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She was the child star who successfully broke into more adult acting roles.

We loved watching her after school on Nickelodeon's The Amanda Show, adored her as kooky Penny in Hairspray and She's The Man was our sleepover go-to as teenagers.

And then, just as quick as she became our on-screen BFF, she seemed to go down the typical child-star spiral. 

However, the 32-year-old has made her triumphant return – and she is breaking the Internet. 

The actor is currently studying at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in downtown Los Angeles.

She has been enrolled there since 2014 and is getting her Associate's of Art degree in Merchandise Product Development this month before starting a Bachelor's degree in January. 

But hold on – acting is still her first passion –  phew. 

Acting has been her whole life; she had an agent by the age of seven, went on to a "SNL-with-tweens"-esque sketch show on Nick and then, of course, she had her own show.

She says that "It was a dream come true. It was unbelievable for me."

After three seasons, it was time for Amanda to break into movies – and that she did. Remember her, aged 15, alongside Frankie Muniz in Big Fat Liar?

And What I Like About You on the WB, opposite Jennie Garth, playing two sisters living in New York City.

But then came 2007.

Blame paparazzi culture, snapping young stars as they fell out of nightclubs – not that Amanda liked going out that much, or alcohol for that matter. 

But, she says, "I started smoking marijuana when I was 16. Even though everyone thought I was the 'good girl,' I did smoke marijuana from that point on. I wasn't going out and partying or making a fool of myself… yet."

It was after making Easy A, her last movie, that thing started to spiral. 

She says candidly, ''I literally couldn't stand my appearance in that movie and I didn't like my performance. I was absolutely convinced I needed to stop acting after seeing it."

She continues, "I was high on marijuana when I saw that but for some reason, it really started to affect me. I don't know if it was a drug-induced psychosis or what, but it affected my brain in a different way than it affects other people."

So she retired on Twitter and sank into a dark existence with a seedy crowd. 

Now sober for four years, her advice to anyone struggling with substance abuse is ''to be really careful because drugs can really take a hold of your life. The mixture of marijuana and whatever other drugs and sometimes drinking really messed up my brain. It really made me a completely different person. I actually am a nice person. I would never feel, say or do any of the things that I did and said to the people I hurt on Twitter."

Thankfully she is looking super healthy and says, "I have no fear of the future. I've been through the worst and came out the other end and survived it so I just feel like it's only up from here."

Everyone, get ready for the second act of Amanda Bynes-  we have a feeling it's gonna be a great one. 

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100 Women I Know is movement which began with a questionnaire which asked women to share any experiences of rape and sexual assault.

92 out of the 100 Women asked in a survey said they had been pressured or forced into sexual activity.

The shocking results were hugely emotional, blunt and upsetting.

They also detail the harsh realities which women face every single day, yet sexual violence is so prevalent that women have been effectively silenced on the issue until recent times.

These experiences which were generously and bravely shared led Phoebe Montague, founder of the project, to direct and produce an award-winning short documentary film which focused on four intimate interviews.

Break the Habit Press decided to publish the book, and a movement to strengthen solidarity between survivors of assault was born.

It is imperative that sexual violence is addressed as a social issue, one which needs to be stopped at all costs.

Jazmin, one of the women featured in the documentary, has decided to collaborate with Phoebe in launching their sister organisation People We Know.

The organisation aims to provide an educational programme which attempts to prevent young people from becoming victims or perpetrators of sexual violence.

By planning much needed workshops for schools and communities, these transformative activities are designed to educate and engage young people on the difficult topic.

The participants will hopefully feel encouraged to reconsider their preconceived notions, judgments and misconceptions surrounding consensual sex, healthy relationships and sexual violence.

Young people are the future and it is our responsibility, as a society, to empower them with tools for change.

100 Women I Know on Instagram shared a disturbing statistic on World Suicide prevention day: 1 in 10 victims attempted suicide as a result of sexual violence.

The Instagram page also wrote a statement paralleling the image, detailing how sexual violence and suicide go hand in hand far more often than previously thought.

