Ability test as part of interview process

While passing interview to one of the multinational or financial companies you may find yourself at the stage of interview that would be conduct in the form of ability test. This test is designed to test your initial ability to comprehend information and basic of logical thinking. Usually it consists from two- three parts.

Part number one is verbal test. You are given information in the short texts which follows by set of true/falls/not given questions. Sometimes it is very tricky, because questions that are by logic needs to be true or falls simply not given in the text. To answer correctly it requires careful reading. Although when I was passing this test it was 30 min for 60 questions, which is 15 texts to read. The best advice would be – try to read as much as possible and fill in answers even if you haven’t finish reading.

Part two is numerical test. Don’t be scared since only basic understanding of graphs and tables problems would be required. Again time would be too short, so don’t try to solve all problems. Those which require a lot of calculations or thinking can be solved at the end.

Third part is logical test. It will test your ability to logically see consequence and dependency between figures shown. I didn’t had this part of the exam, but it is always better to be prepared to everything.

The best web site that I found in order to prepare to the ability test is:

http://www.getsmartfirst.com/Numerical_Reasoning_Test.html

Remember for different positions they have different minimum pass score. Although taking this test without preparation may be difficult. Most of the questions and problems in proportional tests and real ones are alike. Knowing how to solve problems will give you required speed so you can perform better.

Example of cover letter

There is a two types of cover letters as two types of approaching company. Sometime it is highly important to personalize as much as possible your cover letter and Cv to the exact job you are interested in and feel you have great potential with it. The other choice is to write standard cover letter and Cv in order to approach as many jobs offers as possible and let the numbers play its game.

Example:

Dear Elaine, (state name of the person you are writing to. It is always nice to show that you done some research, know what you are doing and interested in company and job)

I am writing this letter to apply for Customer Services Administrative assistant role (it is very important to show that you know what you want. Even if there is no exact position opening in the company and you just want to send your CV for future considerations name specific departments you are interested in). I would like to continue my customer support career in order to create value for the company. (Why you want this job or work in this company? You may want to show your consistency in work experience and key skills)

I have unique combination of administrative and customer support work experience, and have strong knowledge of problem solving, excellent communication manner, and dealing with regular administrative tasks (event/project organization, paper work, computer skills, and etc.) (Here you want to talk about your key strength. Use strong adjectives while talking about your qualifications. Talk more about skills which exactly correspond to the job description. Use bond front to underline your experience)

Please see my CV. I would be happy if you contact me for interview. (Use smooth and nice closing of the cover letter. In case you are sending cold mail you may want to state exact day when you would like to follow up – that would give you a chance to talk with them one more time).

Best regards,

Anastasia

8 Tips for Crafting Eye-Catching Cover Letters

Your cover letter presents your intentions, qualifications and availability to a prospective employer in a succinct and appealing format. As your first chance to make a great impression, a personalized letter indicates you are serious about your job search. Your resume can give the nitty-gritty of dates, places of employment and education, but your cover letter must entice the reader to consider you amidst hundreds, or even thousands, of candidates for any one job opening.

1. Do You Really Need a Cover Letter?
You bet! Just as you would never show up unannounced at a prospective employer's door, your resume should never just appear solo on a decision maker's desk. Your cover letter is your first opportunity to introduce yourself, present your qualifications and show the search committee you are a potential candidate for the that job.

2. Personalize It to the Company.
Anyone can reproduce a "canned" cover letter and hope for the best. Instead, take a few minutes to personalize your letter to show a company you are serious about working there. State the reason for your interest in the company. Show that you have done your homework by mentioning company specifics such as a department, a new project or a recent acquisition. Address the cover letter to a specific individual whenever possible.

3. Why are You Sending Your Resume and Cover Letter?
Cover letters should be clear and to the point. Include the specific job title, two to three reasons why your experience makes a good fit and a brief outline of your career highlights.

4. Highlight Your Strengths.
You may be a great person and never call in sick, but prospective employers really want to know why they should consider you for this position. Brag a little! Give a few facts, list relevant skills and state accomplishments on recent jobs that will be impressive.
Examples:
Increased overseas sales by 93 percent.
Negotiated new financial leases or loans.
Implemented new training programs that reduced staff turnover by 15 percent.


5. What Makes You Different?
Emphasize your skills, talents and experiences to show how you would be a valuable addition to the team. If you have relevant volunteer or professional experience, mention it briefly in your cover letter. For example, if you are an accountant who serves as volunteer treasurer for a nonprofit community health organization, include that information. Or if you are an international sales rep who has lived in Europe and Asia and speaks several languages, add that to your letter.

6. No Negative Information.
Never include personality conflicts with previous employers, pending litigation suits or sarcastic remarks in your cover letter. If you are bad-mouthing your present place of employment, interviewers may fear a repeat performance if they hire you.

