To email or not to email, that is the question
Q: When applying for jobs advertised in newspapers, where it says ‘email or post your CV and details to…’, does it make any difference which way you apply? Email is handier obviously, but I sometimes feel an email can very easily be discarded, whereas a hard copy is harder to ignore or overlook. What are […]
Research hours can pay off
Q: In a job interview last week, I was pushed quite hard by the employers on the question of what I knew about the company. The business in question is a reasonably large supplier of products to the business sector. I was surprised that they seemed to think I should know all about their product […]
Taking steps to give yourself an edge on jobs front
Q: I have just qualified as a teacher, and, like so many others, I am trying to get on the employment ladder. I realise it is a very difficult task right now, given the economic circumstances. What advice would you give me? (Teresa, email) It is very easy to get pessimistic about your chances […]
Using current failure for future success
Q: I went for two interviews for a senior position recently. I was down to the last three, and the second interview was very gruelling. Unfortunately, I got word today that I didn’t get the job. Any lessons I should take from the experience? (Louise, email) A: It’s an excellent question, and perhaps never more […]
Wisdom of years will aid trip back to the future
Q: Next week, I’m going to my first job interview in about 20 years. I have been working full-time all of that time, but recently the company closed down. I am nervous about the interview, because I really don’t know what has changed since I was last in this position. I’m 41. Any tips? (Tony, […]
Being true to yourself is key to personal profile
Q: I have been trying to ‘bump up’ my personal profile section at the start of my CV, but everything I say seems to be cheesy. How can I write it without sounding like I’m blowing my own trumpet? I work in sales and am applying for a job in a different sector where opportunities […]
6 common interview errors – and how to avoid them
Death by Monosyllables: a drama in just one word. Yes, no, and maybe are not complete answers. There are times in life when a certain brevity is a good thing, but a job or college interview is not one of those times. The onus is on you to elaborate in a way that helps the […]
7 common CV errors – and how to avoid them
1. Too much information – which sounds like a line from a sitcom, but, it is particularly true in a CV. Don’t ask the employer to wade through oceans of information. They may even decline to do so – and, even if they read it, you run the risk of the employer not seeing the […]
Column, July 1st 2011
Q: My last job didn’t end well for me. I found my boss impossible to work with and eventually I left. It has meant I have been out of work for the last four months. How should I portray this on my CV? (John, email, Tuam, Galway) A: First off, leave no hostages to fortune – […]
How to edit CVs from CV Generator
This page is a work in progress – will perhaps remove some of these steps as we tweak the CV Generator itself. How to finalise the chosen template generated from the Sli Nua Careers CV Generator [checklist] Delete heading e.g.: ‘1 – Classic Work-led CV Template’. Take note of the line which gives info like […]