Today, Elizabeth is talking about CVs, interviews, job ghosting, salary negotiations, job rejection and more with HR and recruitment expert Samantha Lubanzu. Samatha is a career coach with 20+ years of experience in HR, specialising in driving a diversity and equity agenda and helping women advance their careers.
Samantha gives Elizabeth the recruiter’s view of recruitment, which is often hidden from candidates. She advises on exactly how to tailor your CV to a job description and how to really prepare yourself for an interview. She breaks down the STAR method of answering interview questions and adds two extra points that’ll really wow your interviewer.
Samantha also goes beyond the scope of the job interview. She gives her thoughts on when to negotiate your salary and how to open a dialogue on salaries with your prospective employer. She touches on the other side of job hunting – job rejection – and gives her top tip on overcoming being ghosted by a company.
This live chat has many questions from viewers and offers actionable insights to boost your job search. To get more career coaching services from Samantha, check out her programmes and search for your next job on the Investing in Women job board.
Timestamps
[1:09] Samantha introduces herself and her experience in HR and recruitment
[2:55] What you need to include on your CV to make sure a hiring manager will see it
[4:32] Focus on your achievements
[5:10] Keep your formatting simple and your CV tight
[6:08] How to tailor your CV to a job description
[7:54] What really puts Samantha off a CV
[9:45] What to do if it feels like your CV has fallen into a black hole
[11:39] “My strongest piece of advice to you”: The one thing that Samantha would do to stand out in a job interview
[13:29] A question from a viewer: If you’re a strong candidate, do you still need to send a cover letter?
[15:21] Using the STAR method to prepare yourself for a job interview, even if you’re out of practice
[17:34] A question from a viewer: Where do I go to find more information about a company I’m interviewing with?
[18:39] A question from a viewer: Can I use the same example more than once in an interview?
[19:39] What questions should you ask an interviewer? Samantha gives three important question categories
[22:10] Connection is everything: The ideal way to round off a job interview
[22:56] A question from a viewer: What’s your opinion on being asked to complete a task during an interview?
[24:14] A question from a viewer: Why do some employers not post their salary on their job adverts?
[26:02] Samantha unpacks when and how to negotiate your salary
[29:40] How to deal with job rejection
[31:24] Samantha’s one main tip to combat being ghosted by a potential employer
[32:40] The services that Samantha offers through her business
[34:45] A question from a viewer: Prepping your CV to highlight your transferable skills
[36:16] When should you use a skills-based CV?
Links
Investing in Women flexible working job board and recruitment site
Investing in Women on Instagram
Investing in Women on LinkedIn
Investing in Women on Facebook
Investing in Women on Pinterest
Investing in Women is a leading UK job board that helps you find your dream part-time, flexible, or work-from-home job with the UK’s most family-friendly AND forward-thinking employers. Click here to find your dream job today.
Plus, get your free professional CV template and land an interview for your dream job here. Get ready to get hired!