"An interview success story" by executivevoice on audioboo.fm
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Tuesday, 25 August 2009
Tuesday, 18 August 2009
Secrets of successful job hunting
Learn the secrets of successful job hunting with ‘Beat the Job Crunch’
Beat the Job Crunch and take control of your career success with a one day workshop in central London on 24th September, 2009.
Given the continued challenges experienced and well qualified professionals are having finding work after having been made redundant this one day workshop will empower these individuals to have the edge in their job search.
Delegates will learn to maximise their personal assets: experiences and how to present themselves to make the best possible impact on potential employers during the whole process of searching for, applying and being interviewed for a job.
The one day workshop includes:
Planning for success – strategies for planning your job search
Writing a winning CV
Strategies for answering difficult questions in the interview
Handling tests and assessments
Sharpening your personal image
Developing personal confidence and convincing vocal projection
Secrets of using networking for success
Personal coaching to develop your courage in job searching.
Led by Penny Sophocleus and Ros Morris, the course is run by 5 leading experts in the fields of Career Development, executive coaching, HR and assessment selection processes, Image consultant and Vocal and Communications training.
More detailed information is on www.corpalc.com/beatthecrunch
For media details and information including photographs contact Penny Sophocleus: penny@corpalc.com 01707 871
Beat the Job Crunch and take control of your career success with a one day workshop in central London on 24th September, 2009.
Given the continued challenges experienced and well qualified professionals are having finding work after having been made redundant this one day workshop will empower these individuals to have the edge in their job search.
Delegates will learn to maximise their personal assets: experiences and how to present themselves to make the best possible impact on potential employers during the whole process of searching for, applying and being interviewed for a job.
The one day workshop includes:
Planning for success – strategies for planning your job search
Writing a winning CV
Strategies for answering difficult questions in the interview
Handling tests and assessments
Sharpening your personal image
Developing personal confidence and convincing vocal projection
Secrets of using networking for success
Personal coaching to develop your courage in job searching.
Led by Penny Sophocleus and Ros Morris, the course is run by 5 leading experts in the fields of Career Development, executive coaching, HR and assessment selection processes, Image consultant and Vocal and Communications training.
More detailed information is on www.corpalc.com/beatthecrunch
For media details and information including photographs contact Penny Sophocleus: penny@corpalc.com 01707 871
Tuesday, 11 August 2009
My perfect day - on Oxwich Bay
I’ve just returned from a walk on Oxwich Bay on the Gower Peninsula. There are only half a dozen other people on the beach: some with dogs. The day trippers have left; a couple of barbeques are smoking – used and abandoned next to dustbins, but otherwise the beautiful expanse of Oxwich Bay is deserted.
The tide is coming in, yet there is a vast expanse of sand stretching from Oxwich village and the hotel, all the way round to Three Cliffs Bay and beyond. Over the sea I can clearly make out Port Talbot, the Vale of Glamorgan and on the other side, the Devon Coastline.
To my left are the sand dunes. A large cloud of starlings fly across the marshes. During the day, the sand dunes are great fun to explore with a wide range of beautiful fauna. There is one area; ‘The board walk’ where you can walk over marshland and see rare flowers. Whenever I’m down in Oxwich I visit it.
The sand gives clues of what has happened today. Lovingly built sandcastles, volcanoes and even sand ‘boats’ remain in the sand, as well as forgotten buckets and spades. Sadly there is some litter, but one hopes this will be cleaned in the morning. The sand is fine and easy to build castles.
Earlier on today we were down at the beach. The car park was packed with visitors for the day as well as people holidaying at the camp site. Most people were close to the car park; others ventured further towards Nicholaston: either on the beach or in the sand dunes.
We swam; built sandcastles and snorkelled with our new flippers and masks! We saw a number of fish in the clear seawater. Others swam, kayaked or surfed – although the waves were non-existent! My husband hired a boat from the Sailing Company and sailed over to Three Cliffs Bay, whilst a couple of people annoyed everyone by riding their jetskis too close to the bathers.
As the day progresses and the tide goes out, a number of cricket games start, as well as one hugely competitive beach volleyball game. On the far side of the bay, the rocks are exposed and children with buckets do some rock pool dipping and find impressive specimens of crabs.
Now, as I walk back from the beach, I see that the car park is deserted, except for a bat flying in front of my face. I am so lucky here. As I walk back to my house, I realise that although the forecast is overcast tomorrow, I am still here in Oxwich and will be able to enjoy another wonderful day.
The tide is coming in, yet there is a vast expanse of sand stretching from Oxwich village and the hotel, all the way round to Three Cliffs Bay and beyond. Over the sea I can clearly make out Port Talbot, the Vale of Glamorgan and on the other side, the Devon Coastline.
