New Year, New You – How to Prepare for Interviews

Three Q News

New Year, New You – Is part of your New Year resolution to find a new job or advance into a more managerial role in your career? Then you are going to need to prepare for interviews.

Interviews can be daunting, we always want to put our best foot forward, but sometimes our nerves can get the better of us. Interviews can prove even more difficult for those who have only recently graduated and have never interviewed before, or those who have been in their current job a long period of time and haven’t had an interview for several years.

We can’t control our emotions or nerves but what we can do is prepare, after all, knowledge is power!

As someone who has personally struggled trying to control my nerves and anxiety before an interview, I have found some tips which have helped me in the past:

  1. Know the company/ organisation you are interviewing for – A common question employers ask is “Why do you want to work here?”, so ensure you know plenty about your possible future employer.
  2. Fully understand the job description – Outline your own experience and skills which match that of the job description, you can use this to show you are a perfect match for the role.
  3. Prepare and rehearse common questions and answers – You can easily look online for a list of popular question which are asked at interview. As a recruiter I always provide my candidates with a list of questions & topics to research and do interview preparation where we go over these mock style questions.
  4. Prepare questions for the interviewer – Employers will always ask if you have any questions at the end of an interview, this is your opportunity to show that you have thought in depth about the role and company and genuinely want to work there.
  5. Plan your travel – Ensure you arrive to interview early and aren’t rushing; I always advise to be at least 15 minutes early to interview. This gives you time to sit down, compose your thoughts, and even go over some interview prep.
  6. Remember to breathe! – This may seem like such a simple and obvious thing, but as someone who has almost found myself hyperventilating before an interview, I find it helps to sit and take some deep breaths before interview to bring your heart rate down and calm those nerves.
  7. Speak confidently and clearly –I have found that I can speak a million miles an hour which can make it hard for the employer to fully grasp everything you are saying. I make sure to take a few seconds before answering a question and speak clearly and confidently. 
  8. Use the S.T.A.R (Situation, Task, Action & Result) approach when answering questions – This will help give your answers structure and ensure you don’t end up rambling so that your answers are relevant to the question.
  9. Remember to ask questions at the end of interview – Even if for some reason the employer does not ask you if you have any questions, remember to ask those all-important questions you prepared earlier.
  10. Leave a good impression – At the end of an interview, always make sure to smile and thank the employer for the opportunity & tell them how interested you are in the role and how you look forward to hearing any updates about the outcome of the interview.

If you are looking for a new Nursing, Healthcare or Hospitality job and would like some help finding that prefect job or to spruce up your CV & arrange some interview preparation, then you can call me on 01-878-3335 or visit our website for a full list of current jobs –

Charissa Mulholland

Nursing & Healthcare recruitment professional

Three Q Perms & Temps

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Resolutions for the New Year

The New Year can bring great opportunities and exciting beginnings, and is a great time to start new resolutions. The Christmas holidays provides us with time to reflect and see what new things we can start working on over the next year. “Learn everything you can, anytime you can, from anyone you can. There will always come a time when you will be grateful you did.” – Sarah Caldwell.  We can learn from what worked for us this year and improve on what can work better. New learning and introducing beneficial changes into our lives can have many positive effects in both our personal lives and work life.

As we anticipate and look forward to clearing the cobwebs of the winter season, most of us will start planning new resolutions in our personal lives, such as losing weight, quitting a habit that doesn’t serve us well or improving our fitness levels, at the start of the year. We can also plan for positive changes that improve our working life. Improving this area can greatly improve our personal and family lives. Suggestions that can help will include doing a couple of tasks on Saturday that will ultimately improve our working week, such as:

  1. Plan a weekly menu for each meal including healthy treats. This reduces the amount of trips to the shop and can reduce our weekly spend on groceries, and time spent on trips to the supermarket.
  2. Batch cook dinner meals and freeze them. This reduces the need to phone our local takeaway for a fast meal, when we get home after a long day at work. It is also a healthier option and improves the balance of good food in our diet and significantly improves our wellbeing.
  3. Fill the car with diesel for the coming week. This saves stopping during the week and picking up extra unnecessary refreshments, also reducing weekly spending costs.
  4. Plan our weekly wardrobe for each day of the week. Having key items of clothing can help with planning outfits for the week ahead.
  5. Exercise routines have a greater chance of success if we do our workout before returning home from work. If time is of the essence in the evening, morning exercising is another option. Invest in some good quality rain gear, for rainy days. Then there is no excuse to cancel a planned walk/run. For those of us that are a little less motivated, it is a good idea to call on the experience of a personal trainer to help boost our motivational levels. They can plan a workout programme that suits our needs, thus ensuring that it is the right one for us.