“63% of victims suffered mental or emotional problems as a result of sexual violence. 53% reported having problems trusting people or having difficulty in other relationships. 1 in 10 victims attempted suicide as a result.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A study by the Office for National Statistics found that 63% of sexual violence victims suffered mental or emotional problems. 53% reported having problems trusting people or having difficulty in other relationships. 1 in 10 victims attempted suicide as a result. – Yesterday was World Suicide Prevention day, yet suicide affects people’s lives every day, globally. – Sexual violence is just one of the many reasons people attempt or die by suicide. Deciding to take ones life is never an easy option, let this day be a reminder to us all to live our lives with compassion. – Male suicide is the biggest killer of men under 45 in the UK. We have a massive issue surrounding lack of communication and emotional connection worldwide. Check in with your loved ones; the “weak” and the “strong”, be kind to strangers; you never know what battles someone is fighting. – Reaching out to ask for help is never easy, if you don’t have anyone to speak to directly, there are services available to help. Don’t feel ashamed by your circumstances or embarrassed at your inability to cope, you are certainly not alone. – Please call 116 112 now for UK Samaritans. @samaritanscharity – – – – #MentalHealth #worldsuicidepreventionday #SuicideAwareness #SexualViolence #Abuse #Survivors #StrongerTogether #ReachingOut #Compassion #Love #PeopleWeKnow #100WomenIKnow #MoreThan100Womem

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One thing is certain: Changes in our society must be made if we ever want women to feel safe, and their voices need to be heard.

The book can be bought online here, with 30% of proceeds going directly towards funding more educational workshops in schools.

Check out their website for more information here.

"Fight the fear if you believe in your art": Phoebe Montague, 100 Women I Know.

Feature image: Source/ https://www.100womeniknow.com/film

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Ireland has some of the most beautiful beach coastlines in the world, and come rain or shine, hundreds will venture out towards the sand and surf. From the early morning dog-walkers to those who squeeze in a run before they hit the office (how though?) to excited kids at the weekend, busy collecting seashells on the seashore. In their natural state, our beaches are breathtaking but it's no secret that we need to be doing more to keep them clean.

To this end, Coca-Cola and Centra just organised the Big Beach Clean initiative for the eighth year running. Organised and run by An Taisce’s Clean Coast programme and Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful in both Ireland and Northern Ireland, each year sees thousands of volunteers from around the country turn out to rid our beaches of litter. And to give you an idea of just how much this initiative is needed, back at a Clean Up day in just June of this year, more than 23 tonnes of litter was removed from the island’s coastline – that's over 3,500 bags!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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We sat down with musician, TV presenter and avid surfer Kian Egan who spoke to us about going green, encouraging everyone to get involved and pushing back unexpectedly in the name of the environment  – even when it comes to eating on-the-go.

Kian Egan will be the first one to tell you he lives on the beach. "I do," he says. "Because I spend so much time surfing and just in that environment, I see first-hand, just how dirty the beaches get – and how big an issue it is."  This was his second year running involved with The Big Beach Clean and he says the damage starts at the simple level of waste – that's materials or rubbish that's non-renewable – getting strewn over and lodged in the sand, which then ends up in the sea, spreading the contamination and endangering the animals in it. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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"It's really about education. If people aren't aware of the damage that might be caused by the waste they throw away, the materials they choose to use, how will things change? And it isn't just about this generation – it's about educating the next and showing them what it really means when we clean our beaches."

And how does he do this? "I'm a surfer, so I'd bring stuff home or tell the kids – Kian is a doting dad to Koa, Zekey and Cobi and lives with his brood and wife Jodi Albert in Sligo – the importance of why we're bringing X and Y home to dispose of properly and get them involved." He explained his son came home from school and told his parents he wanted to live in a 'plastic-free house,' and he then used the opportunity to tell him the importance of not using some plastic just because it's there, but also why some plastic will always be needed. 

"Again, it's all about education," he continued. "Telling the kids why they don't need a straw with a drink to explaining that the baby's bottle which will get re-used time and time again is plastic that's used in an effective way."  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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We talk of trends and how it seems to be of the moment to 'go green' but Kian admits that the problem lies in the fact that some might even see it as one. "I would hope it isn't a trend at all but becoming the norm by doing simple things that would make a difference."

And these simple things can range from outlets like Nandos, who insist that you can use a straw but you have to ask for one first (and who wants to be that person? Cringe!) to cafes and restaurants encouraging their customers to fill up re-useable coffee cups as opposed to grabbing a paper cup every single time – something that we're seeing more and more of these days. 

