Some Tips to Ace an Interview… It Starts with Good Old Common Sense

After interviewing people for everything from events and promotions to bikini pageants, I’ve learned a few things about what it takes to truly ace an interview. Someone once asked why I’m always interviewing people… I never thought this would be something I do, let alone often; but since I have and do, I wanted to share some of these tips. Most of which, start with the old adage – common sense!

One of the most important aspects to ace an interview begins with the FIRST IMPRESSION. Did you know that most people form an opinion of you in less than 30 seconds? This is based on your appearance, presentation, handshake, body language and more. To ace an interview you need to be mindful of the image you are projecting. Do you appear confident and self-assured or do you potentially seem nervous, anxious and unprepared? There is a saying that goes, “dress for the job you want, not the job you have”. Even if it’s a part-time job, you need to put some effort into your hair, makeup and apparel. If you don’t, the interviewer could be concerned about your ability to put in this effort when you’re actually representing their brand.

You can’t make a good impression if you are late so I can’t stress enough the importance of being on time. For our interviews at Tigris, we actually close the door once everyone is seated. Even if someone is just 5 minutes late, 5 minutes of a 30 minute interview is huge. We cover our company history, expectations and procedures in 5-8 minutes, so if you’re trying to walk in late, you’d be missing a substantial amount of information. As such, we don’t let those people in and make them wait until the next session.

Let your personality shine! If you are one on one with your interviewer, all of the attention is on you. Be careful not to fidget, swivel in your chair, play with your hair etc. If you’re in a group setting, you have to work harder to be memorable, think of something different to say than the person before and after you. You should also strive to engage the entire group and articulate well. You want to be the person who stands out and is memorable, rather than forgettable. The way I look at it, if I can remember you after meeting 50+ people in one evening, that is either a really good thing – or a really bad thing.

You Can’t Ace an Interview if You Don’t Try

Going to an interview can be nerve racking. There is another old saying, “80% of success is showing up, 90% of success if showing up on time and 100% is showing up – with energy”. One of the things that has always amazed me is how many people confirm an interview and don’t show up. Consistently, and on average, we find that 25-30% of people who not only book – but confirm an interview – don’t show up. Perhaps this is because we primarily offer part-time positions over a full-time opportunity and as disappointing as this may be, the silver lining is that this allows us to weed out a lot of people who may decide not to show up to an event – had we not taken the time to interview first.

Of those we do get to meet, I value the one’s who show up on time, are interested and engaged in what we have to say, think of some unique answers to our questions and also come prepared with some of their own questions. Event staffing and experiential marketing is about branding and personal connections – so largely observe and gauge people on their personal presentation and how well they connect to us. They are going to be the people that we entrust with our client’s brands/reputations so this is hugely important.

As long as you try, it’s not hard to ace an interview. Think about what you’d be looking for if you were on the other side of the table. Would you hire the person that looked like they combed their hair with a pillow and showed up disheveled while they doodled on their application form? Unlikely and neither would we.

Tigris Personnel is always looking for great people! To show us how you can ace an interview, apply on our website.

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Things to Consider Before Selecting a Staff Agency

With experiential marketing on the rise, NOW is the time to consider adding a staff agency to power and enhance your team (if you haven’t done so already). The purpose of experiential marketing is to connect with consumers through live interaction to hand deliver brand messaging and potentially obtain new leads.  More importantly, it provides individuals with a better understanding of  a product or service by engaging each of their senses with intentions of influencing their purchasing decisions. Combining face-to-face interactions with branding to your marketing strategies can do wonders and develop a strong ROI.

Whether you are looking to hire a staff agency, or are merely re-evaluating the one you’re currently partnering with, it’s important to know your options and choose wisely.  There are many things to consider before you sign the dotted line and below is a list that should never be overlooked.

1) Retention Rate: how long has the staff agency been working with their clients? Comparatively, it’s a lot easier to secure a new client than it is to maintain and keep them. If the staff agency has been working with a number of clients for several years that is a testament to the quality of their work.

2) Financials: any staff agency worth working with will share their financials and how your contract could impact their bottom line. Preferably, no one client should make up more than 15% of their net income.

