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- Closing the Deal -
uh oh... the company wants me to prepare a
​presentation aka "The SIM"

by fergus mellon

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I may be a weirdo here, but I actually enjoy the part of the interview process where I have to prepare an exercise to show that I have the right skills for a job.  This is what a Simulation or SIM is.  I think of the SIM as a way of sharing my ideas with the company ahead of joining and also seeing if the people I would be working for are receptive to my ideas.

This is how I would recommend you approach the SIM.  Spend as much time as you humanly can on it.  If you have a weekend to work on the SIM, then spend the weekend really making it the absolute best that it can be.  If you have questions that come up along the way and you have a contact email for someone to help answer the questions, ask them!  Don't bombard the person with 20 emails as you will seem like someone who cannot think for themselves.  Instead one or two well thought through questions will showcase your brain, enthusiasm for the project as well as the fact you can also be self-sufficient and think for yourself.

One don't.  Don't assume that because you put a lot of work into the SIM that you should get the job.  I had one candidate who did a great SIM, but who was not a good cultural fit for the role.  Instead of being mature about the decision not to employ her, she instead referenced all the work she put into it (the SIM should have taken just 2.5 hours).  Instead of making me feel like I had made a mistake in not hiring her, it made me relieved that I had not!

If you get a SIM, then think of yourself as lucky.  It means you are joining a company that has put a great deal of thought into the application and selection process and so is a place that values its people.  Lucky you!

Next section: Uh oh, I have to go on interview with other applicants... or head back to The Interview Overview

====
Visiting these pages because you've been to a number of interviews and not yet got a job?  Don't worry. Or if you're worrying know that it's common for a job search to take months and not days.  Here are some related columns on keeping motivated and dealing with the stress of it all: 
​

Keeping Positive During Your Job Search
Dealing With Rejection and Feedback
Overwhelmed? Try a Mental Refresh


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In the first 5 or so years of your career?  Want actionable career advice? Buy Early Stage Professional: starting off right, the no nonsense professional skills book designed so that everyone can succeed in the workplace! 

Got feedback?  Send it to fergus@whattheferg.com

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Must Do's

Resume
The Application Letter 
​
The Free Conundrum: Should You Take an Unpaid Internship?

Groundwork

Informational Interviews 
Taking a Shortcut: Using Your Network 
Dealing with a Low GPA
​
Responding to Recruiters

Dealing with Rejection

You Don't Get the Job: Getting Feedback
​Keeping Motivated Through the Search

Closing the Deal & Signing On

The Job Interview
Interview Questions
Questions You Should Ask
Simulations 
Interviews with Other Applicants
Dealing with References
Negotiating Your Salary
How to Resign (if you already have a job)
​
The First Week

