How to answer “where do you see yourself in five years’ time?” in a job interview October 8, 2014 Where do you see yourself in five years’ time? This is a popular interview question for a number of reasons. Employers like having workers with ambition. Ambition means having goals and aspirations and consistently working hard and understanding what you need to do in order to succeed. However, employers also want employees who will work [...]
How to perform well in a job interview: A storytelling approach to answering questions will help October 3, 2014 The most important thing is to remember that a successful interview is primarily about the employer and their issues and problems – not about your need to pay your rent or finance your lifestyle. They have a problem and you are a potential solution. Otherwise they would not waste their time. The employer could need [...]
How to overcome lack of experience in a job interview October 1, 2014 Not having any experience feels like a Catch-22. A vicious hopeless circle. You can’t get a job because you have no experience, but you have no experience because you can’t get a job. This is true whether you are straight out of university, or are changing career to a new industry. Either way, you lack [...]
How to use your personal brand to get a job September 26, 2014 A job interview is about standing out – in a good way. You want to show yourself off, talk what you have achieved, what you can do and what makes you different from the rest. An authentic and likeable personal brand can be an asset in many ways in your professional life. It is memorable, [...]
How to develop a personal brand September 17, 2014 You may see having a “personal brand” as a self-congratulating ego-fuelled idea used only by D-list celebrities and wannabes. However a strong brand can help you get ahead in today’s competitive jobs market. Think of it as a process to build and enhance your reputation. Here are some tips on how to develop [...]
The best way to use social media when job hunting September 12, 2014 Job hunting without social media is becoming is no longer an option for two reasons. First of all, a huge percentage of jobs are not advertised and are filled by people who know people. Moan about it – or get in the game. Secondly, if you apply for a job, your social media presence will [...]
Life after redundancy: How to pick yourself up after losing your job September 10, 2014 Losing your job is hard. Picking yourself up is tougher. You may have been fired or been made redundant, but getting back into the job market with the right mind frame is essential. Too often people fall into a rut after they lose their job – it is essential to keep healthy, both mentally and [...]
Job interview techniques: How to answer the question “Tell us about yourself” September 5, 2014 “So tell us about yourself.” It’s a great question to ask – and to answer. Great to ask because it can blow up in candidates faces and exclude the ordinary, and great to answer because it is a brilliant opportunity to sell or resell yourself. “Well I’m 39, married, got a 2:1 in the distant [...]
Pitching it right – the fine line between bragging and selling yourself September 3, 2014 Most people are bad at this but Brits are the worst. British people love the self-effacing, self-deprecating understatement typified by Hugh Grant in Four Weddings or Notting Hill. Anything braggy and people could think you are brash and pushy and probably foreign – like the Americans. Or the South Africans. Or even worse, arrogant. Not [...]
How to give a compelling speech and not just make noise August 29, 2014 Have you ever walked away from a big speech or a presentation feeling puzzled? Lots of things were said, lots of words were used, a number of points were covered, and you were there for over an hour – yet you can’t remember a thing that was said. Too often speakers and presenters fail to [...]
