In this guide we provide you with great tips and advice on the CV interview and networking process as penned by our recruitment experts.

1. Exceptional Roles, Exceptional Candidates
5 Fitzwilliam Square | Dublin 2 | 01 661 0444 | info@lincoln.ie
CV, Interview
& Networking Guide

2. CV TIPS
Submit an up to date CV
Make sure the CV you are submitting is up to date.
It should have all relevant experience included up
until the time of application. Otherwise, you may be
missing information that employers and recruiters
will find important.
Tailor your CV to the job you are applying for
If you are working off a job spec when preparing
your CV and know what is involved in a role, be
sure to tailor your CV so that you can include your
competencies suitable to the position.
Fill in the gaps
If you have gaps in your CV for reasons such as travel
or study, include them. Gaps may lead employers to
question your time away from employment.
Formatting & Presentation
Type your CV in a clear font such as Times New
Roman or Arial. It should be no longer than two
pages in length. Print it on high quality paper in
black ink. Lay it out neatly and check for typos and
grammar errors. Mistakes such as these show you
may be careless and lack attention to detail skills.
Have someone proof read your CV to ensure it is
perfect.
WRITING A COVER LETTER
A cover letter can be the difference in
someone reading you CV or not. In order to
capture an employer’s attention and make
them take an interest in you there are a
number of things you can do.
When sending your cover letter and CV, whether by
email or post, try and make sure you know who you
are addressing it to. Instead of writing Sir/Madam, it
will be more beneficial if you can directly address the
employer by their name.
Express you interest in the role and give a reason
why you are interested.
Convince your employer that you are suitable for the
role. You can do this by communicating previous
successful experience you have in the area. Tailor
this to the job you are applying for to prove your worth
and assure an employer that you are a desirable
asset to their business.
Detail transferable skills you possess that you can
bring to their organisation and provide an example or
project you were involved in that show how you have
developed these skills.
Show that you have an interest in their company and
that you have researched the nature of the role and
what will be required of you.
Finish the letter by again conveying you are interested
in the role at hand and provide your contact details
should they want to get in contact with you to discuss
your application.
CONTENTS
How to write a great CV
CV Template
Writing your Cover Letter
Interview Preparation
Types of Interview
The Interview
Networking
The main purpose of a CV is to make a great first
impression. It is a professional document and may
prove to be one of the main reasons you will be asked
to interview for a position. It must be clear, concise
and show off your skills and experience in the best
light. You need to grab the reader’s attention which
can be hard to do if they are receiving large numbers
of applications for each position. In order to do this
you need to sell yourself on the first page of your CV.
Include relevant information that is going to impress
early on to prove to employer’s that you have the key
competencies for the position.
Personal Details
Include your name address and correct contact
details.
Personal Statement
Give a brief background to the kind of skills you
possess which will be important in your new role.
This should be brief and concise.
Education
Make sure to include the dates and details of any
degrees you have obtained. If elements of these are
highly relevant to the position you are employing for,
highlight these to convince the employer you are
suitable.
Employment History
Be clear on the dates of your employment, where you
were employed and give a brief description of your
roles and responsibilities. Begin with your most recent
position and focus on your key achievements. Avoid
long paragraphs and use bullet points to get your
point across. Begin your points with verbs such as
‘succeeded’, ‘accomplished’ and ‘achieved’ to show
you have been successful in previous positions.
Skills and Achievements
This section allows you to show you are motivated
and driven. If you have received awards let the
employer know. Showing drive and a will to succeed
are attractive qualities in an employee.
Hobbies and Interests
This should be a small section of your CV but it can
be important in giving an employer an idea of your
personality. Include your interests outside of work,
but ensure to remain professional.
Referees
You can opt to give details of your referees or you
can simply finish your CV with ‘Referees available on
request. If you do opt to include your referees on your
CV, ensure you have their correct contact details and
always make sure they know they are being used as
a referee.
WHAT TO INCLUDE
How to write a great CV
CV Template
Writing your Cover Letter
Interview Preparation
Types of Interview
The Interview

