Blog 76: Interview Tips – Experienced Hires by Xavier Lo, FIA, FRM, MBA

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A while ago, I posted a blog about interview tips for graduates. I’d like to follow that up with more interview tips [面試技巧], but this time for Experienced Hires [有工作經驗]!

To be honest, when you’re an experienced hire, there aren’t fixed questions that the interviewer will ask you because everyone has experienced different types of jobs and roles. That’s why the first tip I’ll give you is make sure you know your own CV [履歷] very well. What I mean by this is you have to be able to say what you did in every role that you’ve had, and point out the important parts. Also make sure that you can explain why you’ve changed roles if you have in the past. Even if it was as simple as you wanting more money [加人工] or you hating your boss [同上司唔夾], try to come up with a reason that gives a positive spin to your job move. Obviously don’t lie about the reasons. In addition, be aware of your own skills and how you stand out above the rest of the competition. If your profile is just like everyone else’s, why would a company want to specifically hire you?

Another tip to bear in mind is make sure you can emphasise the fit [適合程度] between yourself and the company. Not only do you need to know why you want to join the company (and really think of some specific reasons to yourself, not just general ones which you can search online), you also want to give the company some reasons why they should hire you. The moment they give you an interview, it means that they think your skillset is good enough. What is something interesting about you that isn’t on your CV? Do you enjoy rock climbing? Wine tasting? Studying how to brew the best coffee? These extra hobbies and stories will allow the interviewer to “feel” whether you’re a good teammate or not.

At the end of the day, interviews are a bit like speed dating. You have the right to choose a job, and the job also has the right to choose you. Ultimately, there’s no right or wrong answer, its all about the fit and chemistry!

About the Author

Xavier Lo, FIA, FRM, MBA

Qualified fellow actuary (in UK and Hong Kong), Financial Risk Manager, and MBA graduate (listed on the Dean's List) with a passion for insurance, data science, and analytics. Experienced in a broad range of insurance roles (pricing, capital modelling, reserving, ERM), along with a touch of knowledge in banking. Member of the General Insurance Committee (2021), Actuarial Innovation Committee (2019 - 2021) in ASHK.

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