Search Results for 'Ballinrobe Co.'

Location can have such a powerful impact on careers. If the job requires you to be in a certain place, at a certain time, to do certain tasks, then the fact that you live 70 miles away, and need to drop off the children at school each morning, can so easily rule you out.

Q: I’ve been called to interviews. My immediate reaction was to run a mile. I haven’t done an interview since I left school, and that’s not today or yesterday – let’s put it this way, I’ve lived through my fair share of currency changes. I’ve run my own business for the past 25 years. I’m probably set in my ways. Can you teach an old dog new tricks? ‘Needs must’, hence my return to full-time employment. Any suggestions? (KK, email).

Q: I went to an interview recently and going grand with all the general questions – my attitude, my ambitions, and all of that stuff. But then one of the panel, who had been silent until then, swung into action. He fired five technical questions at me. All five landed like crunching blows to the solar plexus. I wasn’t prepared for that. My question is not really a question, but a word of advice – know the stuff you’re meant to know about your job, they may just put you on the spot. I didn’t get the job. But I’ve dusted myself down and I’m ready to go back into the ring again. (KP, email)

Q: All of my working life, I have been employed in ‘the media game’ – print journalism, broadcasting and online writing. For the past seven years, I have been in a staff job, but it’s clear the business isn’t going well. Everyone else is talking about moving onto another job within the industry, but I feel that wouldn’t be a good move for me. I’d like to try something else. But what? Ultimately, media is all I know. Any suggestions? (TN, email).

Q: I’m going for an interview next week with a man who can only be described as self-made, metaphorically speaking. He started out with nothing, built his business up from a humble start, minded it carefully, and it’s still doing very well despite the economic conditions. He’s a notoriously difficult man to impress: but over the years he has brought some trusted lieutenants on board. All of them swear by him. He looks after them very well. I want to become one. Any advice? (Luke, email)

Q: I’m in a job I don’t like – and that’s to put it mildly. My role is as an office receptionist, but it’s too narrow in focus for me. I’d much prefer to be working in a hotel doing sales and reservations, instead of just pushing calls through to my bosses, which I’m currently doing. Another job has come up in a hotel in sales, but, as I’m only three months in this job, I think it might look bad on my CV if I up sticks now and go. What do you think? Should I stay or should I go? (CS, email).

Q: I’ve just been called for a second interview for a job. I’ve a lot of experience in the sector, and know I’d be a good fit for the position. I felt I did very well in the first interview and am now just wondering what more I can do second time around. Any thoughts? (LR, email)

Q: I am going for a job interview next week that could prove tricky. It’s a new position within our organisation – we’re a charity – and while they have outlined a job spec, there are still a million and one unanswered questions in terms of how the job will pan out. Is it permissible to put questions to the interview panel to help me clarify a few key points? (LT, email).

We had this interesting correspondence from a reader this week and we think it is worth reproducing here. It might chime with some of you.

Q: I am going for a job in a company that’s undergoing significant changes right now. It’s a well-known company in a sector that is currently in a state of flux due to technological changes. Like many others, I am fascinated to find out what plans the company has to keep themselves relevant and profitable in the future. Would it be permissible for me to ask some questions about those plans in the job interview? (HR, email)