Cracking competency questions

Cracking competency questions Its the season (again) where many of you are frantically completing application forms for jobs and internships. Charlie and Ioanna, our job search advisers, have taken time out from their busy schedule to give you a potted guide to competency-based questions. Master the technique and you stand a much better chance of  beating the application odds. Application forms â€" and certainly those for graduate positions â€" include some competency based questions. Employers use this type of question to see how well you can describe your actions (and the results of your actions) when it comes to certain competencies such as team working, problem solving and leadership. A typical question might be, “Give me an example of a time when you have demonstrated initiative?” Or you may be asked about “a time when you had to support an idea you did not agree with for the good of the team.” Put yourself in the employers shoes As with many of the elements of the job application process, success depends on looking at things from the employers perspective. First up, what does the employer want from you? Its crucial you check the job spec.  Highlight the key words  (e.g. initiative, motivated) and try to infer other competencies the job may require. For instance, a project management role will look for evidence of organisation, communication and problem solving. Some recruiters are explicit about the skills and competencies theyre looking for, whereas others may simply offer clues and expect you to fill in the blanks. If you see a job description that mentions brand champion, its safe to conclude that marketing experience and communication skills will be paramount. Reflect on situations where you have demonstrated these key skills. Remember, they don’t all have to be in the workplace. Employers like to see examples drawn from a range of activities and experiences. Try not to be too daunted by your peers: yes, there will always be some students that have managed to acquire a seriously impressive portfolio of work experience whilst leading two societies, volunteering every week, working part time and scaling K2but theyre not the majority. Inject some of your personality by choosing an example that demonstrates your passion and commitment.  This can set you apart from the crowd. I once listened to a student describe how he had built a drum kit from parts he bought on eBay â€" he demonstrated initiative, problem solving and persistence. I was completely drawn in by his passion for each element of the building process. Show you CARE Employers like answers to be concise, clear and focussed on you. Nothing frustrates employers more than candidates who invoke the royal we! A good way to practise is by following the CARE model: Context â€" What was the  context  of the situation?  10-15% of your answer. Action â€" What exactly did  you do  and how?  60-70% of your answer. Result â€" What was the  result  of your actions?  10% of your answer. Evaluation â€" What did you  learn  from the experience?  10% of your answer. Ultimately, be guided by the structure suggested in the wording of the question. Some questions have more than one part and you must address each and every one in your answer. * You may also have come across the STAR framework, which is very similar: Situation, Task, Action, Result And finally Be clear, concise and specific â€" avoid generalisations and skirting around the issue. Be detailed as to  what  you did and  how  you did it. Remember, employers are assessing whether you are adequately skilled in the particular competency. Use the maximum available word allowance but don’t exceed it. Tailor each application to the specific organisation. Employers will spot where you fail to do this. Dont be tempted to copy and paste â€" it will show! Check deadlines and give yourself plenty of time to draft well considered answers. And remember, try to adopt the  sniper, not scattergun approach  to your applications. Use feedback from  our  job search advisers  and recruiters (where possible) to update and refine your applications. Time invested at the application stage is time well spent.

