Careers and Jobs

INTERVIEW TECHNIQUES – navigate that final hurdle!!

With fewer jobs in the market and increased competition for those jobs it is essential that jobseekers enhance their skills when targeting job hunting. There are a number of important areas to address

Job Search Strategies – Jobseekers must change to focus away from traditional methods using more proactive approaches to access the hidden job market. This revolves around networking in the real world and online.

CV Writing – It is a fact that most CV’s fall below acceptable standard. Review your CV and ensuring that you have focused CONTENT, have put some thought into INFORMATION POSITIONING and ensure that VISUAL APPEARANCE is appealing.

Interview Techniques – Last but certainly not least are interviews. Most jobseekers fear interviews BUT proper preparation will enhance performance and increase confidence. If you are struggling with your preparation seek out the advice of a professional. Alternatively there are some useful tips at interview techniques.

Measurability is a leading Career Consultancy offer expert interview support for jobseekers. Paul Mullan is a leading Interview expert with well over a decade experience working with jobseekers. He offers a comprehensive interview coaching service fine tuning your interview techniques and interview skills enhancing performance and results at interview.

Lack of interview preparation and interview nerves are a thing of the past due to the launch of new Interview Coaching website www.interviewsolutions.ie. The new site was established by Paul Mullan founder of Measurability. Measurability is a Career, Outplacement and HR consultancy so the new site is an extension of the existing business.

Interview Solutions will tailor interview preparation programmes to suit individual requirements. It will help jobseekers with “what to say” and “how to say it” at interviews.

Paul and his team have vast experience in HR, Recruitment & Selection and Interviewing. Measurability is established as one of the leading Career & Outplacement consultancies in Ireland working with a wide range of private and corporate clients delivering exceptional results.

To find out more information visit Interview Coaching.

Interviewsolutions will also be developed to offer free advice for jobseekers who want to prepare on a budget. There are many interview preparation tips, interview questions and interview answers. This information will help your interview skills and interview techniques.

Must attend workshop for anyone out of work or changing career. This workshop will focus on essential advice to stand out in a tough job market. There will be 3 key areas of focus –

Job Search Strategies
CV & Cover Letter
Interview Skills

Workshop & Booking Details

Date: Sat 25th April 2009
Venue: Bewleys Hotel Dublin Airport
Address Baskin Lane Cloghran, Dublin
Workshops: 2 separate workshops – morning and afternoon
Time: 10.00 – 1.00pm & 2.00pm – 5.00pm
Cost: €120

If you would like more information or to book a place please email paul@measurability.ie.

This workshop will be run by two of Irelands leading Career Experts – Paul Mullan & Jane Downes – both of which have successful career businesses and regularly comment across national radio and papers on a number of career related topics.

• Are you struggling to find suitable jobs?
• Are you struggling to get called for interview?
• Are you struggling to convert interviews into job offers?

This workshop will give you the tools to change your results – it is insightful and invaluable to all jobseekers whether out of work or changing careers.

Contact Measurability for Career Coaching, Interview Coaching & CV Writing. Paul Mullan is a leading Interview Coach, Career Coach and CV Expert.

It never rains but it pours.

I have offered interview coaching for all types of interviews. Traditional interviews, competency interviews or behavioural interviews, panel interviews and situational interviews BUT over the last few weeks I have been inundated with requests for phone interview coaching. This could be coincidence but I do have a funny feeling that the number of job applicants for positions is increasing and recruiters are re-introducing the phone interview as an initial screening tools.

If you have a phone interview coming up here are some tips to help.

BEFORE INTERVIEW

Phone a friend – Practice a live interview with family of friends and get feedback. Try to identify bad traits. Also ensure that you speak slowly, clearly and in a polite manner.

DURING INTERVIEW

Relax during interview – most jobseekers find phone interviews easier as they can hide nerves. As with face to face interviews it is essential to relax.

Be yourself – Sell yourself BUT don’t try to be someone you are not.

Professional – Turn off any background noises like the TV and remember that it is an interview. I have known some jobseekers to dress up as they would for a normal interview to get them in the mood. Answer the phone “Good morning, Brian speaking”.

Enthusiasm – The difficulty with phone interviews is that they take away body language so you must portray enthusiasm with you voice and tone. Remember to smile before you pick up the phone.

For more interview and cv advice.

I guess to purpose of this post is to highlight that interviews can be more complex and varied than you may think. For this reason it is essential that you prepare properly and that you get as much information about the interview process as possible. This information combined with preparation will help improve your confidence and your performance which will increase your interview to job offer ratio.

