CV 4 Jobs

There is no problem finding examples of interview questions on the internet. I have outlined a number of common interview questions to help you prepare for your next important interview. Over the coming weeks I will be telling you how to answer these questions. The secret to interview success is a combination of things BUT interview questions plays an important part.

Tell me about yourself?
Tell me what you know about this company?
Why did you apply for this job?
Why should we hire you?
What makes you different from other applicants?
What previous experience do you have relevant to this role?
How do you work under pressure?
How do you react to criticism?
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
How do you cope with failure?
Do you prefer teams or working on your own?
What has been the biggest disappointment in your career to date?
What annoys or upsets you?
How would your fellow workers describe you?
How would a previous boss describe you?
What would you hope to achieve in the first year of this job?
Where do you want to be in five years?
What is the next important step in your career?
Why did you choose the qualification you did?
What other positions or types of companies are you considering?
What is your greatest achievement in your career to date?
Describe what you would do in your first week in the job?
Why are you leaving your current position?
Why do you want to work for us?
Tell me what you know about this position?
What are your salary expectations?
When are you available to commence employment?
Tell me about your interests and hobbies?
Describe yourself to me?
What questions do you have?

Need help with interview preparation – why not talk to an expert.

Many jobseekers fail to land dream jobs because they don’t catch the eye of the reader before their application details are filed in the bin. You have a 10-30 second window to make an impact. I have read thousands Cover Letters and to be honest I would have more fun reading a law journal. Cover Letters play an important part in the job hunting process so. They are even more important if you are not an ideal fit to the job specification. If you are struggling to get called for interviews then push the boat out and get creative.

Handwritten Cover Letters

If you have better writing than your children then try hand writing your cover letter. A decade ago a typed letter stood out from the crowd of hand written cover letters. Nowadays the opposite is actually true. In a world of email, Bebo text and computer hand writing is a rare commodity. This is why a hand written application could bring attention to your application

Show your personality on a Cover Letter

When I read cover letters I lied. I rarely read cover letters because they are all the same boring stuff. I would normally just jump to the CV. Some clients are the same but it is still important to send a Cover Letter and let the client make the decision to read it. Cover letters can provide the opportunity to show your personality so use this opportunity. Use the Cover Letter to tell the employer how much the job means to you and what you can bring to the table. In your Cover Letter write how you feel and not like you are writing a solicitors letter.

Other helpful resources

For additional career advice check out careersandjobs.

For news about jobs in Ireland check out jobsnews.

Lets switch to Interviews for this post.

What questions should I ask at job interviews?

This is another popular question along with the salary question that I am regularly asked by my interview coaching clients. Some career experts will advise to ask questions that make you look good BUT I advise you to ask question to get the important information you need to make job choice decisions.

An interview is a two way process and you have to ensure that the job and the company are right for you. You have identified what you want in a new job so use this opportunity to get the valuable information that you need. There are many questions on the internet that people suggest but if you ask questions for the sake of it you are missing an opportunity.

Points to consider when asking questions at interview.

Most questions are fine except perhaps the salary question. It is probably better to let the client bring this up. When asking questions it is important not to ask for information that has been provided during the interview. If your questions have been answered during the interview then point this out to the client and never say that you have no questions to ask.

If you are seeking new employment in financial services or the shannon, tralee or carlow regions check out careersandjobs.

I know this article isn’t about your CV but I will be posting on related topics from time to time. Anyway if you are interested in CV’s you must be job hunting. I was asked yesterday (for the zillionth time) how do you handle the “S” word – Salary. During any interview process it is inevitable that the subject of money will eventually arise. Unfortunately most are not prepared to handle it. Here is my approach:

At interview keep your cards close to your chest

Try your best not to show your hand first and disclose your expectations. This will force the employer to make the initial offer. If asked the question a response like “I am currently on 40k but I am open to salary depending on the role and the company” or answer this interview question with a question such as “what would a role like this pay in your company?”.

I recommend this approach for a number of reasons. Firstly it disguises money motivations. Secondly, putting forward a figure can rule you out of contention – from experience you can negotiate an offer upwards if it doesn’t meet your expectations. The final reason most jobseekers do not consider is that your figure could be lower than the figure the client intended to offer.

Interviews – I want more money

I will point out that if money is a key motivation and the most important factor in your decision feel free to put forward your expectations. Do try to let the client bring up the topic though.