Archive for Interviews

Volunteering jobs will save economy, says charity

December 11, 2008 at 3:07 pm · Filed under Interviews, ethical jobs ·Tagged , , , , ,

Anyone in doubt about the value of volunteering could take into account charity Volunteering England’s latest proposal to the government, issued in early December.

Volunteering England has put a nine-point “recession challenge” to the government, businesses and the voluntary sector, which calls on all to invest in volunteering projects.

The challenge comes ahead of a major meeting with the Office of the Third Sector later in December. The meeting will include representatives from the Office’s 45 strategic partners, who will discuss ways in which the third sector can help fight the recession.

The charity claims that investing in creating volunteering jobs will stimulate the economy. The challenge states that volunteering is often a route to employment for many people, and so in a time of redundancies and recession this could be a valuable tool to boost employment.

Another point made by the charity is that people in volunteering jobs can gain valuable skills otherwise unavailable to them, whilst providing businesses with the cost-effective labour they need to work through the sector. At the same time, the challenge emphasises that voluntary jobs should not replace paid positions.

Chief executive of Volunteering England Justin Davis Smith said: “The economic conditions set up new possibilities for working with volunteers.”

He added that organisations must not reduce volunteering management to cut costs at this critical time.

Volunteering England and other volunteering charities are crying out for people to fill their positions. If you are looking for work, or working but looking to move into a more ethical career, a part-time or even short-term full-time voluntary position can be a great way to start. You can meet useful contacts, gain skills and may be considered first if a paid position becomes available with the organisation you volunteer for. To search for great volunteering jobs, have a look a JuicyJobs.biz extensive listings, and keep up to date with all the latest news.

Author and resource box
Rachel Charman, a writer for Juicyjobs.biz Ethical Jobs UK – an environmentally friendly green job search board which offers free job listings to Environmental, NGO’s, NFP’s and ethical companies promoting green, fair trade services and support sustainable living.  For job seekers Juicyjobs can help you find the ideal ethical jobs in London.

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Successful phone interviews ; Securing your green job

November 17, 2008 at 1:27 pm · Filed under Interviews, green jobs ·Tagged , , , , ,

Looking for a great green job or the start of your environmental career has never been easier thanks to the internet and sites like JuicyJobs.biz.  There are hundreds of places to find and apply for jobs (even ethical jobs) at the touch of a button, but preparation for interviews is a much harder task.  Here at JuicyJobs.biz we have written on interview technique before.  You may be well-versed in how to sit, dress, shake hands, smile, make eye contact and answer confidently.  This, however, can all be blown out of the water if you are first invited for a telephone interview.

Telephone interviewing is on the rise amongst employers, especially green employers.  Firstly, interviewing over the phone can help to save time, by getting a better idea of a candidate’s skills and qualities than is offered by a CV, but without the hassle of a full interview.  It also saves money for the candidate, and the environmental consequences of several candidates travelling to the interview.  Telephone interviews, however, can throw candidates and break concentration.  So, here is our guide to acing your telephone interview, and getting you one step closer to your perfect green job.

  1. Treat it like a face-to-face interview: Many candidates automatically behave more casually, simply because they are on the phone and not standing in their prospective employer’s office.  This is a sure sign of failure. Candidates who do not see phone interviews as “real” ones, consciously or not, often begin using slang, are less polite, are not as prepared, and are rarely as alert as they would be in a traditional interview. In order to avoid this trap, make a conscious effort to behave exactly as you would in a face-to-face situation. Smile as you answer the phone, as this makes you sound confident and helpful; remember that the entire conversation, even greetings, are under scrutiny. Wearing smart clothes for the phone interview, as silly as it sounds, can help you to focus and behave more professionally. Standing up to take the call is also a good way of helping you to remain focused and alert.
  2. Be prepared: Just because you are not physically meeting your interviewer does not mean that they are not going to ask you challenging questions, or that they do not expect professional responses from you.  So, when waiting for the call, make sure you have been reading up on a relevant topic, focusing your mind on the conversation to come. Ensure that you have done as much research and preparation for a phone interview as you would if you were going to a face-to-face interview. Plan your interview for a time when you will be somewhere quiet, rather than walking down the street, and where you will not be disturbed. If you are using your mobile phone, ensure it is charged or plugged in; telling your interviewer that your battery is low and may cut out sends them a message that you are not enthusiastic about the role, or too disorganised to do the job properly anyway.

Overall, the important thing to remember with telephone interviews is to take them as seriously as traditional interviews.  That doesn’t mean that you have to be terrified; relaxed and confident candidates are normally the most successful. It is integral, however, that you show your interviewer that you are familiar with the process, and that you want the position.  Following these tips will help you break into that ethical career much faster!

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Top Tips: Interview dos and don’ts

October 28, 2008 at 11:04 am · Filed under Interviews ·Tagged , , , ,

The search for a fantastic green job can be long and difficult, so don’t ruin all your hard work by falling at the final hurdle; the interview. Your great ethical job could lie just the other side of that crucial hour, so read this JuicyJobs guide to shining in an interview, and get out there and start your ethical career!

DO:

  • Dress smartly.  The ethical and environmental sector is just as professional as any other sector, so suits or smart skirts are a must, unless your prospective employer has specifically instructed you to be “smart/casual”.  Remember: dressing too smartly will make you look, at the worst, very conscientious, which is not a bad thing.  Dressing too scruffily will make you look as if you’re not taking the job seriously.  What impression would you rather give?
  • Make eye contact. Look at your interviewer when they are speaking to you.  Looking all around the room will give the impression that you are not listening and are unable to focus, which does not bode well for your employability score.  Looking at your interviewer will show you to be confident, as well as a good communicator, and will help you to relax, as your interviewer will appear less intimidating.
  • Ask a question. Try to think of one about the job role, which has not been covered by the job description or anything the interviewer has said.  A simple “you mentioned this earlier; can you tell me more about that?” makes you appear interested, eager and a good listener.  Not asking any questions at all might make you appear too nervous, give the impression that you have not thought about the role properly.
  • Relax. The interviewer is expecting you to be nervous, but will be interested to see how you handle it. So, show them what you are made of! Shake hands, make pleasantries, and smile.  Be friendly but professional, in order to show the interviewer how you will deal with clients and customers if you are successful.

DON’T:

  • Ask difficult questions. The interview is not the place to pick the organisation apart by its weak points.  A question that challenges the organisation or the interviewer may show you to be bright, but gives the impression that you are not an ally of the organisation. Keep the questions reasonably light and relevant, but don’t go in for the kill!
  • Leave on your mobile phone. Believe it or not, people do, and some even answer their phones, in the mistaken belief that the interviewer will think their interviewee is in high demand.  This is not the effect it has; a bleeping phone in an interview, especially if you attend to it, makes you look inattentive and a little rude.
  • Give off bad signals. Crossing your arms, fidgeting and looking at the floor or out of the window are bad moves.  You will look nervous, or as if you are not paying attention. Be aware of what your body is doing.  Sitting and leaning forward, nodding, smiling and keeping hands still are all signs of a professional.

Following these rules is so simple, and yet could be the key to getting your dream green job or getting you a step further in your ethical career.  Keep to these few things and you can’t go wrong, and check JuicyJobs for more great advice and news on ethical and environmental jobs.

Author and resource box
Rachel Charman, a writer for Juicyjobs.biz Ethical Jobs UK – an environmentally friendly green job search board which offers free job listings to Environmental, NGO’s, NFP’s and ethical companies promoting green, fair trade services and support sustainable living.  For job seekers Juicyjobs can help you find the ideal ethical jobs in London.

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