It's also about trying to challenge the status quo, Kian admits, even on the very small details.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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"I was getting a salad one day and I noticed almost everything around me was made of plastic. So, I asked for a wooden fork instead. The manager looked taken aback at even that. I'm not saying everyone has to challenge people in this way or push back all the time but it's doing this kind of thing that creates awareness and keeps change happening. Even this year, we're collecting more litter and waste than we ever have, so it's not going unnoticed; people are making a conscious effort to get involved."

Main Photo via Facebook        

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Victoria Beckham may be known as one of the top fashion designers in the world but family comes first.

It's what has kept the fascination with the Beckham family ever-constant; their down-to-earth likeability. Yes, we can't forget they do live a life of obvious luxury but even within this, they do 'normal' things. They write adorable father's day cards, a proud mum posts a snap of her daughter's haircut, a sweet sixteen gets celebrated (on a yacht with Elton John, but still).

 

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But all this hasn't stopped Victoria and David from enduring a share of unwanted attention from the press. The couple have been married for 19 years, and in the new issue of British Vogue, Victoria – who appears on two cover options, the first with her four children and the second with husband David while daughter Harper plays on a swing behind them – addressed the ongoing public fascination of their marriage.

Even this year, back in June, the couple were plagued, seemingly out of nowhere that their marriage was over. So much so, that after a 24-hour social media storm, a spokesperson for the couple was forced to vehemently denied the claims and unfounded rumours. The fashion designer and singer simply says that their lives are all about family, but added that she found the rumours "unfair." 

 

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The stories are not only unfair to them, but to the "wider effect on the people around us." She doesn't mention her children by name, but it is the boys: Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz as well as daughter Harper who would instantly be affected by hurtful gossip. 

"It's all about the family unit. We are much stronger, the six of us, than we would be if we were individuals. We respect that family bond and that is key," she said in the interview.

She also adds that she knows the true value of the bond – and brand – that both her and David bring as a couple, despite both being charismatic and strong individuals. 

"We both realise that we are stronger together than we are as individuals. Would either of us be in the position that we are in now had we not met and been together all those years ago?" 

 

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While the profile has generally been praised, some are criticising the above photo in which the kids are fighting with water guns, with comments saying the move was "utterly tasteless."

“Why the guns?” read one comment on British Vogue’s Instagram page. “Use of guns is utterly tasteless,” wrote a critic. “Fake guns but really, did you need to use guns as props?” read a comment on Victoria’s Instagram page. The family have yet to comment on the backlash. 

Yet while the Beckham family are perfectly suited to the iconic magazine's historic pages, it's the 44-year-old's behind-the-scenes video footage of the shoot that is a highlight – it sheds light on yet another layer to her enigmatic personality as she showcases iconic looks from her Spice Girl days:

 

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She's hilarious. And she's given us many more reasons to adore her clan.      

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If you needed another reason to love Margot Robbie (which we don't tbh) then the news that she is obsessed with a certain famous wizard should do the job.

Yes, Margot has admitted that her interest in all things Harry Potter might have taken an extreme turn. 

She divulged to the Evening Standard that her hen party had a Potter theme running through it…in the form of a stripper.

Yes, you read that right.

The 28-year-old got hitched to British assistant director Tom Ackerley in December 2016, but not before her hen do took place in Aus, with 45 of her girlfriends. 

She explained to the magazine, ''[the Clapham crowd] are a rowdy bunch and the combination was explosive. They hired a Harry Potter-themed stripper for me; he had all the Harry Potter phrases and innuendoes. I was so touched, it was really such a thoughtful thing to do. They know me so well."

(The Clapham Crowd are a group of friends she used to live with in London btw.)

She went on to talk about how she has been reading about the world of Hogwarts on a loop since she was eight-years-old and it has always helped her to fall asleep. 

"I know what’s coming next when I turn the page. I can’t meditate and this is what I have to do to fall asleep,'' she explained.  

''If I read something new before I go to bed, my brain goes 1,000 miles an a hour. Reading Harry Potter makes me happy and calms me. I read for about an hour to two hours every night. My husband hates it,'' she continued. 

 

@MaryQueenMovie #MaryQueenofScots

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In other news, Margot looks set to make her mark as Queen Elizabeth I in Mary, Queen of Scots alongside Saoirse Ronan, who will take on the role of Mary.

