Preparing a CV

It is unlikely that you will get through to the interview stage without an impressive CV, especially at the moment, when there is intense competition for jobs. Therefore, it’s really important to spend time on your CV and make it stand out. A CV is not, as many people think, just a record of your education, qualifications and employment, but is instead an opportunity to highlight your strengths and sell yourself.

Make sure your CV is concise, as it should be no longer than 2 sides of A4 paper and ensure that all your strengths and selling points are clearly highlighted. Make sure that your CV is tailored to the position you are applying for, so list your interests, relevant skills and experience, educational qualifications and additional training and include any additional information which may be useful for potential employers.

Before the interview

It is important to be prepared for an interview, as many employers will ask the same type of questions so try to prepare some answers before you attend your interview, as this will help you to express yourself clearly, as well as ensuring that you say everything you want to. Preparing beforehand will also help to make the experience less stressful.

If you have to travel to your interview, do a trial journey to see how long it will take you to get there; this will help to make sure that you are not late for your interview.

Dressing for an interview

It is important to dress appropriately for an interview, and it is always advisable to look smart and professional as this will give off a positive first impression. Avoid wearing jeans and casual clothes but make sure you are comfortable in what you wear. Try to avoid towering heels which are difficult to walk in, as this will create additional pressure and discomfort.

Try to keep make-up subtle and natural looking and avoid overpowering jewellery and accessories.

During the interview

Interviews can be stressful for many people and most people are anxious both before and during interviews; try to keep calm, think positively and speak clearly and slowly. Try to strike up a rapport with your interviewer as quickly as possible; many people form impressions of others very quickly so it is important to create a positive first impression.

When you are asked questions, try to speak slowly and clearly and keep calm; if you are asked a difficult question, try not to get flustered and take a moment to think about your answer before you speak. Try to sell yourself as much as possible without making yourself sound arrogant, talk about your experience and why you feel you would be good at the job. Make sure you put across your personality and explain why you want the job and why you like working with children.

In addition to the formal interview, many employers also observe candidates spending time with children, organising activities and playing with children; this will help them to gauge the candidate’s ability to interact with children. If you do have a practical interview, plan ahead and organise activities which are simple and fun. Make sure your activity is tailored to the right age group and simple enough to understand.