And the Interview Was Going So Well Until....

And the Interview Was Going So Well Until.... I’ve interviewed people almost every day for almost ten years and I have to say I love it. I love meeting new people and I feel a huge responsibility to make sure I ‘bring it’ to the interview and by ‘it’ I mean the very best version of myself. After all, the job seeker has probably got up an hour earlier that day, been practicing answers in the shower and had that extra cup of coffee, so of course I need to make an effort too. YES!! I’ve found the perfect person I love meeting that amazing person, the one who has all the right answers (and a few wrong ones, but it doesn’t matter). The one who, after only 2 minutes of talking to them, makes you felt like you have known them forever. They are a total inspiration and express their positivity. They give you great examples of what an exceptional team player they are and how they believe that working together for the greater good of the company is what drives them. In summary they are just perfect and the job is definitely theirs actually you secretly want to be their friend! The ‘Post Interview Walk’ The interview is finished off nicely and you walk past the offices and reach the door to say your goodbyes and you ask them (with no agenda other than to just make conversation) ‘So what have you got planned for the rest of the day?’ and they reply ‘Omph, I have a really boring team strategy meeting’ as they roll their eyes and pull a face. Huh?? Nooo!! What just happened?? I am concfusedno, actually I am devastated!! Surely this can’t be the person that was just telling me how positive they were and what a great team player they were. Was it all a lie? Are they a fake? They are not the magic ingredient I had been looking for and we are probably not going to be colleagues (or friends for that matter). I was left deflated and rightly or wrongly, I offered the job to someone else. A client of mine once told me that they interviewed a great guy, who had made a dazzling impression until the receptionist saw him spit out his gum on their steps as soon as he walked out of their building.it was game over. Or the finance company in London who told me they had a camera in their lift which showed a lady (who had just finished her interview) punching the air victoriously and they came to the conclusion that they didn’t like her cocky attitude or arrogance. Not sure I agree with that decision, but it does show that even the smallest things can make up an employer’s mind. The one mile rule I always talk to people about the one mile rule. The interview starts one mile before you get to the location and ends one mile after you left. We all say silly things that we regret, but don’t let the ‘post interview walk’ become one of those times.especially not with a sentimental soft touch like me as the employer (my heart may not recover). More interviewing tips at  Do You Know How To Sell Yourself in a Job Interview? Image: Shutterstock

Storyboarding your career

Storyboarding your career Careers adviser’s often talk about “telling your personal story” as part of your application for a job (heres one of our earlier posts  on this   topic). Each of us has a unique narrative about our past life and the experience and skills we have garnered along the way. We persuade employers to employ us by demonstrating through our “story” that we have the right skills for a particular job. Sometimes the task of putting together that story can seem challenging and heres a new way of looking approaching the task which resonated with me. I had the opportunity this week of seeing one of our Warwick alumni give a great talk to current students based around his life story. Anders Engsas is now a graduate trainee with RBS; he showed us his unique  narrative by reference to three pictures, representing salient experiences and his personal brand. This helped him land his job in a top graduate trainee scheme. His approach is compelling and offers a possible way of sorting through the mass of experience we have gathered to find what is most relevant to a particular post. What are the key words from your pictures? Anders’ pictures represented resilience, communication skills and networking. That’s a pretty good starting point for most graduate jobs. The images reprised jobs he had done and experiences he had built. Reducing a story to pictures like this could help with interviews as well as application forms. We all try to reflect a breadth of previous experiences when we have to give competency based answers having a series of pictures in your mind at interview might help you to make sure that you’re mixing up the examples. How do you build your storyboard? So how would you start to build your personal storyboard? Think about what is really important to you. What are you most proud of? What does that represent and how does it relate to the key competencies to land a job? When I talk to students about applications they often attach little importance to “menial” jobs they have done in the past, shop work, bar work, helping out in the businesses of relatives are all too often dismissed with a shrug. Anders would join me in telling you not to adopt that approach. Don’t regret that nobody offered you graduate level experience in running a company while you were at school or in the first years of university or assume that everyone else somehow managed to get that experience. Instead think about what you did do and how that adds to your storyboard. The Saturday job you had while you were at school might make it into the story? You dragged yourself out of bed, perhaps you stood up all day being nice to everyone who came near you, (even if they weren’t necessarily very polite to you), perhaps you helped out other people struggling with the work load or just provided a listening ear to colleagues who were feeling “down”. What does that equate to in terms of graduate skills? Resilience, determination, communication skills, empathy, teamwork â€" that’s quite impressive! What does that picture mean? I’ve taken Anders’ pictorial lesson to heart and find that when I attach a picture to experiences they come alive again. My Saturday job when I was at school was working in a florist shop. I haven’t thought about it for a long time but when I picture a flower vase I remember working all year round in a greenhouse, I endured the extremes of temperature, I engaged with customers both those who were rude and those who were charming, I learnt how to make bouquets, wire flowers, prepare funeral tributes. Suddenly I can see that the long forgotten experience allowed me to showcase determination, customer service skills, resilience, communication skills, the ability to learn quickly, to multi task, to be an effective team member. Wow! This is an empowering approach! You might find that you need more than three illustrations to create your personal story board. Anders is at the start of his career, three images doesn’t really work for me! The number of pictures you’ll need will depend on where you are in your life journey but why not have a play with this idea? I don’t normally see things in pictures and it even makes sense to me! Have a go!