12 Game of Thrones characters who are literally your work colleagues

12 Game of Thrones characters who are literally your work colleagues This post was written by an external contributor. We hate to break it to you, but your work colleagues have uncanny similarities with Game of Thrones characters. Roxanne Metz-Johnson breaks it down.   Though we are knee-deep in July, be warned that Winter is well and truly here and right inside your office. Have you ever mulled upon the parallels between your workplace and Westeros?  Well look no further! You aren’t imagining it, you actually work with several GoT characters, and you’ll find some of the resemblances uncanny… Podrick Payne, a.k.a The Intern Dutiful, diligent, and aiming to please, the  intern just wants to make a good impression. He will never say no to working late or finishing a job for you and this trait means he is easily taken advantage of by those running to clock out. He goes above and beyond in his role which will hopefully lead to permanent knighthood, I mean, employment. There has never lived a more loyal squire. Margaery Tyrell, a.k.a The Networking Queen This smart cookie strategically places herself amongst the big names to rub shoulders with the right people and climb that career ladder. Networking 101; get noticed, and she does just that. Charity events, roles of responsibility, volunteering in different departments, you name it, she’s done it. She knows what she wants and how to get there, and while pleasant in demeanour, she’s not necessarily here to make friends. Lord Varys, a.k.a The Office Busybody This is the person who knows everyone and everything. Maybe they have an air about them which makes them a trusted confidant. Maybe they just have really good hearing. Either way this is the go-to person for all the inter-department Intel and will find out if the cutie from HR is single for you. The Office Busybody always has the tea on who’s dating, who’s up for promotion, and who brought birthday cake in. Bronn, a.k.a Laidback Jack He comes in, gets the job done, and he’s out. No mess, no noise. He knows what he’s doing and could do it with his eyes shut. He’ll crack a joke or two to lift the Monday mood. You can always count on this guy to start the countdown to Friday on Tuesday, or to give the old wink-nudge referencing the suggestive weekend just gone, oi oi. After-work drinks anyone? Brienne of Tarth, a.k.a My Job is My Life Colleague There’s having a true passion for your career and then there’s this gal. There’s always one person who takes their job entirely too seriously. If you clock out a bit early or use the office printer to print festival tickets, she’s there, marshal badge in hand, to remind you of the company code of conduct. As much as you want to tell her to chill out, she’s a good ally to have reputation-wise…best to stay on her good side.  â€œMisusing office resources is an act of treason!” Samwell Tarly, a.k.a Your Mentor This is the person you go to when you have no clue what you’re doing but do not want to be judged for it. He’s been in your shoes before; made all the same mistakes and wishes he’d had someone to show him the work hacks he now knows. Trustworthy, knowledgeable and easy to talk to; this is the guidance guru with a friendly smile. He only wants the best for you, bless him. Lord Baelish, a.k.a The Office Snake The person who will readily throw you under the bus in order to progress their own career. He will smile in your face and passively aggressively correct your work conduct via email with your team leader CC’d in. Any information gained from casual convo is being stowed into his arsenal of dirt on colleagues, saving for leverage when the time comes. Hopefully your Office Snake isn’t quite as sinister as Littlefinger, nonetheless, watch your back. Daenerys Targaryen, a.k.a The Young Senior Manager Everybody underestimates her due to her age and inexperience, but with a score of qualifications and achievements under her belt in a short space of time she was bound to intimidate some of the older senior managers. She understands the importance of communicating with junior levels of staff and works towards flattening out that hierarchy. But don’t come with disrespect, because she will put you in your place. Mance Rayder, a.k.a The Older Stuck-In-Their-Ways Colleague He’s been with the company 25 years, and he’ll be sure to slip that into conversation at any given opportunity. Somewhat of a technophobe, he’ll scoff at changes made comparing them to the highly-treasured, albeit dated, processes back in his day. Training refresher days? Wireless telephone updates? He will not bend the knee. These guys are great for old industry tricks and tips despite the nostalgic tirades. Re-invention and evolution are good, but these guys are probably familiar with the blueprint. Word to Hov. Bran Stark, a.k.a Out of Office Colleague Is he off sick or is he working from home? This is the guy you forgot you even worked with, but have been assured many a time that he is working on a highly important project. He probably has a wealth of knowledge and skills but couldn’t name five members of the team.  A recluse left alone to work on and perfect his vision (pun intended), even if it means shutting everyone else out. What does he look like again? Cersei Lannister, a.k.a The Scary CEO Regal, commanding and quite frankly intimidating. This is the big boss you can’t quite look in the eye for too long because it is literally piercing your soul and exposing your inadequacy. She’s experienced in the game, and while not necessarily making a beeline towards murder or incest, she has had some ruthless moments that have left you shaken up. Like Cersei, the CEO has powerful connections and makes big moves without getting her hands dirty. When she passes your floor, my God, you’d better look busy before she questions your entire existence. Yara Greyjoy, a.k.a The Bullish Team Leader You can always expect a rallying pep talk from this one as she lays out the incentive and targets for the month ahead (may or may not include sports analogies). She wants to win and has every faith that her team is the team to do it.  Backed up by stats and performance history, she doesn’t want to hear “can’t”, she wants results!  â€œNo fight is hopeless till it has been fought!” So it is confirmed, you dwell among citizens of the Seven Kingdoms from the comfort of your break room. The question that now remains is…which one are you?

