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 […]
Motivated by success
Q: In a job interview last week, I was asked ‘what motivates you?’ It really threw me. What might I have said? (John, email) A: Always think about what the interviewer is trying to achieve. There is a reason he/she asked that question, and I would venture they were trying to get a greater understanding […]
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 – […]
Bluffing at interview – not worth the risk
Q: Last week, I did a job interview for a technical role. I was asked a technical question that I felt I should have known. I attempted an answer, but, to be honest, I didn’t know what I was trying to say and they caught me out. How should I have handled that question? (HK, […]
Advice on CV length – should I go with three pages?
Q: I have pared back my CV as far as I can, but it is still almost three pages. Should I try to get it down to two? (Joe, Ballybrit, Galway) A: There are exceptions to every rule, but I would say ‘yes’, writes Patricia Maloney, Career Coach, Sli Nua Careers. As people get on […]
Referees – to add, or not to add, that is the question
Q: Should I list some referees at the end of my CV? And, if yes, how many? (Tom, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim) A: There are three schools of thoughts on this topic, writes Liam Horan, Career Coach, Sli Nua Careers. One says ‘yes.’ Another says ‘no.’ I say ‘sometimes.’ My view is that it changes from […]
Column, June 10th 2011
Q: Like many others, I worked in the construction sector for many years. I am now looking to get into sales or retail. I hear a lot of people talking about networking – but, and this might sound unusual, I don’t know where to start. Any thoughts? A: Have no fear, you’re not alone. If […]
Finding your gold-dust to reveal true value
Q. I have just finished my final exams in college and I am starting to look for work. What do I put on my CV? A: As you are starting out with little or no professional experience to detail on the CV, it is important to develop a CV that you will pitch you in […]