12 Days of Careersmas

DAY 10 Careers Tip Cod e:   Elf To win a selection box - be the tenth   person to DM the code to @ulcareersservice on Instagram . Interviews are a two way process. They are an opportunity for employers to find out more about you and for you to find out more about them. Think of an interview as a conversation with a purpose. If you have been invited to an interview, then your application has been effective and you now have the chance to talk directly to your prospective employers or their agents. Not all interviews will be successful, however, all experience will be useful in helping you prepare for future applications. A successful interviewee demonstrates good planning, focus and enthusiasm. Researching the job and the company and thinking in advance about possible questions and answers will help prepare you to perform well in any interview.  Reflecting on your previous performance is a good way of preparing for future interviews. You may already h...

A little bit more on Interviews...... One of the most common type of interviews is competency based interviews which are focused on specific competencies that employers seek. Research suggests that structured competency based interviews can be one of the most reliable and accurate forms of assessing a candidate. Most interviews are competency based to some extent, but some more formally than others. Employers will outline their key competency requirements in your interview letter or direct you to a web link. You can expect a list of six to eight key competencies. On the basis that past behaviour is a good indicator of future behaviour, employers will ask you to demonstrate these competencies by relating your experience to the situations they describe. This type of interview is popular with graduate recruiters, the Civil Service, the Defence Forces and the Garda Síochána. What will happen? The interview will be very structured and questions will focus on the competencies o...

DAY 9 Careers Tip Cod e:   Frosty To win a selection box - be the ninth   person to DM the code to @ulcareersservice on Instagram . Here in the careers service we help students prepare for interviews. For many students it will be their first experience of the interview process and there is a lot to think about and prepare, job and company research, types of questions, logistics, outfit and practice. Today we are going to focus on what to wear; a job interview is your opportunity to make a great first impression on your potential employer and your interview outfit forms part of this first impression. If you are wondering what to wear to an interview, the most important thing to keep in mind is that you should look professional and polished regardless of the type of job you are seeking. While your interview attire depends on the job you are applying for no matter what the position you should come neat, tidy and well dressed. Some more tips for dres...

A little bit more on Suiting Up...... Tips for dressing for success Because every company is different in what they consider appropriate workplace attire, here are some tips to ensure you dress for success every time. ·        Do your homework. If you are not sure what the dress code for the interview is, we would always suggest you contact the company and ask. It is important that you feel comfortable and confident on the day. Most companies would be delighted that you have shown interest and asked what is appropriate to wear on the day. If you do not know the dress code and cannot find out before the interview, we would suggest that you err on the side of caution and dress formally in a traditional suit. ·       Pay attention to details. Make sure you always look polished and professional. These may seen trivial but on the day, they have a huge impact. Ensure your outfit is not wrinkled, stained, ripped or ill-fitting and yo...

DAY 8 Careers Tip Cod e:   Santa To win a selection box - be the eight   person to DM the code to @ulcareersservice on Instagram . Not all available jobs are advertised. Some estimate that upwards of  85% of open positions are filled through networking. It is important to realise that Grad programmes are not the only show in town. These programmes get heavily marketed , everybody sees them and as a result there is higher competition. We are not saying to ignore these but you should look at a blend of applications. Many jobs are filled through personal contacts rather than advertisements. This is often referred to as the ‘hidden job market’. In order to find out about these opportunities you must do what is called a ‘proactive’ job search as opposed to a ‘reactive’ one. What is a ‘reactive’ job search? This is where your only job search activity is basically online applications. Typically, you ‘click & pray’ firstly you wait for jobs to appear online...

A little bit more on Networking...... Who are your contacts? The starting point of any networking campaign is to identify your contacts. Brainstorming is a good way to start identifying your networks and contacts. This exercise will help you set up an initial contact list to start your networking. The following is a list of suggested contacts: 1.     Friends/Family 2.     Relatives 3.     Sport club members 4.     Neighbours / Community 5.     Current / past part-time job contacts & customers 6.     UL Alumni that have done my course last year and the year before etc 7.     UL Staff & Careers Office 8.     My contacts on LinkedIn  Put a simple plan in place List every last contact you can think of and beside each name in a spreadsheet gather all their contact details in on place and timeline it, setting a reminder on your pho...

A little bit more on LinkedIn... 1.     Build your professional network.  It's never too early to start building a network with people in your area. Ideally you would have a profile set up in first year and add to it throughout your university years getting a surge of contacts whilst out on Coop. Start now is the message, start connecting to classmates. While they are friends and classmates now, in the future they become business referrals. Where next?   Well how about that smartphone in your pocket? some warm leads might include your own relatives who are working in various organisations. 2.     Check out career paths.  Find people who are in LinkedIn who are already employed in your desired profession. Check out their profiles to see what they have done to become successful. See if you can incorporate something from their career path into yours. 3.     Prepare for interviews.  When you have a job interview, r...

A little bit more on applications......... 1. Research the job For every candidate that submits an un-researched application, there will be many more who send a better one. Not doing any research will therefore put you at a distinct disadvantage.  Submitting an application form when you have not researched the job you are applying for is like sending in a note saying ‘I am not really bothered whether I get this job or not’. It will be obvious to employers if you have not researched the job and they will not look on your application favourably. 2. Research the company Researching the company will make you better able to complete your application form effectively, and to judge whether you would like to work there. What is its mission? Look on the company's website for a mission statement or marketing slogan. What are its values? Look for information about its customer service standards, for example. Is there anything distinctive about its culture, such as long...