MAY 2021 | THE PREMIUM RECRUITING MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
THE STEPS TO SUCCESS -
TIPS FOR JOB APPLICANTS
The most frightening moment that every human has lived, is the moment when the teacher walks in class, with a file filled with papers, and asks the students to grab their pens and get ready for their midterm or final exam. Let’s face it, by nature, human beings don’t like taking tests; they’re stressful and some of them don’t even evaluate the person right. But as we grow up, we start to discover that tests should be varied, and should cover all the person’s skills and abilities. Tests and exams prepare us to the real world of work, in which we will be constantly evaluated. Imagine applying to a job and not getting properly assessed for your skills and knowledge about the type of work that you’ll be involved in. It is really frustrating to see incompetent people taking high job positions. From this point, the idea of Premium Recruiting saw the light. As mentioned in previously published newsletters, Premium Recruiting is an NGO which aims to match the top talents with the best work opportunities. How? Simple; a 7- step recruitment process that evaluates the person in every possible way, from cognitive capabilities, to technical skills, to interpersonal competences. But how can an applicant manage to take this test and excel in it?
Here’s a full manual on how to become the best candidate for the job that you’re applying for
Guiding you Through a
Bright Future
Many consider that in order to apply to a job, you just have to do a 30-minute interview and that’s it, but with Premium Recruiting, we went a little further than this. Before the candidate reaches the interview step, the process goes as follows: a basic assessment questionnaire, a cognitive IQ test, language proficiency test, a skills assessment, and a real-life work assessment. Most applicants ‘freak out’ going into this process, but trust me, the satisfaction that you’ll feel after you’re done is so worth it. Here are a few general tips that will help you in the start of your tests and will push you towards becoming the best applicant out there. First and foremost, be serious! Applying to a job is not a piece of cake, it takes courage and strength to press the ‘apply’ button and go through a professional recruitment procedure. This is why you should be fully aware of what you’re going into. Second, make sure to sit in a quiet and suitable environment. Remember, you’re taking a test, not having coffee with your buddies, so any form of distraction might ruin your progress.
Third, concentration is key. Doing any form of assessment requires mental effort, and this effort cannot be made unless you put your full focus into your work. Fourth, don’t forget to shake the stress away. Breathe, relax, and engage! Believe in yourself and you’ll definitely make it. Fifth, use your laptop or a PC. You should never think about completing the process on a mobile phone. One last thing, don’t easily give up! Keep moving until the last step of the process. Once you’ve mastered all the previously mentioned tips, you’re good to go. After making sure you have a stable internet connection, log in and enjoy every bit of it as much as you can. How does the recruitment process happen? Basically, in order to select the best of the best, the candidate has to follow a serious process. The Premium Recruiting team came up with a seven-step assessment form, that evaluates the applicant for his interpersonal skills, cognitive skills, and technical skills. It starts with a basic assessment, leading up to a 15-minute Cognitive Aptitude Test, which evaluates basic skills and knowledge. After passing this test, the candidate has to send an audio file in which they present themselves and answer some questions based on their position. The next step would be a 1-hour Skills Assessment, followed by the final step before the interview, which is the Real Work Assessment.
Get that Job Today!
Now, you may be wondering, what’s next? What should I do in the next steps? Keep reading, as we’ll give you a full list of some of the best advice that you can get when applying to a job and taking a serious test. In the Premium Recruiting process, we consider a cognitive aptitude IQ test extremely important, as it evaluates the applicant’s overall intelligence and reflex. So, a piece of advice to all applicants, not only for IQ tests, but for all sorts of assessments: practice practice practice! How? Google is full of sample tests. Enrich your knowledge and broaden your skills. There’s a saying that says: “Practice makes perfect”, and I cannot stress how accurate it is. You should be 100% prepared before taking any test, otherwise you’ll regret not being ready for it, as it takes 6 extra months to be able to apply again. And more importantly, don’t leave your preparation until the last minute. Trust me, it won’t do you any good. In addition to that, whenever you’re doing any sort of IQ test, time management is the most important principle. You don’t usually have much time to complete all the questions. This is why you shouldn’t waste time pondering a question you don’t know the answer to;
there will definitely be more questions to which you can answer quickly. So, try to identify the easiest ones for you, and focus on answering them before the others, that way you’ll save time and guarantee a higher test score. Another form of testing which is extremely needed when applying to a job is the language proficiency test. Whether you’re taking it in writing or orally, you should definitely know the format of your evaluation. Once you know the format, you’ll practice accordingly. So basically, you can check any model of a previously done test, and do your necessary training. If it is oral, you can ask someone to help you out and listen to you. For example, you can practice with your English-speaking friend. That way you’ll be seen from the recruiter’s point of view. Also, use the internet for your own benefit. Go over videos that give tips on how to be the best candidate, listen to podcasts that discuss your favorite topics, and read a lot of interesting material.
With Premium Recruiting, we think outside the box when it comes to applicants. In order to make things easier to the interviewer, the testing process basically filters all the best candidates, which is a great way to save time for recruiters. This is why the fourth and fifth steps of the recruitment process are the most crucial ones. The best way to evaluate your candidates is by testing them through situations that assess their skills in their specific major. When hiring an engineer, give them a test in which they solve engineering related situations. When hiring a content writer, ask them to write something for your company. This is why every candidate should be completely transparent and honest when applying to a job. If you feel like you don’t fit, don’t apply for it! You’ll be wasting your time and the recruiter’s too. So, even if you lie on your resume, these assessment tests will quickly give the recruiter a clear idea of your level and skills.
The last step before you receive an offer – hopefully – is the interview. Here are the key tips to acing your interview! First, do your extensive research! Understanding key information about the company you’re applying for makes you more confident during the interview. You can take examples from their website, social media posts, or published newsletters. Second, make sure to memorize the job description. Before you go into the interview, everything related to the job should be very clear to you. Know what you’re getting yourself into and think about examples from past experiences that support the requirements. Third, make a good first impression. When you’re applying for a job, you want the interviewer to like you and feel comfortable with you. So, think about the littlest details, from dress code, to positive attitude, which brings us to the final and most important criterion of any interview: body language. Be confident, and practice accessible body language, whether you’re doing the interview live, or virtually. Before you start, take a deep breath, exhale all the negativity out, and encourage yourself. Sit tall with your shoulders back, smile, and go! Now, I believe you’re ready.
A lot of people may ask, why go through all these steps to recruit someone, when you can figure the applicant out simply from an interview. Personally, we believe that an assessment is not only necessary, but should be mandatory! The steps that Premium Recruiting follow are of international standards for TOP talent employment, and the tests are done in compliance with the recommendations of world-wide standards, which makes us confident when recruiting any talent. For us, it is totally worth it to go through all these steps before deciding to take in any talent. These tests show the applicant’s willingness and commitment, which gives a clear idea of his or her personality. It is not only about skills and knowledge, but also about the candidate’s behavior. And we believe that this process is perfectly carved to recruit the best of the best. Unfortunately, many candidates surrender at the beginning of the process, and don’t continue their tests, because they think that it will be a long shot.
But we promise you that you can easily be the next recruited talent through Premium Recruiting. Currently, there is a dozen of some of the best Lebanese talents who are working remotely with local and international companies, after having applied via Premium Recruiting. And you can easily be one of them! All it takes is courage, seriousness, and dedication. We are always ready to assist you and help out in facilitating the process for you. Happy recruiting from all the Premium Recruiting team!