To my left are the sand dunes. A large cloud of starlings fly across the marshes. During the day, the sand dunes are great fun to explore with a wide range of beautiful fauna. There is one area; ‘The board walk’ where you can walk over marshland and see rare flowers. Whenever I’m down in Oxwich I visit it.
The sand gives clues of what has happened today. Lovingly built sandcastles, volcanoes and even sand ‘boats’ remain in the sand, as well as forgotten buckets and spades. Sadly there is some litter, but one hopes this will be cleaned in the morning. The sand is fine and easy to build castles.
Earlier on today we were down at the beach. The car park was packed with visitors for the day as well as people holidaying at the camp site. Most people were close to the car park; others ventured further towards Nicholaston: either on the beach or in the sand dunes.
We swam; built sandcastles and snorkelled with our new flippers and masks! We saw a number of fish in the clear seawater. Others swam, kayaked or surfed – although the waves were non-existent! My husband hired a boat from the Sailing Company and sailed over to Three Cliffs Bay, whilst a couple of people annoyed everyone by riding their jetskis too close to the bathers.
As the day progresses and the tide goes out, a number of cricket games start, as well as one hugely competitive beach volleyball game. On the far side of the bay, the rocks are exposed and children with buckets do some rock pool dipping and find impressive specimens of crabs.
Now, as I walk back from the beach, I see that the car park is deserted, except for a bat flying in front of my face. I am so lucky here. As I walk back to my house, I realise that although the forecast is overcast tomorrow, I am still here in Oxwich and will be able to enjoy another wonderful day.
For more information on visiting Wales http://www.visitwales.com
MOre information on Executive voice http://www.executivevoice.co.uk
Monday, 10 August 2009
Engaging people when you speak to them
At the weekend I had something horrifying happen to me. My husband had told me he needed to leave the house to go to Heathrow to wave off his relatives,who were returning to Australia.Unfortunately I didn't 'hear' this when he told me, and I was swimming. He was forced to leave late - taking our son too. The consequence was that he missed seeing them.
I felt dreadful about this, but it also enabled me to really consider why this method of communication went so wrong. Although my husband had spoken to me (I don't doubt him), he has a tendency to 'talk at' people. The problem with this is that he assumes you have heard without checking that you are 'engaged' in the conversation. He doesn't register whether or not I am listening. This is also a problem with colleagues at work.
In order that a conversation is two way - speaker and listener, we need to have a check list. This could be.
- Asking - "Is this a good time to speak?"
- Watching - is the body language mirroring yours or at least indicating they are taking note of you. (Clues could be eye contact; moving their body to face yours).
- Stopping activities; check the listener has stopped what they were doing. So if they were watching the television; cooking; on a computer, that their attention is now focused on you and what you have to say.
- Check that they have understood what you have said.
- As a precaution, repeat what you say the next day.
Sunday, 2 August 2009
Interviews: a success story
This week I received some wonderful news from one of my clients who had gone for an interview within an industry heavily hit by the credit crunch. It was a high powered: prestigious post, and he'd been offered it.
Before he went for the interview, I worked with him on the interview, to ensure he presented himself in the best possible light.
The interview was approached as a performance; with my client preparing himself prior to the interview to ensure he presented himself in the best possible light. Here are some of the activities we planned together and he did ensuring he was rewarded with the job.
- He visited the company beforehand, checking his journey to ensure he was early for the interview; planning for the eventuality of any journey problems.
- He did a lot of research on the company prior to the interview
- He collected examples of his work to take in a well presented portfolio, to illustrate his experience. He chose projects that were related to the position he was being interviewed for and also projects that were similar to work the company did.
- He researched the people he was going to be interviewed by and anticipated questions they might ask based on their experiences.
- Through his network, he was able to speak to 2 ex-employees of the company who were in similar departments. From this he was able to understand the structure and culture of the company.
- He also checked on their dress code and dressed to 'suit' the culture of the company.
- He set off early; drinking water 2 hours before, to ensure he wasn't dehydrated.
- He arrived early at the location of the interview; giving him time to relax, warm up and focus.
- Whilst preparing, he kept focusing on what he had done; what he could do, NOT what he didn't have experience in.
Executive Voice are involved in a one day Interview Skills workshop on 24th September in Central London called "Beat the Job Crunch". More details from http://www.corpalc.com/beatthecrunch/
More details or discuss your interview skills and performance http://www.executivevoice.co.uk
Wednesday, 29 July 2009
Speak like a John Lewis shop assistant to get on in life.