Lets have a Career Clarity Chat! - Jane Jackson Career

Lets have a Career Clarity Chat! - Jane Jackson Career Looking for a job can be quite daunting, especially if youve just experienced a redundancy. You need Career Clarity before you can make decisions about what you will do next. Many questions will be swimming around in your mind:Will I ever get another job?Is my resumé or CV the best it can be?What do I do on LinkedIn to attract opportunities?What are the best job search strategies?Am I too old, too afraid, or just too confused to get another job?Im here to help! Book in for a Complimentary Career Clarity Chat today and lets get you on the right track to create the career of your dreams. As you can see from my LinkedIn post below, LinkedIn is the best place to reach YOUR next employer build your personal brand and attract the opportunities you deserve!Watch the video to get started.For on-going support in a professional community environment, join The Careers Academy its the most affordable and comprehensive membership site that wont break the bank!TestimonialsJane is an amazing career coach and person, she endeavours to get the best out of people and is willing to spend the time you need to feel confident in what you do, but makes sure it’s your decision! Her passion for helping others shows in her answers in the LinkedIn group and Facebook group. She never seems to stop working to help others to find their values and career direction that’s best for them. If you’re out of a job or just want to reassess your career decisions, direction and goals, Jane’s book is amazing and I absolutely recommend it. Maeghan LeeI had the pleasure of working with Jane on many occasions over the past several years as my career coach and mentor. I am so grateful for her passion, positive encouragement and ongoing commitment to helping me to improve and getting the most potential out of myself. Most recently I was going through my own career crossroads and she has been so professional and dealt with my transition with a lot of care. She have helped me through the whole process from developing my positioning statement, resume development, LinkedIn profile, through to interview techniques and negotiations. I thank her so much for helping me in achieving this big milestone and great new job that I’m thrilled about. Albert TanIve had the amazing opportunity to work with Jane one on one and can only describe the experience as an eye opener. From someone who is in their early stages of their career, Jane has added extreme value to the ways I can effectively manage my career moving forward. From resume building, LinkedIn operation/branding and providing access to resources that I would have otherwise not known existed.I come out of our session with a genuine feel that I am actually putting myself in the best position possible to achieving my dream job. Thank you very much Jane, you were engaging, informative, constructive and an absolute delight to work with! Branden Nguyen

Is Grant Writing a Skill Resume For the New Applicant?

Is Grant Writing a Skill Resume For the New Applicant?Finding out if you have the ability to write a grant writing a skill resume is a good decision. Writing a good grant writing a skill resume can have a positive impact on your career. It is good for you to know that you can have a part in this process because it will increase your chances of getting awarded the funds you need.The more grant writers you have the better, because they are known as experts in this field. You may not be knowledgeable in all areas of government grants, but when you learn how to write a grant writing a skill resume, you can be at ease in approaching them. If you know how to perform a grant writing a skill resume, it will show you to be competent.If you are new to writing a grant writing a skill resume, you should hire the services of a professional. This will help you improve your skills and confidence in writing. It is important to do this because you have to deal with the technical aspects of writing gr ants in a professional manner.You can also write your own resume if you have written it yourself but not personally had an experience in writing a grant. If you do have personal experience writing a grant, it is good to check with your high school guidance counselor or college guidance counselor for suggestions. They may have experiences in writing a grant and some may even teach you. You can ask them about their experiences in grant writing.You should keep in mind that this resume must be professional, as it will show you to be competent. It is important that the information that you include in your resume is accurate. You should choose the type of information that you include in your resume. It is important that you are professional with the information that you put in the resume.It is important that you have good computer skills. You should know how to use the computer properly so that you can get the job done faster. You should also understand how to do the paperwork correctly s o that you can have a smoother way to search for and apply for grants. It is important that you know how to use software that can handle different programs and can help you with applications and various forms. Having a good computer knowledge is important if you want to get the job done quickly.When applying for a grant, you will need to prove your skills. You may need to prove that you have the skills and that you are competent enough to perform a task. You have to have the skills to perform well in writing a grant because it shows you to be competent.You have to have the skills and the work experience necessary to do a job that requires writing a grant. You also have to have the skill and experience in a particular subject area. If you have the skills needed, you will have a good chance of getting the job done right away.

