The Apprentice: Lessons to Learn?

Sun 07 June 2009, Category: cv writing, interview tips

And then there were 2 …. It’s the FINAL tonight!!

If you are an avid Apprentice fan then I am sure you will be tuned in tonight to watch the delights of Kate and Yasmina battle it out to become Sir Alan’s next Apprentice!

Last weeks interview sessions were by far my favourite viewing of this series. The interviewers this year were the usual - Karen Brady, MD of Birmingham City Football Club, Bordan Tkachuk, CEO of one of Sir Alan’s firms Viglen and Claude Litner, Sir Alan’s former “global trouble-shooter” – and replacing the one that has gone bankrupt (!) was Alan Watts, a city litigator. 

If you are currently looking for a job there are some basic lessons to be learnt just from last weeks show;

-          James commented that he didn’t think that he’d get to the interview stage and as such made some less than professional comments on his CV/application – which when sat in-front of a panel of interviewers made him look like a joke and let him down big style. Take your application, CV and interview seriously – yes be light hearted when it is appropriate but don’t be a fool.

-          Another one lying on their CV – have they never watched the show?? Well, actually maybe as Lee McQueen was the one hired last year after lying on his CV they thought it was a good move? Poor Lorraine could not cover her employment dates (extended by a year!) as a ‘misprint’ – you should always triple-check your CV, get someone else to check it and ensure that every part of what you have written is true and can be backed up! E-recruitment buddy have a CV Writing Service available to candidates so perhaps check out what we can offer you before you apply for jobs.

-          References; is it just me or did Debra almost delight in what her previous Manager and work colleagues said about her!? One of them claimed she is ‘'loud, obnoxious and inexperienced'. Always give a reference contact as someone who you have had a good relationship with and who isn’t about to ruin your chances of getting the job that you want.

I appreciate this is a TV show, they have to be brutal and rub the candidates up the wrong way, and of course it makes great viewing & gets us all talking. So do you think Kate will triumph to complete her as little miss perfect or will Yasmina storm through?

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