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Employment Advice from Mike Hughes

I asked Mike Hughes for his top 5 tips for getting an interview and that sometimes illusive first job, we ended up getting a mantra for life:

1. Demonstrate a willingness to work.
Whenever you get the chance, do an internship over the summer holidays. Take on an evening job if at all possible, write a blog, play sports. Just do something that shows that you aren't happy to sit on your backside. Gaps on your CV make it look like you've got no ambition, fill these with things that improve you in some way.

 

2. Be wary of your digital footprint.
You are extremely visible online, and if you're not careful this could count against you. Ensure you have the highest privacy settings on all your social media accounts, perhaps have an approval setting on your timelines so that only material you are happy with potential employers seeing makes it onto your pages. Set up a LinkedIn account too, so that when employers inevitably do search for you, they find a picture of you in a suit with a list of previous work experience and skills, not a picture of you in a bar with glazed eyes! First impressions count and you don't get to make a second one.

3. Thoroughly research the job you're applying for.
It may sound simple but this is often overlooked. Treat it like you're writing an essay - spend a long time preparing the facts before you jump in. You should know all of the company's products, where the company is based, who the company's competitors are, why their products are different. Are there any magazines or publications that people in this sector read? Find them and read them yourself. If you're not sure, ask people if they know anyone who works in the sector you're interested in; parents, wider family, friends' parents... use your network. You should know who is likely to interview you (search for them on LinkedIn to find their job title and who they work with - this should only take 10 minutes but makes a big difference). Find out who the CEO is, what their background it, what the company's share price is etc. etc. These things are so simple to find out and can set you apart from other applicants. Companies want to hire people who show an interest in them. Show that you are passionate about the job and the company, and back this up with information that you've found out to justify why. Don't worry, you will not need to memorise this all! You should show up with a pen and a pad of paper (maybe a hard backed note book) and this can have your notes on it to refer to.

4. Ask intelligent questions.
At the end of an interview you will, 9 times out of 10, get the chance to ask the interviewer some questions. Don't start by asking how much holiday you will be entitled to or how much the sick pay is, this will make you look like a slacker. Ask questions that supplement your research:

"I noticed from my research that a common problem facing companies in the X sector is... what steps are you taking to combat this?"

Ask questions that will provide you with key information:

"What sort of person is successful at (insert company name here)?" - this question, when answered properly will give you a list of the exact qualities that the interviewer is looking for in an applicant and you can tell them where you have demonstrated these skills.

Ask questions that set you apart from other workers:

At the end of a working day, ask your boss: "Is there anything else I can do for you before I go home?" This will be like music to the ears of any employer!


5. Find what it is you enjoy doing and work out how to get paid for doing it.

Life's too short to be miserable at work. Mike Hughes

If you would lilke to join the Mentor Scheme as a mentor or Mentee please get in touch now. l.baker@haileybury.com

 

Originally Written: 23-Dec-2014 13:08, Last Updated: 23-Dec-2014 13:08