CV writing

Preperation for Interviews

Is Preparation For Interviewing Necessary?

The short answer is YES !

There are several problems with preparing for an interview. Firstly it is usually difficult to find out in advance how long the interview will be, or what format will be used. It is also difficult to foresee exactly what question will be used. However close inspection of the job advertisement and the job description should help to guide you. Nevertheless it would be wrong to assume from this that preparation is impossible. Nothing could be further from the truth.

In fact, there are six main steps you should undertake when preparing for an interview. Each of these steps require careful though and planning. They are as follows:

You have to get yourself into the right frame of mind for the interview. You need to believe in your abilities and skills and that you genuinely have qualities to offer the company.

You can find out more about the areas the interviewer is likely to cover.

You can anticipate likely questions.

You can prepare your own questions.

You can prepare aspects of self-presentation such as personal appearance, dress, folio etc.

You can know the contents of your CV inside out. You must have an answer for and a reason for everything you write on your CV.

Contact us today via email info@cvexpert.ie

Economic Recovery

2016 saw a strong performance for the Irish economy with GDP growth increasing to 4.2% and the unemployment rate decreasing from 8.5% to 7.3% during the year, the lowest it has been in eight years. These positive indicators resulted in strong upward trends in domestic consumption and general investment. Basically there are more jobs out there than ever before.


With this increased opportunity comes more competition also, less people are leaving and more are returning home to find employment and take advantage of these positions.
Having a strong CV has never been more crucial to getting you to the interview.

Contact us today via email on info@cvexpert.ie or visit us at www.cvexpert.ie

Things That Could Be Ruining Your Interview

When you get to your dream interview there are some surprising things that could be preventing you from getting the job.  We are all aware of the usual problems, such as being late or the perceived weak handshake, but here are some of the more interesting ones you may not be aware of:

  1. Arriving too early.
  2. Not eating before and interview. The last thing anyone wants to hear is your bodily functions.
  3. Wearing orange. This colour is commonly seen as the most unprofessional of all colours.
  4. Not following up with a thank you email or call. Doing this can make a huge difference and set you apart from other candidates.

If you would like any assistance on creating / reviewing your CV, please contact us today via email at info@cvexpert.ie

 

 

Mulitnationals - Fancy Working Abroad?

It is interesting to note that over 1,150 overseas companies have chosen Ireland as their strategic location in Europe.  What better way to fulfil your wish of working abroad then getting hired right here at home. Build your profile with the company while here and be the first in line to get that big chance abroad.

Key to this is a great CV.  Need help writing your? Contact us at info@cvexpert.ie

 

Job Announcements

59,252 new positions have been announced in Ireland since the start of this year, with a further 390 jobs announced last week. 

390 jobs announced this week

  • Eurofins Lancaster Laboratories    Waterford    165    The laboratory services company has announced plans to create 165 new jobs over the next 5 years.
  • Surmodics    Galway (Ballinasloe)    100    The medical devices company will create 100 new jobs after the acquisition Creagh Medical in 2015.
  • Zeltiq Aesthetics    Galway    60    The Medtech company has announced 60 new jobs at its new European manufacturing facility in Galway.
  • Sportlomo    Mayo    25    The sports software start-up has announced the creation of 25 new jobs. The new roles will be in the areas of software development, support and sales.
  • Chopped    Dublin (Rathmines)    20    The healthy food retailer will create 20 new jobs at the opening of its new store in Rathmines.
  • Connolly Motor Group    Sligo    20    20 new jobs are to be created at the car retailer after it has been appointed the main dealer for Mercedes-Benz cars.

- See more at: http://www.merrionstreet.ie/en/allaboutjobs/Jobs_Announcements/#sthash.ytpGV7Rz.dpuf

If you wish to apply for any of these positions and feel your CV / Resume needs to be improved or created from start contact CVExpert today @ info@cvexpert.ie

Personal Detail's and CV Writing

When beginning to create your CV it can be confusing what personal information to include.  In many downloadable CV templates it will contain a section for your photo, your age, sex and martial status. 

Is any of this appropriate? 

Employment laws, particularly relating to equality and discrimination (age, gender, etc) have implications for interviewing and selection. 

Consequently the applicant has more freedom today to withhold certain personal information on a CV about age or date of birth, marital status, children or dependent s. It's entirely a matter of personal opinion and judgement whether to include such information. 

There is no law which compels or prevents the inclusion or withholding within your CV of personal information that is subject to equality and discrimination legislation. 

However, the reality is that while there are laws in most countries against discrimination, identifying and proving such discrimination is virtually impossible at the application stage. So the only initial defence is to withhold the information - or to make it a selling point. 

The dilemma for the applicant therefore is whether to be open and up-front about personal information that (you fear) could put off an employer - regardless of the legality of such a reaction - or to withhold the relevant personal information in the hope of being short-listed for interview and overcoming any prejudices at that stage.

However all (most) employer's now days are keenly aware of their responsibilities in relation to employment law and indeed go to length's to ensure that their entire application process is fair and just. A simple notable example of this is that you never see an advert placed for a "Barman" or "Fireman".All positions are not advertised as "Barperson" or "Member of the fire services".

If you need any assistance in creating your CV or perhaps updating your CV, Cover Letter or LinkedIn profile to ensure it makes the maximum impact contact CVExperts today - Email info@cvexpert.ie or call 087 438 7025

Cover Letter

What is a Cover Letter?

A cover letter can play a very important role in finding a job. A cover letter is a one page document that adds a personal touch to your job application. It can demonstrate to a potential employer that you are a serious and professional candidate.

What is the purpose of a Cover Letter?

A cover letter should not be the same as your CV. It should complement your CV. Your cover letter should add a personal touch to the data contained in your CV. A cover letter is the first written contact with potential employers and must generate a positive first impression.

How to structure a Cover Letter?

The Opening Paragraph – State the reason for writing and try and get the attention of your potential recruiter.Be specific about the role or type of work you are applying for and what attracts you to the company.

The Middle Paragraph – In this paragraph you introduce them to you the person. This is where you add a personal touch to your application. State a few relevant skills and achievements. Point out what it is that attracts you to the company and why you want to apply for the position. It is useful here to mention something in the companies recent past so that the reader knows you have researched the company.

The Closing Paragraph – Let them know that you are available for interview. Thank the reader for taking the time to review your application.

Interview Tip's Continued

6. Be polite to everyone you meet. From the initial phone call or email to organise an interview always remain professional. You never quite know who you are speaking to.

7. Remember your body language and tone. Remember in any conversation, communication is broken down into the following percentages, body language 55%, tone 38% and words 7%. 

8. This is no time for being shy about your skills. You have to be willing to guide the interviewer to the questions you want asked and the skills you have. A well presented CV will help you with this.

9. Make sure you thank the interviewer in person at the end of the interview and again with a follow up email.

10. No matter the outcome, thank the company for their time. All interviews now require a grading numerical grading system. You may have been a close second and should a second position become available it may be offered to you. Its another chance to show your professionalism. 

The Importance of a well written CV.

Your CV is the first chance you get at making a good impression. If you do not take this chance you may never get another.

It can seem very daunting to start to write your CV and can be quite frustrating for some people as they are unsure what to include in it. 

As a standard rule your CV should be no longer than 2 or 3 pages long, depending on the position you are going for. 

It is important that you keep your CV up to date even if you are not currently planning on looking for a new career opportunity. As with most individuals your workload can be quite diverse and differ over a period of time even if you remain with the same employer. Fir this reason it is important that you continually make a list of your current job duties so you know what to include in your CV.

For more tips and advice on writing your perfect CV contact www.cvexperts.ie today for a free consultation.