Gain an Edge at Job Interviews

Jeff Tapper had been in charge of a public-sector department for eighteen years with a workforce of over 100 staff. Over that time, he chaired an average of at least fifty job interviews per year. Those interviewed represented a shortlist of many more applications received over that time. Candidates for interviews ranged from new graduates to appointees for heads of departments. His academic credentials include bachelor of applied science, graduate diploma in health science, graduate diploma of business, and a diploma in stress management consulting. Other training included job application skills, including résumé and criteria statement writing. The latter, coupled with many years' experience in human-resource-related work functions, led to the commencement of a business called Résumé Plus and later broadened to Positive Directions Consulting. Jeff provides mentoring and education in résumé production, selection criteria, application letters, and interview techniques. He also provides consulting and workshops in stress-management techniques. Along with the additional interest in stress management, he also gained a qualification in hypnosis to serve as a further tool in stress reduction and reducing interview nerves. Jeff has seen first-hand many suitably qualified applicants not secure the job due to a poor or unprepared interview technique. He always offered debriefing so that those applicants could learn to improve their performance. With this in mind, the idea for this book was born to give readers an edge over other applicants and win their dream job. Jeff lives with his wife, Moh, in Willetton, Western Australia.