Plan some fun and feel good activities for the weekend. Whether it’s doing some retail therapy, meeting friends for brunch or getting out into nature, the benefits can be amazing. These can really boost the good-feeling factor in us and our energy levels to help us step into spring with a bounce in our step.

While the weekend can be a busy time, with catching up on household tasks and meeting with family and friends, it is important to have some down-time. We all need one day in the week where we can recharge our batteries and bring a little rejuvenation and restoration in the way of self-care. This can include having a Sunday morning lie-in, a long soak in the bathtub, a trip to the spa or getting an earlier night’s sleep. Whatever resolutions we plan for the coming year, improving our quality of life is essential for living a happier and more fulfilled life. We can give our best when life is easier and who knows maybe even inspire colleagues at work.

#NewYearResolutions #Planning #Tips

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Wisdom to Explore a New Career

As we grow on our journey in life, we begin to realise that exploration, self-discovery and learning are an integral part of the process of living. “Never mistake knowledge for wisdom. One helps you make a living; the other helps you make a life.” – Sandra Carey. We learn that making mistakes is also part of the journey. They teach us valuable lessons which can propel us into a new direction, one that we never imagined or thought possible. Life’s experiences teach us what we like and don’t like. From this we have better insight to recognise what works best for us at this time.

When beginning a new career, it can be hard to find our feet. We may even feel like we don’t belong or that we haven’t made the right decision. It is only with hindsight that we are wise enough to know if it was the right choice. Either way, we can learn from it. We can also learn from others that we met along the process, if we are open to it. There is no wasted opportunity, only opportunities to learn and self-develop.

Here are some tips to help with starting the exploration:

  1. Recall a time in the past that was similar to this new one. Identify valuable insights that can be applied into this new situation.  
  2. Leave plenty of room for mistakes, there is valuable learning here.
  3. Be open to learning from others. They can be useful guides and teachers along the way that were part of our journey.
  4. Make it a practice each week or month to learn something new. Keep the explorer within alive and life exciting. Try something different and outside our comfort zone.
  5. Sign up with a Recruitment Agency. 3Q Perms & Temps Recruitment Agency is a great source of knowledge to help with exploring options and opportunities, phone: 01 8763335 or email temps@3qrecruitment.ie.

It is only when we trust the process, and ourselves, that we begin to realise where the best options lie ahead of us. It’s as if each step is illuminated with a little more clarity certainty than yesterday held. “The greatest wisdom is knowing that we know very little. when we adopt this perspective, we open our hearts and minds to learn and be inspired” – Ashish Godara. #Wisdom #Explore #NewCareer #Learn

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Realign the Wheel

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Planning for a Work Christmas Party

Do you want to mark the end of the year with a good old fashioned Christmas get together? Creating time for social interactions, in a fun and positive way, is important. It creates team bonding at a different level, leaving behind the stresses of day to day work and leaving colleagues to engage with other in a fun way. The event themes can be varied to suit different interest levels.

We have compiled a couple of ideas for your upcoming Christmas party:

  1. A simple buffet party with a Kris Kingle gift giving evening. The cost can be as little as €5/€10. Gifts can be generic or pulling names out of a hat will let each person know who they have to buy for.
  2. An outdoor activity. Ideas can include a zip-line activity day out, to promote team building skills. Other ideas include a mountain walk followed by refreshments at a local restaurant, a meal out at a gourmet restaurant, an in-house party including a simple three course menu followed by games that everyone can enjoy.
  3. An overnight break away in a hotel that includes time to get some of the Christmas shopping done, a trip to the spa and a meal in a lovely restaurant.
  4. An in-house entertainment night. Suggestions can include a comedy night, karaoke night or hiring a magician for some refreshing entertainment. The night can be complimented with some simple or luxury spot prizes such as hampers, a night away in a hotel, and a voucher for a local spa or restaurant.

Involving staff in the decision of what to host for this annual event is a great way to get everyone on-board, and potentially increase participation at the party. It is a good idea to start planning the Christmas party in early November. It can help with getting through long winter evenings and create a positive feeling in the workplace leading up to the Christmas holidays.

#ChristmasParty #SocialInteractions #Events

 

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Risk & Courage for a Great Change

Many of us go through our lives holding a protective layer or bubble that surrounds us. We may have experienced hurt on one or more occasions in the past which caused us to put a barrier of protection up each time. Over time this wall of protection may have gotten so high that we don’t know how to take it down or we may have become so safe living in our own little bubble that we don’t take too many risks or allow too much of the outside into our lives. This can also be true if we worked in a job that brought a lot of hurt and was not the right one for us. However if we are willing to risk and pluck up a little courage, to begin with; who knows where this new journey could take us? 

