Career Services from Measurability

A definition of a Career Coach

Career coach will work with you to help you identify, pursue and achieve career goals. A career coach will offer you great support, introduce structure and objectivity.  A career coach will ask you those difficult questions, challenge you, offer suggestions and resources. Coaching has grown in popularity over the last decade in all areas as many individuals have attributed success in their live to the work of coaches.

How can a Career Coach help you?

The biggest request is for Career Planning and Career Direction. Coaches can help you understand yourself and find the right career path. Most coaches will operate on a 1-1 format both face to face or over the phone. Most coaches will have access to a wide variety of career tools including career tests, personality questionnaires and interest inventories. These tools support the coaching process by providing valuable information about you, how you prefer to work, what motivates you and your interests.

What else can a Career Coach offer?

Many career coaches move into the area from a HR or Recruitment background. Therefore they can help you clarify career direction but with their expertise they can help you achieve your career goals. They can support you marketing efforts with CV design & job search strategies. They can also help you with interview planning and preparation.

Who can a Career Coach help?

Career coaches help a wide variety of individuals across a variety of unique situations. Some of these situations include:
- people starting out on their career
- people at a career crossroads
- people who suffered redundancy
- people coming back into the workforce

Locating a Career Coach in Ireland

Measurability is headed by Paul Mullan and Irish career expert. Therefore we can provide the Career Coach to help you. We provide a professional service for professional at all levels of the organisation and across industry sectors. We offer career direction, career tests and assessments, CV design, job search strategies and interview preparation. Contact us for more information on any of these services.

 Interview Preparation for jobseekers in Ireland

 Below is a list of common interview mistakes you should avoid at interview. These mistake are feedback from interviewers as to why jobseekers failed at interview. You have been warned!!

Interview Preparation will help you avoid these mistakes

Poor personal hygiene or appearance
Lack of interest
Money orientated
Negative about past employers
Lack of eye contact
Limp handshake (my pet hate!!)
Not following directions
Late for interview
Lack of appreciation for the interviewer’s time
Not asking questions
Indefinite response to questions
Aggressive or “know it all”
Poor communication
Lack of career direction or goals
Lack of confidence
Lack of participate in activities
Not prepared to get hands dirty
Excuses AND evasiveness
Poor tact
Bad manners
Immaturity
Lack of vitality
Indecisive
Poor application forms
Impression that only shopping around.
Indication that the job is short time solution
Lack of interest in company or the industry
Low standards or morals
Cynical
Laziness 

Interview Preparation – Do you need help?

If you are seeking interview preparation support contact us for more information about how we can help you to success at interview.

Job hunting can be a frustrating business with many jobseekers falling at the first hurdle – unable to secure interviews. If you are struggling for to get called for interviews there can be a number of possible causes.

1. You are applying for jobs where you do not meet the requirements

There is a chance you are applying for jobs where you do not meet the experience, background or qualifications. HR and hiring managers will often put your CV on the PFO pile without further exploration. It is important to try different approaches and to get feedback. Some suggestions include phoning the client before you send your CV as this will tag your personality to the document. If rejected you can seek feedback to identify what you will need to do to achieve your goal or what other routes you can take. Rejection after rejection can be soul destroying so get creative.

2. You are not applying for jobs

I often receive phone calls from jobseekers seeking CV redesign. When I view the CV is often fine. Investigation often shines light to the fact that the jobseeker has been doing very little in the job market. If you don’t buy the ticket you can’t win the lotto. Job hunting takes time an effort. You must initiate action before you can get results.

3. Poor CV preparation

More often than not the CV is poor and not making an impact with the reader. I see some very bad CV’s that do not even get the basics right such as poor spelling and grammar, poor format, too much detail or lack of focus. Your CV is the 1st point of contact with the employer and perhaps your only contact if it does not make an impact. Spend some time creating a document that will do you justice and maximise your chances of meeting employers.

Measurability offer CV design services nationwide. We design CV’s that produce results and our customers agree. We also provide career coaching, career direction and interview coaching. If you need more information on any of our services feel free to contact us.

Ending an interview can be a bit like a first date. You want to play cool and don’t want to seem too keen. Well sometimes you meet the right person and you need to make sure they know you are interested. This is the same as an interview. When you find the right job and have a good feeling about a company should you leave it to chance that the employer knows how you feel? A closing statement can make or lose a job offer. When working in recruitment I often received feedback from a client that my candidate did not seem interested. The candidate had indicated to me that they would take any offer just to get the job. Therefore something went wrong in the communication process.

How do you normally close your interviews?

Do you play it cool? – this can hide desperation and it can also help when it gets the business end – negotiating salary

Do you tell them how you really feel? – this can seem desperate and can put you in a weaker position in negotiations BUT at least the employer is in no doubt that you want the job.

Which statement do you end your interviews with?

“I am interested in the job and I look forward to your response”

Or

“I would love to work here. Can I have the job?”

I guess each individual’s situation is different and you can only assess it on a case by case basis. My point is that if you do an interview and love the job ensure the employer is aware - don’t leave it to chance.

Measurability offer expert interview coaching and advice services in Ireland. If you are struggling at interview and need help from a professional contact us for more information. Interview success is just a phonecall away.

There are many resources available to individuals who are seeking career support in Ireland. Some of these resources are free and other you will have to pay. The paid option is not an option for some individuals but other see the value in paying for a professional service. Either way there is something for everyone’s budget in this post.

FREE CAREER ADVICE & RESOURCES

Internet – There is a wealth of information on the internet which can be found on traditional site or career blogs. There is information of career direction, some free career tests and information on writing a CV or preparing for interview. The biggest difficulty with this resource is that much of the information is not much good. If you know what you are looking for you can locate some valuable information.

Career Guidance Service – Many schools and colleges have a free career guidance service. The only problem is that you will probably have to be attending the institution to access. But you might try your luck as a quick 15 minute phone call may prove helpful.

HR Departments – HR professionals in your organisation or a previous organisation may be able to help you out. These professional have a wealth of experience in Recruitment, Training & Development.

Recruitment Agencies – Recruitment agencies are not a career resource but you may come across a nice recruitment consultant who could give you advice on your CV or interview preparation. Unlikely to provide career direction advice and if they do ask yourself is there and agenda with the advice.

Outplacement Consultants – If your company has been hit with redundancy then this resource may be provided. If it is the company will normally pay for it. This can prove an invaluable resource.

Friends & Family – Normally I would recommend steering clear of this advice unless they are in the above categories.

PAID CAREER ADVICE & RESOURCES

Measurability – A professional service offering Career direction, career assessments, job search strategies, CV writing and interview coaching