CVs and Interviews

What are the most common mistakes that you see candidates make at interview?

The above question was asked on linkedin – my answer is below. The funny thing is that half the answers mentioned lack of preparation. Now lack of preparation causes the mistakes at interview BUT is not actually a mistake seen at interview. Not answering the question is a major mistake at interview and here we have people offering advice who are not actually answering the question – amazing!!

You already have a range of common mistakes and will no doubt get many more. For me the most common mistakes would have to be ……….

Mistake 1 – Lack of focus during interview

This is normally caused by lack of understanding about the role you are interviewing for or inability to listen to the questions.

Mistake 2 - Inability to effectively sell “you” at interview

This is caused by lack of quantitative examples to support case or waiting to be asked for examples and “lack of focus during interview” as outlined in point one.

Mistake 3 – Not sending out the “I am interested in your role” signals

I accept the argument about coming across too desperate BUT I would rather risk falling into the “desperate camp” than falling into the “not interested camp”. You can easily communicate a strong interest without seeming desperate.

Interview Preparation & Coaching

We have launched a new CV Writing Service website www.cvsolutions.ie to meet the growing demand for out CV services. CVSOLUTIONS is a new site BUT is developed by an established CV expert Paul Mullan of Measurability.

The site is still in its infancy as it was only launched this week. Over the coming months the content will be developed further offering a wide range of free  CV Tips & Advice and Cover Letter Tips. Currently there is expert opinion on CV Layout and CV Format. You will also find CV Examples and CV Samples.

If you need a CV that stands out in the market place then visit www.cvsolutions.ie NOW!!

To compliment cvsolutions we have also launched www.interviewsolutions.ie. So we can get you the interviews and help you land the job. Again for those seeking to prepare alone will have free interview preparation tips, interview questions and interview answers. This information will help you improve your interview skills and interview techniques. 

CVSANDINTERVIEWS offering free CV TIPS & ADVICE and free INTERVIEW TIPS & ADVICE to jobseekers in Ireland.

Just a quick post to let you know about a workshop I am running in April with Jane Downes of Clearview Coaching Group. There will be separate workshops on the day – a morning session from 10-1 and an afternoon session from 2-5. The workshop wull focus on 3 key areas

Find Jobs – Efiective Job Hunting Strategies

Getting Interviews – Effective CV & Cover Letters

Getting Job Offers – Effective selling at interview

This will not be text book information normally churned out but key advice to stand out from the crowd.

If you are interested read the full details below – email paul@measurability.ie if you want more information (p.s please quote the site you read about the workshop)

The job market in Ireland has changed dramatically. There are less jobs and increased competition for them. Job hunting requires a more dynamic approach to find success.

• 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 powerful workshop is led by two of Irelands leading “on the ground” Career Experts – Jane Downes of Clearview Coaching Group & Paul Mullan of Measurability. It will enable the opportunity to access expert opinion and advice in three key areas;

• Job Search Strategies – How to access the hidden job market.
• CV’s & Cover Letters – How to market yourself & get more interviews
• Essential Interviewing Skills – How to sell yourself & get more job offers

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

Email paul@measurability.ie for additional information and to secure your place – limited to 15 participants per workshop so don’t delay book today.

Meet the Experts

Paul Mullan is founder of Measurability (www.measurability.ie) a leading Career, Outplacement and HR consultancy. Paul is a leading commentator in Ireland as career doctor for Irish Independent and CV expert for RecruitIreland. He has 15 years career coaching, recruitment, outplacement and HR experience in Ireland and UK.

Jane Downes if founder of Clearview Coaching Group (www.clearviewcoachgroup.com) and practices career and executive coaching. Jane also co – owns Irelands first Development Assessment and Coaching Centre for Emotional Intelligence – EiIreland. Jane is regularly invited to write articles for the National Press in the areas of Motivation/Performance/ Goals/Career & Interview Coaching and Work Life Balance. Jane has a Social Science Degree from U.C.D and Fas Approved Training/Facilitation Qualification (N.U.I). She is a Qualified Life & Business Coach and Career Coach Assessor (fireworkcoaching) and a licensed and qualified Emotional Intelligence Assessor (EQi).

Interview Tips – Advice about Interviews – Interviewing Support

I have come across a similar situation either side of Christmas. Two clients approached me for interview support because they were not happy with their performance at recent interviews. On investigation both had previously been quite confident and successful BUT what changed this? Both individuals had attended interviews to get some practice and improve their interview skills. Neither individual was particularly interested in the job they were interviewing for but felt the interview would improve their interviewing skills to support them when interviews arose for attractive jobs.

