2. Introductions
• London College of Fashion, Ethel Cox award for
student of the year back in 1984.
• 20 years working in cosmetic and toiletries
industry in sales, marketing and NPD roles.
• 10 years in recruitment, MD of Arthur Edward
since 2002.
• Specifically for cosmetic, toiletry, perfumery and
personal care. Multi discipline and multi level.
3. The Competition
• 1 job advert – 200 responses
• relevance
• 10 – 20 serious applications
• Recruiter meet 6 – 8 people
• Company 1st interview 4
• Company 2nd interview 2
4. The Interview
• An interview should be a pleasure not a chore.
It is a time for you to find out more about the
company and the role you are applying for
and for the interviewer to find out about you
and your suitability both for the company and
the role.
5. Be Yourself
• You should always be yourself but keep your
guard up at all times. Remember that you
have control over your mouth and you do not
have to say anything you don’t want
to, likewise only you can make sure that you
do say everything that you do want to.
6. 2 Eyes, 1 Mouth
• Listen very carefully and keep your answers on
track. Do not waffle or meander away from
the subject of the question. Try to back up any
information with relevant examples. It is not
enough to say I am confident; you need to
illustrate an example that proves you are
confident.
8. The 5 Ps or the 7 Ps
• Participation
• People
• Process
• Physical Evidence
9. The 7 Ps
• Proper Planning and Preparation Prevents
Piss Poor Performance!!
10. Fail to prepare and Prepare to fail
• Don’t just turn up, do your research, on the
company and their people.
• Look on the web and in store at products and
brands.
• Prepare some questions, write them down.
• Always take paper, pen, calculator, water.
11. Time keeping
• If you are too early or late this creates a
terrible first impression. This is an important
meeting put some effort into it. Ideally arrive
10 minutes early and if you are running late
call.
12. Who, what, where, when
• Double check the address, time and names.
Take them with you on the day as well as a
telephone number.
• Be polite and courteous to the receptionist
and anyone else you meet.
13. Brag Pack
• CV and brag pack.
• Build up a brag pack throughout your career.
• Examples of work, letters of recommendation
or thanks, references, sales figures.
• Actual product, designs, product development
files, pack shots, PR.
• Anything that highlights your skills.
14. The Morning After
• Make sure you have a light meal, no highly
spiced or garlic laden foods and no alcohol the
night before or on the day of the interview
and get a good night’s sleep.
• If you are offered a drink, take water, tea or
coffee. Do not accept alcohol or cigarettes as
this may give off the wrong impression and
might relax you too much.
15. Verbal and Non Verbal
• 1st Impressions
• No likey, no lighty
• %
• Body, face, hair, clothes, shoes, bag
• Body Language
• Voice, tone, pitch, speed
• The words
21. Handbags and Glad rags
• Smart business dress does not always mean a suit these
days, try to do some research, what is the norm for that
company.
• Smart but comfortable.
• Prepare your clothes and polish your shoes the night
before.
• Make sure you are spotlessly clean and tidy, especially
finger nails and hair.
• Do not wear too much aftershave, fragrance or
overpowering sports rubs.
• Brush your teeth, wear moderate make up and understated
jewellery, nothing that could offend.
22. Body Language
• Arms - crossed
• Legs - crossed
• Head – nodding
• Hands – up, down, twisting
• Eyes – right - lying, left – recalling facts
• Mouth, SMILE, tight, twisted, chewing, biting
• Mirroring
23. Handshakes
• Practice your handshake and get it right.
• A limp handshake appears weak and
disinterested, too firm and enthusiastic
appears insincere and aggressive.
• It must be firm and confident.
24. Eye contact
• Be positive and confident throughout the
interview, smile and maintain eye contact.
• In group interviews do not exclude
anyone, even if they do not ask any
questions, address everyone and make eye
contact with everyone.
• SMILE
25. Interview Styles
• One on one
• Panel
• Assessment day
• Experience based
• Competency based
• Psychometric , aptitude, verbal, numerical tests
• The interviewer?
27. Experience
• Think about what you have achieved and how
it can relate to the workplace.
• School, University, Courses.
• What jobs did you do at home.
• Weekend, evening, part time or holiday work.
• Voluntary Work, LGFB.
• Memberships, SCS, CEW.
28. Competencies
• Motivation & Skills
• Organisation, neat, creative chaos, orderly
• Work alone, Team work, personable, shy
• Disciplined, laid back, flexible, courageous
• Tasks, Targets, analytical, persuasive
• Admit mistakes, learn and move on
• Humour
29. Common Questions
• Open and closed questions?
• Tell me about yourself?
• What can you offer this company?
• What are you passionate about?
• Tell me about a difficult situation?
• What conflict have you had in the lab?
• Tell me about a time when you could not get something done?
• Tell me about building a relationship?
• Have you ever influenced others?
• Are you hardworking?
• Are you creative?
• What is your best achievement?
• What are you not very proud of?
30. Do you have any Questions?
• It’s all about Me!
• What do you need to know?
• Package?
• Interest, culture, team, style, history, plans, challenges
• Research, ethos, people, charity
• Prospects
• This role
• Why is this a great place to work?
31. The Elevator Pitch
• Me, myself and I
• Ambition, drive, ability
• Tone, pitch, speed
• Passion
• Get their buy in
• Beginning, middle & end
• Memory
32. Flattery and Egos
• Even if you are unsure about the company and
the position appear keen and interested as
well as focused about the direction of your
career.
• Match the interviewers style and body
language and get them talking about
themselves and the business.
33. Finish Up
• An interview is a sales pitch and you are the
product don’t forget to sell yourself and close
the sale.
• Don’t leave questions unanswered ask if they
have any concerns about your ability to fit in
and do the job and cover them again.
• Ask the questions you prepared, tick them off.
34. Close
• Round up the interview at the end by saying
that you are keen, thank them for their time
and clarify what happens next.
• If you want the job ask for it!
• Thank them for their time.
• Shake hands.
• SMILE.
35. 2nd Interviews
• Do not worry about repeating yourself.
• Everything you did first time around worked –
do it again!
• What questions do you have?
• How else can you close the deal?
• Be positive, close, SMILE!!