Interview looming? Here are my tips and hints.

On the radio, me being interviewed by Vivienne Lee on Peterborough FM

I was invited to go on the radio last week, this was something I haven’t ever done so the whole experience was totally new. I had to prepare in advance and on the day needed to understand what I needed to do, (so for example a full hand coming towards me by the interviewer means wind it up, we need to move on)!




So whilst this wasn’t an interview for a job there were a lot of similarities in terms of the preparation before, during the interview itself and afterwards. Here are my thoughts on the similarities between the two and some tips on what to do if you have an interview looming:-



Preparation



I had a list of topic areas that would be discussed and you will have a job advert, plus (hopefully) a job description to base your preparation on. I put myself in the listener’s shoes and tried to think about what they would most want to hear about. You can do the same based on the job advert and job description. Ask yourself what will the interviewer really want to hear about?



The Interview Itself



Arrive early; I got there about half an hour before hand. I met a lot of people for the first time, had to smile a lot, shake a lot of hands and also make small talk whilst I waited to be interviewed. The same will be true for you; don’t ever underestimate how much input others, not just the people interviewing you will have in giving feedback on your suitability for the role.



Keep your voice, upbeat and positive. Flex it to maintain interest and also use it to demonstrate your key points or messages. Stay on track and answer the questions.



Afterwards



Jot down as much as you can remember about the interview, learn from it. If you have to go back for another interview, (which is likely in today’s job search market), what will you do differently next time? Reflecting back I waffled on too much and could have stayed on track a bit more which would have meant more questions could have been answered.



And finally,



If you want to hear some more tips and hints about careers, job searching click here to listen to my radio interview



http://www.podcast.canstream.co.uk/pacouk/index.php?id=626

Glad That We Did

This is a picture taken in France, we nearly didn't go, but it's one of my I'm so glad we did!

I’m running a pre retirement workshop next week in Cambridge. This has kindly been given to me to help with my preparation and research. It was written by someone attending a retirement course. When they broke for coffee – one man stayed behind and started writing on his note-pad, this is what he wrote:-




“In 1990 a couple borrowed almost as much as the price of their house to buy a motor-caravan.



They did this on the strict understanding that should they face financial hard times then the van would go in order to make the money situation good again.



Over the next 13 years they travelled all around Middle Europe and made many friends around the country.



In 2002 they bought a cottage in Normandy which they started to renovate.



In all of this their attitude was that they could look back and say they were glad they did these things, and not that they wished they had done them.



In September she died suddenly at 48 years of age.



He remains so happy that ‘they did’”

Latest Research On Self Employment...what a load of poppycock!

I’ve just read this article, it has caused me to suck my cheeks in, scratch my chin and declare hog wash out loud! It states that “Rising coverage of entrepreneurs in the media is helping to persuade more people to consider a career as their own boss”.



See below for the full thing



http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/detail.aspx?NewsAreaId=2&ReleaseID=418572&SubjectId=2





What a narrow, unbalanced perspective this report takes. I don’t necessarily disagree that some TV programmes have made lots of people think about self employment.



However, I would argue, but don’t have the statistical reporting to back it up, that shifts and changes in the way we live our lives today and the way work is now structured have led far more people down the path of self employment than any form of media ever could.



If I take a look at my friends, contacts, and clients and reflect on their reasons for self employment a much broader and more realistic picture emerges.



• Self employment up until quite recently, (even 5 years ago) was seen as quite a high risk strategy in comparison to a permanent job. Yet the world of having a permanent job today means working long hours with little security as to your long term employability. In fact many people now perceive that having their own business gives them far more security than a proper job.



• Women who want to return to work after having children are finding self employment offers them far more flexibility than returning to their old jobs.



• Organisations don’t want to commit to long term permanent employment contracts. In times of uncertainty, shorter, fixed term contracts are more favourable. For insurance and tax purposes very often people have to be employed on a self employed basis rather than via an employment contract.



• There is a growing population of people who when made redundant after long service don’t have the financial incentive to need to work, for them running their own business offers more rewards.



These are a few of my experiences having working with lots of people who are contemplating, or have already started their own business. Phew, after my little tirade I’m now off to watch Dragons Den!

Travel...Mind Broadening & Fresh Perspectives

I feel as if I have had a whirlwind tour of the UK in the last few weeks, I seem to have been travelling the length and breadth of the country with a final culmination of a visit to Belfast at the end of last week.




What an amazing place that is, the architecture, the people, and the location itself. Although I extended my stay it would have been nice to have had even more time to look round, especially as it was Belfast Fashion Week while I was there!



I love working, and the nature of the work I do means I meet so many different interesting people. I’ve worked with a Property Lawyer, Yoga Teacher, Care Worker, Accountant, Project Manager, Tax Expert, Charity Worker, Relationship Manager, Scientist, and Image Consultants to name just a few!



So I’ve had a fantastic time, yet it was an absolute sheer delight to get back home and just potter around. Whilst I was glad of the break away I find that coming back, even after a few days allows you to view things in different light. Even the house looked different.



My thoughts were echoed by a client I spoke to this morning, she had been debating on breaking her job search up by taking four days away. She was unsure if it was the right thing to do especially as she had several interviews pending. When we spoke today she confirmed it was the best thing she could have done and how the absence away and the distance from reality had really helped her reflect and gain a perspective she doesn’t think she would have got had she stayed here.



So where to next I wonder?