With shame I realise that I haven't posted this blog and had a discussion about speaking and accents. Here is the link
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/5445473/Teenage-shop-assistant-told-to-go-to-John-Lewis-to-learn-how-to-speak.html
The gist of the article is that a young female shop assistant of an aspirational gentleman's clothing store complained that one of their assistant's didn't present herself effectively. This was particularly with her speech. They suggested she observed how shop assistants at John Lewis spoke to customers.
Now, I have no idea how this shop assistant speaks and I have no idea how she interacted with customers. However, I do know that there are shop assistants and shop assistants, and those that I buy from interact with me as a human being; they have eye contact with me; they are pleasant and are interested in providing me with what I want. I am courteous to them and the whole experience of buying is a positive one.
If I receive customer care from someone who is disinterested; grunts at me; does the bare minimum; expects the maximum returns for minimum effort; is stroppy; tuts (or worse); aggressive; body language is disinterested or confrontational - I don't buy from them.
My decision is not based on the person's accent, but on their friendliness and willingness to interact with me.
I just wonder what this young woman's personality and attitude was towards customers?
Live and learn.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/5445473/Teenage-shop-assistant-told-to-go-to-John-Lewis-to-learn-how-to-speak.html
The gist of the article is that a young female shop assistant of an aspirational gentleman's clothing store complained that one of their assistant's didn't present herself effectively. This was particularly with her speech. They suggested she observed how shop assistants at John Lewis spoke to customers.
Now, I have no idea how this shop assistant speaks and I have no idea how she interacted with customers. However, I do know that there are shop assistants and shop assistants, and those that I buy from interact with me as a human being; they have eye contact with me; they are pleasant and are interested in providing me with what I want. I am courteous to them and the whole experience of buying is a positive one.
If I receive customer care from someone who is disinterested; grunts at me; does the bare minimum; expects the maximum returns for minimum effort; is stroppy; tuts (or worse); aggressive; body language is disinterested or confrontational - I don't buy from them.
My decision is not based on the person's accent, but on their friendliness and willingness to interact with me.
I just wonder what this young woman's personality and attitude was towards customers?
Live and learn.
Thursday, 23 July 2009
Losing the human voice through texting
Yesterday I heard a news item on BBC news related to a company that specialises in converting voice mail messages to text messages. Apparently, there are privacy laws that could be violated through this process. I wasn't desperately interested in this, but I was interested in why anyone would like to lose the sound of a human voice over a text message and also the implications of this.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8163511.stm
The human voice is a powerful method of communication; it is a personal connection between the caller and the receiver. Think of when you receive recorded (cold call) messages and how monotonous they are - because the voice is reading something automatically. Many people complain when they call a business and receive a bombardment of automated responses with a recorded message.
Also, when you convert a normal conversation into text, you lose some of the subtle messages from pauses, inflections and energy. Unless the text message is carefully punctuated, there are likely to be misunderstandings. It becomes the equivalent of an automised voice - in text.
So why should we wish to lose the human voice and read a text message instead? Could it be that a manufacturer has created another toy and it is just a fad, or do we really wish to lose human contact with each other?
From a personal perspective, I prefer to send and receive voice mail messages and my market research confirms this. As a business we wish to demonstrate that we are human beings and customers want this too. I do send text messages - but only to people I already have some contact with and have established a relationship with.
From a business perspective, I would avoid using this method until - as I have done - I have established a relationship, thus making a quick method of communication permissible. I don't want to hear automated voices or text messages when I am contacting a company, unless I know them well. And remember that large companies that we complained about (except BT) now have a human voice at the other end of a phone within a couple of clicks. What does that tell you about using the voice?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8163511.stm
The human voice is a powerful method of communication; it is a personal connection between the caller and the receiver. Think of when you receive recorded (cold call) messages and how monotonous they are - because the voice is reading something automatically. Many people complain when they call a business and receive a bombardment of automated responses with a recorded message.
Also, when you convert a normal conversation into text, you lose some of the subtle messages from pauses, inflections and energy. Unless the text message is carefully punctuated, there are likely to be misunderstandings. It becomes the equivalent of an automised voice - in text.
So why should we wish to lose the human voice and read a text message instead? Could it be that a manufacturer has created another toy and it is just a fad, or do we really wish to lose human contact with each other?
From a personal perspective, I prefer to send and receive voice mail messages and my market research confirms this. As a business we wish to demonstrate that we are human beings and customers want this too. I do send text messages - but only to people I already have some contact with and have established a relationship with.
From a business perspective, I would avoid using this method until - as I have done - I have established a relationship, thus making a quick method of communication permissible. I don't want to hear automated voices or text messages when I am contacting a company, unless I know them well. And remember that large companies that we complained about (except BT) now have a human voice at the other end of a phone within a couple of clicks. What does that tell you about using the voice?
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