I have no problem with this strategy – going for a few interviews for roles that do not interest you. Many jobseekers use this approach with positive results. However if you do go this route there are a couple of things you must consider.

Treat the interview as if you really want the job. Prepare for the interview accordingly ensuring you have honed your interviewing skills. There is no benefit whatsoever turning up without preparing as you will only “crash and burn”. You will probably end up in a similar situation as my two recent interview coaching clients. You will have your confidence knocked which could impact future performance.

Accept that you more than likely will not get the job. Get your head right. Lack of success does not mean that you cannot interview. More than likely the interviewer could see through non-verbal communications that you were not interested. Interviewing will normally mean coming face to face with a trained professional who has experience weeding out uninterested applicants.

Mock interviewing is an alternative option to the above strategy. These role plays will help your interview skills and techniques and enhance your performance at interviews. Ideally you can get a friend with experience as an interviewer but if not try it all the same.

Good luck with your interviewing in 2009.

For more interview tips skills and techniques.

Just a quick note to wish all our readers a Happy 2008. Here is to landing that new job. We hope that the CV & Interview tips help. You will find more posts added shortly.

Interview Tips – Common interview mistakes

White Lies – It may be tempting but it does not work. Certainly you can gloss things up but outright lying does not pay. “If you tell the truth, you never have to remember anything.” – Mark Twain

Negativity towards current company or boss – This paints a poor picture and employers don’t like to hear it. They can trick you into taking this road. Your interview is not the time to criticise previous employers or managers

No manners – What dictates rude or manners – bit subjective. Play with caution at interview and remain professional. Remember to be polite to everyone you meet on the day.

General complaining – Again interviewer do look on this kindly. Remember your interview is a short window to sell yourself. Complaining will not support this.

Discussing work colleagues – Quite often you will be asked about previous examples of conflict, how you deal with it and how you deal with other workers. This is not an opportunity to let loose on a rampage of character assassinations. Hold back on all that built up anger until you get back to the office!!

Poor preparation – Analyse the job, the job description and your CV before interview.

Nerves – Yes it is ok to be nervous and most people are BUT some hide it better than others. There are exercises to improve confidence and proper preparation will boost this anyway. You can fake confidence.

Poor first impression – Very difficult to come back from this.

Lack of company knowledge – A definite no-no. This says I am not interested or I don’t know what I want.

Neen Interview help? Interviews & Job Interviews

Below are 10 Super Interview tips I read on another website. Take these on board and you will impress at interview says the writer. They certainly provide 10 good tips for interview but I wouldn’t say they were the 10 most important.



1. You should market your skills and experience. You must do this in a positive way, but do not be cocky or aggressive.
2. Before interview research the company. It will identify if the company is for you and let the employer see that you are interested.
3. Prepare answers for the popular interview questions before interview. Practice saying the answers out loud or role play.
4. Ensure that you dress for success.
5. Identify what questions you need to ask and bring a list of your own questions with you to interview. You should also bring a few extra CV’s.
6. Listen and focus and focus at interview. Many jobseekers talk far too much at interviews.
7. Prepare to be asked to describe your weaknesses as strengths.
8. Ensure that you make eye contact with your interviewer.
9. Never volunteer your personal views about a subject unless you are asked by the interviewer.
10. Try to establish rapport with your interviewer. BE YOURSELF!

Ensure that you take these points on board as they will enhance your performance at interview. For other tips for interview read interview tips skills. Other information includes interview questions and answers and how to handle competency based interviews.

Interview Coaching – Difficult interview questions

I regularly work with jobseekers preparing them for interviews. The most common request is about interview questions and what questions will be asked at interview. Unfortunately it is impossible to predict what questions you will be asked at interview. If you want possible questions then Google “interview questions” and you will find page after page full of possible questions. With a focused approach to preparation you should be able to answer all questions posed. This aside I have outlined some questions that do arise more frequently at interview. I have also outlined an approach to answer these questions.

What salary do you want?
Money is important but more often than not often it is not the key motivation for most jobseekers. I recommend evasion tactics when answering the above questions. Avoid answering it or answer the question with a question. Responses may include; “What would a role like this pay within your organisation?” or “My current salary is 30k and I am negotiable depending on the role and the location”. Answering the he salary question like poker and you should try to make the employer make the first move. Answering the above question may price you out of the job but worse still you could do yourself out of a few thousand euros by pitching yourself below the employers figure.

