The Real Truth About CVs, Resumes and Job Interviews
Author: Gerard McLoughlin

1. The Secrets of Interview Success

By Gerard McLoughlin

As a candidate you should be able to express yourself with clarity and precision. To do this you must make adequate preparation, anticipating likely questions and rehearsing your responses. Your answers should appear spontaneous. At the same time, you should come across as thoughtful, articulate and coherent. So preparation is essential.

During the interview you should speak confidently, making sure to support your answers with relevant examples from your work experience. It is up to you during the course of the interview to acquaint the interviewer with whatever information you consider to be important in advancing your claims to the job on offer.

Always relate your answers to the job for which you are applying. This is particularly important in the case of candidates who are faced with the sort of indirect questions favoured by many interviewers. For example, the interviewer may ask you to describe your current job. This is an indirect way of asking you to what extent your present skills and experience relate to the job for which you are applying.

Always present a positive face. Having studied your application form, interviewers will have identified the weaker aspects of your case. So it is in your own best interests to examine your application critically with a view to identifying any significant weaknesses or negative aspects. Prepare positive and convincing explanations of any shortcomings; and emphasise what you have done or are doing to rectify matters.

Since interviewers are looking for candidates who display a positive attitude, you should state and supply evidence that you enjoy your job; that you are enthusiastic and ambitious; and that you welcome challenge.

It is important to tell the truth in interviews. However, try to present the facts as persuasively as you can. So examine and assess your own case and tailor the facts to create the best and most positive impression.

It is essential to develop a rapport with the interviewer right from the start. If you can give the impression that you have a lot in common with the interviewer and if he or takes a liking to you, you will greatly improve your chances of success.

Interviewers usually place a greater emphasis on practical experience than on paper qualifications, so it is up to you to convince them that your experience qualifies you for the job on offer. This will involve using your experience as evidence to support statements that you make in answers to questions.

>From 'The Real Truth About CVs, Resumes and Job Interviews' published by Assignments Plus Business Publications http:www.assignmentsplus.com

2. How to Manage Your Career

By Gerard McLoughlin

To succeed in today's demanding and ever-changing work environment, you must take charge of managing your own career.

Think of yourself as a company with a product or service to sell. Analyse your market and devise a carefully targeted marketing campaign, keeping in mind that companies recruit employees who offer them the best results and the best value for money.

Begin by identifying your skills, qualifications and accomplishments. Adopt a customer-focused approach. What benefits and results can you offer employers? Are your skills marketable and up-to-date?

Determine what additional skills you need to develop to make yourself more marketable. Seek out and take advantage of all opportunities for continuous learning and professional development.

Employers place a high value on team players and problem-solvers. They want to see evidence in your CV or resume of specific, quantifiable accomplishments.

In the business world, successful companies win customers by developing a unique selling proposition. To give yourself a competitive advantage, analyse what other employees in your field are offering. It is not enough emulate your competitors; you must strive to differentiate yourself by offering something extra, something unique.

Try to assess yourself as objectively as possible in order to identify your strengths and weaknesses. Analyse your performance appraisals and, if appropriate, enlist the help of a trusted friend or colleague to help you evaluate yourself.

Define and prioritise your short-term and long-term career goals. Make sure they are challenging but achievable.

Study recruitment websites and the appointments pages of newspapers to familiarise yourself with the current requirements of employers.

Your CV/resume should be fine-tuned regularly and kept up-to-date to enable you to make a swift and targeted response to any suitable job opportunity that arises.

Learn all you can about job search strategies, job-specific resumes, and professional interview techniques.

By adopting a planned, proactive and carefully targeted approach, you will maximise your chances of landing the job that best matches your skills and personality.

>From 'The Real Truth About CVs, Resumes and Job Interviews' published by Assignments Plus Business Publications http:www.assignmentsplus.com

3. How to Create a Winning Impression in Your New Job

By Gerard McLoughlin

Congratulations! You've just been appointed to your new job. Now the real work begins.

It is important from the beginning to convince your new employers that, in selecting you, they have made the right choice.

* Demonstrate that you are highly-motivated and eager to get started.

* Discuss your duties and responsibilities; and establish your priorities. Set challenging, but achievable, short-term and long-term goals.

* To enable you to fit in quickly, find out as much you can about your company and its organisational structure.

* Identify the most successful and highly valued people in the firm and analyse the reasons for their success. Use them as your role models. Associate with colleagues who are perceived as ideal employees.

* Prepare carefully for meetings with your boss. Try to anticipate questions and be ready with positive and considered responses. Make sure you are always well-informed. Keep up to date on current issues.

* Learn all you can about problem-solving techniques. When you are given a problem to solve, tackle it enthusiastically and systematically.

* Establish a reputation as a good team player by developing good working relationships and cultivating friendships with as wide a range of people in the company as possible.

* Participate fully in your company's training programme; and avail of all opportunities to extend your knowledge and develop work-related skills.

* Learn from your own mistakes and the mistakes of others.

* Do more than is specified in your contract. Volunteer for assignments that will help raise your profile within the company.

* Complete all work on time. Don't make promises unless you are sure you can deliver.

* Develop a reputation for honesty, loyalty and integrity.

* Since your job description will form the basis of your performance appraisal, it is important to review it regularly.

>From 'The Real Truth About CVs, Resumes and Job Interviews' published by Assignments Plus Business Publications http:www.assignmentsplus.com

4. How to Talk Your Boss into Giving You a Pay Rise

By Gerard McLoughlin

In order to obtain a pay rise, you must first convince yourself and then convince your boss that your value to the company entitles you to it.

1. If you believe you deserve a pay rise, ask for it as soon as possible; don't procrastinate or wait for your employer to offer it.

2. Determine what you are worth in the marketplace by carrying out a survey of people in comparable jobs. Never base your case on a need for more money.

3. Be realistic in your assessment of what you are worth and what your employer would be willing or able to pay. Have an exact figure in mind before entering into negotiations. Avoid comparisons. Never compare your salary to someone else's.

4. Remember that bosses want employees who contribute to the company's success by:increasing sales, profits and efficiency; decreasing waste, costs and time taken; improving corporate image, customer relationships and competitive advantage.

5. Carry out a detailed analysis of your job description. Be as objective as you can, identifying specific ways in which the company has benefited from your skills, qualifications, work, and experience.

6. Anticipate difficult questions, by identifying weaknesses in your case and preparing positive answers.

7. If you have records of recent appraisals, study them carefully highlighting your achievements and indicating how you have addressed any shortcomings.

8. Know what standards your employer uses for assessing performance and tailor your delivery accordingly.

9. Prepare clear and concise documentation of relevant salary facts and figures, and details of the ways in which you are contributing to the company.

10. Be aware of the importance of negotiating skills: listen carefully to what your boss is saying; don't be confrontational; avoid ultimatums; and, if necessary, be prepared to compromise.

11. Rehearse your performance with a valued friend who is prepared to ask you searching questions; criticize your delivery; and provide you with constructive feedback.

12. If, because of circumstances beyond his control, your employer feels unable at this time to give you a pay rise, thank him or her for listening and ask to have your pay reviewed within three months.

Remember that you will have to work with your boss in the future; so, leave the meeting on good terms, and NEVER bang the door behind you.

Assignments Plus

>From 'The Real Truth About CVs, Resumes and Job Interviews' published by Assignments Plus Business Publications http:www.assignmentsplus.com








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From 'The Real Truth About CVs, Resumes and Job Interviews' published by Assignments Plus Business Publications http:www.assignmentsplus.com

Kind Regards

Gerard McLoughlin

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