Congratulations! You you got the call and now you are going in for an interview. What now? Maybe it has been awhile since you went on a formal interview or maybe you are right out of college and don’t have much interviewing experience.

I am going to show you how to prepare for an interview in 4 easy steps. By following this formula you can be well prepared for any interview no matter the industry or job. If you lack confidence, the best way to get it is to be prepared for an interview.

How to Prepare for an Interview @ workhappy.ie

I am going to share with you 4 steps that you can take to prepare for any interview. Before we dive into the 4 steps, it is best to understand the underlying principle involved here.

Interview Principle: PREPARE, PREPARE AND PREPARE EVEN MORE

In order to successfully prepare for an interview, you have to better understand the big picture. Interview preparation is more than just reading over the job description over and over. If you are going to nail the interview, then you need to better understand the big picture and for that you need to get altitude.

Do Industry Research (Drapers, Google Finance, Yahoo)

You need to start of with a big picture view when preparing for an interview. The best place to start is to read up on some of the latest trends and happenings in the industry that the company is involved in. This is especially important if the company is in a different industry then what you have been used to. Your ability to talk intelligibly with the hiring manager in regards to the industry is so very important.   Take time to do a bit of research on sites like Hoovers, Google Finance, and Yahoo.

Do Company Research (Company Website)

When sharing with candidate about how to prepare for an interview, I always tell them to read over every square inch of a company’s website. Many corporations have a lot of useful information on their site. You want to especially look for items like: recent news, published financials, products or services for sale and names of key executives. Glean everything you can from the company website. Also, go to Pipl.com and click on the “Business” tab. You can read some valuable information on the company as it relates to activity and discussions going out on the web.

Do Key Personnel Research (Linkedin, Facebook)

Next, prepare for an interview by doing some basic research on any key personnel in the company. You might be surprised to find out that there are many available resources to find out information on people. As mentioned earlier, Pipl.com is a great place to find summaries on people online. Linkedin is another great place to find out the professional background on people inside the company. It can be incredibly valuable to understand where an interviewer went to college or what company they last worked for and so on.

Opportunity Research (Networking)

This is the level that most people never go beyond. It is important but it should not be the only thing you are doing. If you want to learn the best practices about how to prepare for an interview then you have to go well beyond just this point. It is helpful to use networking as a way to better prepare for what the job is all about. Try to ask around and see if you can get some helpful advice and information from someone else who might be in the know.

If you need more  help with your job search contact Denise Brady, Teamworx Career Doctor @ 045898037

In a classic Hollywood house in Los Angeles, last night around 200 guests gathered to celebrate Marni´s collaboration for H&M, a collection full of Marni’s signature print and colour arriving just in time for spring. Guests were wearing the Marni at H&M collection, as well as getting an exclusive performance by Bryan Ferry.

The latest designer collaboration for H&M is all about freedom and experimentation, Marni prints and colours intended to mix and match together in a playful way. Everything goes with everything, making African prints the perfect companion to Bauhaus modernity, and sporty silhouettes sitting with more feminine shapes.

The collection also includes a full range of shoes, bags and charming accessories to create a total Marni look at H&M. Meanwhile for men, Marni offers a fresh take on menswear staples, with a subtle use of print and a softened use of colour.

We can’t wait for these looks to land in store so everyone can wear them for themselves!

Availability: The Marni for H&M collection hits H&M South King Street Dublin on March 8th

http://www.whatshewears.ie/marni-for-hm/http://http//www.whatshewears.ie/marni-for-hm/

Your Career Toolbox for the New Year

As the end of the year approaches, were all inspired to make life changing moves however its important to plan a Search strategy for your career that is realistic and will get you where you want to go!  From experience, plans that work best are those that are specific and measurable.  Vague career goals that have no thought or planning as to how you will achieve them will usually prevent you from securing your long term career objectives.

So to ensure you have the edge on your Career Hunt in 2012 follow these 5 steps  and keep your fingers on the pulse of the job market

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2. Break down your career plan

Knowing where you want to be five or ten years down the line is fantastic however you need to know how to get there. Specific, measurable, short term goals are paramount and will give you a greater chance of achieving your long terms goals.  Ensure your goals are also realistic and set up a spreadsheet to keep on track of everywhere your CV is being sent to.  Although it may be tempting to apply for every job you see, you will not only waste your time but a potential employer or recruiters time.  Only apply for jobs that your qualified for.  If the advertisement asks for you to have five years IT experience and you don’t, move on to a better suited opportunity.

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2. Keep your CV up to date and personalize your cover letter

The beginning of 2012 is the perfect time to update or compile the perfect CV & Cover Letter.  It may be necessary for you to have two or three targeted CVs depending on the roles you are applying for and ensure your career accomplishments are incorporated your CV as well as any other online profiles you may have online.

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2. Build your online presence

You cannot afford not to have an online presence anymore so loose those fears and take your job search to new heights. Consider joining up to Linkedin, Twitter, jobsites, join group discussions and upload a visual CV.  A strong online presence will open new doors with potential employers and uncover that all important hidden job market.

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2. Network

Most jobs are now filled through personal connections, recommendations and referrals.  Meet up with old friends and colleagues and let everyone know that your looking for a new job (unless your currently in one).  Join Networking sites, local Enterprise Boards, attend Career Fairs and stay in touch with other professionals in your area. Take every opportunity possible to get advice, meet with the decision makers and expand your networking possibilities.

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2. Follow up

As the job market has become more competitive over the past two years, its imperative to follow up on any CVs sent, potential leads etc.    Job seekers worry that following up can be aggressive but potential employers will want to see that your pro active and passionate about your job search.

Nothing kills an opportunity faster than a negative attitude so keep a positive outlooks, set realistic goals and reward yourself for success along the way on your path to securing your dream career.

For more information on Retail opportunities in 2012 contact Teamworx @ 045898037. Wishing you all a very happy New Year.

The popular sports chain Lifestyle Sports recently opened the doors to its new flagship store on Dublin’s Mary Street. 

To celebrate the opening with their customers, the brand hosted a special customer night on Tuesday December 6th, with 20% discount for all shoppers. Special guest Nicky Byrne was on hand to officially open the store.

Irish Stars have also shown their support for the Lifestyle Sports Barnardos Christmas Appeal  recently raising over €10,000.  With over 10,000 new ‘likes’ on the Lifestyle Sports Facebook page since Robbie Keane launched the Lifestyle Sports Christmas Appeal in aid of the Barnardos Best Chance programme on November 14th,  the target of 20,000 new ‘likes’ by Christmas Eve is well within grasp.

For every new ‘like’ on the Lifestyle Sports Facebook page, €1 will be donated to Barnardos by the Irish sports retailer. Amongst those that have shown their support for the appeal are Westlife stars Nicky Byrne and Kian Egan, who tweeted their support to nearly 300,000 Twitter followers, as well as actress Amy Huberman and magician Keith Barry.

For more information on great opportunities across all sectors with Lifestyle Sports in Ireland contact the Teamworx crew on 045898037.