Its not the end of the world it just looks like it!

How to spend your time more productively

How to spend your time more productively

Its not the end of the world it just looks like it! Snow and Ice seems to have kept a lot of us at home yesterday and today but that doesnt mean that the world stops.  Thanks to the internet and e-mail its still possible to keep in contact and to assess whats happening in your career.

Although  it may be irritating that you have work to do at your desk and cant make it in to be physically present, it can sometimes be benificial from a number of perspectives being at home when you are snowed in.

Primarily from a safety perpective there is little benifit to you or your employer if you attempt to come to work only to end up coming to harm as a result of being stuck in a snowdrift for the majority of the day or being stressed to the point of a nervous break down as you slip and slide your way to work as usual or worse still; find yourself stuck behind an articulated truck which appears to be sliding unstopably towards you and your equally immobile car.

If you are at home and have as most  people do these days, a home office, it may be possible to do quiet a lot of work contacting clients, drafting documents or reviewing plans that are sometimes difficult to achieve at work due to interuptions or staff meetings. When the weather clears it may then be possible to return to work with a clear mind and a fresh approach that may have not have been possible simply due to a lack of opportunity.

After all how many of us have found that a  few hours away from the desk to think can allow you to see the woods for the trees rather than feeling like you are reacting to events rather than driving them?

Fail to Prepare-Prepare to Fail

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.