CV tips:

As a recruitment agency we will do all we can to secure you that all important first interview, however, your CV is the marketing tool that will sell your experience and suitability for a position and make sure you get in front of a prospective employer. 

Remember it is important to tailor your CV to the particular position that you are applying for.

Education: most recent & relevant qualifications first, it’s also worth adding details of relevant training courses you have attended, IT packages and languages / level of fluency.

Experience: most recent and relevant experience first

Achievements: list specific achievements for positions, especially the most recent ones

Personal details: include contact details (address, email and phone numbers) and any other relevant information such as visa requirements.  Date of birth is not required unless you want to include it.

Dates: make sure all dates are accurate and don’t leave any long gaps in your CV. Include details of travel or career breaks. Employers will be suspicious of any gaps.

Interests: include a short list or paragraph about your interests & hobbies as this will tell a prospective employer about your personality.

Clear and concise: most companies prefer a maximum of two pages set out in an easily readable format.

Check for spelling and grammatical errors: mistakes show a lack of attention to detail and do not create a good first impression.

Don’t Lie, you will be found out!

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Interview tips:

Preparation: don’t leave preparing for your interview to the last minute, make sure you have thoroughly researched the position and the company before your interview. Read through the job description and person specification and highlight key competencies. Be prepared to answer questions about your skills and make sure you have examples of particular skills/experience required for the position.   

Research: websites are usually the best place to gather information about a company, but you can also look at company brochures, annual reports and search the internet for newspaper articles and press releases about a company.  Researching the company should also give you an idea about the company culture and whether you it will be the right working environment for you. 

First impressions count: research shows that interviewers decide in the first 10 minutes whether to take you seriously for the job. Be professional and polite to everyone you meet in the office, dress to impress, suits are best and start with a good firm hand shake!

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Tests:

A lot of companies will test applicants at some stage of the interview process. This could be a basic IQ test, including numerical and logic ability, a personality test and/or a written test such as project or presentation. 

IQ tests: measuring your intelligence usually across a range of multiple choice questions covering verbal, numerical and abstract reasoning.

Personality tests: such as Myers Briggs Type Indicator. There is no right or wrong answer to questions but the results will give employers an insight into your personality.

Group interviews: often used for entry-level conference production positions — employers are looking at communication and analytical skills, team work, confidence and an understanding and interest in the conference industry.

Other job specific tests in the conference industry:

Conference Production — applicants will often be asked to complete a project between the first and second stages of interviews. This usually involves researching topics for a conference programme, including making a few research calls, coming up with ideas for speakers and writing copy/bullet points. You should then be prepared to discuss your project in depth at the second interview.

Marketing — copy writing tests and proof reading tests are usually given to assess skills in these areas.

Event Management — proof reading and writing tests are sometimes given, examining attention to detail. Scenario-based questions are also often used in interviews for event organising positions.

Sales — telephone interviews and role plays are frequently used.

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Candidate referral: 

We are always keen to hear from candidates with relevant industry experience or applicants who are keen to move into the conference and events industry. If you know of someone who is looking for their next step then send their details on to Albany Appointments and we will reward you with a voucher worth £250* for a high street department store when we successfully place them.

*Email one of our consultants with the name, address, telephone and email contact details of your referral.