3. Name
Address
Email Address
Phone Number
Brief personal statement
Summarise your experience to date focusing on what you can offer the employer. Adapt
this to the role in question and your specific skill set.
Education
Dates attended.
University / College name
Qualification / Degree name
List of relevant modules completed.
Projects you were involved in.
Employment History - reverse chronological order
Employers’Name
Dates Employed
Job Title
Main responsibilities listed in bullet points.
Skills and experience gained.
Key Achievements and Skills
Include achievements and skills that will be beneficial in the role you are applying for.
Skills such as communication, problem solving and initiative are attractive to employers
as well as technical skills such as IT or computer skills.
Hobbies and Interests
Give an overview of your personality here by showing your employers what your interests
are outside of work.
Referees
Reference Name
Reference Title
Address or References available on request.
Phone
Email
SAMPLE CV TEMPLATE INTERVIEW PREPARATION DURING THE INTERVIEW
It is an absolute necessity to prepare for an
interview. Your CV has been successful in
providing you with a chance to interview for
the position but the work is not done at this
point. In order to further impress an employer
and be one step closer to obtaining the role
in question, the interview is the next step
and you must impress. In order to do this we
advise a number of factors for success in
the lead up to your interview.
Research the Company
Being aware of information such as a company’s
strategic objectives and position in the market can
provide you with an edge in your interview. Research
the company in terms of the company’s history, staff
and new projects or products. If you know someone
who works there already they can be useful to talk
to and can provide you with insights that other
interviewees may not have.
Prepare for the day
It is important to be prepared on the day of an
interview. You should know where the interview is
taking place and be confident of how you will get
there. If you are travelling via public transport make
sure you know exactly how long it will take you. Being
late for an interview will not go down well with those
you are trying to impress so give yourself plenty of
time to get there. Bring a copy of your CV and make
sure you are familiar with all aspects of it.
Dress to Impress
Make sure you are well presented in clean, well-
fitting clothes. Dress like a professional, in a smart
business suit in an appropriate style and colour.
While difficult to control, it is better if your nerves
do not show in an interview. The employer saw
something in your CV that attracted them to you.
They want to employ you and if you can relax and be
yourself in the interview you have a better chance of
impressing them.
If you do not know the answer to a question don’t
panic. If it is the case that you don’t understand the
question, ask the interviewer to repeat it. Do not
make an answer up as you will be likely to get caught
up in what you are saying and it may lead to further
questioning in an area you are unfamiliar with.
Always have questions prepared to ask the interviewer
when closing the interview. This is an opportunity for
you to show an interest in the company and to show
them that you have carried out research on the area.
It can also show that you are driven and confident
that you have done a successful interview. Some
examples of questions you may ask at the end of an
interview include:
Do you offer continuing education and professional
training?
How would you describe the responsibilities of the
position?
Is this a new position? If not, what did the previous
employee go on to do?
Can you tell me about the team I’ll be working with?
What is the next step in the process?
Make sure to thank the interviewer for their time and
express your interest in the role once again.
Following completion of the interview, call your
consultant. They will be interested to speak with you
and get initial feedback before speaking with the
interviewer. Should you be successful in getting a job
offer, they will then guide you through the process
and will act as the link between you and the employer.
“One important key to success is self-confidence. An important
key to self-confidence is preparation.” –Arthur Ashe
AFTER THE INTERVIEW

4. NEWTORKING FOR SUCCESS
Networking is the deliberate process of
exchanging information, resources, support
and access in such a way as to create
mutually beneficial relationships for personal
and professional success.
Building a network can help you achieve your goals
while building your experience and confidence.
Many shy away from it as they don’t want to come
across as pushy or too eager but it can have positive
effects when it comes to looking for a job.
The majority of jobs are not advertised publicly, they
come from referrals or word of mouth. With this being
said adopting a networking lifestyle can help you find
the right job, while making valuable connections in
your field.
If you are being recommended for a job, you are
more likely to get the job than if you apply through
submitting a CV and going up against large amounts
of competition. The fact you have been referred
through a mutual contact will be advantageous and
you will stand out in the hiring process.
By reaching out to your network and making your
situation known, you are more likely to be successful.
By letting people know exactly what type of job you
are looking for, they can tap in to their network for
your benefit.
You can build your network through attending events
and talking to people face to face. By connecting
and introducing people, they see you as a valuable
contact and you can possibly gain from the in
the future. Promote yourself, become involved in
community events, engage in professional activities
and maintain contacts by sending cards and emails
to build your network. Most importantly be genuine
and if you are able to help someone, do. Networking
is about mutual benefit and they may be able to help
you down the line.
TYPES OF INTERVIEW
A FOCUS ON RETENTION
It can be helpful to know the kind of interview
the company in question favours. Is it
competency based or strength based? If you
are working with a recruitment agency they
may be able to tell you the kind of interview
you will be expected to undertake which will
help you prepare.
Competency Based
Competency based interviews are extremely popular
for employers. The logic behind this kind of interview
is that future performance will be based on past
performance in a similar situation. The interviewer
wants to see how you deal with certain problems and
what you do to solve them. An employer can test for
competencies such as communication or teamwork to
see how a candidate reacted in a particular situation
and how they put these skills to use. Someone who
can show desirable skills and times where they have
used them successfully allows an employer to see
them as a suitable candidate.
During a competency based interview you may be
asked questions such as:
Describe a time when you altered your behaviour
to fit the situation?
Tell me about a time when you had to analyse a
problem and generate a solution.
Describe a situation where you inspired others
to meet a common goal
Describe a situation where you were successful
in getting people to work together effectively.
Describe a time when you were in a high-
pressure situation.
It is worth noting that it is possible to prepare answers
for a Competency Based interview. By identifying the
competencies an employer is interested in, you can
form premeditated answers to suit each individual
competency. You must be careful however, to make
sure your answers don’t sound rehearsed as this may
go against you. When preparing your answers it can
be helpful to use the STAR method.
Situation – What situation or problem did you face?
Task – What did it require for you to identify the
problem and come up with a solution?
Action – What action did you take and how did you
go about solving the problem?
Result - What was the outcome or what was
achieved from your actions?
Strengths-based Interviews
Strengths-based interviews are becoming
increasingly popular. They allow employers to find out
more about an employee’s personality and interests.
It allows employers to examine a candidates fit within
their company. By allowing them to display their areas
of interest and enthusiasm they can then be placed
in an area they enjoy working in and can hopefully
excel. Your personality is an indicator of how you will
act in the job and this can be attractive for employers.
During a strengths-based interview you may be
asked questions such as:
What comes easily to you?
What do you learn quickly?
What subjects do you most enjoy studying?
What things give you energy?
Describe a successful day you have had.

5. d e 1
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Exceptional Roles, Exceptional Candidates
5 Fitzwilliam Square | Dublin 2 | 01 661 0444 | info@lincoln.ie
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