3) Return on Investment: can the staff agency demonstrate your ROI? This is at the heart of ALL good experiential marketing campaigns. You do not need an agency that claims its own figures. It should also be able to use independent research to demonstrate the returns of a campaign – which you may also need to contribute to, since you have access to sales results that they may not have.

4) Reporting: the staff agency should be vigilant and timely in their reporting. The agency shouldn’t be “cooking” their figures as this is the same as lying. They should aim to be as accurate as possible in the figures they are presenting. Make sure you question any numbers they give you. Keep in mind that they may need to work with their clients for accurate information (e.g. final sales) since a 3rd party simply wouldn’t have access to this on their own.

5) Transparent Agency Fee: there is nothing worse than a company that quotes one figure and then tries to bill you for another. Of course, there could be added costs if the clients adds or changes the deliverables of the project BUT only in this case. Find a  staff agency that is up front about costs and won’t slip in hidden fees afterwards.

6) Talent Base: an excellent way to gauge a staff agency is by how well they treat their own people. This can be measured by their staff retention. If they have high turnover, this could be a warning sign. Their personnel should be happy, well trained and motivated.

7) Reputation: what do other companies and colleagues have to say about them? This is not all about awards and recognition. Agencies that are too showy with their accolades are often trying to over compensate for areas they are lacking. It is good however to have an agency that quietly acknowledges their achievements and is recognized by other affiliated agencies as a quality industry partner.

8) Consultants: you don’t want a staff agency that will say yes to everything you say. Rather, you need an agency willing to challenge your thoughts and pre-conceptions. You want experts that will come up with concepts that will drive your business FORWARD.

9) Pricing/Rates: Keep in mind that the rates should only be a portion of your assessment. A low rate may be great for your budget but means nothing if your account manager is not available or your talent is sub-par. Also, keep in mind that rates vary depending on the event type and location. Events in smaller towns which require travel from a major market or larger programs where several staff are needed  for an extended period of time may be priced differently than a one-day, one-person event

10) Personality: like any other relationship, you have to like the people you are working with. It’s no good trying to work with an agency that doesn’t inspire you, are difficult to get along with or get a hold of. The foundation of all good business relationships is personality so find one that meshes with yours.

Looking For Information On Our Staff Agency?

To inquire about Tigris Personnel for experiential marketing, events and more, call us at 416-283-9119 for a free no-obligation quote. Services from our staff agency are available all across Canada including top locations Calgary, AB | Toronto, ON | Vancouver, BC.

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The Difference between Large and Small Business Consulting

Large corporations have been wrestling with the reality that individuals are requiring more personal, honest, and real communication from the companies they buy products or services from. Naturally, small business consulting services possess these favorable qualities simply because they can feel their own pulse. The pulse of a business is the realization of  how society can change based on the occurrence of any single event. This high level of sensitivity is unique to small businesses and offers a sixth sense for what to change, what is fair, and how to retain customers.

Small business consulting can provide a personal and detailed style of service larger businesses often lose touch with during their growth.  Small business consulting can maintain intimate relationships not just with customers but also their employees and suppliers. Customers are able to “put a face” to the person they are in contact with and really know who is handling their business.  With a smaller hierarchy or  chain of demand, closer communication is maintained and information is less likely to get lost in translation. And in the event a of a crisis,  there is usually much more flexibility compared to larger businesses who hold  strict corporate policies and procedures.

The Advantages Of Small Business Consulting Are Endless!

Another difference between large and small business consulting services is in the level of creativity.  Smaller businesses have the ability to introduce and develop new ideas without seeking approval from what would be considered “upper management”, red tape or business bureaucracy. So, if you’ve ever questioned utilizing the services of small business, well think again because small is the new BIG!

Customers should take a moment to recognize the value of being remembered by name, asking for help without navigating through a phone tree, and being taken into account. For those employed by large corporations, become inspired by small businesses to rediscover the pulse that has been somewhere lost along the way. And for those  running small businesses, market your strengths, keep a finger on the pulse, and preserve your precious advantage.

To inquire about Tigris Personnel’s small business consulting for experiential marketing, events and more, call us at 416-283-9119.

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