interview coaching/mock interviews?

Wellydancer

Has anyone here paid for the services of interview coaching and where is this service available around the Dublin area. Out of 140/150 job applications only 5 interviews but have had no success in securing a job yet. Before most of the interviews I have spent at least 2 full days preparing questions and getting friends and family to give me mock interviews. I thought the majority of interviews went really well but I obviously must be doing something wrong. Getting seriously worried at this stage about getting a job and majority of class, MBS Accounting DCU has secured employment. Was thinking of getting help and finding out where I am going wrong with interview coaching /mock interviews. Is this beneficially and where is this service available in Dublin. - Thanks in advance.

Welease

I've never used those sort of services, so can't comment..

But one word of advice.. using family and friends may not be the people to practice interview technique on, especially if a) they are not people who interview and hire people b) that have no experience in your field.

Your Mum probably think's the sun shines out of your bum , she won't (I'm assuming) have hired and managed people and understand they type of questions that a manager would be interested in hearing your responses to.

Do you know anyone who runs a business who would be willing to interview you? You really need someone who is hard nosed and critical..

Don't get down about it though... It's extremely tough out there at the minute.. there are another 450K+ people having the same problem.. (it can be worth offering your services free to a charity to show potential interviewers that you have focus and gained some experience while waiting for the right opportunity).


Best of luck.

Sugar Free

OP I've used these before http://www.carrcommunications.ie/public/index.php and thought they were excellent.

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

What's wrong with FAS or the local jobs club? That's who I used. The man in FAS was extremely helpful, so were the jobs club and my careers guidance councillor from college.

I think it's sick that these people would take advantage of those seeking work. I know it's business but still. There are plenty of free services that offer you the same. Even recruitment agencies have helped me in the past.

Wellydancer

Welease wrote: »

I've never used those sort of services, so can't comment..

But one word of advice.. using family and friends may not be the people to practice interview technique on, especially if a) they are not people who interview and hire people b) that have no experience in your field.

Your Mum probably think's the sun shines out of your bum , she won't (I'm assuming) have hired and managed people and understand they type of questions that a manager would be interested in hearing your responses to.

Do you know anyone who runs a business who would be willing to interview you? You really need someone who is hard nosed and critical..

Don't get down about it though... It's extremely tough out there at the minute.. there are another 450K+ people having the same problem.. (it can be worth offering your services free to a charity to show potential interviewers that you have focus and gained some experience while waiting for the right opportunity).


Best of luck.

thanks welease, never got my parents to practice with me, they do own their own business but would never have held professional interviews, and my two friends that helped me do a masters in HRM. Heard that a friend of a friend got this service and that he thought he was coming across as confident but they pointed out that he was coming across as stand offish, so thats why i'm interested in this service as to what i am doing that is so wrong. three of these interviews i did had a 50 50 chance of getting the job.!! tanx anyway.

Wellydancer

Anson Obedient Rave wrote: »

What's wrong with FAS or the local jobs club? That's who I used. The man in FAS was extremely helpful, so were the jobs club and my careers guidance councillor from college.

I think it's sick that these people would take advantage of those seeking work. I know it's business but still. There are plenty of free services that offer you the same. Even recruitment agencies have helped me in the past.

I am unaware of any help from fas. I will look into it thanks. tbh have been saying a while i wouldnt mind working for free to get my 3 year training contract that i need. my career service is not useful. e-mailed them twice and no reply and when to visit in person and they just tell me to go to workshops that they provide, that they can't provide one on one. i've been to all of them. but i will look into FAS. didnt know they could help graduates.

Welease

Wellydancer wrote: »

thanks welease, never got my parents to practice with me, they do own their own business but would never have held professional interviews, and my two friends that helped me do a masters in HRM. Heard that a friend of a friend got this service and that he thought he was coming across as confident but they pointed out that he was coming across as stand offish, so thats why i'm interested in this service as to what i am doing that is so wrong. three of these interviews i did had a 50 50 chance of getting the job.!!

Well.. dont be so down on yourself.. I doubt you are doing anything "so wrong" (but maybe you are... difficult to tell without interviewing you).. Either way, you are approaching the problem is a very logical and correct manner.. you will fix the problem!

Maybe the interview company could help.. but also remember there are a lot of these companies about where the people themselves have never hired and their advice while it might be useful, is essentially just opinion.. I have a friend who had his CV done over a company and some interview pointers.. He asked me to have a look, and imho it was just waffle, it was all buzzwords (which sets of red light in my head). Some interviewers may have loved the CV.. I personally wasn't impressed.. there is no single formula, becuase all people (and interviewers) are different..

I'd imagine some interview companies will be great, and some less.. Maybe try the FAS / Job Club option (which someone mentioned) first.. I assume they are free....

You had a few which were 50/50.. so you are not that far from the finish line so to speak ..
Was the other person a recent graduate? Did they have exactly the same (or lack of) experience as you?
Sometimes it's not technique that is the difference.. Two graduates who have done the same course offer the same level of experience.. It's the non-work non-academic background that can make the difference.. Person a) did college not much else.. Person b) did college and charity work.. automatically leads the interviewer to ask Person b) about what they did and the qualities and behaviours they used...

