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Barry Whelan Excel Recruitment

Part 2: Interview Questions designed to trip you up! By CEO Barry Whelan

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

Part 2: Interview Questions designed to trip you up! By CEO Barry Whelan

Following on from Part 1 of Interview Questions designed to trip you up, CEO of Excel Recruitment takes you through more tricky questions and how best to answer them…

The best interviewers develop their ability to ask the fewest number of questions that give the most amount of information. Strong recruiters manage to get the interviewees to do all the work. The best interviewers also have the ability to gain the truth from a candidate. This can be done in two ways, ask the same question multiple ways watching out for conflicting or different answers or by asking seemingly simple questions that get the interviewee to reveal information they may have been trying to conceal

In other words: questions designed to trip you up

Can you name three of your strengths and weaknesses?

Why do they ask this? The interviewer is looking for red flags and deal breakers, such as inability to work well with colleagues and/or an inability to work under pressure.

Each job has its own unique requirements, so your answers should really show your applicable strengths, whilst each of your weaknesses should have a silver lining that indicates that negative attributes have diminished because of positive actions taken.

How does this question trip you up? You can sabotage yourself revealing either. Exposing your weaknesses can hurt you if not ultimately turned into positives while the strengths you list may not align with the skill set or work style required for the job.

What response you should give? The Interviewer wants to know that your strengths will be a direct asset to the new position and none of your weaknesses would hurt your ability to perform.

Can you tell me about yourself?

Why do they ask this? They ask to determine how you see yourself in relation to the position. The interviewer is listening for a level of confidence in how well you portray yourself through the information that is communicated. Additionally, the interviewer is listening for strong behavioural competencies which help determine a right fit with the job. If this opening answer is weak, it can be a disaster, ending an interview prematurely.

How does this question trip you up? It can tempt you to talk about your personal life, which you shouldn’t. Most interviewees are not versed in seeing this as a trick question, so they may answer by speaking from a personal perspective: ‘I have three kids, I’m married, etc.'”. Believe it or not, even the most seasoned candidate falls for this question especially when prompted by the interviewer to elaborate.

What response should you give? A focused, razor-sharp answer conveying your value to the organization and department. The employer wants to hear about your achievements broken down into two or three succinct bullet points that will set the tone of the interview. Stay sharp and convey your top strengths when answering this question.

Give the interviewer answers that highlight analytical skills, problem-solving ability, sizing up talent or leadership ability to turnaround business performance, among other things.

You need to convey behavioural traits in your response. It sets the tone for the interviewer to ask more targeted questions.

Why do you want to work here?

Why do they ask this? Interviewers ask this because they want to know what drives you the most, how well you’ve researched them, and how much you want the job.

How does this question trip you up? Clearly you want to work for the company for several reasons, you wouldn’t be attending an interview if you didn’t! However, how you list these reasons reveals a lot about what is important to you.

You may be thinking to yourself, “I’m not getting paid what I’m worth,” or, “I have a terrible boss,” or, “All things being equal, this commute is incredibly short” — none of which endears you to the interviewer.

You’re also being tested on your level of interest for the job.

What response are they looking for? The interviewer wants to see that you’ve taken the time to research the company and understand the industry.

They also want to know that you actually want this job (and not just any job); that you have a can-do attitude; that you are high energy; that you can make a significant contribution; that you understand their mission and goals; and that you want to be part of that mission.

Why do you want to leave your current job?

Why do they ask this? Your future boss is looking for patterns or anything negative, especially if your positions are many and short-term. They may try to determine if you currently have or had issues working with others leading to termination, if you get bored quickly in a job, or other red flags.

How does this question trip you up? No one likes talking about a job they dislike and why. If not answered diplomatically, your answer could raise further questions and doubts, or sink your chances entirely.

What response are they looking for? They are hoping that you’re seeking a more challenging position that is a better fit for your current skill set. Remember, your future boss doesn’t mind hearing that you’re particularly excited about the growth opportunity at their company.

Grocery Salary Survey 2017

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

Our Salary Survey 2017 is now available.

This past year has been a curious time for the grocery industry with the uncertainty brought by Brexit and other global factors continuing to affect retailers. Fears over the minimum wage increase to €9.25 per hour which concerned some retailers, does not seem to have any major effects. The industry as a whole has weathered through successfully and Christmas 2016 was particularly good for most with shoppers spending an extra €92 million. The market outlook for 2017 is increasingly positive and over 80% of Irish employers have said they expect to be recruiting in 2017.