7 Tips to Rev Up Your Job Search This Summer - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

7 Tips to Rev Up Your Job Search This Summer - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career With the year almost half over, it’s time to size up your progress. Your career may look like an amusement park, and you might feel like you’re stuck in a line that’s barely moving. Or maybe you rode one roller coaster only to see the other rides (goals) differently. Just how far along are you on your career goals for this year? And what can you do now to assure that by fall, you’ll have advanced a couple of them, whether you’re looking for a new employer or to launch a side business or land a new client? A mid-year review of your professional and personal career goals can help you refocus your energies and establish new mini-goals to advance them. “Do not avoid the topic,” said Susan Heathfield, About.com guide to human resources. Here are seven steps for assessment and renewed engagement on your plans: Write down your goals. “When you write them down, you are committing” to them, Heathfield said. Without a written record of them, “you sort of let yourself off the hook.” Clarify what you really want. Take time to consider what really matters and what is not so important, six months later. Decide which goals you could abandon and which ones are crucial. Pick a No. 1 and No. 2 goal and start visualizing what success would look like when you achieve them. Measure what you’ve accomplished so far. Count the number of networking events you’ve attended. Go back and see how many letters of praise you’ve received (and how many of those have been forwarded to your boss). How many blog posts have you written, or have ready to post when you launch? How many potential clients have you approached? What else have you accomplished that wasn’t on your official list? Write down your stats and status updates. Break down your top priorities into small parts. Some people find it helpful to put a weekly reminder on their calendar to check on their goal or to move it forward, said Heathfield. Others like clear action steps mapped out or written into a file. Uncover your motivations. Sometimes we forget the real reasons we want a promotion or a new client. If those are the means to a beautiful honeymoon or a way to pay for your kid brother’s college costs, make that emotional connection clear to yourself again. Reward yourself. If you’ve achieved one of your goals, it’s time to celebrate. And a Facebook post does not really equal a celebration. Go out for a sundae or take your goal buddy out for an afternoon of jet-skiing. Take a break. “Think about other things that are important in life,” she said. You can become burned out if you have applied for jobs non-stop while working full time. So give yourself a week away to savor summer, friends, recreation, life. That will help recharge your batteries â€" and make it easier to reconnect to your goals. Some people will find that by mid-year, they’ve checked off many of their goals. If that’s true, then they need to establish some new ones â€" and make them as high as the giant Ferris Wheel at the state fairs this summer. Others may be disappointed to see how little they have accomplished. They need to buy some new tickets to success, and take along a goal-buddy or career coach for accountability on the ride to success. Author: Vickie Elmer regularly contributes articles on careers and small business to the Washington Post. She has collected a slew of journalism awards, large and small. Her career and workplace articles also have appeared in Fortune, Parents, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, the Financial Times, the Chicago Tribune, Newsday and many more. She has been called “dazzling,” “incredibly competitive” “creative” and “prolific and feisty” by those who work with her. Elmer is the mother of three children and the co-owner of Mity Nice, a start-up that employs teens to sell Italian ice and sweet treats from a shiny silver cart in Ann Arbor, Mich. An active volunteer, she encourages kindness and creativity and embracing change, and she blogs and tweets under the moniker WorkingKind.

