How to strike the right tone in community work interview
Q: My friend is going for an interview in a fortnight as a community development worker with a youth organisation. The role will involve helping young people growing up in difficult circumstances to get involved in activities such as sport, drama, art, volunteering and the like. She is newly qualified in this area but hasn’t […]
Figuring out the lie of the land in SME interviews
Following on from our recent advice column written by an executive with vast experience of interviewing candidates in the public sector, we thought it might be useful to complement that with a view from the private sector. We sourced the following from a successful businessperson in the midlands. It is based on years of hard-won […]
15 tips to make a strong return to your old career
Q: I’m thinking seriously about returning to my old career. I’ve been doing something else for the last 20 years and I miss what did previously. It’s time to go back to the future, I feel. What do I need to look out for? (IK, email). A: Deciding to return to an old career requires […]
Focus on Three Key Points for a Powerful Presentation
When it comes to crafting a compelling presentation, less is often more. The key to success lies in identifying the three most crucial points you want your audience to take away. It’s not about overwhelming them with information they already possess; as the saying goes, ‘don’t tell your granny how to suck eggs.’ Many presenters […]
The Importance of Balanced Preparation for Job Interview Success
When it comes to job interviews, preparation is key. However, there’s a fine line between being well-prepared and overdoing it. Many job seekers fall into the trap of cramming all their preparation into the day before the interview, thinking it will give them an edge. In reality, this approach can do more harm than good. […]
Practice makes perfect in business pitch
Q: My company has announced a competition to find the most entrepreneurial staff member. There is a tidy cash prize, and it would be great for my career if I could win. I have a good business idea, which taps into a need I have spotted from my involvement in rallying, but I have no […]
How to navigate tricky career change challenges
Reader AF has a number of questions he would like dealt with as he is currently in the middle of a career change. “I have been in the same job for 24 years and moving on is much more daunting than I thought,” he writes. Q1: Should I wear a suit for an interview? […]
Go strong on what matters to them at interview
Q: How do I identify my strengths? I’ve an interview coming up and I don’t know where to start. (SD, email). A: There is a hole in your question. You need to identify the strengths that are relevant to the position you are chasing. Your strength of doing 100 press ups without taking a breath […]
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 […]
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 […]