One day we find ourselves applying for a new job. The thought of not being selected for the position or the dreaded rejection, even before the interview takes place, can instil a sense of another refusal or little success at this interview. Unconsciously, during the interview, our body language may send the wrong signals to the interview panel, who may view the protective layer as a closed type personality or worse a hostile type personality. We may self-sabotage our best chances to succeed on this much needed job.

We don’t have to keep ourselves trapped in this bubble, out of fear of being hurt, rejected or to avoid pain. We can discover that learning from each experience can make us stronger and create an opportunity of new possibilities which could be life changing. In life there are no guarantees of not getting hurt, especially if we let our guard down. However, if we are willing to take a positive risk, dust ourselves down from the last experience and take a chance, then just maybe it will be the right decision to go for that interview with the possible reward of a new job, and who knows maybe even a new beginning in life.

There is an old saying; “you won’t know until you try” and it sure beats not doing anything! We can draw on our inner-resilience, push beyond our comfortable boundaries, step into the unknown, and dare to believe and achieve an incredible new life. Remember the words of Winston Churchill: “Success is not final. Failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts.”

Call us today, on 01 8783335 or email sales@3qrecruitment.ie if you would like to chat with a member of our vibrant team, to explore your options and new opportunities.

#Risk #courage #job #interview

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Resilience Through Adversity

Never has there been a time in our lives that have we needed to be more resilient than such times as living through Covid-19. The events that we witnessed in Ireland, since March 2020, have radically changed the way that we live, sometimes creating challenging situations in our professional and personal lives.

‘Cocconing’ and ‘social isolation’ became new words in our vocabulary. This was so alien to us, a nation that loves socially interacting and spending valuable time with loved ones. We are not wired to live our lives as hermits, so as to protect ourselves. Our connection with others is vital for many reasons including; chatting through some difficulties with empathetic family and friends, letting our hair down after a busy week at the office or connecting with each other on a Saturday luncheon or night out, just for the sake of connecting.

Working from home creates many challenges, while trying to adapt to a new work environment. Self-discipline does not come easy for the vast majority of us. For some, juggling home-schooling or even staying motivated to work through the day’s workload has forced many to rethink our everyday tasks, in our professional and personal lives. Managing both areas of our lives, as separate entities, in this new situation while trying to function in a professional capacity doesn’t come naturally to most.

We may need to ‘think outside the box’ and create new coping strategies to deal with the changed environment at work and at home. Some techniques that can be useful include:

  1. Create daily schedules for our personal and professional lives.
  2. Increase our activities, while being innovative, to include trips to the outdoors. A simple picnic or takeaway can provide a great and positive change.
  3. Embrace technology, particularly as a means of communicating with family and friends which was inhibited during the covid pandemic.
  4. Set goals for the weeks and months ahead. These help with staying motivated and keeping hope alive during tougher times.
  5. Plan some fun activities for the weekend.
  6. Frequent check-ins with our new system to ensure that it is the right-fit for us will help us with seeing if our new way of being is really making a difference in our lives.

We can carry on with some of these new-learned techniques as life returns to a better sort of normal. We may discover that the challenges of adversity in life can teach us valuable lessons, such as reconnecting with what is important – family, friends, nature, self-care and much more. These new ways of being can even continue long after undergoing changes in our environment as we begin to see the benefits of positive change.  

#Resilience #Adversity #ThinkOutsideTheBox

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Believing for Better

Self-belief is one area that needs constant improvement in our lives. There may be many things or just one moment that can knock our confidence and self-belief. It can leave us with a feeling of low esteem. The act of self-belief is really needed when we are showcasing who we are to other people. One such area includes the process undergoing a career change and attending an interview. We may need to change our work due to a number of reasons. These can include moving country, following redundancy or when the organisation ceases trading. Whatever the reason, it can be a very stressful time leading to heightened anxiety and reduced confidence levels.

One of the major hurdles to securing the much sought job is to successfully overcome the interview. For this undertaking, confidence is paramount at the stages of interviewing for a job. There is an old saying “fake it ‘til you make it” can be a helpful quote to repeat when doubting thoughts and anxious feelings try to hijack our best efforts. Find a quote that works and pin it to the fridge or kitchen door, a place where it can be seen each day. We can retrain our brain, emptying it of negative thinking, to motivate us in the belief that ‘better things’ are just around the corner.

