Tag Archives: Advice

Your Best Foot Forward

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Be the Best

Be the Best

When reviewing or re-doing your CV, stop and rethink it. You need to think of your CV as your representative on first look! Put your best foot forward with your CV.

  • Do not tweek your CV to the job, rather include the relevant details in each position you have held and that should speak for itself.
  • Pur your jobs in chronological order and not in terms of relevancy to the job you are applying for. i.e. in date order not your Nursing jobs first then your Medical Sales jobs.

It is easier to read a CV when put in chronological order. If your CV has all the relevant duties worked per job, then it will speak for itself and your best foot will be put forward to potential employers.

So rethink when revising your CV – simply make sure all the details are up to date and it will speak for itself!

It pays to be nice!

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Take the time to listen and to talk

Take the time to listen and to talk

It pays to be nice! Simple manners go a long way when dealing with people you meet in recruitment. How often have you found yourself in a situation where you helped a person not seeking a reward but for the simple pleasure of  being nice or to help a person out of a difficult situation. Being nice pays! This might appear disingenuous but in recruitment potential and opportunity are closely relatives and a good recruiter nevers wastes an opportunity to be nice.

In the Irish recruitment industry, recruiters meet many people and often its the little things that count or lead to success-such as taking the time to talk to candidates. Perhaps you dont have a job for them today but the time you take to talk with them can be all some people are looking for. Some people may simply be looking for help or guidance about their career prospects, feedback on their CV or a little direction.

Because of our intimate market knowledge it doesnt take much to helpfully point a candidate in the right direction or to steer them out of a potential dead end career. So if we can we take that time to talk and we help when we can.

So- whats in it for you? Why bother? Why waste valuable recruiting time talking to people when you need to spend that time making placements and securing your job I hear you say? Well, for one, a candidate can be a candidate today but they can also potentially be a client tomorrow. They can  potentially introduce you to friends or colleagues who may be able to help you with your requirement or be the ideal candidate you need tomorrow -or in quite a few circumstances, be the husband, wife, brother or sister, of a client you have been trying to do business with for months.

Always remember be nice to people, its good for its own reason and it will make you feel better but more importantly remember- it’s too small a world to be nasty to people. The wheel will turn and you never know who knows who or who will be in a position to either hire you in your next job or give you your next break-its in your best interest.

Fail to Prepare-Prepare to Fail

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Prepare to win the interview and thejob

Prepare to win the interview and the job

A maxim oft quoted in management texts and tutorials which is as succinct as it is true to life.  It is a consideration that all those attending an interview must keep at the forefront of their mind whether they are applying for a technician or senior manager’s role. The applicant must at all times be aware that the purpose of the interview is not an opportunity for a chat- it’s to get the job!

Preparation then involves at the very least consideration of your appearance followed swiftly by transport, communication and research; – all of which will boost your confidence and improve your state of mind when the big day comes.

Ensure you are dressed for the interview; another maxim well known and often forgotten is dress to impress. Today as time is short and applicants are plenty, always be aware that you will have one chance to make a good impression and you must appear to be at least as professional as your appearance.

Dressing casually will signal to the interviewer you are neither serious about the role on offer, or the interviewer who has decided to give you valuable time out of their day to meet and interview you.  A poor first impression immediately drops you down the competition ladder. Take time over your appearance and if possible have a dry run the night before, check shoes are polished, shirts, blouses and suits are clean and pressed, ready for immediate use in the morning. You’ll be grateful you did when you see the opposition sitting across from you in reception in a crumpled suit or at worse, a T- Shirt.

Getting to the interview is as important as the interview and its worth checking your car is fuelled and at reduced risk of failing on the motorway twenty minutes from your interviewer.

Phone numbers are vital; always make sure you have your recruiter and interviewer’s telephone contact numbers- main switch and mobile. In deference to the interviewee, your interviewer may have their phone switched off and may not know you are frantically trying to tell them you cant reach them.

Research should similarly not be underestimated or undervalued as part of your preparation. Read the company website, call for extra information, flyers, and magazines, and ask to speak to the press officer if they have one. The better informed you are, the keener you will appear and the more informed your questions will be. Employers want keen employees- lack of knowledge in the age of the internet can only be interpreted as lack of interest.

For further information, please visit our advice center.