The ‘Gender Gap’ and disparity between the salaries paid to men and women also became a hot topic in 2016. Our research shows that no such gap exists within the retail industry, as all levels of manager are paid dependent on experience and hours worked, regardless of gender.

Excel Recruitment have been recruiting for the Irish Grocery Market for over 15 years. Our Grocery Team is comprised of former Grocery Managers, passionate about retail, who know the industry inside out. This survey was compiled and designed to give our clients and candidates a guide as to the current market prices for the various roles within the Irish Grocery market.

If you would like to discuss any of our findings, need advice on your staff planning, or assistance with your recruitment needs please feel free to contact our Grocery team here.

All Grocery Jobs with Excel Recruitment are available here.

2017 Grocery Salary Survey

 

Interview questions designed to trip you up! By CEO Barry Whelan

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

In the first of our new series, CEO of Excel Recruitment Barry Whelan takes you through some tricky interview questions designed to really test you and more importantly, how to ace them.

In the below examples, the interviewer ask seemingly simple questions that get the interviewee to reveal information they may have been trying to conceal; questions that break through the traditional interview noise and clutter, and get to the raw information.

How would you describe yourself in one word?

Why do they ask this? The question is likely being asked to find out your personality type, how confident you are in yourself and how you would ‘Fit’ the organisation recruiting.

How does this question trip you up? This question can be a challenge, particularly early on in the interview, because you don’t know what personality type the company is looking for and whilst there is no point pretending to be something you are not, there are also many ways (and Personality Types) to get the job done. People are multifaceted, so putting a short label on oneself can seem nearly impossible.

What response should you give? Always stick with the conservative route. For instance if you’re reliable and dedicated, but your friends praise your clever humour, go with the former.

If you’re applying for an accounting job, the one word descriptor should not be “creative,” and if it’s an art director position, you don’t want it to be, “punctual,” for example.

In general, most employers today are seeking team players that are level headed under pressure, positive, honest, reliable, and dedicated, however, it would be a mistake just to rattle off adjectives that you think will be well received when in fact this is an opportunity to describe how your best attributes are a great match for the job as you see it.

How does this position compare to others you are applying for?

Why do they ask this? They’re basically asking ‘What other jobs are you applying for?’ The recruiting manager is just trying to find out how active you are in the job market. Once you open up, they want to see how you speak about other companies or positions you’re interested in and how honest you are.

How does this question trip you up? If you tell them that theirs is the only job that you have applied for that will send up a red flag. Very few job applicants only apply to the one single job — so they may assume you’re being dishonest. However, if you openly speak about other positions you’re pursuing, and you speak favourably about them, the hiring manager may worry that you’ll end up taking another job elsewhere, and they won’t want to waste their time.

What response should you give? Leave things open, express your desire to find the right role. Perhaps tell them that there are several companies with whom I am interviewing, however, I’ve not yet decided the best fit for me. This response is positive and protects you from having to bad mouth or talk up competitors.

What kind of manager and colleagues have you had the most and least success with, and why?

Why do they ask this? Interviewers are trying to ascertain if you generally have conflicts with people or personality types. They also want to know how you work best.

How does this question trip you up? You can run the risk of appearing difficult if you admit to unsuccessful interactions with others. You may also inadvertently describe some of the attributes of your prospective Manager.

What response should you give? Firstly, concentrate on giving more good than bad news. It’s always best to start out with the positive and downplay the negatives. You don’t want to be evasive, but this is not the time to outline all your personality shortcomings either. Here you have an opportunity to speak generally about traits that you admire in others, yet appear flexible enough to work with a variety of personality types.

For an example try, ‘I think I work well with most people and a variety of personalities’.

What would you do if you won €6 Million tomorrow?

Why do they ask this? They want to know whether you’d still work if you didn’t need the money. Your response to this question tells the employer about your motivation and work ethic. They may also want to know what you’d spend the money on, or whether you’d invest it. This tells them how responsible you are with your money, and how mature you are as a person.

How does this question trip you up? Questions that are out of left field can ambush you, causing you to lose composure. They have nothing to do with the job at hand, and you may wonder if there is any significance to them. If you don’t pause and gather your thoughts before you respond to a question like this, you might lose your cool or come back with a clanger.

