How to close the interview with the right question

By Liam Horan, Career Coach & Managing Director, Sli Nua Careers Q: What kind of questions should I put to the interview panel when they ask me “do you have any questions for us?” at the end of the interview. This comes up all the time and I find it flummoxes me. There are questions I would […]

Business card for teacher subbing – good or bad idea? 1 February 1st 2016

This week’s question: I am a teacher looking for subbing work. I was thinking about printing a business card to hand out when I go to schools. I thought it might help me to stand out. What do you think? Liam Horan, Managing Director, Sli Nua Careers Ltd, talks to on Community Radio Castlebar, in Career […]

Are Cover letters essential?

By Liam Horan, Career Coach & Managing Director, Sli Nua Careers Q: I am applying for a job. I’ve done up my CV. Do I really need to put a cover letter in with it? And, if I do, what tips have you got? (DC, email). A: We asked three of our career coaches to give […]

Should I tell the truth about a job that just didn’t work out

This week’t topic: Q: I started work with a company two months ago. Very early in my time there, I realised the job I was being asked to do wasn’t the job I felt I had been hired for – it didn’t really use my skills (I am a computer programmer) and was very underwhelming […]

How to make best use of attending a career fair

By Liam Horan, Career Coach & Managing Director, Sli Nua Careers Q: I am attending a career fair next week and really want to know the best way to prepare as this is my first one. I want to be get the most out of it if that I can. I have heard horror stories of people […]

Life’s valuable lessons for the job seeker

By Liam Horan, Managing Director, Sli Nua Careers Q: I recently read an article on line called ‘Ten tough but valuable lessons you should learn before you are 30’. In my case, the next time I see 30 will be on a front door. I’m 42, and have had my career and business ups and […]

Do you need a cover letter with your CV?

Help the employer to employ you with a cover letter Question today: I am applying for a job. I’ve done up my CV. Do I really need to put a cover letter in with it? And, if I do, what tips have you got? (DC, email). Liam Horan, Managing Director, Sli Nua Careers Ltd, talks to […]

How to handle difficult questions about previous employment

By Liam Horan, Career Coach & Managing Director, Sli Nua Careers Q: I am aware that I should not say anything negative about a former employer in a job interview. However I quit my last job because of disagreements with my boss over certain issues with how things were done within the company. He agreed he was […]

How to have an effective CV despite job gaps

By Liam Horan, Career Coach & Managing Director, Sli Nua Careers Q: How do you build a ‘good CV’, if you have lots of gaps in your work history? I know that before selling yourself face to face in an interview situation, you must first persuade them that you’re a valid candidate. I feel with […]

Five ways you can turbo-boost your job search in 2016

By Liam Horan, Career Coach & Managing Director, Sli Nua Careers For many people, New Year means new career. That can be a little shift to the left or right, or a 180 degree pivot into something completely different. Whichever one you are contemplating, there are certain rules to be observed, as outlined here by […]