An opportunity for an interview is hard to come by, and you need to excel in all areas in order to get the job you want.
Below are a few interview bloopers you should avoid.
1. Poor Handshake
Your interview starts with a handshake that reflects half of your personality. If you deliver a poor handshake, it will be difficult for you to build rapport with your prospective employer.
If you shake with a limp hand that gives the impression of weakness, with the tips of your fingers showing a lack of ability to engage, then you will have already put yourself behind the 8-ball.
Your handshake should be full and firm.
2. Unmatched Communication Style
When you are asked to say something, make sure you communicate in the same style and on the same topic. Some candidates tend to divert from the topic at hand, which shows a lack of focus. Some candidates also have the tendency to talk too much during an interview.
This shows that you either lack confidence, or an inability to reach the center point of the conversation. It may also imply that you are lying.
The best way to avoid this mistake is to prepare for your interview by role playing.
3. Negative Comments about Previous Employers
Starting off by speaking on a negative note about your previous employer does not speak well of you. Even if you have any ill feelings, never express them.
This will show that some day you could develop the same feeling about your new employer. Respond positively if asked about your former employer, and share something good about the organization.
4. Bad Manners
The very first stage of your interview is when you meet the receptionist. Be polite and courteous as this carries a big impression. Never misbehave or be aggressive with the receptionist, as it is within her power to facilitate your interview positively or negatively before the interviewer even sees you.
During the interview session, sit properly and try to be a good listener. You should always listen to the interviewer first, and then answer accordingly. Never distract him or her by saying something before you are asked.
This shows lack of good manners. Similarly, asking about benefits, salary and vacation days will not create a good impression of you. You should wait until the interview is over, or until the interviewer broaches the subject.
5. Not Being Punctual
Some candidates tend to be late for interviews, while there are some who always arrive well ahead of time. The perfect time to reach the interview site is five minutes ahead of the scheduled time. Reaching too much before time will create an impression that you have too much time on your hands.
By showing this desperate attitude, you may lose your desirability. Your time is as precious as the interviewer's.
Avoid the above mistakes and apply your interview skills. If you do this, you are almost sure to create a good impression on your prospective employer.
The Role: Product Development Manager(Power) The ideal candidate would be required to:
Conduct market survey to find market size, competitors, prices and product type preferences and manage price audit to arrive at business plan for each identified product category.
Prepare business plan and present regularly to management for need appreciation.
Search for and communicate with suitable suppliers for products.
Resolve product related issues and develop product at the supplier’s end.
Test and report samples to confirm product performance.
Arrange relevant codes and systems.
Liaise with Supply Chain Services for purchase of products.
Conduct product training to sales/services personnel.
The Person: The right candidate must:
Possess a B.Eng. or B.Sc. Degree in Mechanical or Elect./ Elect. Engineering with a professional certification.
Have between 3 - 5 years relevant experience.
Be highly resourceful.
Have significant Product Development experience in tangible(s).
Have sound knowledge of power generating device market in Nigeria.
Have strong computer skills.
Possess the ability to work well as a team member.
Have eye for details with excellent organization and time management skills.
Have a CAN DO attitude, exhibiting our core values – COURAGE, ACCOUNTABILITY, NETWORKING, DRIVE and ONENESS.
Have effective written, oral and presentation skills.
Sales Training Manager (All Business Units - Lagos)
The Role: Sales Training Manager
Help us to develop our Sales Force to become the best in Nigeria! We are seeking a Sales Training Manager who have drive, ambition and the determination to give professional leadership and direction to the company’s wide spread regional commercial operations. Only the very best need apply.
The ideal candidate is required to:
• Evaluate the sales team and identify their training needs.
• Co-develop appropriate training modules.
• Deliver the training sessions, both in class and field, and measure their effectiveness.
• Develop the sales team into a first class sales force which will consistently exceed its demanding targets.
The ideal candidate for this role must:
·Possess at least 3 - 5 years’ successful selling experience (preferably FMCG) with a proven track record of delivering effective sales training.
·Be hungry for success and determined to succeed in a result orientated environment.
·Be an approachable team player, with first class communication and people management skills.
·Be flexible in terms of location.
·Be willing to spend significant amount of time (80%) travelling on field visits.
·Be computer literate.
·Be fluent in at least one local language (Yoruba, Ibo, Hausa).
·Have aCAN DO attitude, exhibiting our core values – COURAGE, ACCOUNTABILITY, NETWORKING, DRIVE and ONENESS.
Supermarket Channel - Sales Manager(All Business Units - Lagos)
The Role: Supermarkets Channel - Sales Manager
The successful candidates will be required to:
Drive & achieve effective growth and increased turnover of PZ CUSSONS products in the supermarkets channel in the Nigerian market
Identify, develop and exploit new incremental business/sales opportunities
Manage the NPD delivery pipeline within the accounts
Service & develop strategic distributors/dealers accounts as well as new ones
Consistently meet or exceed agreed business development targets
Motivate, train on the job and develop local sales team; salesmen & merchandisers
Propose & execute in-store activities
The right candidates must:
Possess a University degree or Higher National Diploma.
Possess 3–5 years successful selling experience at sales management level in the manufacturing industry, with significant part of that being in the supermarket trade
Have a good knowledge of inventory management.
Have the ability to work under little or no supervision.
Be a thoroughly articulate individual with a good demonstration of drive and resilience.
Display good leadership skills.
Have a CAN DO attitude, exhibiting our core values – COURAGE, ACCOUNTABILITY, NETWORKING, DRIVE and ONENESS
Have excellent computer software application skills.
Have excellent interpersonal and organizational planning skills.
Possess first class numeric and communication skills.
Possess high levels of determination and desire to succeed in a result oriented environment
Be a good team player but with the ability to drive the team to unsurpassed success.
Be mobile and willing to be flexible in terms of location
Institutional Sales Channel Manager - (Business to Business)
All Business Units - Lagos
The Role: Institutional Sales (Business to Business) Channel – Sales Manager
The successful candidate will be required to:
Drive & achieve effective growth and increased turnover of PZ CUSSONS products in the institutional sales (Business to Business) channel in the Nigerian market
Identify, develop and exploit new incremental business/sales opportunities
Develop accounts, and service them effectively
Consistently meet or exceed agreed business development targets
The Person:
Possess a B.A or B.Sc. Degree with a professional certification
Have between 3-5 years cognate experience in the manufacturing industry, with significant part of that being in the institutional sales
GEC Powerlines is the premier Power Engineering and Infrastructure services provider in Nigeria, delivering services and solutions across the entire chain of Generation, Transmission and Distribution Services.
To further strengthen our enviable leadership position in the market place, we now seek to recruit for the following positions:
For position 1: Transmission line experience in either consulting or field experience is compulsory For position 2: Experience in a consulting environment is compulsory For position 3: Estimating in electrical contracting environment will be an advantage
General Skills / Qualifications
• Possession of first degree or its equivalent in engineering or related field • Possession of a master’s degree will be an added advantage • Possession of experience in the field of transmission, distribution and sub-station installations is highly desirable but not compulsory • Good interpersonal skills • Self starter
Remuneration for all positions advertised in very competitive. Interested candidates should send their detailed CVs to hr at gecpowerlines.com