The trailer shows an unrecognisable Margot as the Virgin Queen, clad in a red wig and a painted white face. 

Margot told Entertainment Weekly that, “everyone manipulated their relationship. It's complicated, it’s tragic, and it’s bizarre. The only other person in the world who could understand the position they were in was each other.”

Both women look perfectly cast don't they? We must say, we're pretty excited about this one!

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Love them or loathe them, we have to admit – we're a little bit obsessed with Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom's relationship.

The unlikely pair have hooked up/split up/gotten back together again and it has kept us all enthralled.

Katy recently gave an interview to Vogue Australia for the August 2018 issue, where she opened up about her relationship with Orlando. 

She explained that while she loves being with him, that there were many reason's why she does not speak about him publicly.

And it's not simply because she wants to keep that part of her life private. 

It is down to the fact that if she does divulge about her love life, it will give it more significance than other areas of her life – such as her activism, her career and her faith.

When Katy met Pope Francis in the Vatican in April, she was disappointed with the media coverage that it got, because Orlando was by her side for the trip. 

“I don’t want it to be a headline of the story, because it takes away from the purpose,” she said.

“Also, it’s extremely misogynistic. Of course, I love my relationship, but that is one part of me, and I don’t want any part of what I do to be diminished.”

These comments have been hailed as a powerful and feminist view of relationships and it's not surprising.

Katy has weathered her fair share of unwanted attention on her romantic life but, as she acknowledges, ''there will always be noise.''

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All hail Queen Kylie.

It seems that she's everywhere atm, right?

From landing the cover of Forbes, to shocking the world by removing her lip fillers, now the 20-year-old is gracing the August cover of GQ mag alongside her fella of one year, Travis Scott. 

The couple shared images from their stunning photo shoot all across social media yesterday, with Kylie uploading two snaps to her Instagram.

The billionaire business mogul and her 27-year-old rapper beau, who are parents to five-months-old.Stormi, were interviewed by Mark Anthony Green and they spilled a lot of goss. 

 

home.

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The pair revealed that they never had a proper first date, as they met at Coachella where she decided to join Travis on his tour bus. As you do. 

'“So he said, ‘I'm going back on tour—what do we want to do about this? And I was like, ‘I guess I'm going with you,’'' Kylie told the magazine. 

Obviously, social media blew up in response to this shoot – and everyone has an opinion. 

Some fans were focused on how they were styled, wth one writing, ''Travis Scott's net worth is estimated at $8M. By Forbes’ estimate Kylie’s net worth is $900M. That’s more than her ENTIRE family w/Kanye combined yet via photo shoot, GQ endorsed reducing Kylie to a lap trophy/sex object. And women wonder WHY the equality struggle is real.''

Many others loved the photos though, and Instagram was filled with comments of support.

''You two are the absolute dream couple'' followed by heart-eyes emoji's said one, and another wrote, ''Kylie looks very happy with Travis. They both suit each other.''

Kylie, who has made a pretty $900million from Kylie Cosmetics, recently hit headlines due to comedy page The Fat Jew who set up a GoFundMe page to get to $1 billion (yes, really). 

''I don't want to live in a world where Kylie Jenner doesn't have a billion dollars. WE MUST RAISE 100 MILLION DOLLARS TO HELP HER GET TO A BILLION, PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD, THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. LINK IN BIO TO DONATE,'' it wrote.

Understandably, people were p*ssed off.

''Wow didn't know this level of stupidness actually existed,'' one person commented on the post.

We think that – somehow – Kylie will manage to scrape together bus fare without our help, don't you?

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Job interviews are enough to send even the most laid-back and breezy folk into a fit of nervous sweats. 

No matter how well prepared and qualified you may be, there's always a fear that you'll say or do something that'll ultimately ruin your chances of landing the position and leave you questioning your ability to function as a fully fledged human.

Sure, on paper it all sounds pretty simple – make eye contact, be polite, shake hands, and ask questions. But what are the things we should avoid doing in order to convince our potential new employers that we're right for the role? 

Well, jobs website Simply Hired carried out a survey of 850 hiring managers to find out just that. 

Rather unsurprisingly, results showed that arriving late was the number one interview no no. 

