By Dr MARIE WILSON
Q. What is the etiquette after the job interview? Can you phone after a day, or a week? I don't want to be pushy or annoy people, but some companies make you wait so long.
A.The best practice is to enquire about the process for filling the job in your interview.
You can be fairly direct and enquire when you might expect to hear the outcome of the selection process.
If you are the selected candidate, the employer may still need to check references, verify qualifications or check other matters, and they may want to draft a formal offer letter and draft employment agreement.
In any event, if you haven't heard within a week, you might call and enquire if a decision has been made yet, and if not, when you might follow up.
Q. Over the last year or so I have read many times that New Zealand has a shortfall of talent in management roles. The market apparently is crying out for good people - but I wonder if this is really the whole story.
I am a white female New Zealander. I have a degree as an industrial/organisational psychologist and have 20 years of business experience in many different industries.
I have been applying for positions now for around two or three months with no success.
What I now realise is that when I send off my CV and covering letter mainly to recruitment agencies, most of the time I do not even get an interview.
This logically leads me to think that either my CV or my covering letter are not representing my abilities in a manner that is attracting attention.
But the employment agencies will not give me any feedback on my CV or application though I have asked many times, and with the understanding that I am wanting this information for learning purposes, not using it to try and bring in any legal human rights or employment issues. I get nothing.
A. It is unfortunate that you are not getting feedback on your CV from the recruitment agencies, as they generally want to maintain good relationships with applicants as well as client companies.
Each job search, though, is a matter of fit between your CV and the job requirements, as well as the pool of applicants.
Sometimes it's nothing to do with you, or your CV, it's just that there were much better candidates who applied.
Finding out what "better candidates" means is often a clue, as it may highlight areas that are weak - or just not well presented - in your CV.
Recruitment agencies are only one source of positions, and your networks and personal contacts with employers are usually richer sources of employment opportunities, and may allow you to tailor your CV to the position with greater confidence.
You can also use a network of peers and colleagues to critique your CV generally, as well as to help you to tailor your CV for each position you seek.
Q. I left my last job after a major personality clash with a co-worker.
I just couldn't work with her - the differences were irreconcilable - and in the end it was easier for me to just leave.
What do I tell interviewers who ask why I left my last post?
A. Given that your last post may be called on as a referee, you'll want to have some rationale that will stand up if questioned. What did you tell your employer were your reasons for leaving?
You may be able to use this reason, or if you are asked - and many interviewers don't ask this question - you can always talk about looking for a different type of working environment, and then tell them what you are looking for in terms of your next position.
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