Different types of Interviews – There are a wide variety of possible interview scenarios that you can face when notified that you have been called for interview. Some of these types of interview include:

Traditional Interviews
Competency / Behavioural Interviews
Panel Interviews
Phone Interviews

Different types of Assessments – To confuse things more many organisations are combining interviews with objective assessments in the form of psychometric testing and assessment. Some of these include:

Personality Questionnaires
Ability Tests
Aptitude Tests
Skills Tests
Assessment Centres

Different types of interviewer and interviewer styles – Finally you can face different types of interviewers who use a different style. It will help you to understand these different styles but more importantly have a strategy to cope with the different styles. Six of the possible interview styles include:

Absentee Interviewer
Inquisitor Interviewer
Buddy Interviewer
Laser Beam Interviewer
Shotgun Interviewer
Silver Bullet Interviewer

In later posts we will provide information on the above interviews, assessments, interviewer styles and more importantly how you can prepare. If you would like more information about the different types of interviewers visit this post.

Need help with competency based interviews ?

Need an Executive Coach?

There is much information online about how to prepare for interviews. Particular focus is on how to handle difficult interview questions or how to handle competency interviews. There isn’t much focus on phone interviews and how to prepare. Below is some information on phone interview preparation and advice.

What is a phone interview?

It is what it says on the tin. A phone interview is a screening interview carried out over the phone. Organisations will normally use this screening method when there are geography issues with recruiter and applicant or in situations where there are high volumes of applications and this acts as an initial sifting tool.

Are they easy or hard?

It depends on the individual. Personally I prefer face to face interviews but there are many applicants who prefer the phone interview as they feel more relaxed. Communication your message over the phone is more difficult as body langage is removed from the equation

How to prepare for a phone interview?

Your preparation should be similar to that of a face to face interview. Put in as much effort as I have know phone interviews to be as detailed and as long as a face to face interview. They are normally less detailed though with the client focusing on the key selection criteria. Prepare the normal topics – identify what the clients is looking for, identify how you meet these needs with appropriate examples, know your CV, know about the employer and industry and be clear why you want the job.

Phone interview tips

1. Ensure that you are in a location where you will not be disturbed.

2. Have your CV in front of you during the interview.

3. SMILE before you pick up the phone!!

The above information was provided by an Irish Career Coach & Interview Coach servicing clients in across Leinster (Meath, Dublin, Louth, Wicklow & Kildare)

Ireland has a buoyant job market but I still come across many jobseekers who struggle to find work. This site provides key information about finding a job and developing a career in Ireland. There is a range of information about careers, CV’s, interviews and much more.

Below I have outlined a variety of resources to help you find work in Ireland.

Recruitment Agencies – The who’s who and what skills they recruit for.

Irish Job Boards – Online jobsites that advertise jobs in Ireland.

Public Sector employers – A comprehensive list of Public Sector employers

Financial Service Employers – List of companies in IFSC – article 1 & 2

50 Great places to work in Ireland.

ABC Employers – This is a list of companies beginning with A, B & C. This list is useful for speculative applications. Please see list of companies below.

Professional Job hunting services – Career Coaching, CV writing & Interview Coaching

Good Luck!!

Interviews can be tough enough to get so when you do get an important interview prepare yourself to ensure maximum performance. Fail to prepare and prepare to fail. This post outlines a few things to avoid at interview

Arriving late

I arrived late for an interview once BUT I was the interviewer. If you arrive late for an interview kiss the job goodbye. I know in Ireland we have very unpredictable traffic and transport systems. Leave yourself plenty of time. I recommend that you leave early and when you arrive get a coffee and read the paper. You never know you might read some important information for your interview.

Wrong names

I am very bad with names BUT there are techniques to improve this area. There is one sure way to make the wrong impression and that is calling an interviewer by the wrong name. Memorise names before the interview. If you come across new people at the interview you can repeat the names to yourself or when you talk to the individual state the name.

Having nothing to say

This is really down to preparation. If you prepare properly you will have plenty to say at interview.

Being too modest

This is quite common through the job search process. Most jobseekers undersell themselves on their CV and at interview. You get one shot at an interview so ensure that you make an impact. At interview don’t wait to be asked for your achievements. Offer them to support your interview answers.

Lack of enthusiasm

Some jobseekers use this as a strategy to place themselves more favorably when it comes to salary negotiations. The “I don’t need you – you need me strategy”. Be careful with this as you could lose an important job. Enthusiasm is essential at interview. If you want the job ensure that you have energy at interview.

Do you need interview preparation support? Interview coaching in Dublin, Meath, Louth, Kildare

“Is Career Coaching or Interview Coaching worth the money?”

Many jobseekers ask this question when they set out on their job hunting journey. It is the million dollar question and this question can be asked about any service though.

Is a mechanic worth the money?
Is a barber worth the money?

Services are worth the money when you get a good service for the money paid. Career Coaching and Interview Coaching is no different.

A good coach can help you achieve your career goal. You have to ask yourself if this is worth paying for. If you do the research and choose a coach as you would any other service. Need a coach in the Dublin, Meath, Louth, Kildare or North Wicklow?