7. Take Action Steps.
Take a proactive approach in your cover letter. State the fact that you are available for a personal interview; give your home, work, email and/or cell phone numbers where you can be reached; note that you will follow up by phone (whenever possible) to provide any additional information required.

8. Be Direct!
A professionally written cover letter and resume can open the door to your next position on the corporate ladder or to a new career in a different field. A clean, error-free presentation, combined with strong phrasing and solid facts, will encourage the reader to review the attached resume and call you in for an interview.

Ten Cover Letter Don'ts

Your cover letter is the first thing employers see when they open your materials. Avoid these 10 mistakes, and make your first impression a lasting one.

Don't Overuse "I"
Your cover letter is not your autobiography. The focus should be on how you meet an employer's needs, not on your life story. Avoid the perception of being self-centered by minimizing your use of the word "I," especially at the beginning of your sentences.

Don't Use a Weak Opening.
Job seekers frequently struggle with how to begin a cover letter. What results is often a feeble introduction lacking punch and failing to grab the reader's interest. Consider this example:
Weak: Please consider me for your sales representative opening.
Better: Your need for a top-performing sales representative is an excellent match to my three-year history as a #1-ranked, multimillion-dollar producer.
Weak. I have good communicating skills
Better I have excellent communicating skills and strong knowledge of problem solving.

Don't Omit Your Top Selling Points.
A cover letter is a sales letter that sells you as a candidate. Just like the resume, it should be compelling and give the main reasons why you should be called for an interview. Winning cover letter strategies include emphasizing your top accomplishments or creating subheadings culled from the job posting. For example:

Your ad specifies:Communication Skills
And I offer:Five years of public speaking experience and an extensive background in executive-level report writing.
Your ad specifies:Strong Computer Background
And I offer:Proficiency in all MS Office applications with additional expertise in Web site development and design.

Don't Make It Too Long or Too Short.
If your cover letter is only one or two short paragraphs, it probably doesn't contain enough key information to sell you effectively. If it exceeds one page, you may be putting readers to sleep. Keep it concise but compelling, and be respectful of readers' time.

Don't Repeat Your Resume Word-for-Word.
Your cover letter shouldn't just regurgitate what's on your resume. Reword your cover letter statements to avoid dulling your resume's impact. Consider using the letter to tell a brief story, such as "My Toughest Sale" or "My Biggest Technical Challenge."

Don't Be Vague.
If you're replying to an advertised opening, reference the specific job title in your cover letter. The person reading your letter may be reviewing hundreds of letters for dozens of different jobs. Make sure all the content in your letter supports how you will meet the employer's specific needs.

Don't Forget to Customize.
If you're applying to a number of similar positions, chances are you're tweaking one letter and using it for multiple openings. That's fine, as long as you are customizing each one. Don't forget to update the company, job, and contact information -- if Mr. Jones is addressed as Mrs. Smith, he won't be impressed.

Don't End on a Passive Note.
Put your future in your own hands with a promise to follow up. Instead of asking readers to call you, try a statement like this: I will follow up with you in a few days to answer any preliminary questions you may have. In the meantime, you may reach me at (555) 555-5555.

Don't Be Rude.
Your cover letter should thank the reader for his time and consideration.

Four tips for thank you cover letter

Thank you: Start your letter from thanking for interview, their time, or possibility to be considered for this job.

Express Your Interest: Convey your interest in and enthusiasm for the company and the position for which you interviewed. Try to be specific about why you are interested and how you are a good fit for the team.

Address Unresolved Points: If during the interview you had feeling that some of the issues were not resolved or interviewer was questioning a lot about one subject. Letter is a good time to address those questions that you feel you did not fully answer. This letter is your last chance to make a positive impression on the interviewer.

Reiterate Your Expertise: If the company communicated its specific needs, issues or challenges, use your thank-you letter to demonstrate how you can meet those needs. Or you may simply talk through one more time about your key skills and key successes at previous job that relate to the new position.

Six Rules to Follow When Asking for Feedback

1. Be sure to relay your disappointment in not getting the offer and say that you would be interested in interviewing if anything opens up. Emphasize that this company is still your top choice.

2. Politely ask if there is any feedback that would help you improve your chances in your next interview. Was there anything in particular that could have helped your chances of winning the job offer?

3. Listen carefully to any advice and take notes. Do not argue or defend yourself. You are asking for feedback, not a chance for a rebuttal.

4. Keep your discussion short. Ask one or two follow-up questions, and then end the conversation.

5. Thank your interviewer for the feedback and the chance to improve your skills. Reiterate that if another opening comes up, you would be interested in interviewing.

6. Take the advice given and think about changing some of your techniques to improve your next interview.

If you can't get feedback, try rating your own performance. If you feel you could improve your skills or style, prepare and practice so you can go into your next interview with renewed confidence. Remember, you can learn and improve from every interview experience, whether or not you receive feedback.