Personal Branding Interview: Louise Weir

Today, I spoke with Louise Weir, who is the Marketing and Communications Manager for Career Services at London Business School. In this interview, Louise gives us advice about taking a job abroad, interviewing over the phone, some interview tips for MBA students, and ideas on how to use LinkedIn for job searching.
When seeking a job overseas, candidates may conduct interviews over the phone. What are some ways to communicate your value/brand when you can’t meet the interviewer face-to-face?
Although a phone interview often comes quite early in the recruitment process, it is a vital opportunity to sell your personal brand to a potential recruiter. It is also a frequent early-round method used by recruiters who are looking to hire overseas.
While not conducted in person, by no means should the interviewer or interviewee dismiss the power of the phone interview. It will almost certainly be when a recruiter asks how much you know about the company, the position or the local market – and will undeniably be when they build their first impression of you as a potential recruit. A phone interview allows you the chance to sell yourself in a well-prepared, well-structured way.

Phone interviews – the ‘dos’

• As with any interview, have your unique selling points and pitch ready – and know your CV. While a phone interview allows for glances at notes in front of you, being prepared for all the questions you will be asked positively conveys you to the person on the other end of the line.
• Dress to impress. While the recruiter can’t literally see you during the interview, standing up straight projects your voice and helps to maintain enthusiasm and enunciation – and dressing for the part helps self esteem and gets you in the mood to sell yourself.
• Be precise. With no visual, you need to ensure that your words captivate the interviewer and convey what you are trying to express from the start.

Phone interviews – the ‘don’ts’

• Preparation is everything when it comes to interviewing. If you are caught unaware, politely ask to reschedule the interview for a more convenient time, allowing you time to prepare to answer the questions to your best advantage, and brand yourself in the best light.
• Don’t conduct the interview in a place where there is background noise, or where you may be distracted. Make sure that you have access to a good quality phone line; a mobile phone may not be acceptable – no one likes static when they are in the middle of the selling pitch!

Are there reasons, or hypothetical scenarios, when a person shouldn’t look abroad for a job?
Whether you have your heart set on a key geography, or you are considering returning to a city where you used to work, we remind our students here at London Business School that researching a foreign market is crucial before they make any big decisions. Take the time to explore the economic, political and cultural structure and stability of each market, as well as the implications your dream job abroad will have on your work-life balance, and your career itself.
If working an 80-90 hour week in China is definitely not something you are willing to attempt, are you in return eager to spend your weekends gold panning in Canada? Will a job in New York allow you a fantastic opportunity to reap the awards you dream of on paper, but mean a seven hour flight from your family? Is the relocation package being offered enough for you to relinquish one of your top five “must haves”?
When applying for jobs abroad, your unique selling point can be more significant than ever. Look at the demand for the skills you possess in the particular market and the best way to position yourself as favorable to a potential recruiter. If you decide to expand your career abroad, ensure that you convey your unique abilities, flexibility and capacity to adapt to new environments during the interview. It’s also important to be honest about the language skills (and levels!) you can offer a new company, and how far that conversational French will really get you.
Finally, carefully researching the visas and work permits for that particular country is also essential, and should be done early on before you apply for any position – no visa may mean that your application is not considered. Many companies may only be able to extend an offer of employment if they can prove there is no one suitable for the position that does hold a visa/passport within that country.
What are some of the key interview tips you give MBA students as they embark on their job search?
When it comes to successful interviewing delivering your pitch or your unique selling point is more essential than ever in the current economic climate, and the Career Services office at London Business School works closely with students and alumni to sharpen their pitch and ensure they are well prepared for interviews through empowering them with a range of resources, coaching sessions and workshops.
Consider what makes you stand apart from the competition. Branding your transferable assets and knowing what you want, why you want it and – most importantly – what you can offer their business will ensure successful and concise communication between yourself and potential recruiters.
When the call to interview does come, preparation is key. An interviewer is going to want a clear indication that you have done your research, both of the company and the market, and that you know your CV and your key selling points inside out. Practicing your pitch and having confidence in your unique ability to succeed in this role will ensure a stellar delivery during the interview.
How do you see LinkedIn or other networking sites impacting student job searches? How important is keeping your brand consistent through these types of outlets?
Online networking sites offer the technologically savvy amongst us another channel to forge first-rate connections with potential employers. At the click of a mouse they propel the ability to sell your personal product from the comfort of your own computer. Even for those less “techy” of us, it has become clear that these are the places to be and be seen, and intelligent job hunters know that especially in a difficult market, it’s all about who you know and the networks and connections you can make.
Used well, a site such as LinkedIn can be a powerful tool to strengthen and extend your existing network of trusted contacts. Users are often safe in the assumption that this outlet is still viewed by most as the more “professional” of the networking sites. The clincher for many is that other users are unable to post information to one’s profile without permission, removing the constant fear of ‘what’s been posted onto my profile’ or the unvarying need to patrol your account.
However, with many companies now scouring the networking sites hoping to get insight into their new batch of hopeful applicants, it’s essential that you consider how your personal brand will be portrayed.
Always remember your audience and what the information on your page says about you – and what you have to offer a potential employer. And if you do decide to register with the more ‘social’ of the sites on offer, remember that many employers may not look too favorably on a detailed status update following a heavy Thursday night out on the town. It’s all about using it well, and using it to your own specific advantage. If in doubt – don’t post it.
Article by, Dan Schawbel, the leading personal branding expert for Gen-Y. He authors the Personal Branding Blog and publishes Personal Branding Magazine and authored the upcoming book, Me 2.0: Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success (Kaplan, Spring 2009). Dan has been called a “personal branding force of nature” by Fast Company and his work has been published in BrandWeek Magazine, Advertising Age and countless other publications.

Originally posted by Candice A