Using Great Resume Examples to Get Employed

Using Great Resume Examples to Get EmployedIf you are at a point in your career where you are looking for employment, but are having a difficult time getting noticed, you may want to use great resume examples. Not every company is going to be hiring a resume writer, so the job of creating a great resume has to be outsourced.The best resume examples should be sent to prospective employers who are looking for new employees. If they are not hiring, and you have the ability to design your own resumes, then that is even better. This way you can create the perfect resume with the personal touch you are looking for.To begin, you can either use free resume examples, or pay for them. In most cases, free examples will get the job done. That is how you get started. However, if you want to do it properly, and want to be able to customize it, then it may be best to spend some money.Once you are confident in the quality of the examples you are using, it is time to begin. One of the best ways to cr eate a resume is to use the online tools provided by many job boards. These tools allow you to customize your resume according to the needs of the company. They will provide you with instructions and ensure you have the correct information on your resume.One of the ways to avoid plagiarism is to learn the proper spelling and grammar rules when using these tools. You will not want to get caught for plagiarism, but if you are worried about it, it will help. A good way to learn these rules is to take a course on online English grammar, and then to use those guidelines to tailor your resume.After you have finished creating your examples, you need to be able to show them to anyone. Remember, just because you have created an amazing resume example, doesn't mean that you are the best candidate. By showing your examples to anyone who wants them, you can improve your chances of getting hired.Finally, once you have used great resume examples, you need to submit it to companies. In order to in crease your odds of getting hired, you need to make sure that you send your resume in by the deadline. This will help any employer get a better idea of who you are, and what your abilities are.

New Article Reveals the Low Down on Do I Need a Resume Writing Service and Why You Must Take Action Today

New Article Reveals the Low Down on Do I Need a Resume Writing Service and Why You Must Take Action Today Do I Need a Resume Writing Service Can Be Fun for Everyone More than a few companies need a particular format, so make sure to inspect the format they want and use it. You'd need to do the formatting work yourself. Employing a resume template is now an acceptable and smart practice for quite a few explanations. Format of resume isn't an add-on as it plays principal function in earning your profile powerful. You may even select an available writer to communication panel, which gives an immediate communication between the author and the customer. You need your resume to pull the eye of a prospective employer, and you require it to stick out in the crowd so that you get picked for an interview. If you're making a resume for employment and wish to come into the opinion of the hiring manager then you have to highlight your abilities. You're out in the work market searching f or a new career or perhaps you just wish to modify your work, and are sending your resume to prospective employers. What the In-Crowd Won't Tell You About Do I Need a Resume Writing Service Use a brief anecdote, a brief you're writing. If you're using a writing service, you should have confidence in the very best writers you're choosing. One of possibly the most essential things in regards to a letter of introduction is really including whatever you are going to want to say, and in case you omit anything then you might be in difficulty. It is really a relatively new idea that has been utilized more and much more often in the task market. New Step by Step Roadmap for Do I Need a Resume Writing Service The writer should have full contact information that can be found on their site. In order to receive professional resume without waiting much, it's important to offer genuine info to resume writers as and when required. Keep in mind you will probably wish to incorporate a cove r letter, too. A mix between the resume together with a personal declaration, a letter of introduction is genuinely a manner of presenting you or another individual to the prospective business. The writer you select should have some kind of certification or other credential in the area and the experience to serve a wide selection of professionals in numerous industries. The ideal job target, clearly, is the well-defined one. Clearly state what kind of a job that you need and know what skill-set and experience is required to succeed in that job. The very last thing you wish to do is apply for work in education with a subpar resume. You might also want to have a peek at our resume tips section for different ideas on putting together your resume. Employing a custom resume instead of a generic one is going to greatly increase your odds of an interview, as you'll be a better match in the view of the reader. As you write your resume, always remember that it is a personal advertis ing tool and you have to use it in order to put yourself in the very best possible place to land an interview. Whether you are only starting out, are a seasoned professional, or are looking to produce a significant career change, MyPerfectResume has the resume tools you have to get ahead.

