Tom O’Neil www.cv.co.nz

Well great news, as we read this, we are (hopefully) three quarters the way through the Covid19 Lock In.  For those of you thinking about having to seek new opportunities due to redundancy, I thought I would give an update about some of the things we are doing here, as well as some more feedback to questions I have been asked recently…

Media Interviews

Recently I have been answering employment questions to NZ media.  You can find an interview here from the Rhema network.  https://www.rhema.co.nz/shows/days/item/12307-looking-for-work-during-lockdown
As well as this, I am the TV3 Career Specialist, so am doing a Skype interview on TV3’s AM Show at 8:40 tomorrow on what to do to be employer ready when this is all over!  Keep an eye our to watch me live!  😊

Videos

I have just popped up a couple of COVID19 videos relevant to marketing yourself and CVs – so please feel free to view them here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8gEu4MXw6kBa2g4LPR9utQ

What can I do to sharpen my skills at the moment?

If you are stuck at home at present, remember you can also practice your interviewing skills with someone in your bubble.   I find this the single best way to prepare yourself for an interview, as it helps you to articulate your answer well under pressure.  Mock interviews give you a safe place to fail, yet give you enough structure to give the process genuine value.

What questions will I get in an interview?

Usually you will get a few of the following general questions: (Do not spend longer than three minutes per answer however).

• Tell me a little about yourself – Talk about your career past and present, as well as what drew you to this role.  Feel free also to add some light personal information if you feel it is appropriate.
• What do you know about our organisation? – Read the businesses website the day before, making sure you are up to date with their latest news and products.
• Why do you want to work here? – If you don’t know this, don’t apply!
• What are your main strengths? – Think of three main strengths, and talk through these at the interview.
• What is your main weakness? – Think of a genuine weakness, then explain what you are  doing to overcome it.

Make sure you have the above covered before you set foot in an interview room!  As well as this, you may face the dreaded ‘Behavioural interview’.

What are Behavioural interviews?

​The Behavioural Event Interviewing (BEI) technique is when you answer an interview question giving real-life examples and facts from a specific situation. The key premise behind this type of interview is that your previous behaviour is the main predictor of your future potential. Example questions include:

• ‘Tell me about a recent goal you set and how you successfully achieved it’

• ‘Describe a time when you were faced with a stressful situation that demonstrated your coping skills.’

• ‘Give me an example of a time when you used good judgment and logic in solving a problem.’

• ‘Tell me about a recent situation in which you had to deal with a very upset customer or co-worker.’

• ‘Tell me about a time when you encountered conflict at work and how you handled it.’

• ‘Tell me about a time when you have gone above and beyond to satisfy a particularly difficult customer.

You can answer these using the C.A.R. method:

Context – Explain the job and company were you employed in, and a little around the background of the problem or issue.

Action – Talk about what you did to solve the problem.  Remember to be specific where possible.

Result – Explain the positive result and how it all finished up.

I HATE talking about how good I am at something during the job interview…

Yes that is the kiwi way, and generally to be commended as we are a humble nation generally!  However there is only one time in our society where we are allowed to talk about how good we are at something, and THAT IS THE JOB INTERVIEW.  Remember to be humble, however also share your strengths and achievements with some degree of enthusiasm.  An employer can only form an opinion to hire you on what they have been given.  Therefore if you leave out some important information relevant to your suitability to the job you are applying for, you have let both yourself and them down!

Is LinkedIn useful at this time?

Anywhere employers are, is a place for you to be! Make sure your profile is strong, with a good photo, job relevant headline and summary, and achievements included in each of your positions.  You can also join industry groups that will be discussing industry relevant news and opportunities, putting you at the right place and the right time to follow up.

Should I leave my job at the moment, without having a new one to go to?

Personally I would not leave a current role at present, if I had nowhere to go.  Times are very uncertain at present, so a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.  On the other hand, if you have a great opportunity with a business that is seen as essential, this could be a great time to transition, as long as there is still work for you when this is all over.

I hope you gain some really good information from the above, and if you need any professional, CV LinkedIn or career coaching support, don’t hesitate to contact me direct on 021 9000 91 or tom@cv.co.nz.  I am also happy to give your CV a free assessment, so email it to me and we can talk.

