Choose your referee carefully to maximise job chances
Q: I am down to the final three for a job and I think I might be about to get it because they have asked me to supply them with a reference from my recent employer apart from my current. However, I had an uneasy relationship with the managing director (MD) there and I’m afraid […]
My CV – how long should it be?
Q: I haven’t had a CV in years – not since I left school in 1989, and there’s been a lot of water under the bridge in the meantime. I threw it out years ago but I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t be a good place to start as I’ve been reading a lot about the […]
Five common errors to avoid in a job interview
Q: I am working with a group in their 30’s and 40’s who have been out of the workplace for some time, and now want to get back to work. I’m trying to prepare them for upcoming interviews, and I would appreciate a quick summary of the most common mistakes people make in a job […]
How to keep your eyes on the prize in short-term role
Q: I’ve been offered six months in a company where I would really like to build a long-term career. It is a temporary, short-term role with a September project deadline. Once the project’s over, I’ll be gone. Any tips for how I can make a name for myself and possibly stay on after the six […]
I was kept down, now I need to rise to the challenge
Q: I’m going for an interview in my own company next week. I’ve been working here for ten years and, to be honest, I have been kept down by my boss, despite my best efforts to get involved in various initiatives. She has now retired, and I fear that in the interview I will be […]
Thinking on your feet can be crucial in a job interview
Q: In a recent job interview the panel asked a scenario question: “what would you do if somebody turned up for work with a smell of drink?” I was going for a job as manager of a retail store and despite working in the sector for almost ten years, I have never encountered this type […]
What to do when you hit ‘the black ice’ in a job interview
Q: I froze in the job interview. There is no other word for it. I was going great guns until they threw a question at me that caught me off guard. I stumbled through that and knew from their reaction that it hadn’t gone well. For the rest of the interview, I was a mess. […]
Face-to-face or Zoom interview – which is better?
Q: Now that COVID-19 restrictions are fast vanishing, what would your preference be for interviews in the long If you were called for one tomorrow, would you prefer to go face-to-face in a room or take the Zoom option, if offered? I have seen some cases lately where both options were made available. As I […]
Unexpected promotion opportunity may just be too soon
Q: This might strike you as an unusual scenario. An unexpected promotional opportunity has certainly taken me by surprise. Just two months ago I started a new role and I’m only finding my feet. However, the company is expanding rapidly, and our department comprises an experienced manager and five of us who have joined the […]
Interview panel really put me through my paces
Q: I did the second interview for a company last week. The interview panel asked me to deliver a presentation on my ideas for the role. It was tricky because I don’t work in the company and the sector is complex. I gave it my best shot but was taken aback when they cross examined […]