Search Results for 'Patricia Maloney'

Quite often, my colleagues and I hear clients say that they have made several job applications but have heard nothing back. The palpable frustration this causes is clear for all to see. It’s an all-too-common problem within the recruitment process but there are ways to reduce the chances of it happening to you. In simple terms – it boils down to you as a job seeker making a connection with someone on the other side of your application, writes Mark McDonald, Career Coach.

Q: I have been told I should ask questions during the interview. I thought that was their job, not mine? Is it not my role to answer the questions they pose, rather than the other way around? And if I were to ask questions, what might they be about?

Q. One from left of field. I recently went to a career training company (not you, sorry!) and they did an excellent job at getting me ready for interview. The interview is on next week. I am thinking about making it clear to the interview panel that I had received professional training and support in preparation for the interview. My reasoning is to illustrate that I’m the kind of person who does what needs to be done to execute a project. What would your thoughts be? Should I ‘fess up or keep it secret? (DR email)

Q: The job was for a team leader. The interview was going grand until one fellow – the quiet one – piped up with ‘how much money have you in your bank account?’ I prevaricated and I procrastinated and I equivocated, and then I sighed and I smiled, and basically, in a nice, mannerly way, I told him it was none of his business.

Grand designs on work slot

Q: Some time ago, I was invited to do some work that relates to my hobby. It involved short pieces work on an on-going basis, and one particularly intense bout that required me to take annual leave. So I’ve made a big commitment to this new role – and, to my surprise, I haven’t been paid. I understood there was a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ that I would get paid, but nothing has been forthcoming. As it happens, I am not overly concerned about the money, but I think it would represent some measure of appreciation for what I do. My friends think I’m mad, but I’m wondering if I should continue to do it because the work relates to my hobby and helps me build up good contacts. Any thoughts? (NP, email).

For college graduates, LinkedIn can be an overwhelming medium to negotiate.

Q: The interview was going fairly well, I felt. I had handled their queries well and had even managed to score some extra points based on the research I had done into the organisation. Sooner than I had anticipated, they asked me if I had any questions for them. I hadn’t, and took this question as the cue that they were wrapping things up. I made to leave, and they let me, replete with the usual ‘thank you and we will be in touch’ palaver: it was only afterwards I realised that maybe they had more questions to ask me. Was I premature in my departure? In fairness, they did get in touch – a Dear John, alas. (GP, email).

Q: I felt I was going grand in a recent job interview – I had dealt comfortably with all the questions about my CV, my training and strengths. But I stumbled badly at the end when they asked me what I knew about the company. The truth was I knew very little: I had a look at their website but I found it very technical. Plus I don’t know anyone working there. I took a bit of a guess about one product they have – and got it wrong. I didn’t get the job. Even though I know I did poorly, I’m not sure how I could have prepared any better for this question in the circumstances. Any pointers? (GMcC, email).