By: April Etter, Talent Acquisition Specialist
Are you looking to advance your career at Percepta, but struggling to successfully get through the internal application process? Or maybe you’ve made it through applying and interviewing, but just can’t seem to land the role of your dreams? I’d like to help explain some tips and tricks for making the internal application process go more smoothly and become your ace in the hole.
First of all, a few months ago, the internal application process was enhanced to include our external application system, aka, Percepta.com or Taleo. This feature was added to allow for a more organized tracking of your career path with Percepta. Instructions can be found in any internal posting email that goes out, and these instructions should be read thoroughly before you get started with your application. You can always ask the Talent Acquisition Specialist noted in the email to help you with the application process. Please note, anyone with over 10 years of experience with Percepta may need to create a new account to get started in the application system.
Once you apply, make sure you are uploading your most current resume and your internal application form. Remember, there can be upwards of hundreds of other candidates applying depending on the internal opening, so you really want to set yourself apart by having your most up-to-date information and accurate details of your job duties. This can make all the difference in the hiring manager’s decision. And don’t be afraid to use spell check or download Grammarly to make sure you have a well-presented resume. Ensure you add a working email to your application or preferably your work email (no pun intended) so that we can easily get in touch with you.
Finally, don’t be afraid to follow up with the Talent Acquisition Specialist within 24-48 hours if you have not had a response. As I mentioned, there can be upwards of hundreds of other candidates applying, and we want to give everyone the opportunity to move through the process, but it can be hard to get to everyone at once.
We want to see you succeed as much as you do, but make sure you have the minimum qualifications for the role before you apply. This will save you and the Talent Acquisition Specialist a lot of time.
Now, what if you’re a master of the internal application process and you just keep failing the internal interviews? Did you know that Percepta does behavioral-based interviewing or the STAR method? At Percepta, we strive to ensure we provide a fair and standardized interview process that ensures everyone has an equal chance at success.
The interview portion will include behavioral questions, which will ask for examples from your professional and/or scholastic background. At Percepta, we use the STAR Method to approach these questions and scoring:
Situation/ Task – Describe the situation or task you encountered
Action – Actions taken to overcome the problem-What role did you play in the situation?
Result – How was the problem resolved? If It didn’t end well, what did you learn?
We will be listening for your logic, critical thinking, and problem-solving as well as how your personal values align with Percepta’s values and culture.
I always recommend people Google behavior-based interview questions or go on YouTube to find examples of what could be asked in your interview. You have some great Percepta customer experiences that you can draw from, so just pull from them, and have a great little conversation about how you made a difference.
Here are a few other tips that may help you:
- Nail the dress code; professional dress is a must!
- Arrive to the interview early (5 minutes early at the latest)
- Come prepared: Do your homework on the company, values, the position, and your interviewer
- Ensure you have read the job description and are familiar with all the acronyms and jargon
- Do your research on how to prepare and answer behavioral questions
- Stay upbeat, and positive, and don’t forget to smile!
- Language and posture are everything: Speak and act like you want the job
- Take time to think about the questions you have so that you can learn firsthand what it’s like working in the role
We love to promote from within here at Percepta, especially for our leadership roles. Don’t be afraid to make the leap and showcase your accomplishments so that you can continue to add value to the team!