by Niall Murray | Jun 4, 2015 | Career and Interview Advice, Interviewing
At the end of a job interview the interviewer will usually give you the opportunity to ask them a question. It is tempting to say that you have nothing you would like to ask and rush out of there relieved to have survived the experience. If you do this, however, you will be missing out on an opportunity to impress the interviewer. Asking a question isn’t necessarily about finding something out. It is really a chance to display your understanding of the company and your level of insight into their operations. Questions can follow several tracks; you can ask about the industry and the company’s position in the market; you can ask about the expectations for the role you are applying for, or you can ask about the working environment. Examples of these types of questions would be: How would you define success for this job? What challenges would I face in the first 3 months? What is the working environment like? Are there opportunities for promotion in this role in the future? How would you describe the company’s culture? What kind of job development and support do you provide? There are many suitable questions you can ask. The point is to show that you have given the job real consideration, that you already have a good idea of what the opportunity entails, and the question is simply to provide you with another small insight into the company. There are certain questions you should never ask under any circumstances. How much does this job pay? How many days holidays do I get? How big is the office? Questions that give the impression that you are in it for yourself, that what you can get from the job is more important to you than what you can contribute to the company, make a terrible impression. An inappropriate question can ruin your chances at getting the job. If you cannot think of a question to ask, simply take the opportunity to reiterate how much you want the job and how well suited you feel you are for it. This is much better than simply saying you have no questions and then leaving. This question is usually asked at the end of an interview. The answer you give will be the final impression of you they take from the interview so do your utmost to finish on a positive note. Niall Murray General Manager Collins McNicholas Recruitment & HR Services...Read More
by Michelle Murphy | May 14, 2015 | Body Language, Career and Interview Advice, Interviewing
Making an Entrance The interview begins the second you are on the company’s premises. You don’t know who could be in the car park with you, looking at you from a window or walking up the stairs next to you. Your body language should tell anyone who might be watching that you’re confident and calm. It’s not the time to be frantically searching through your portfolio for documents or sprinting up stairs. First Impressions Hiring managers often ask receptionists for their take on people who come to the office for interviews, so again appear calm and confident. Greet the receptionist in a friendly yet professional manner, knowing the full name of who you are meeting. While waiting, don’t hunch your shoulders or tuck your chin into your chest, which will make you seem closed off. Sit with your back straight and your chest open — signs that you’re confident and assertive. But don’t take this to the extreme elongating your legs or throwing your arm across the back of the chair which can make you appear too comfortable, even arrogant. Don’t have too much stuff with you so that you’re clumsily moving everything aside when you’re called. You want to rise gracefully, without dropping things, so you can smoothly greet the person coming to get you. No Wet Fishes Please Job interviews mean handshakes — so what are the secrets to the perfect handshake? Well nobody wants to be greeted by a limp, wet, handshake that feels like you are holding a fish, so keep your palms exposed when waiting in reception and practice a firm handshake with a friend...Read More
by admin | Feb 17, 2015 | Career and Interview Advice, Interviewing
The most important thing an interviewer is looking for in your answer is evidence that you have given some thought to your career and where you would like it to go. They will also be interested in finding out how important a part of the picture their company is in your plan. To answer this question, begin by outlining your desired career path. Start with the job you are applying for, it is important you do not overlook this job, it should be central to your answer. If a company feels you are not going to be committed to this job they will not hire you, no matter where you see yourself in 5 years. Depending on the job and the company there may be a defined career path within the organisation. If there is you can use this as your template. Research the company before the interview. Use LinkedIn to see how people in the company progress, look at the organisational chart and other company information to better understand the opportunities you will have in the company. The job you are applying for should be a central part of your 5 year plan. Identify clearly what you can learn from the role, the skills you hope to develop, and the accomplishments you expect to achieve. Do not discuss your 5 year plan in terms of how many promotions you hope to get, and how much more money you expect to be earning. This is not what the interviewer is hoping to hear. It should be about personal development and how you can contribute to a company or industry....Read More
by admin | Feb 5, 2015 | Career and Interview Advice, Interviewing
Whenever we sit down with job candidates to discuss how they got on during a job interview with a client, they often say that the interview went well…except for one or two difficult questions that they didn’t know how to answer. Starting today we will begin a blog series that deals with some of the toughest interview questions you will face, and show you how to answer them effectively. Each week we will examine a different interview question and demonstrate the key points to remember in delivering your best answer. First up, perhaps the most feared question job candidates face… What is your biggest weakness? For many jobseekers, this is one of the toughest interview questions they will be asked. Everyone has some aspect of their skillset that needs improving and admitting that there is a certain area that you need to develop will not disqualify you from getting the job. However, you must tread carefully in the way you answer this question as there are certain types of answers that employers will find off-putting. Here are a few things to keep in mind. Tell the truth. The weakness must be real, but at the same time it must not be related to a skill that is fundamental to the job. Cite a genuine weakness but make sure that it refers to a non-essential skill in terms of the job you are applying for. The weakness should be relatively minor and fixable. Explain how you have taken steps to improve this weakness, whether you have completed a short course through work, or taken some other steps to overcome it....Read More
by Niall Murray | Dec 17, 2013 | Career and Interview Advice, General Interest, Graduate, Interviewing, Recruitment
Employers receive a huge amount of CV’s for each job advertised. The CV is not what gets you the job; it’s what gets you the interview. You want to be short listed for interview for that job so here are a few tips on how to make your CV stand out from the crowd! • Use it as a Sales Tool – Your CV is an opportunity to sell yourself on what makes you the right person for the job. Be sure to include a profile about yourself at the start with your key attributes as this will give the recruiter a feel for what you can bring to the role before they have even met you. • Early Impact – It is critical to garner early impact as you want to hold the employer’s attention so they read through to the end of your CV. They begin scanning CVs and only those which grab their attention will be reviewed more closely. However don’t waffle – use hard facts, evidence and achievements to sell yourself. • Be clear, concise and structured – Your CV should be no longer than 2-3 pages. It is not an essay and should be well structured into sections with bullet points for your duties under each job. When writing about your experience or education, put the most recent experience first. As this is a professional document don’t use unconventional fonts or colours and remove boxed and shading as this won’t make your CV stand out for the right reasons. • Remove all unnecessary information – Avoid putting in the words “Curriculum Vitae” at the top of your CV. ...Read More
by Niall Murray | Dec 2, 2013 | Career and Interview Advice, General Interest, Interviewing, Recruitment
After getting through the CV and Cover Letter stage you’ve now got many things to contemplate in preparation for your interview. Make sure Body Language in the interview is top of your list. You may not know it, but you will instantly be sending out signals from the moment you meet the interviewers and Hiring Manager, so it’s essential you keep your body language in mind! The following tips will help to make your interview performance more effective. Arrive early and relax as much as you can in advance of the interview. Make sure you get your entrance right – when introduced to the interviewer greet them with a firm handshake. Ensure to be aware of your facial expressions, posture and timing right from the off. This is vital to start the interview positively. Use the first 90 seconds to impress – needless to say – dress appropriately! When offered a chair at interview, never lean back into the chair. Sit up comfortably so you look alert and attentive. Don’t invade the interviewer’s personal space, relax into your seat, smile and sit comfortably. If you have brought anything to the interview don’t put it up on the table or on your knees, this can be distracting. Try not to touch your face or hair in the interview, this is a clear sign of being nervous and unsure. This doesn’t mean hide your hands though, it’s quite positive to use gestures, it’s expressive of your personality, but don’t go over the top. In preparation for your interview practice entering a room, putting your belongings down and practicing your introduction. Eye...Read More
