Make them want to bite your hand off
A big challenge when preparing for job interviews is to first of all identify your real skills and strengths – and then to portray those properly on the day, writes Sean Browne, Career Coach, Sli Nua Careers. And the irony is that you may not fully recognise what you have to offer until you stop […]
Forbidding form the only option
Q: I’m about to get stuck into a huge application form for a job in a local authority. I feel like just sending in my CV instead and seeing how that goes. What do you think? Are they likely to be strict about using their standard application forms? I feel that my CV sells me better. (CD, email). A: In […]
Closing summary can make the right impact
Q: At the end of the interview, they asked me if I had anything I would like to add to what I had already said. It threw me, and mumbled ‘no’. At that stage, I had given a lot of myself and felt I had nothing left to say. Any suggestions? (IK, email). A: I […]
Singing the right song even on home ground
Q: I went for a job interview in my own company last week and, to be honest, I found it hard to get out of the blocks. The problem was that the people interviewing me have been my supervisor and manager for a long time. We get on grand. When I went in, stat down […]
How to prepare for the questions you fear
So, you’re preparing for interview: do you know the questions you really don’t want to be asked? Have a short – well, hopefully short – list of questions that would rattle you if they came up and you weren’t prepared, writes Stephanie MacKinnon, Career Coach, Sli Nua Careers. There’s no point burying your head in […]
Ten job interview tips to give you a better chance
Everyone is looking for the edge. How can you get it? Here are ten interview tips that should improve your chances of making a positive impression, writes Liam Horan, Career Coach, Sli Nua Careers. Try to find out who’s on the interview panel. The organisation may well volunteer this: if not, you can make a […]
Statement of interest should fit the bill
Q: My daughter has been asked to write a statement of interest for a job but she has no clue what it should contain, and neither have I. The job is a community development role in a remote location in the UK. What might she even think about putting into this? Is this not just […]
Eight reasons why a short course can be a winner
Q: I want to improve my skills with a view to advancing in my career. I have looked at a few courses on sites such as Alison.com and Udemy.com, and they look good, but they don’t seem to have great accreditation. Should I bother with them? SC, email. A: It’s horses for courses (boom, boom), […]
Bringing the write stuff
Q: They haven’t asked for a presentation, and, when I checked it out, they said there wouldn’t be a projector available on the day. But I’m a woman who likes to put stuff in writing. What should I do? (DG, email). A: Sometimes employers are reluctant to allow one candidate do something that others weren’t […]
How to overcome anxiety as you start a new job
Q: I’m about to start a new job and now feel unsure if it’s right for me. I’m feeling very anxious. What should I do? (AM, email). A: Congratulations on your new opportunity, AM. Starting a new job provides a new challenge which may take you out of your comfort zone, writes Petrina Mitchell, Career […]