Top 5 Ice Breakers For Virtual Networking Events - Work It Daily

Top 5 Ice Breakers For Virtual Networking Events - Work It Daily Virtual networking events are gaining in popularity - not just because they’re fun, inexpensive, and convenient, but also because they make meeting new professional contacts incredibly easy. Related:18 Easy Conversation Starters For Networking Events However, if you find yourself doing all of the talking during a chat, you might need to reevaluate your strategy. The ultimate goal of networking is to connect with people, build relationships, and share opportunities. If you’re struggling to get someone talking, this can be a challenge. But how can you connect with people if you don’t know how to get them talking? Here are five questions that are GUARANTEED to get people talking, especially at virtual networking events: 1. What brings you here? When you’re networking, it’s important to establish commonalities between you and the person you’re talking with at the time. The “What brings you here?” question is great for both in-person and virtual networking events because there’s always going to be an answer. You and this person are both at the event, so you share that experience. Talk about an easy way to start a conversation! Here are few variations/follow up questions: What brings you to this event tonight? Have you ever been to one of these events before? How are you liking this event so far? Meet any interesting people? This is a great way to get a glimpse of what this person is looking to accomplish during the event, which can easily segue into talking about their industry and/or professional goals. This is one of my favorite things to start with during a virtual networking event. I highly recommend it! 2. Where are you from? This is always a great ice breaker. Everybody is from somewhere - ask about it! Where are they from? Have they always lived there, or did they relocate? What’s their favorite part about their location? There are so many questions that can branch off from that initial question. It’s a great fallback if you’re hurting for things to talk about. 3. What are your hobbies? Ask them what they enjoy doing when they’re not at work. Ask them about what kinds of activities they enjoy doing on the weekends. Ask them about their favorite hobbies. Then, ask them why they enjoy those things. What got them into them? What are some of their favorite things about them? Why? People love learning about people’s “after five” lives because, for many, it’s easier to relate. If you find yourself talking with someone whose professional area of expertise is a little too specific for you, or someone who has a hard time opening up about their profession, ask this question. Who knows, you could share a common hobby, which means more for you to talk about! 4. What are your professional goals or interests? Most of the time, even at networking events, the “So, what do you do?” question isn’t so welcomed (especially for those out of work). It can make some people feel uncomfortable or insecure about themselves. Instead, rephrase the question. Ask, “What are your professional goals or interests?” This phrasing eliminates any awkward moments because you’re not just assuming this person has a job. You’re allowing them to explain their professional position in a way that they can get excited about. You’re asking about their professional GOALS and INTERESTS, not about their job, which might not even exist. After they answer your question, you can ask what drew them to the industry, why they decided to take that direction, and so on. This is a great way to get a more in-depth idea of what they are trying to accomplish and how you can help each other. 5. What inspired you to move in that direction? After you learn a little bit about this person’s professional goals and interests, you can follow up with “What inspired you to move in that direction?” Was it a person? A memory? An event? Why? Learning a little bit about their history with their profession or mission can give you an idea of what they are looking for now. Not only that, but they will be excited to tell their story to someone who seems genuinely interested in it. This will win you bonus points! Quick Tip: Keep Your Questions Open-Ended Notice that all of these questions are open ended. They aren’t ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answers. They encourage the other person to open up and talk about themselves in a way that makes them comfortable. This approach will boost your likability factor because people will be able to feel comfortable talking with you, they know you’re not going to make it all about you, and they will appreciate that you took the time to listen to their story, interests, and goals. It will help you connect with people on a personal level, which also boosts your chances of them remembering you - always a plus, especially as a networker! Have you joined our career growth club?Join Us Today!