest salary review was on July 1st 2014 and showed a rise of 10% making the minimum wage reaches 209 €. Other countries like Equatorial Guinea and Algeria also hold a good position in that ranking making those countries become the 3 countries with the highest minimum wage in French speaking Africa. From 90,000 FCFA in 2002 in Equatorial Guinea, the minimum wage is now at 128.000 FCFA (195 €) and in Algeria it went from 93, 258 FCFA to l112,000 FCFA (171 €).
Thanks to the last promises from presidential campaigns in French speaking West African countries, the minimum wages in those countries have raised a little. That is the case of Ivory Coast where the minimum wage has reached 60,000 FCFA (91€) since January 2014 so a 39% raise. In Benin, the Council of Ministers from April 16 and 17 of year 2014 has got the minimum wage up to 40,000 FCFA (61€). However, it is in that same area in the French speaking West Africa that we found the lowest minimum wage like in Mali (31,370 FCFA, 48€), Niger ( 30,047 FCFA 46€) and Mauritania (30.000 FCFA 46€).
Cameroun has the lowest minimum wage in Central Africa with 36, 270FCFA (55 €), despite being the driving force of that part of the continent. The Republic of Congo on the other side, can be proud of its pretty good minimum wage that reaches 90.000FCFA (137 €). It’s followed by Gabon with 80.000 FCFA (122€). The promise to raise the minimum wage in Gabon to 150,000 as said by the President Ali Bongo might allow for the minimum wage in the 18 French speaking countries to reach 62.358 FCFA (95€).
After an agreement between the Senegalese trade unions and the employees, the minimum wage in Senegal has increased by 44, 8 % going from 302,89 francs CFA (46 cents euros) per hour to 209,10 FCFA (32 cents euros) presently.
What ever the case, just because minimum wages are a reality in majority of African countries, it doesn’t take the fact that there is a lot of unregistered,undeclared employment where wages are paid under the minimum legal limit.
Things recruiters are looking for in an accountant’s resume
Each job posting corresponds with a certain profile, certain criterion that recruiters are looking for. Therefore, if you send your resume for an accountant’s job, know that it will be in your best interest to put the focus on the important assets that you possess. Remember that one day you might just have a key role to play in that company’s finances. As an accountant, you are responsible for the maintenance of the accounts and that career calls for precision, a strong sense of expertise in terms of analysis and synthesis. In this article, we will bring the light on what recruiters will be looking for in an accountant’s resume.
A sense of synthesis, an essential quality for a good accountant to have…
As an accountant, you are usually known to have a good sense of synthesis. Your recruiter will expect to see that naturally appear in your resume. With this in mind, the layout and the length of your resume could be subject to several interpretations. That is at least according to
Sophie Durand, senior consultant for the specialised firm Fed Finance in Toulouse. “We still have too many resumes that fail to deliver a proper structure and that does not benefit the person applying for an accountant’s job”, also comments Bruno Fadda, associate director at Robert Half France. So, unless you are an accountant with a 10 years experience resume, the resume of an accountant must all fit in one page. Also, you must write your resume with clear parts, precise dates, a consistent font throughout the document and a good alignment of all the components. The person who will read it will be therefore tempted to let you manage the accounts of the company.
Make mention of your specialization on the header…
When a recruiter receives the resume of an accountant, he should always be happy to see on his header the type of specialization he has, like for example if he is : a general accountant, a payroll service provider, an accountant assistant, an account receivable specialist, …”that title can come with certain skills like software mastering, ability to speak another language or to know about other standards” says Bruno Fadda
Work experience : size up the different areas when you operated
As an accountant, It is also important to put in your resume the size of the companies where you worked at and the areas that you managed. The same is true for workforce number, the revenue of the company, the number of branches where you were involved in…For a general accountant profile in charge of closing accounts, what has been your first action: an audit? inventory reports, tax reports? According to Bruno Fadda, “ in the work experience section of your resume, it would be important to size up the different areas of operation”. he also adds that” the candidate can also mention if he has been part of specific projects : a new software implementation, renewal of certain procedures.”
Qualification: A 2 year degree minimum in Accounting and Management
It is highly recommended to have in the qualification section, the latest degree you have earned related to accounting, then scroll down until the high school diploma. The recruiter expects a minimum of a 2 year degree in accounting and management or a level 3 French diploma “Diplôme de comptabilité et de gestion (DCG)”, equivalent to a bachelor degree in accounting.
What about the skills in using computer tools?