How a mentor can help you achieve success in your career

How a mentor can help you achieve success in your career Mentoring is not the same as coaching, teaching or training. It is a relationship, initiated and led by you, the mentee to enhance your personal and professional development. If you need an ally in your battle for a competitive job and want someone to  champion your success, a mentor could be the answer. Your careers tournament As we move into May tennis hits the headlines with the World No 1, Andy Murray hoping to get his mojo back. What’s this got to do with careers I hear you say? Well, much of Andy’s success has been linked to his coaches â€" the individuals who help him to achieve his goals. He’s got strong technical skills but his coach works with him to help him win. So can this be replicated in the job market by using a mentor? I believe so. You can learn all the technical skills of career planning, including exploring opportunities, effective decision making and making applications. But having a mentor can help you fine tune these skills and turn them into success. Does everyone need a mentor? Any student can benefit from working with a mentor from their chosen industry. However, they can be particularly helpful for those who have no family connections in the sector they’re targeting. Those, for example, who are looking to break into extremely competitive areas such as banking or law or those who may lack confidence in their chance of success. A mentor can work with you over a period of several weeks or even months to achieve your goals â€" whether that’s finding work experience in a niche area with no internships, or landing a role as a runner with a media production company. But they’re not going to just give you a job are they? No, of course not. Mentors may not be in a position to influence the recruitment process but they can talk to you candidly about their own experiences and give you practical advice and guidance. It can be very difficult to know if a role is definitely right for you. By working with a mentor in the sector you can get detailed information about their career paths, and they can help you bounce ideas around. Championing your cause Knowing that your mentor is interested in you, and keen to help you achieve, can be extremely powerful. If you’ve been doubting your abilities, your mentor can help you take a reality check, and if they encourage you to pursue your dreams, then go for it! Let’s face it â€" those who are working in the industry are well placed to know what your chances of success are. The dynamics of the relationship You might start off with a few emails and perhaps a couple of phone calls, to talk about what will help you and clarify the support available. Your mentor may ask you to check in with them from time to time with updates â€" this can be a great opportunity for you to pause and take stock of how things are going. I recently interviewed a University of Warwick non-law student who had a mentor during her vacation scheme. She described her mentoring relationship as an opportunity to take time out to reflect on what she was learning about herself and the firm. She updated her mentor regularly and also sought feedback on her application for the training contract which she successfully obtained. Mentoring for her was a very positive experience:  â€œHaving a mentor championing my cause definitely helped the way I approached the vacation scheme and interview. It was a great confidence-booster to know that someone was rooting for me, especially in a career which is naturally competitive. It was also nice to be able to cross-check the firm’s culture with someone who had worked there. While vacation schemes are a great insight into life at that firm, there is only so much you can experience in two weeks”. Being professional Mentors are very special people in that they give their time freely, with no self -interest to help others. It’s therefore essential that you respond promptly to your mentor, acknowledge how precious their time is and thank them for their support. You never know when you might come across them again, so make sure you leave a great impression. But I don’t have a mentor â€" where do I begin? Your university’s alumni are a great starting place. At Warwick we have an  e-mentoring  platform to help you connect with graduates in different sectors. LinkedIn is another useful tool find alumni  and your department may have developed mentoring schemes. All of this can help you feel you’re not alone in succeeding in the job market. Andy Murray knows the value of his team of staff to be the best he can be â€" so don’t underestimate the value of engaging with those around you who are willing to help. You may not win the French Open, but hopefully you’ll land a job that you love. And then you can be a mentor yourself!

Should You Use a Resume Writing Service?

Should You Use a Resume Writing Service?When choosing a resume writing service, be sure to look for one that has a full staff of writers. Many companies will have writers and staff working to develop a resume. These writers will often have a wealth of experience in their own fields.As new graduates or workers who are just getting started in their careers, you will need a full resume that will showcase your knowledge and skills. A business that only has a writer can work against you. It is important to hire a company that also has a large pool of writers with experience writing resumes. They will know exactly what you are looking for and will be able to write a resume for you that highlights your skills and experiences in a manner that will attract a job.A resume writing service that has a staff of writers can help you too. They will be able to help develop a resume that is perfect for the position you are applying for. Many applicants have trouble creating a strong resume that is spe cific to their experience. With a group of experienced writers, you can have a resume that is tailor made for your job.A professional resume can get you the interview that you are looking for. Writing a great resume is an art that should be considered as part of your resume writing process. If you are not sure how to create a powerful resume, you should consult with a professional writing service.Resume writing services can help you create the best resume possible. They can help you develop your skills and help you market yourself as an expert. If you want to land the job of your dreams, you should consider hiring a professional resume writing service. You should consider that there are many people who have great resumes but are not getting the jobs they deserve.If you are looking for someone to help you develop a marketing plan, you should consider that many writers have a business model that requires less time. For instance, a resume writing service can help you hire someone to as sist you and have them handle all of the marketing. This will allow you to work from home and focus on developing your career.There are many benefits to this type of service. If you want to have a career that has more success, you should look into this service. This type of service can help you in so many ways. If you are interested in developing a marketing plan for your business, a resume writing service can help you achieve success.Find a resume writing service that will provide you with the skills that you need and make you successful in the industry. Consider that when you hire a professional, you are creating a marketing plan that will draw in clients and increase your sales. In addition, you will be saving time by outsourcing the task to someone who has been doing this for a long time.