Why should we employ you?
This is not an opportunity to waffle but instead it is the client asking you to summarise how you meet the requirements of the job. The secret to successfully navigating this question requires an understanding of what the employer is looking for and how you match these requirements. Let’s not complicate this – job descriptions tell you what the employer wants. All you have to do is summarise how you meet these needs BUT add some meat to the answer by providing examples and quantitative data to back up your points.

Why do you want to work for us?
The interviewer is investigating if you have put any thought into the job hunt and if you have done any research on the organisation. Another way to look at this question is does you know what they want and does our role and company meet those needs. This is an important question and it is the interviewer trying to identify if you have a scattergun approach to job hunting. Again, proper preparation ensuring that you understanding yourself and how the client meets your needs will help master this question.

What are your weaknesses?
Possibly the most feared interview question and it stops most interviewees in their tracks. The key to answering this question is not to focus on your personal traits. The interviewer is seeking to find out if you have self awareness but more importantly if you act on potential development needs. Answering “no” to this question will not impress. A suggested reply would be something like “I continually strive to improve my presentation skills and recently joined toastmasters and volunteer to present at our monthly sales meetings”

What are your career goals?
This is often an interview filler question with no real purpose for interviewers except maybe make them look more skilled that they actually are. This aside you should answer effectively. Focus on short to medium term goals. These will vary from one jobseeker to another but a short term goal common to any jobseeker would be to secure a challenging job. I guess that is why you are at the interview.

Need interview preparation coaching? Contact Interview Coach Ireland

Interviews

Have you messed up at interview recently? Answered a question liked Homer Simpson or asked a question that filed your application under ”rejection & exit door”.

Interviews are tough BUT you can improve confidence, performance and results through proper preparation. I guess interviews are no different to most things in life. The harder you work at them the luckier you get.

If you are feeling down about a recent interview I have collected some examples of how other people opened their mouth at interview to change feet. Here are some interview disasters that will give you a laugh before the weekend and prove you were not that bad.

Interviews – Funny Interview Mistakes

* At interview an applicant was asked what their greatest job-skill. The applicant replied “I am proud of my computer illiteracy”


* At the end of the interview the interviewer asks the applicant if they had any questions about the position. The jobseeker replied – “What happens if I wake up in the morning and don’t feel like coming to work?”


* After a jobseeker arrived for an early morning interview, the jobseeker asked to use the interviewer’s phone. The jobseeker then faked a coughing fit as they phoned in sick to work.


* An employer called the jobseeker and asked them to bring several copies of their CV and 3 referees. The candidate called back an hour before the interview requesting a rescheduled interview. The jobseekers gave the excuse that their referees couldn’t were unavailable to attend the interview.


* Towards the end of the interview the interviewer asked a jobseeker to describe their dream job. “I don’t know…I haven’t had it yet.” was the reply.

If you have any good examples we would love to hear them ….

CVSANDINTERVIEWS offering expert CV Advice and Interview Preparation information to jobseekers across Ireland Armagh, Carlow, Cavan, Cork,Clare, Derry, Donegal, Fermanagh, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Westmeath, Longford, Mayo, Meath, Louth Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Tyrone, Waterford, Wexford, Wicklow, Antrim, Down, Dublin

Interview Coaching – Another Interview MISTAKE!!

If you google interview mistakes the popular mistakes will all surface including poor preparation, lack of focus during interview, lack of industry knowledge, arriving late to interview, poor interview fashion advice, bringing your mother to interview and not asking questions at interview. There is many articles on this site to help you with the above areas. One area I do not see mentioned that often in inappropriate language.

Why is it that Interview Advice rarely mentions poor language?

I guess it is because it is assumed that interviewees will have the cope on the watch their P’s and Q’s and F’s. I wonder would Gorgon Ramsey struggle at interview. My advice (everytime) is to keep control of your language as I have many examples of this derailing job hunting efforts.

What if the interviewer uses the F word during the interview?

This is not a signal for you to relax your language. In fact it could be a ploy by the interviewer to trick you into using inappropriate language. Anyway you should not be using that sort of language - what would your mother say?

So my advice is to leave the F word to Mr Ramsey!!

INTERVIEWS & CVS BLOG with loads of CV and Interview Advice for jobseekers in Ireland – Antrim, Armagh, Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Derry, Donegal, Down, Dublin, Fermanagh, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Tyrone, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow