Cracking the overseas code
Q: I’m trying to start working in the USA. Now, I’m not a spring chicken student going over there for a summer or to hang around illegally for a few years. I’m 37, married with a young daughter, and my wife and I both want to move lock, stock and barrel. I work in a […]
Self-employment can work for others too
Q: I was self-employed for the last 15 years. Recently, the economic downturn has laid me low: I went the full 15 rounds since the recession hit, but I was facing a formidable foe. Now I am writing my CV and I’m not sure how I should depict this period of my life. I hear […]
Six questions to ask the panel – our weekly column from various Irish newspapers
In job interviews, it is good to show interest – and one of the best ways of doing this is to ask questions. The person who asks questions is making a genuine effort to get to know more. Interview candidates sometimes labour under the illusion that to ask questions is to show weakness or ignorance. […]
Should I stay or should I go?
Q: I’ve just recently joined a new company – just two months ago, in fact. I’m really enjoying it though I’m only learning the ropes. There are five in our section, plus the manager. The others are more experienced than me, and have a better understanding of the culture of the company, but I’ve got […]
Telling it straight is the best policy – our weekly column from various newspapers around Ireland
Q: I’m in a bit of a pickle. I’ve been called for an interview for a maternity leave post that I’ve a good chance of getting – I’ve worked for this insurance company before and got on well. The only problem is that smack bang in the middle of it all I’m scheduled to go […]
Hobbies can be more than just fun – our weekly column in various Irish newspapers
Q: Are they really interested in my hobbies? I’m involved in my local rugby club – coach an under-age team, do some fund-raising and chairman of the committee that built the new clubhouse. I had it on my CV but I took it off again because I thought it looked irrelevant. Was I right? (DT, […]
Navigating choppy waters of contract negotiation
Q: I’ve got the job, and the contract has come in the post. It’s about 90 per cent of what I would want it to be, but I feel the role description is too broad. I know from working in this sector that nobody could fulfil everything they are looking for in the spec. My […]
Late query threw me off my stride – our weekly careers newspaper column
Q: They asked me at the end if I had any questions for them. I couldn’t think of any. The interview had gone well but I came out feeling I had missed a trick at the end. Did I? I haven’t heard yet if I got the job. Fingers crossed. (KM, email) A: You say […]
CV snap is a personal choice – our weekly careers column from various Irish newspapers
Q: Should I put my photo on my CV? (ST, email) A: We asked this very question on Facebook recently. Well, in point of fact, we asked ‘do you have your own photo on your CV?’ Quick as lightening, a woman replied: “No, I have Angelina Jolie’s on mine.” Game, set and match – we […]
Showing the knowledge in all circumstances. Our weekly column from various Irish newspapers
Q: I’ve always heard that you should impress the interviewers with your level of knowledge about the company. But how can you do that if they don’t ask the right question? Will it not look contrived? (MK, email). A: The whole interview scenario has an element of contrivance about it. You must first of all […]