“Tips & Tricks for Acing Your Job Interview”: IEWiB Segovia Highlights
Friday the 8th of March, the Segovia Campus hosted a series of events, organized by the IE Women in Business club. There was a talk with Maya Helbaoui and Basma Albuhairan and then a workshop with Carmen Morales on “Tips & Tricks for Acing Your Job Interview.”
Talk Maya & Basma highlights
Maya Helbaoui is a public affairs leader of the middle east who works in Roche. She has dedicated herself mainly on the health care sector and for her,
“Access to health care is access to information, which gives us access to medication.”
Maya was accompanied by Basma Albuhairan, an executive director from the Saudi Arabian Investment Authority (SAGIA). For her, the importance of aid doesn’t rely on gender.
“The importance of helping others with no difference in gender.” “When you help others it is not about expecting something in return,” commented Basma.
Both of them wanted to leave a message for our young women today. In brief, work, adapt and learn.
“Don’t plan too much. Be prepared, grab opportunities, but don’t plan too much or you will take the enjoyment out of it,” said Maya.
“Be ambitious and have confidence,” added Basma and, “You need to believe that you will get where you need to go, take everything, embrace it and see everything as an opportunity,” ended Basma.
Maya made an important point on how women should see that “you cannot change the circumstances but you can change your attitude,” together with Basma’s advice on “If you don’t know something, say it.”
One of the topics of the talk was the perception of women as the vulnerable gender. Maya’s point of view was that women are different and that makes us beautiful, and being vulnerable is not bad. On the contrary, she considers it an advantage,
“In today’s world men leaders are being trained on how to be vulnerable. To open up and share emotions. It’s a strength, it is power.”
Another topic was the challenges women face nowaday. For both speakers, they admitted women have to take the “extra mile” and put more effort to proof their value and be listened to.
“We tend to be pleasable, and it is misused by a lot of people. So speak up whilst respecting others,” said Maya.
The solution for them was to work on reforms against discrimination. Neither of them supported the idea of quotas and highlighted that the position should be given for merit.
“It is about merit and what value they can add. What we need is policies, not quotas,” said Basma.
“Diversity is what you bring to the table. They have to be filling their position. We want to have the right women as we wish to have the right men on those positions,” stated Maya.
Workshop Carmen Morales highlights
“An interview is not a threat, it is an opportunity.”
Beatrix Dart, Executive Director of the Initiative for Women in Business at the University of Toronto, gave her insight on how today’s CV systems are automated and they search for keywords rather than experiences. For example, “leader, adaptability and passionate.”
The audience discussed the importance of being a member of a network, and how you have to expand your personal connections. As Beatrix confessed, “Every recruiter has a back door, so network with the right people.”
Carmen Morales’s tips during the interview started with, “Be early and look around, to see the work environment and if you like it,” and explained that you might see something that is off.
Connie Cardenas member of IE Women in Business expressed her ideas on how women lose opportunities in interviews.
“Currently women lose opportunities in interviews because they don’t talk about their skills. They don’t share it,” she said.
She also described the importance of “Be yourself and stay put,” as well as “If it is true, you don’t have to remember.”
Carmen Morales tips
Prepare, prepare , prepare
Research the employer
Create a clear and strong personal brand
Tell a compelling story
Plan In Advance
Be early and observe
Connect with the interviewer
Exude a positive and engaging attitude, stay calm.
Listen
Non-verbal communication goes a long way. ( Respect personal space!)
Practice is key
Dress neutral, better to be overdressed.
Ask questions