Wise Words

Annual Reviews
Layoffs.  The Afterlife
Your Manager As Partner
Owning Mistakes

Crushing IT

Money

Library

WISE WORDS

Bureaucracy

Copyright © 2016 - 2020
  • Home
  • Getting a job
    • Must Do's - Resume
    • Must Do's - Application Letter
    • Must Do's - Internships
    • Groundwork - Informational Interviews
    • Groundwork - Your Network
    • Groundwork - GPA Issues
    • Groundwork - Recruiters
    • Dealing with Rejection - Feedback
    • Dealing with Rejection - Keeping Motivated
    • Closing the Deal - The Interview
    • Closing the Deal - Interview Q's
    • Closing the Deal - Your Questions
    • Closing the Deal - Simulations
    • Closing the Deal - Group Interviews
    • Closing the Deal - References
    • Signing On - Salary Negotiation
    • Signing On - How to Resign
    • Signing On - First Week
  • Crushing It
    • The Hours - What Time Should I Start
    • The Hours - What If I Am Running Late?
    • The Hours - Taking Vacation
    • The Hours - Sick Days
    • The Hours - Working Outside Office Hours
    • Professional Skills - One/Ones
    • Professional Skills- Making Meetings on Time
    • Professional Skills - Business Presentations
    • Professional Skills - Social Media, Personal Email
    • A Level Head - Feeling @ Home
    • A Level Head - Be YourProfessionalSelf
    • A Level Head- Staying Positive
  • Wise Words
    • Achieve - Focus on the Results
    • Achieve - Leading from the Start
    • Achieve - Showcase Your Work
    • Achieve - Small is BIG
    • Achieve - Take Action
    • Achieve - Your New Job. A Plan
    • Career Management - Annual Review
    • Career Management - Annual Review Feedback Meeting
    • Career Management - Annual Review: How to Guide
    • Career Management - Career Contentment
    • Career Management - Careers Happen
    • Career Management - Career Journey
    • Career Management - Choosing a Mentor
    • Career Management - Discomfort Is Good
    • Career Management - Freelancing and Employment Gaps
    • Career Management - Mentally Healthy Choices
    • Career Management - Mentorship Explained
    • Career Management - Post Graduate Degrees
    • Career Management - Promotion Frustration
    • Career Management - Promotions. Move out to move up
    • Career Management - Selecting Your Company
    • Career Management - Understand Yourself
    • Finances - Preparing for a Downturn
    • Finances - Retirement Saving (1)
    • Finances - Retirement Saving (2)
    • Hindsight - Balance the Short- with Long -term
    • Hindsight - Embrace Learning & Your Manager
    • Hindsight - Focus at Work
    • Hindsight - Millennial Reflections
    • Hindsight - Regrets: Time, Money & Pride
    • Hindsight - Take a Career Mulligan
    • Hindsight - Take Advice Sparingly
    • Hindsight - Transition from College
    • Hindsight - Winning Nicely
    • Hindsight - Work Hard. Be Honest. Have Fun
    • Managing Up - Manager as Partner
    • Managing Up - Manage Up to Move Up
    • Managing Up - Mastering Your Manager
    • Managing Up - New Manager
    • Managing Up - Questions For Your Manager
    • Managing Up - Secret Skills of Managing Up
    • Managing Up - Yes Power
    • People & Teamwork - Be a Giver
    • People & Teamwork - First Time Manager
    • People & Teamwork - LinkedIn as Networking
    • People & Teamwork - Networking Hacks
    • People & Teamwork - Networking as Relationship
    • People & Teamwork - Networking Simplified
    • People & Teamwork - Reputations Travel
    • People & Teamwork - Teamwork as Leadership
    • Sliding Doors - Decision Paths
    • Sliding Doors - Success Requires Luck
    • Speed Bumps - Chutes & Ladders
    • Speed Bumps - Layoffs & Survivors Guilt
    • Speed Bumps - Laid Off? Take a Breath
    • Speed Bumps - Layoffs. The After Life
    • Speed Bumps - Owning Mistakes
    • Work Life - American Work Culture
    • Work Life - Ask Why
    • Work Life - Be Yourself. Be Genuine
    • Work Life - Browned Out?
    • Work Life - Business Travel Guide
    • Work Life - Calendar Management
    • Work Life - Change is Certain
    • Work Life - Difficult Situations
    • Worklife - Focus on Fiyah
    • Work Life - Ghosting
    • Work Life - Help the Early Stage Professionals
    • Work Life- International Remote Working
    • Work Life - In the Zoom
    • Work Life - Mom Skills
    • Work Life - Office As A Stage
    • Work Life - Office Ghouls
    • Work Life - Pre Vacation Checklist
    • Work Life - Returning to Work
    • Work Life - Smartphones & The Office
    • Work Life - Speak Up
    • Work Life - Stage Fright
    • Work Life - Startup Glamour
    • Work Life - Stress Management
    • Work Life - Take A Walk
    • Work Life - Tasks We Hate
    • Work Life - They Quit
    • Work Life - Unlimited Vacation
    • Worklife - Vacation Overview
    • Work Life - Welcome the Newbies
    • Work Life - "Work" From Home
  • Money
    • Money - The Basics
    • Money - Saving for Retirement
    • Money - Retirement Saving
  • Library
    • Book Reviews
    • Webinar Hub
    • USA Today Columns
    • Buy Early Stage Professional
    • Bureaucracy
  • Help Center
    • Annual Reviews
    • Career Speed Bumps
    • Managing Up
    • Promotions & Career Planning
    • Stress Management