Don’t let questions throw you off the trail
In a job interview, it is important not to get rattled by the questions. The questions are only a means to an end. They are invitations to talk about something you know about. Yes, you must answer all questions, but you can do much more than that. Think of the question as the by-road you […]
Bluffing is not the way to go
Q: If I get asked a difficult question, and I can’t think of the answer on the spot, or if I never knew it in the first place, how should I approach answering it? (DC, email). A: The initial temptation might be to bluff your answer. And many candidates have bravely gone down this route […]
Multiple interviewers – who do I address?
Q: I will be interviewed by multiple interviewers at once. Who should I look at when answering questions? (EC, email). A: A big interview panel throwing questions at you can feel like having four prosecutors on your case – no wonder people get nervous and uptight, writes Patricia Maloney, Career Coach, Sli Nua Careers. Address […]
Newly qualified teachers, get that job – free interview training
Useful tips for job interviews in our FREE interview training webinar on Thursday, July 25, at 12noon (Irish time). 45 minutes duration. Join HERE
In the heel of the hunt, convince them
Q: I have been headhunted for a position. It came completely out of the blue. I wasn’t that keen on it when they first approached me and was even a bit resentful that they managed to destabilise me in my current position. That said, it’s a very good job and it’s beginning to grow on […]
Knowing what they would like you to know
Q: I’m going for an interview next week. A friend who went for one there before said they asked her lots of questions about the company to check if she was fully familiar with what they do. It’s a marketing job in the hospitality sector and I’m just wondering what kind of questions they might […]
Get the best out of the candidate
I was interested in the collaborative interview style you recommended last week. Could you give me some more details on how this might play out? How might I, as an interviewer, conduct this kind of interview? My business is a tourism one and I am about to interview for a marketing manager to lead a […]
Take the pressure off and find the right candidate
A recruiter recently asked me which type of interview should be conducted to get the best out of candidates. My answer was that I wouldn’t slavishly follow any one style, but that I believe all interviews would ideally include a strong collaborative dimension. There are a number of definitions of the collaborative interview, and, by […]
Robotic approach can switch panel off
In any business contract, there are terms and conditions. Often overlooked or misunderstood are terms of endearment. Do they actually like doing business with you? The same applies in a job interview. While you needn’t bend and twist to suit their will, you should make every effort to present yourself as somebody they can get […]
Singing the right song even on home ground
Q: I went for a job interview in my own company last week and, to be honest, I found it hard to get out of the blocks. The problem was that the people interviewing me have been my supervisor and manager for a long time. We get on grand. When I went in, stat down […]