What response should you give? They want to hear that you would continue working because you’re passionate about what you do and they also want to know you would make smart financial decisions. If you’d do something irresponsible with your own money, they’ll worry you’ll be careless with theirs.

What’s Your Greatest Weakness? How to Give a Strong Interview Answer

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

What’s your greatest weakness is one of the most common interview questions but one of the trickiest to answer.

It seems strange to discuss your negatives in a situation that is all about selling yourself but your answer tells the interviewer a lot about you and can potentially make or break your interview. Although the question is about weaknesses, don’t take it too literally and ruin the interview by talking about your habit of being late or how your last boss constantly gave out about how messy you are. Instead, your answer should always be framed around positive aspects of your skills and abilities as an employee. Below are tips and tricks to make a potential employer think your ‘weaknesses’ are actually your best qualities.

Discuss Your Positive Negatives

One way to ace this tricky question is to turn your negatives into positives. Examples of this method include “I’m a perfectionist which means I can sometimes spend too long on projects but I work hard to get the balance right”, or “I find it hard to delegate to others which can lead to frustration for me and my team members. However, I am learning to recognise when others are stronger than me at certain tasks.

However if you use this approach its important not to come across as disingenuous, don’t simply say ‘I work too hard’ or ‘I have no weaknesses’, the interviewer will see right through your shameless avoidance of the question and put simply, you won’t get the job.

Discuss Unrelated Weaknesses

Alternatively you could tackle this question by discussing your weaknesses, but only the ones that have little to do with the job you’re applying for. Analyse the skills and strengths that are key to the role you are interviewing for and then answer with an honest shortcoming, not essential for success in the job at hand.

For example, if you are applying for a nursing job, the ability to communicate, simply and sensitively, with patients is vital. The ability to make presentations to large groups is not. Provide an example of your nervousness around public speaking while at the same stress that your skills at connecting one to one are exceptional.

Discuss Your Improvements

Another way to successful answer would be to give an example of a skill you have improved during your previous roles. If you use the example of public speaking, you could show the interviewer that it was a massive hurdle but with practise, hard work and dedication you are now far more confident. This shows your potential employer that you are proactive and willing to improve without being told.

However if you use this strategy, use skills not directly important to the job. You don’t want your qualifications for the job to be seen as something you struggle with.

Above all, the key to giving a successful answers is to keep it positive. Don’t use the word weakness, always keep focused on the positive. The key is to confidently steer the interview back to what makes you fabulous, without dodging or avoiding the question.

CV Keywords

CV Keywords – What you need and what to avoid

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

Keywords, buzzwords, jargon. Whatever you call them, we here at Excel, see hundreds of CVs every day and know how important it is that certain words make an appearance on your CV, and that others are avoided.

The Good

Verbs

Verbs or ‘doing words’ are crucially important to your CV as they quite literally explain what you have done and the (positive) impact you have had with past employers. Using words such as managed, delivered, improved, reduced, negotiated, planned, supported, trained or resolved all show that you were an active employee in past positions and will quickly make an impression, hit the ground running in a new role and immediately be an asset to a new employer.

Job Titles

Don’t underestimate the power of the Ctrl+ F function and be careful when listing your previous job titles. Don’t just list random words and don’t invent a jargon-filled title to inflate the importance of a previous role. This is the one place on your CVs where it pays to keep it simple. If a recruiter is looking for a quick overview of your experience, they may search for specific job titles. To make sure you’re what they are looking for, look at the specific job ad you’re applying to. If it lists ‘Sales manager’ experience, don’t miss out by listing you last role as ‘Executive Team Lead, Sales’. You might think it sounds more impressive but it could mean your CV is overlooked.

Numbers

Get specific and don’t be afraid to discuss the nitty gritty of your successes. Use tangible examples of your achievements in previous roles rather than meaningless jargon. For example, “This increased profit by 2%” or “this led to a reduction in overheads from £23,000 to £17,000 per year.” However, as with everything on your CV keep in short, neat and concise and don’t go overboard.

The same goes for your education and training, everybody lists their common education history but don’t forget to list specific industry or technical training. Make sure that you list computer systems and tools you are proficient with by their industry-recognised name e.g Photoshop.

….. And The Bad

According to a survey by Career Builder, there are some words that employers see as pointless and just don’t want to see on your resume. There is nothing particularly wrong with them and they all mean well, but some phrases are just so overused they do nothing to distinguish a CV from the rest of the pack. Below are the words you should think twice about including on your C.V

  • Best of breed
  • Go-getter
  • Think outside of the box
  • Synergy
  • Go-to person
  • Thought leadership
  • Value add
  • Results-driven
  • Team player
  • Bottom-line
  • Hard worker
  • Strategic thinker
  • Dynamic
  • Self-motivated
  • Detail-oriented

Remember, first impressions count, so be a self-motivated, dynamic, detail orientated jobseeker who is results driven, thinks outside the box and invests in a Thesaurus.

seasonal staff

Important Skills for Seasonal Workers

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

Temporary work, especially coming up to the Christmas season, can be a really exciting and fun experience. Not only can working during this busy period earn you extra cash for your Christmas presents but there are loads of other benefits such as networking, learning new skills and filling gaps in your C.V But this type of seasonal work is undoubtedly busy and will require you to have certain skills and personality traits.

Flexibility

While seasonal work offers you a lot of flexibility and control over your schedule, you also have to offer your potential employer flexibility in return. There is no point applying for positions in busy restaurants if you only want to work Friday mornings. The ability to adapt to your employers needs will get you noticed, in a good way.

Ability to work under pressure

It goes without saying that Christmas is a busy time, especially for those in hospitality and catering. The ability to work under pressure and roll with the punches will make temporary seasonal work not only easier but also far more enjoyable.

Quick learner

Again, Christmas is a hugely busy time for most in the hospitality industry. While most employers will offer temporary staff full training, the ability to pick up the basics and adapt quickly to the company’s culture and way of doing things will mean you settle into the job much quicker and be able to give it your best.

Friendly manner

Just because Christmas is a busy time doesn’t mean normal rules go out the window. Being friendly, courteous and engaged is vital in any job but especially within the hospitality industry.

Your ability to remain customer focused during particularly hectic parts of the day will definitely be noted, and appreciated, by the employers.

Positive Thinking

Although the focus at this time of year is on Christmas cheer and being merry, everybody knows it can be a stressful time. The ability to deal with issues and/or complaints without letting them affect the rest of your shift, or even your whole day will mean you will be even more successful in your temporary role.

Perfect CV

The Perfect CV by the Excel experts

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

Here at Excel, we see a lot of CVs. A lot. And our team of experienced recruiters are sharing their insider knowledge on what the look for, and what they avoid, when screening CVs. In most cases, your CV is the first impression an employer has of you so make it count. The aim is to get across you have the skills and experience to get the job, and then go get the job. Presentation is key. The CV and accompanying cover letter should be tailored to the particular job you are applying for. Focus on the skills and experience relevant to that job to avoid your CV being overlong and make it stand out from the crowd.

Keeping the layout of the CV neat, clear and consistent along with correct grammar and spelling are CRUCIAL. Sarah Hurley, Buyer and Head Office recruiter, has a clear idea about what makes a good CV “Keep it simple. My ideal CV has a personal profile that sums the candidate up and describes the main objective for their career, followed by career summary, education, IT skills and the relevant interests.” Sarah also adds a small important point for jobseekers, “put CVs in Word format, not PDF as they can be difficult to format if we need to”.

However, there is no point having a great-looking CV if the content isn’t solid. Head of Fashion and Non-Food, Aislinn Lea explains her number one turn-off when it comes to CVs. “ Not too many jumps on their CV is the main thing I would be conscious of.” If you do have gaps or jumps on your CV, be prepared to explain them, both positively and honestly.

Sean Thomas, from our grocery desk and Nikki Murran, head of our Grocery department look for similar things when screening CVs. Sean says “good longevity and career progression with good company brands names, that are leaders in their markets . Nikki also stresses the importance of longevity, “ I look for strong brand progression and longevity in each role.”

Quote concrete examples of your successes in previous roles such as to support your claims. For example, “This increased profit by 2%” or “This led to a reduction in overheads from €23,000 to €17,000 per year”.

Remember, you never get a second chance at a first impression so make your C.V the best it can be and give your job search the best possible start.

National Hospitality Awards 2016

National Hospitality Awards 2016 – Winners

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

The 11th annual National Hospitality Awards took place on November 7th in The Intercontinental Hotel in Ballsbridge Dublin. A winner in the Best Business Hotel category, The Intercontinental was host to the best hospitality businesses across the country. The National Hospitality Awards, held in association with Hospitality Ireland magazine also featured speakers David O’Hare (Bru Brewery) Daragh Anglim (Head of Marketing for Fáilte Ireland) and Declan Maxwell (Luna).

Overall Winners

  • Best Boutique Hotel – Tankardstown
  • Best Business Hotel – InterContinental Dublin
  • Best Casual Dining – The Washerwoman
  • Best Catering Job – Aramark – PWC
  • Best Catering Suppliers – General – Pallas Foods
  • Best Catering Suppliers – Specialists – Keelings
  • Best City Hotel – Hayfield Manor
  • Best Cocktail Bar – Vintage Cocktail Club
  • Best Customer Service – The Dylan
  • Best Destination Hotel – Sheen Falls Lodge
  • Best Dining Experience – Mulberry Gardens
  • Best Drinks Supplier – Diageo
  • Best Hotel Bar – Ashford Castle – The Prince of Wales Bar
  • Best Hotel Restaurant – Inis Meáin Restaurant & Suites
  • Best Local Restaurant – The Twelve MacNean House
  • Best New Establishment – Farrier & Draper
  • Best Nightclub – The Wright Venue
  • Best Overall Hotel – The Europe Hotel & Resort
  • Best Overall Restaurant – Loam
  • Best Pub – Stags Head
  • Best Pub with Food – The Oarsman
  • Best Resort Hotel – Ashford Castle
  • Best Seafood Restaurant – O’Grady on the Pier
  • Best Sporting Pub – The Back Page
  • Best Traditional Pub – Toner’s
  • Best Value Hotel – Garryvoe Hotel
  • Best Wine List – The Twelve Hotel
  • Best Hotel Group – Dalata Hotel Group

 

REI Awards 2016

Retail Excellence Awards 2016 – Winners

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

The Retail Excellence Ireland Awards 2016 took place in The Radisson Blu, Co Galway on November 5th. The largest awards programme of its type, boasting over 600 total entries annually, the REI awards recognise the best in Irish retail. The awards programme is the largest event of the retail calendar and recognises the professionalism and innovation of companies, stores, websites and individuals in the retail industry. Excel Recruitment were delighted to see so many of our Grocery, Fashion and Non-Food clients recognised as finalists, as well as many winners across the category range, with our full retail team in attendance. Established in 1995, REI has over 1,620 leading retail companies who operate more than 13,000 stores in Ireland and is the largest retail industry body in Ireland.

Retail Excellence Ireland Awards 2016 – Winners

Rising of The Year – Emma Cooke – Springmount Garden Centre.

Best Website of The Year – Carroll’s Irish Gift Store.

Consumer Choice Awards – Scally SuperValu, Clonakilty.

Best Supermarket Award 2017 – Smiths SuperValu Kinsale.

National Store of The Year – Greenacres Co. Wexford.

Best Forecourt of The Year 2017 – Applegreen.

Garden/DIY Centre of The Year – Arboretum Garden Centre.

Specialist Food Store of The Year 2017 – Greenacres Co. Wexford.

Best New Website – Compu B.

Best Digital Campaign of the Year – Inglot Ireland.

Rising Star of the Year – Agata from IKEA Ireland.

Top 5 Store Status.

  • Arboretum Garden Centre.
  • Greenacres Co Wexford.
  • Kilkenny Shop.
  • Tile Style.
  • Matthew Stevens.

Supplier of The Year – StudioForty9.

Manager of The Year – Colin Curtis – Harvey Norman.

Friendliest Place – Navan, Co Meath.

Hotel Salary Survey 2016

Posted on | by admin

Shane McLave, General Manager of Excel Recruitment, shares the findings of our company’s recent survey of salary scales in the four star hotel sector.

Overseas visitors to Ireland, as reported by Fáilte Ireland, grew to 7.9 million for 2015, which represents 11% growth on 2014. Record breaking occupancy levels for Dublin and Galway were reported in 2015 and more than 60 hotel properties, with a total value of more than €700m, changed hands in Ireland during 2015. These are just some of the statistics that reflect the positive outlook for the Irish hospitality industry. It also means that demand for a pool of quality potential employees has never been higher. This is good news for recruitment agency Excel Recruitment but the findings of their recent survey of salary scales in the four star hotel sector reveals some worrying trends about the way in which staff shortages are being addressed and the relationship between salary scales and chef shortages in particular.

If you would like to discuss any of the finding you can contact us here. You can view all Hospitality jobs with Excel Recruitment here.

2016 Hotel Salary Survey