A good accountant should not be able to live without computer tools. Those are important in that profession. That is the reason why it is highly recommended to make mention of each and every accounting related software that you master : SAP, Ciel, JD Edwards, Oracle… Excel is also a must. If you are proficient in macros, Recherche v functions, pivot tables management, do not hesitate to write it down on your resume. It will set you apart from the competition
how to answer the salary expectation question?
Most of the time the salary expectation question can seem awkward during the job interview. A salary expectation represents what a candidate expects to be paid for a job and is a question that recruiters ask for majority of the time during the process of a job interview. It is, therefore, important for the candidate to be ready for that question so he is not taken by surprise. But how do we really answer the salary expectation question? Find in this article the best answers to that question.
Offer a number and put a question right after it so you don’t give a closed-ended answer
There are many answers that could be said to answer the question about the salary expectation. However recruiters do expect to hear about a yearly based net salary. That shouldn’t be a reason for you to give a fixed salary because after all the goal of a salary negotiation is to have the maximum the employer could offer you, thinks HR specialist Thierry Krief. He adds « if you give a non negotiable number then naturally it is not opened for negotiation ». In an effort to not breach the conversation which is detrimental to the negotiation, we suggest you don’t answer with standard questions like « I need » or « I want ». Answer with something more like: 45 000 euros a year salary sounds fair, what do you think? » Answering with another question opens the conversation.
The bold move : “ the higher the better”
You could also respond to the recruiter’s question about the salary expectation by saying the very bold words “ the higher the better”. Be careful though because if it is not done in a very humorous way it could be misinterpreted. Basically, if you do not have a good sense of humour do not say it.
The flexible response : Provide a salary range
When they ask you a question about salary, it happens sometimes that you provide a salary range rather than a fixed amount. It is a good answer but make sure to do it the right way. When you provide a salary range your desired salary should be the lowest one and you should be able to explain why you want more or else you could lose your credibility. That is at least according to the HR specialist Thierry Krief. From his opinion it is strongly advised to not under evaluate your salary range because it could make you lose the position. “You don’t make yourself more marketable by lowering your value,” he added.
What not to say at any mean: “How much can you offer?”
It there is one thing that you should never say to the recruiter it is “ how much can you offer me? This answer is counterproductive in the sense that the recruiters want to have candidates who know their worth. You could happen to not know the salary for that specific job. In that case you should look at studies about salary ranges available online. Anyway, be ready to provide some proofs to justify your salary expectation, for example you can show them you pay slip. Highly demanded profiles can ask for more based on their accomplishments.
After a job interview when should you call
It is quite often for recruiters to not tell you how soon they will contact you afterwards. You could stay a long time without hearing from them.
After a certain time of patience, you start to wonder if you should contact the recruiter or no, but you don’t want to be seen as someone impatient or hasty. How do you handle all that? Here are some tips to help you put all the chances on your side.
Do not rush into follow-ups
after an interview, many candidates long for that phone call especially when they had the feeling that there was a real connection with the person they were talking to and that it went pretty good. As a candidate, if you happened to be in that type of situation, you must not give in contacting the recruiter right away. You must understand that, first the company allows itself a certain time to process and select the candidates, and the person you talked to might not be the only one who gets to decide in others words it might not be up to him.
Next, do not rush into sending a follow-up message to the recruiter immediately afterwards because if you are actively looking for a job, it is good to have in mind that you could possibly have other opportunities and that you are not putting all your eggs into that one basket. If the recruiter had expressed to you that the position was available immediately then there is nothing wrong with sending a thank you message the next week just to let them know that you are here.
When is the right time to send a follow-up ?
If after waiting for ten days, you still have no feedback on your application, then you should send a follow-up message. That would be a second opportunity for you to expose your motivation and explain briefly the reasons why you are interested in this job. “if you have had an interview with the hiring company and they have given you a time limit on the feedback that just passed then you can send a follow-up email to the person who you told you about it “two days after due date “says the counselor Laurent Hyzy leader of Alterconsult. If you still have gotten no answer from that follow-up then send another one every week, stop at three. If on the other hand, the recruiter had informed you that he would reach out to you but will not give you a certain time limit for doing so then send a keep in touch email every month to let him know that you are still interested in that position. At the same time, commit yourself 200 % into other possibilities“ she added.
Phone calls or emails follow-ups ?
You can send a follow-up through emails or phone calls. However, the second option should be the first choice, especially if you have applied for a position in a small company or if you have had a special connection with the recruiter who manifested some interest in your application.
Make sure to only contact the person who you have met with. If you have to go through the
switchboard then when asked about the reason for you calling: “I would like to speak with Mrs or Mr X following our meeting on [date] because he or she was supposed to call me back.”,
suggested a HR specialist. If they tell you that that person is in a meeting then give you name and number so he can remember you and directly contact you on your phone.