Relocating to a New City for a Job Who, Why, and How - Sterling Career Concepts

Relocating to a New City for a Job Who, Why, and How Relocating to a New City for a Job: Who, Why, and How Allied Van Lines surveyed 3,500 respondents about relocating for a job to find out who relocates and why and then dived into the demographics of those who did move for a new job. Their infographic with those facts as well as other interesting statistics is shown partly below and can be found here in full. It turns out the strong majority of respondents had never relocated for a job, but those that did, the most popular reasons were for financial reasons or career advancement. vital facts one may think about when considering a relocation. The survey asked about gender, age, the size of the company, whether relocation assistance was offered, and if so, which type. The decision to relocate is a hard one, but then the process itself comes with challenges. Allied asked its respondents about those as well. The surveys analysis of the different types of relocation assistance and how often each was offered can prove helpful when negotiating a relocation package. Jump over to Allieds survey page to read the full analysis.

Can I Become A Pilot - CareerAlley

Can I Become A Pilot - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. Many of us dream as children that one day we may become a famous Astronaut, a Doctor, or even a pilot. However, as we grow older things happen in life which stop these things from coming to fruition. It becomes clear as we make our way through school that these things arent as simple as they seem, and we may think we cannot achieve our dream. If you've been inspired, you may want to put that work and time into the job youve wanted since you could talk- and you can do it as long as you dedicate enough time to your work. Tweet This However, if you have been inspired by famous female aviators or groundbreaking engineers, you may want to put that work and time into the job youve wanted since you could talk- and you can do it as long as you dedicate enough time to your work. HOW TO BECOME AN AIRLINE PILOT: Achieve Your Dream Without Going Broke Price: $2.99 Buy Now from Amazon We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. Last Updated: March 2, 2020 But how can you become a pilot? The first thing you will need to do before you even start your training as a pilot is to have a medical examination performed on you. Contrary to popular belief, you can fly a plane if you wear glasses as long as you can prove that your eyesight is 20/20. Training When applying for training to be a pilot, you must bear in mind that you have to be 21 before you will be able to take part in the advanced courses. Before this time you will want to learn more about flying and study the theory of planes and how they work. This will put you in a better position when you start your official training. Just like becoming a doctor, the journey to becoming a qualified pilot is long, it will take a huge amount of funding and it is extremely competitive. You will want to make sure that you are totally sure of your decision before you commit to it. A great way to decide whether becoming a pilot is right for you is to enroll is some work experience with an airline. Many airlines will offer the chance for you to go and observe flying and to get a feel for how your job will proceed. It will allow you to make a decision on whether this is a career path you want to go through or not. The cost Like any other degree course, training to fly an aircraft will not be cheap. It is understandable because you are being put in charge of the safety of over a hundred people every time you set off- and this means that the training is lengthy, in-depth and costly. You will likely be able to get a loan from a bank or from the government for your course- and then you may want to get a part-time job alongside the course to help when you come to pay back the fees. It could range anywhere around $100,000 to train for your license, so it is a huge financial commitment to make. If you dont want to get a loan, you may be able to put a case forward to an airline for them to sponsor your training. A lot of the time airlines will accept applicants if they can prove how dedicated they are to the cause. If you can out a good case together this could be the ideal way in. Whats the training like? The way you train to become a pilot can be split into a few different categories. APTL Test during the course of your training there will be around 14 exams which you will need to pass in order to move on and receive your license. They involve flight navigation, planning, aviation law amongst other subjects. EASA ATPL Theory Exam Prep Price: $74.99 Prep course Buy Now from Amazon We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. Last Updated: March 2, 2020 Flight training- this is the bit youve been waiting for. Most of the training in flight will take place in the USA, and you will get to fly around in a plane with a trained pilot who will teach you the ropes. Night Qualification you will be allowed to fly through the night, which is more challenging than in the day due to less visibility. CPL- after racking up 150 hours of flying time you will earn your commercial pilot license. Pilot selection The tricky bit comes before you have qualified, and this is the part where you are selected to be able to train or not. You will go through a series of tests in your school or college to assess your mental ability, special awareness, and other skills which could prove useful as a pilot. You will need to demonstrate great technical skills and problem-solving in order for your school to approve you to go on your pilot training. TopResume Free Resume Review Price: TopResume writes and analyzes more resumes and LinkedIn profiles than any other service in the world. Let our resume experts provide you with objective feedback and personalized recommendations to improve your resume and land the right job sooner. Get a free, confidential resume review from TopResume Get Your Killer Resume We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. What's next? Ready to take action? Choose the right tools to help you build your career. Looking for related topics? Find out how to find the opportunities that help you grow your best career. Subscribe and make meaningful progress on your career. It’s about time you focused on your career. Get Educated Contact Us Advertise Copyright 2020 CareerAlley. All Rights Reserved. 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