Tips & Best practice
The recruitment process can sometimes feel daunting but there are a number of practical ways to prepare and build confidence for that all-important job interview.
Based on many years of collective experience, the Cammach team have assembled some tried-and-tested interview tips for successful job applications — regardless of your area of expertise, sector or level of seniority.
While there’s no ‘magic formula’ for success in landing your next big career move, these helpful hints will allow you to tick off the most important areas of preparation and go into your interview feeling ready to impress.
One top tip to start: Before you apply for a role, consider the wider practicalities around the job in question — where is it based, do they offer hybrid working, what can you find out about the culture of the organisation, is it a ‘sideways move’ or a ‘step up’?
Job Application Checklist
The CV is your first contact with a potential new employer and needs to fit the shape of the role you’re applying for — emphasising the aspects of your experience that best fit the job description / person spec is essential; as is highlighting the ‘soft skills’ that don’t appear on a list of job titles and companies. In a competitive job market, a typo can make a big difference, so check your CV thoroughly, use sensible typefaces/fonts and save your CV with a file name that includes your name and ‘CV’, for maximum clarity.
HR personnel and interviewers are most impressed by candidates who come in with demonstrable understanding of the company, its objectives and its structure. Preparing a few questions or remarks based on recent company news, (favourable) press coverage or milestones will show that you’re serious about joining them and interested in how you can contribute in this new role.
While it might feel like old-fashioned advice, the introductory handshake can still hold great importance in a successful job application process — and best practice for this continues to be a firm handshake (but not too tight) with good eye contact and a friendly smile. Adopting your best posture also helps, both while standing and sitting down, and being mindful of hand positioning and gesture will help you come across as calm, controlled and friendly to the interviewing panel.
The open secret about those ‘difficult’ job interview questions most of us have worried about is that they are usually attempts to learn more about your problem-solving abilities, interpersonal skills and ability to adapt when things go wrong. The job description and person specification will give you some big hints about skills to have examples prepared for, and remember to prioritise examples where you took a negative or challenge and responded in a positive way — e.g. by developing your own skills or adapting processes.
Finishing your interview strongly can really make a difference — so ensure you maintain the same level of politeness and warmth that you brought when you arrived, even if you’re feeling like the interview hasn’t been a success. The interview is only one aspect of the recruitment process, and recruiters are more likely to be impressed if you maintain your composure despite a tricky interview and leave graciously, thanking them for their time and the opportunity to speak to them about the role.
One of your final questions in the interview should almost always be enquiring about when the employer is likely to decide on a successful candidate or the next round of the application process. Note this soon after leaving the interview and make a point of calling or emailing the appropriate contact if this time period elapses to ask about the status of your application. If you haven’t been the successful candidate this time, asking for specific feedback from the interviewing panel is always recommended and can hugely help you prepare for your next job interview.
How To Write A Stand Out CV
Be concise with the information you include – you don't have to include your full work history dating back 30 years if it is not relevant. Instead, focus on highlighting the most pertinent and impressive aspects of your experience.
“The idea that a CV should be limited to two pages is indeed a misconception. While two pages can be a reasonable guideline for many situations, it's important to understand that the ideal length of a CV can vary depending on the individual's career stage, industry, and specific circumstances.” - Andrew Martin, Senior Recruitment Consultant
Choose a clean and easy-to-read format for your CV. Employ consistent formatting for headings, bullet points, and font sizes. Ensure that the layout is well-organised and visually appealing.
“Less is often more when it comes to the CV layout and format. My advice would be to have clear headings for each section, using the same font style and size for all section headings and the same font and size for the content of each section. Avoid inserting photos, tables, and charts, and use the same font colour throughout. If your career history is extensive, consider detailing the previous 10-15 years only and for any positions held prior to this, state only the company, job title and dates.” - Nicola Allan, Senior Recruitment Specialist
Customise your CV for each job application, emphasising the skills and experiences that align with the specific role you're applying for. This will demonstrate to employers that you're a perfect fit for the position.
“You will probably find that you end up saving multiple copies of your CV and tweaking it to each specific role you are applying for – recruiters and HR can spot generic CV’s a mile off and your CV will really stand out if you have taken the time to tailor it to really highlight your relevant experience in line with the role.” - Shannon Stewart, Senior Recruitment Specialist
Begin your CV with an engaging summary statement that highlights your key qualifications and career goals. This is the first thing potential employers will read, so make it impactful.
“A short, sharp, and effective personal profile is paramount when writing your CV. This is the first thing that will catch the potential employer’s eye, therefore you want to ensure that it concisely showcases your key experience and skills relevant to the role you are applying for.” - Nicola Allan, Senior Recruitment Specialist
Instead of merely listing job responsibilities, emphasise your accomplishments in each role. Utilise quantifiable metrics and specific examples to showcase how you've made a positive impact in your previous positions.
"Your CV is your personal success story, and success is measured in achievements, not just responsibilities. Highlight your accomplishments with concrete numbers and examples of how you made a difference to demonstrate how you've been a driving force in your past roles." – Drew Alexander, Managing Director
Identify the key skills required for the job and ensure they are prominently displayed in your CV. Include both hard skills (technical expertise) and soft skills (communication, leadership, problem-solving) that are relevant to the role.
"Tailoring your CV to match the job's skill requirements is like fitting the perfect puzzle pieces together. Make sure your CV doesn't just list general skills and responsibilities but showcases how you've applied them. Bring to the front those that the job and the client specifically are asking for. Make it easy for our recruiters to see a seamless alignment between your capabilities and the needs of the client.” – Drew Alexander, Managing Director
Many companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to scan CVs for specific keywords. Review the job description carefully and incorporate relevant keywords throughout your CV to increase your chances of passing the initial screening.
“Looking at our Commercial roles, we often find that clients are looking for candidates to have used specific systems, take PowerBi or Sharepoint for example, and this may be essential to some roles so it’s definitely important that you highlight specific systems you have used throughout your work history. If a specific system has been highlighted as essential by the client, we will often search for candidates who mention this system in their CV, and so the CV’s that have this mentioned will be identified easily.” - Shannon Stewart, Senior Recruitment Specialist
Start with your most recent employment and work backward. Include the job title, company name, dates of employment, and a brief description of your responsibilities and achievements in each role.
“Honesty during a hiring process is essential in every job search, and this starts with your CV. Don’t ignore gaps in your career on your CV with the hope that employers won’t notice them. Simply state the dates and provide a brief explanation.” - Rania Wanis, Senior Recruitment Consultant
List your educational background, starting with the highest degree attained. Include the institution's name, degree obtained, major, and graduation year. If you have relevant certifications or training, mention those as well.
“From an engineering perspective, education and training can be extensive. It’s also important to include project experience (a lot of companies are now moving into Carbon Capture, Hydrogen, and Wind Power, and are keen on individuals with this highlighted).”- Andrew Martin, Senior Recruitment Consultant
Ensure your CV is free from spelling and grammatical errors. Take the time to carefully proofread and edit your document, or ask someone else to review it for you. A well-polished CV makes a positive impression.
“As well as checking for spelling and grammatical errors, it is important to ensure that it is not repetitive, even if you have carried out the same role for several years at different companies. Additionally, be certain that your job role and responsibilities do not read as if copied straight from a job description.” - Nicola Allan, Senior Recruitment Specialist
Drilling & Wells
Engineering