Sometimes it's just about making it easy for the interviewers..They just want someone who can do the job, and sitting through 10-20 interviews can be tiresome.. giving them something to latch onto can make you a lot more interesting.

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

Wellydancer wrote: »

I am unaware of any help from fas. I will look into it thanks. tbh have been saying a while i wouldnt mind working for free to get my 3 year training contract that i need. my career service is not useful. e-mailed them twice and no reply and when to visit in person and they just tell me to go to workshops that they provide, that they can't provide one on one. i've been to all of them. but i will look into FAS. didnt know they could help graduates.

Yea, I just went into the office in Bray and they had a chat with me for about 20 minutes. Then a few weeks later I went in again and just asked them to help me with interviews. They gave me some tips and went through some stuff with me.

If your careers guidence councillor is not doing her/his job, go to one of your old lecturers maybe? Ask for a one on one. I spent 3 hours with my councillor, and I have to go back in June for an update.

Google "Jobs club" in your area, see what comes up, they are brilliant, helped me with everything. That was in Carlow though. They helped me with the job specs of the jobs I was going for, they helped me write cover letters and changed my CV.

What college did you go to? If you don't mind me asking?

miec

Out of 140/150 job applications only 5 interviews but have had no success in securing a job yet. Before most of the interviews I have spent at least 2 full days preparing questions and getting friends and family to give me mock interviews. I thought the majority of interviews went really well but I obviously must be doing something wrong.

Hi Op

I have about the same record as you in terms of number of jobs applied for: to no of interview received. The thing is you may not be doing anything wrong, it could be someone else had that little bit more experience. It may not be anything you are doing. I think the whole job seeking business in a recession makes everyone hyper critical of their performance so try not to blame yourself entirely. I do think you can do your best but there is an element of randomness to the job seeking process at the moment.

If you decide to get help I would concur with iamxavier and use a job club first / services of fas before using a professional. The other thing is there are numerous blogs and job seeker clubs on LinkedIn which could be of help to you. I have to say the amount of businesses popping up offering job coaching etc has increased manifold since the recession. I think it is important to put your best into an interview/job application but be realistic and know there are 450,000 (and rising) people looking for work.

Cute Hoor

Wellydancer wrote: »

Has anyone here paid for the services of interview coaching and where is this service available around the Dublin area. Out of 140/150 job applications only 5 interviews but have had no success in securing a job yet. Before most of the interviews I have spent at least 2 full days preparing questions and getting friends and family to give me mock interviews. I thought the majority of interviews went really well but I obviously must be doing something wrong. Getting seriously worried at this stage about getting a job and majority of class, MBS Accounting DCU has secured employment. Was thinking of getting help and finding out where I am going wrong with interview coaching /mock interviews. Is this beneficially and where is this service available in Dublin. - Thanks in advance.

It's a tough time out there Wellydancer, a lot of applications and very few interviews. Hopefully you've managed to pick up something since you posted this.

I'm not an interview coach, but I have done quite a bit of interviewing, and given lots of feedback to unsuccessful (and successful) candidates. If you're still stuck and you're around the city centre I'd be happy enough to have a look at your CV and maybe give you a few tips to try to help you. I'm pretty busy during June, but PM me if you're still stuck and we can try to arrange something.

carolwarol

Hi,

It's definitely a useful exercise to approach someone professional to assist you prior to an interview, preferably someone who has experience recruiting in the sector you're hoping to work in. If you get the interview its through an agency, its really in their interest to prep you for the role, advise you on interviewer style, typical questions. If the Consultant isn't forthcoming in this respect, remind them that its in their interest to make sure you get the job so they get their commission. Alternatively if you've secured the interview under your own merits, well done, its a dog eat dog market there.

If you require further info on interivew guidance etc. check out ser services in this area on www.paramounthr.ie

dibs101

Cute Hoor wrote: »

It's a tough time out there Wellydancer, a lot of applications and very few interviews. Hopefully you've managed to pick up something since you posted this.

I'm not an interview coach, but I have done quite a bit of interviewing, and given lots of feedback to unsuccessful (and successful) candidates. If you're still stuck and you're around the city centre I'd be happy enough to have a look at your CV and maybe give you a few tips to try to help you. I'm pretty busy during June, but PM me if you're still stuck and we can try to arrange something.

Jesus, hats off to you cute hoor!

Im in a somewhat similar enough situation, in that i will be made redundant shortly and have serious doubts about my interview skills as i have not done one in 10+ years, but i find it inspiring that strangers may offer their time to help people out.

Seeing that our government is doing nothing to create jobs, i fell that it may well be up to the people themselves to drag themselves out of this mess and i cannot compliment you enough cute hoor for your sentiments.

There is nothing worse than praying on peoples insecuritires, i would like to see these interview coaching businesses success rate. The next businesses I expect to see advertising are divorce solicitors, "get as much as you can from your break up!", makes your stance all the more admirable cute hoor.

best of luck to both of ye!

mrgardener

PepperPots wrote: »

Hey there
I have just gone to a crowd www.interviewtechniques.ie and found them really good. You should check them out. Hope this helps......................

PepperPots, how long have you been working for "www.interviewtechniques.ie" for?
You are doing your company a disservice trying to con people into thinking that you dont! You've had two posts and have recommended this company in both:rolleyes: