News
How to do a job interview with confidence
By Niamh Dwyer, Chairperson of the Kerry Branch of Guidance Counsellors
It is perfectly normal to feel nervous when you are facing a job interview, in fact experts tell us that a certain amount of nerves are necessary to help us to perform with energy and enthusiasm when we meet the interview board.
The challenge is to ensure that those nerves don’t become overwhelming as this can hinder you from giving your best performance. You want to sound confident - even if you don’t feel it! Start by reminding yourself that the company or organisation already believe that you are competent to do the job, otherwise you wouldn’t have gotten to interview stage. Your task in the interview is to show evidence of your skills and competencies through relevant examples from your experience, to show your technical knowledge about the role or position and to demonstrate what sets you apart from other candidates. The more confidently you can do this, the better.
Prepare in advance of the interview by carefully examining the job description and specification, research the company or organisation itself and know every detail you have included in your CV or application and cover letter. You should also read carefully any information you receive about the format of the interview. Are there a number of stages? Is it by phone, virtual or face to face? You may be told for example, that you are being invited for a competency based, technical, strengths or skills based interview. You may also be required to do a presentation or bring evidence of a completed project. While there are some techniques specific to the format of the particular interview, there are certain generic questions that you need to be ready for – for example; Tell us about yourself, What are your strengths and weaknesses, Why should you get the job over other candidates, Why do you want the job, What do you know about the company and the position, What is your USP (Unique Selling Point)? These questions may seem quite straight forward but when you are put on the spot in the interview it is easy to get flustered, begin to waffle or get tongue-tied, so the key thing is to prepare, practice and perfect the information that you expect to be asked for in the interview. It is impossible to predict exactly what you are going to be asked and you will have to think on your feet, but the more familiar you are with information relevant to the job, company, sector and yourself, the better chance you have of answering difficult questions. Use language you are comfortable with as this will help you to feel confident but make sure you include key terms that are relevant to the role.
COMPETENCY
It is fairly standard to be asked to give evidence of the key competencies and to make sure you stay on point with your answer, use the STAR technique. For example, if asked to show evidence of a time you dealt effectively with a conflict structure your answer as follows – give the situation or task you were dealing with, the actions you took and what the result was. Be ready to elaborate on what you learned from the experience and what you would do differently. You may also get scenario questions such as ‘How would you deal with an irate customer in a busy reception areas?’ Practice your answers in front of a mirror, with a trusted friend or record yourself on your phone so you can work on improving your pacing and delivery and you become used to listening to the sound of your own voice speaking confidently about yourself. This is something that people find difficult to get used to. Use positive affirmations to remind yourself of how capable you are. The first step in convincing an interview board that you are the right person for the job is to believe that yourself. Show that you are confident in your body language and tone of voice. Listen carefully to what you are being asked. Make sure you leave the interview knowing you have made the right impression. At worst you will have gained very valuable experience and at best you will get the job!
Niamh Dwyer is a Guidance Counsellor in Scoil Phobail Sliabh Luachra, Rathmore, and Chairperson of the Kerry Branch of Guidance Counsellors. She is also a Careers Advisor - For details see www.mycareerplan.ie or follow @mycareerplan on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
Patient transfer to new hospital to begin on Monday
Following several false starts and long delays, the phased transfer of patients and residents to the new state-of-the-art Killarney Community Nursing Unit on Lewis Road is set to begin on Monday, August 10.
A major stumbling block regarding staff transfers and safe staffing levels was resolved following negotiations under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).
With an agreement reached between the HSE and representative unions, including the INMO, SIPTU, and Fórsa, at long last, staff and residents are prepared to move into the new facility.
Welcoming the breakthrough, Councillor Marie Moloney expressed cautious optimism:
“It’s good news that an agreement has been reached with the staff and that transfer of residents and patients can finally take place to the Community Nursing Unit. So many families have been waiting for so long to see their loved ones transfer to this beautiful new facility. Let’s hope there will be no further delays.”
HSE National Director and Integrated Health Area Manager for Kerry, Julie O’Neill, confirmed that the agreement enables the facility to open safely on a phased basis:
“I welcome the agreement reached at the Workplace Relations Commission, enabling us to proceed with the opening of our new Community Nursing Unit in Killarney. I would like to thank everyone involved in reaching this agreement and acknowledge the constructive engagement of all parties.”
Fianna Fáil TD for Kerry and member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health, Michael Cahill TD, also welcomed the news:
“This is very welcome news for older people and their families across Kerry. The new Killarney Community Nursing Unit has been eagerly awaited and I am delighted that agreement has now been reached to allow its phased opening from August 10. I know the delays have been a source of frustration for many families but today’s announcement provides certainty that residents will soon begin moving into this modern, purpose-built facility.”
Deputy Cahill acknowledged the efforts of all parties involved in negotiations, noting:
“I want to thank the HSE, the Workplace Relations Commission and the representative unions, the INMO, SIPTU and Fórsa for their constructive engagement in reaching this agreement. Ensuring safe staffing is essential, and I am pleased that a solution has now been found.”
He added:
“As a member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health, I will continue to work to ensure Kerry receives the healthcare investment and staffing it deserves. The opening of this new unit is a major step forward for residential care in our county, and I look forward to seeing residents welcomed through its doors from August 10.”
Call for plaque at historical burial site
Local history enthusiast Anthony Kerrigan has formally written to Kerry County Council proposing the installation of a commemorative plaque or historical marker at the unmarked Moyeightragh Burial Ground in Killarney, and is calling on Killarney Advertiser readers to back the initiative.
The ancient site is said to be in the vicinity of of Lewis Road and Fitzgerald stadium
The sacred site, registered under Monument Record KE066-068002, sits in the vicinity of Lewis Road and the Fitzgerald Stadium footprint. In his letter to council officials, Kerrigan explained how the landmark faded from view over generations.
“Historical mapping shows that this ancient burial ground was progressively built over and divided following the construction of Lewis Road in the 1850s and subsequent urban developments,” Kerrigan wrote. “While the site is completely invisible on the surface today, it remains a designated archaeological monument where subsurface human remains are protected in situ.”
Kerrigan highlighted that recent discoveries underscore the risk of the location being forgotten entirely, noting how the displacement of significant artefact, such as the 18th-century Margaret Shea grave ledger uncovered nearby during Park Road archaeological testing in 201, illustrates how vulnerable the memory of the site is to the passage of time.
Advocating for a permanent marker near the site, Kerrigan explained the cultural importance of recognising those buried there.
“As a matter of community respect, civic pride, and historical preservation, I believe a modest, non-invasive plaque or information board should be placed nearby,” he stated. He noted that such a marker would serve to honour past generations of Killarney citizens, educate visitors about the town’s shifting landscape, and prevent the total erasure of the designated heritage asset from local consciousness.
Kerrigan pointed out that the proposal aligns directly with the core objectives of the Department’s Community Monuments Fund regarding the enhancement and public accessibility of archaeological monuments. He expressed a desire to coordinate with the Council’s Heritage Office, the Burial Grounds Section, and local history groups like the Kerry Archaeological and Historical Society to ensure appropriate text and placement.
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