Believing that “everything is possible” can also be a useful quote that we can pin to our fridge, car dashboard and computer to remind us that sometimes life can change in ways that we could never have imagined. Sometimes, all it takes is a little faith, courage and willingness to believe that life can truly be better! #Career #Interview #Work #Believe #EverythingIsPossible

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Caring – Nurturing Self & Others

When you think of caring, what do you think? Do you think of caring for others or self-care? Both aspects are relevant and important for the soul and wellbeing. “Never believe that a few caring people can’t change the world. For, indeed, that’s all who ever have.” – Margaret Mead. As individuals we are continually growing and traversing a journey of improving self. Our quest, when simplified, is one of nurturing, no matter who we are. It allows the seed of love within to flourish and heal.

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One of the primary roles of healthcare professionals is to provide care as part of their day to day tasks. Without this fundamental and core skill, that is offered as part of the service, their work may become dispassionate and considerably reduce the healing time of their client. It also serves the purpose of allowing a connection that is familiar to their patient. Many patients have frequent interactions with a nurse during their hospital stay. This familiarity of care can offer them security in an unfamiliar environment, comfort during a stressful time; understanding during an uncertain time of unwelcome diagnosis and many more positive attributes.

Equally important is the role of self-care that we practice in our own lives. Rest days from demanding work are often necessary to replenish a weary soul from a busy week, including shift work and long hours. However many of us have equally busy personal lives, which leave us with little restoration time for some well-deserved me-time.

With this in mind, here are a few techniques to help start a simple self-care routine and time of rejuvenation:

  1. Mind
  2. Make a loose plan for activities and hobbies, at least two each week. These can vary each week such as baking, tennis, mountain hikes with a group, bowling, etc.
  3. Reward our efforts often. This can be as simple as planning a meal out with family or friends which can be a powerful motivator through the tougher days.  
  4. Body
  5. Eat healthy, while enjoying the odd treat.
  6. Improve posture and muscle tone by exercising regularly. It can be as simple as starting with 20min workouts, five times a week.
  7. Spirit
  8. Practice simple breathing exercises to reconnect with our spirit. This too can be as simple as inhaling and exhaling for 5secs while becoming aware of inner-self, and the breathe that gives us life.
  9. Creativity can help to reconnect with our spirit. Find a hobby that we enjoy can help spark our creativity, for some it may be painting or singing. It is time for a little fun on this one so painting outside the lines is absolutely allowed!

Avoiding burnout is vital in life; maintaining a balance in our work-personal life really helps with surviving the increasing pressures of work; enjoying life is what it’s all about, and is greatly enhanced when we practice the values of care and self-care. Our relationship with self and others improve significantly when we practice this mindful art of wellbeing. These acts really help to rebalance the essence of who we are.

#Nurturing #MindBodySpirit #Caring #Nurse

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Reflect & Revamp Your Resume

As we come to the end of the summer, it can be a good time to reflect on the year that was. Reflection can flow into both our personal and professional lives. It is good to evaluate and consider our future. We can think and plan ahead. One area in our work life that can always be updated and improved is our curriculum vitae. Gone are the days when employees remain loyal to just one employer, and stayed until their retirement. Switching careers has become normal for most people nowadays.

Reflection can include: how far we have come in our career; are we in the right job and what courses we can sign up for to up-skill and improve our current set of skills. Part of the review process will need to include a revamp of our resume. The design and content should include current skills and experiences together with evidence of recent qualifications. There are many tips that help with updating its content including:

  1. Reduce the content of the document down to two pages, ensuring that it is concise and informative, and relevant to an upcoming job application.
  2. Create a two sentence introduction that will captivate the potential employer’s attention at first glance. Keywords relevant to upcoming job interviews will jump out and attract interest.
  3. Host dates to the left side and content to the right. Ensure that it is consistent throughout.
  4. Insert small tables to host key information, such as course module titles.
  5. Try not to leave date-gaps. If there was a reason for time lags, it is better to explain the reason for this. For example, some employees may have taken a career break for a couple of years to care for their parents.
  6. Use an easy to read font such as Times New Roman or Calibri.
  7. Use 12 font for easier reading, 14 font if the content will fit on two pages.
  8. Ensure that margin widths are consistent.
  9. Finish the document with two references including both their email address and phone number. Ensure that each nominee is aware that they are a reference and available for potential contact with the employer.

It can be refreshing to do a review and revamp on our curriculum vitae as it can provide inspiration to undertake a relevant course or to apply for a promotion. The positive effects can ripple into other areas of our lives. It can prompt addressing personal improvements. One of these can be assessing our wellbeing and creating new ideas for a better way of living. It is important to have a little fun along the way. “Make each day your masterpiece!” – John Wooden.

#Reflection #Review #Revamp #CurriculumVitae #Tips

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