God bless and stay safe!  :-)  Not long now hopefully!
Tom O’Neil
Managing Director – CV.CO.NZ   www.cv.co.nz

As many New Zealand companies have seen income fall away over the last few weeks, many people are now facing the prospect of being made redundant.  This is a terrifying idea for almost everybody, so I thought it would be a good opportunity to give some insight on how you can move forward career-wise at this challenging time.

I've just been made redundant!  Is now a waste of time to job hunt?

Obviously job openings have crashed, and many interviews that were about to take place have been postponed or cancelled.  However personally I think any time is a good time to get your CV in front of prospective employers by hitting the ‘hidden job market’.  It is estimated that only 25 percent of vacant jobs are advertised, however you can find out about these ‘hidden’ job openings by reaching out to decision makers directly via the telephone or email. Make a list of key companies you would like to work for and approach them directly. Or take your pick of the top firms in your field of interest and contact them. This approach to job-hunting is called ‘cold calling’ and it puts candidates in the driving seat.

I recently had a person email me out of the blue in regards to any job openings we had available.  I had three days earlier accepted the resignation of one of my team members, but had not got to the point of looking for anyone, so this person got an interview.  Within one day I had enough information to make her a formal job offer, and she started a week later.

The only caveat to this is to remember that managers are also under a large amount of stress at present, so always approach people with a high degree of respect and sensitivity.

What should I do to get into the job market after being made redundant?

Being made redundant is horrible at the best of times, however it’s a lot worse at the moment in terms of stress and concern.  Therefore is vital to:

1. Not panic – Don’t freak out, and try and be rational about what you are facing.  We will all get through this in the end, however it is now a good time to re-do your budget, and put your hand up for government support, mortgage relief etc.
2. Get your CV looking great – Make sure you sell your achievements in your CV and tailor it to the role you are seeking.  ‘Mirroring’ what the employer is after, presents you as a ‘solution’ to their ‘problem’.  Remember your CV is your ‘brochure’, so it should make you stand out in the marketplace.
3. Make your LinkedIn profile look great too – Opportunity can come in a wide range of ways, however many people have poor LinkedIn profiles, which is a turn-off for a potential employer.
4. Have a positive mindset – Someone out there wants to employ you.  It’s just a matter of being seen and getting your CV front of them.
5. Get started – There is no time like the present.  Apply for roles via job boards you feel match your skills.  After you have done this, then hit the hidden job market and start to reach out to decision makers via LinkedIn etc.

Should I step down to a lower role in the meantime?

Obviously no one wants to do a role that is beneath their skills and background.  However for many of us, we may need to become comfortable with a ‘lesser’ temporary role during the Covid19 crisis. 

When I visited Norfolk Island many years ago on a cruise, it amazed me that normal business shut down, and the entire population of the island focused on tourism for the day.  Bank managers sold tea towels and sales reps made coffee, all to capture the tourist dollar. 

​In some ways, this is a bit like what is happening here in NZ at the moment.  Some of us may need to step down temporarily in regards to responsibility and salary, returning to their normal ‘career role’ when this is all a memory.

Will things get better?

Yes!  The economy was strong and going well, up until Covid19 derailed everything.  Once we are all out and about, I am confident the economy will quickly re-start allowing a positive time for job hunting and our economy.

I hope you gain some really good information from the above, and if you need any professional, CV LinkedIn or career coaching support, don’t hesitate to contact me direct on 021 9000 91 or tom@cv.co.nz.  I am also happy to give your CV a free assessment, so email it to me and we can talk.

God bless and stay safe!  We will all get through this together.

Tom O’Neil
Managing Director – CV.CO.NZ   www.cv.co.nz 

As 2019 recedes into the distance and 2020 rapidly approaches, it's a great time to take stock of your role and career, preparing yourself properly for an exciting 12 months ahead. Ask yourself the following questions to help point you in the right direction for a great 2020:
Successes — What were the key successes you had in 2019? Were you promoted? Did you work on any exciting special projects? Were you given further authority in your position? Helping to recall your successes in the past 12 months is a powerful exercise, giving you real clarity on the positive parts of the year.
Failures — As we all know, life is not perfect, and neither are our careers. What did not go so well this year? I know for myself, I have a whole litany of half-finished projects as well as proposals that were not successful.
Learn — Looking at these two ups and downs of 2019, what are the key learning points you can take, and successfully implement next year?

