A friend of mine recently retired and the young age of 53 having worked in his company since the age of 16 working up to a senior level. He decided it was time to relax take stock and enjoy life…After a couple of months he thought it would be a good idea to look for a part-time job or a short-term contract, he has an immense amount of skills and most companies would benefit from having him in their organisation. (I’m really not just saying that because he’s my friend!)

After calling some Recruitment Agencies he was astonished to find that people said they’d call back but didn’t or if they did speak they didn’t listen to his questions, they were prescriptive in their response! “Send in your CV and if anything comes in we’ll call you?  What is Anything?  He didn’t just want anything! He wants to add value to a company having worked for 35 years there was a huge amount he could offer!  Sadly this fell on deaf ears, He wasn’t asked relevant probing questions and would just pigeon hole if there was a ‘similar’ job they had available!.. My friend’s experience was demoralising to say the least.. there was no-one saying, ‘Lets see how we can help YOU.’ Having myself worked in the industry for over 25 years I am still shocked by how short-sighted this behaviour is;

I once had a temporary worker, Jane,  for two years whilst at university came back to do seasonal work,  she worked really hard and I helped as much as I could in terms of her earning enough to see her through her studies.  10 Years later I went for an interview and the Manager sitting behind the desk was Jane,  Our paths crossing again but this time for a very different reason!  Thankfully I got the job!  You never know who you are going to meet and the impact it may have in the future..

Let’s take control of your career journey

If you are in a situation where you are changing your career after being in a job for a long time and you need support tailoring your CV, needing help with your interview technique and support around how best to apply, rather than sending your CV into the abyss and not hearing back then I’m sure I can help you. In the meantime here are my top tips to help you on your journey.

My 5 top tips…

Firstly, ask yourself what’s important to you in your next career move? what are your core skills and what motivates you?

Tip 1 –It’s like going into a black hole!

If you haven’t looked for a job in a long time, you probably feel over-whelmed with the whole process. Focus your attention on your attributes and why a company would employ you.  The only thing you can control is how you feel and how you approach getting the ‘right’ role for you.

Tip 2–Nervous?  You’re not alone!

Not everyone is a natural interviewer, don’t focus the fact they may be intimidating, they are people like you and I, rushing to get to work, get the kids ready for school and thereports in on time!  They are real people, not robots asking a list of questions..  Some interviewers aren’t actually comfortable about the process so just focus on building your confidence and prepare well for the interview ahead.

Tip 3 – Practicing builds confidence

Nothing builds confidence like a good practice session. Ideally you do this every time before your interview. If you have done your homework, you have practiced answering questions out loud with a friend or to yourself. You want to sound natural so work on the especially difficult questions like, “Can you share with me one of your development areas?” “Give me an example of when you have had to overcome a particularly difficult problem.” Think of situations you have dealt with at work and what actions you took in solving the problem.

Tip 4 – Sounding and looking confident

This is about being able to use fluid language to express yourself without hesitation.  It’s also about good eye contact, open posture, not hunched or folding your arms looking closed off! Think about how you are coming across. For example, “I’m not really sure what I could bring to the role, do you think I would be a good fit?” Turn that question into, “I’d like to learn more about the responsibilities of the role, but based on what you’ve told me so far, I know that I would be a perfect match for the job.” Never look for reassurance from the interviewer; your job is to confidently assure him or her that you are exactly what they are looking for!

When you look good you feel good. It’s all about making a good first impression.” What you wear to the interview definitely impacts your self-confidence. Firstly, find out what you are expected to wear.  But if you don’t have advanced information, for women suits and separates can be coordinated with tasteful accessories. For men a suit with a tie is appropriate.  Your overall look should reflect confidence and capability.

Tip 5 – A follow up email or letter of thanks

Another way to express confidence is with a “thank you” for taking the time to meet with you. It can be short and to the point, but it must include reasons why you are a good fit for the job. It’s another opportunity to show that you are still confident that you are the right pick. And you stand out from the herd!

To conclude, your self-confidence is critical to your success during the job interview. If you need a boost, as we all do from time to time, implement some of these tips before and during your job interview. And don’t forget to express your appreciation and include a point or two about why you are the right person for the job.

If you want more tips and coaching ahead of a big decision or an interview, I’m happy to help.