​More of — What do you need to do more of in 2020? Do you need to be more daring or more conservative? What projects do you need to focus your energy towards, and how can you put resources into place that will allow you to do this effectively?
Less of — What did you invest too much energy/time/money, etc into that you feel was wasted? What are key habits or ways of thinking that are holding you back and how can you break these? Are there social vampires crowding around you and sucking your energy that need to be discreetly let go?
Work/Life Balance — How did your life (outside of your career) go this year? Was it a successful and positive time growing with family, or did you spend so much time at the office (sacrificing yourself for their good of course) that you missed key family milestones, or even Saturday sport? Remember no one on their deathbed said, "I wish I had spent more time at the office ... "
Education/Professional Development — To move forward to where you want to go long-term, do you need to further your studies, invest in membership of an industry group or track down some key conferences to attend? Pitched the right way, your employer may even support you in pursuing these.
Where now? — In the book Built to Last by James Collins and Jerry Porras, they talk about setting a "BHAG" — Big Hairy Audacious Goal. If you had the power to achieve (almost) anything professionally in the next 12 months, what would this be? Once you have this vision locked into your mind, create a BHAG, then backfill it with mini-goals you can tick off towards hitting your best in 2020.
Contact Tom O'Neil and the team at CV.CO.NZ for a free CV assessment or to be your personal career coach.

For a couple of thousand years we have been using the traditional ‘live’ interview approach, where an interviewer fires questions at the candidate and the candidate responds appropriately.  However the ‘One-Way Video Interview’ is a new technique to make life easier for recruiters and interviewers.  Pre-formulated questions are given to the job-seeker, who then records them in a ‘one-way’ video, allowing the interviewer(s) to assess the candidate’s response at their leisure.
 
For the candidate of course, this is just another way to add pressure to an already stressful process.  However follow these keys to ensure you really nail your ‘One-Way Video Interview’.
 
1. Prepare yourself properly
 
This can be a complex process, with different software required to be up and running on your PC, tricky instructions that need to be followed and login details that need to be pre-populated, all before you even start your one way interview.
 
Read all the instructions a couple of times to ensure you are familiar with each aspect prior to getting started.  Have the interview link and login details ready, including interview code, employer's or interviewer's name, and password if required. 
 
Remember that the better you prepare, the better the interview will go.  Nothing will throw you off your game quicker than only having 22 minutes left to complete an hour interview, because you didn’t read some key information that was plainly communicated to you earlier.
 
Understand also that many people won’t prepare well as it is not a ‘traditional’ type of interview, and in turn will present themselves as unprofessional to prospective employers. 
 
2. Complete interview by…
 
One key point you must not miss is the ‘complete interview by’ date and time.  If you miss this window, it’s as if you didn’t turn up to a real interview.  As you can imagine, the earlier you complete this process, the less stressful it will be!
 
3. Create a great space
 
One great benefit of this type of interview is that it allows you to be comfortable in your space while answering the questions.  Ensure your area is clutter free, with either a blank wall or something professional in the background.  Make sure your zone is also noise and distraction free, with no children asking, “what’s for dinner”, or cats jumping onto the desk.  While you may be doing your interview at 8pm in your own house, you still want to make it professional.
 
4. Prepare your answers
 
On occasion you may receive your questions prior.  This allows you a golden opportunity to research and script out great responses, then rehearse these answers with a family member or friend prior to your interview recording. 
 
5. Look at the camera
 
Watching vlogs on YouTube will help you distinguish the pros from the amateurs.  Amateurs look at themselves while the video is rolling, while pros look at the camera, providing a genuine and personalised touch.  You want to give the interviewer a feeling of connection and trust, and the best way to do this, is to make them feel you are talking directly to them, not to the bottom of their screen.
 
You all ready?  Awesome, now hit ‘Record’…