Explain just how detrimental tardiness can be, and what to run if you find yourself running late, recruiter Jamie Hichens told Glassdoor:

“Being late to an interview with no explanation or without emailing or calling ahead to say they are running late. This one will knock out  99% of interviewees."

“At the very least, if you’re running late, call and offer an ETA, an explanation, or an offer to reschedule. And remember to apologise for the inconvenience.”

Next came on the list of interview deal-breakers came whining at 92 per cent, followed closely by lack of preparation at 89 per cent. 

Here's the full list: 

1. Arriving to an interview late (93 per cent)

2. Whining (92 per cent)

3. Showing lack of preparation (89 per cent)

4. Criticising a former boss (88 per cent)

5. Criticising a former company (87 per cent)

6. Making grammar of spelling mistakes in a covering letter (86 per cent)

7. Using poor grammar in an interview (84 per cent)

8. Having unrealistic compensation requirements (84 per cent)

9. Being underqualified (80 per cent)

10. Answering questions incorrectly (77 per cent)

So, if you're on the hunt for a new job, try to avoid doing any of the above at all costs. The most important thing is to be yourself and remember that you wouldn't have landed the interview if they didn't think you have what it takes. 

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“My first memories are of the barbed wire at the end of our street.”

Memories are very important to Deirdre Mackel. In honour of International Women's Day, we sat down with the Belfast artist and Deliveroo cyclist to chat with her about art, feminism, cycling and everything in-between. 

“My art is inspired by the little memories I have of childhood. They’re symbolic, but not overtly so,"she says of her art.

“I get the memory and I go with my trail of thought and see what comes out of it.”

What comes out of the past has a lot to say about the future. Several of Deirdre's works tackle the construction of femininity and break down what exactly it means to be a woman in today's society. 

"I did an ironing board sculpture and it really represented the futility of domesticity. Why do we bother ironing? Why are we wasting our lives doing the same thing day after day?" 

An image that Deirdre keeps returning to are dresses. For her, they have a personal meaning as well as feminist one.

"I remember drawing myself on the back of a wedding invitation when I was about three. I was curious about it so I tracked down that same paper online. I didn't realise that they were the colours that I always used in my painting." 

Dresses are not only a source of memory for Deirdre, but they also represent something deeper. 

“For me, dresses represent conformity and non-conformity. They’re the christening gown, the communion dress and the wedding dress. They represent what’s expected of a nice, Catholic girl.”

After studying Fine Art in The University of Ulster, Deirdre now brings art and creative projects to Belfast's local communities. She's passionate about finding healing through art. A recent instillation finds beauty in barbed wire. 

"That was my childhood. There was barbed wire at the end of our street, that was my play-ground growing up. That's why I call these instillations accidental gardens. It's all about finding those tiny spots of beauty." 

She works with community groups bringing out creativity in everyone from children to elderly groups. 

“One of my favourite things is creating art in what are known as ‘problem spaces’. These are places that have a lot of bad feelings and memories attached to them.”

One such problem space was an old RUC police barracks. With Deirdre's help and encouragement, a seniors group used their croqueting skills, tuning a place that many of them had loathed and feared into a colourful knitted garden. 

"Seeing them have a tea party in the garden surrounded by their work- that's the kind of thing that drives me." 

Historically, certain communities in Belfast suffered real or perceived barriers accessing art galleries. With the help of EU funding, Deirdre is breaking down these barriers. 

"You only have to look at the giant murals on the Falls road to know that the creative instinct was always there. They’re phenomenal works of art, now we have tourists come just to visit them.

“Twenty years ago, there was a distinct lack of place for the arts and creative activities. Now a lot of the community art projects are funded by the EU. We’re working with artists to create public art trails around the city. It’s all about turning the physical scars of the conflict into something people can feel proud of and have ownership of.

“It greatly contributes to the health and wellbeing of people in the community, being about to claim ownership of a sculpture or a piece of art is a powerful thing. It’s one of the reasons why I’m so passionate about art in the community.”

As well as looking out for the community, Deirdre also takes care of her own health and wellbeing and makes some extra cash dollar at the same time. 

“I've always loved cycling. I remember seeing lads on Deliveroo  bikes and thinking that that was something I’d like to do.

“I saw an ad not long after, so I just decided to go for it.”

Being out on the bike is a fantastic way to keep fit, after her first day she "couldn't move for days" but now takes it all in her stride, or spin if you will. 

While there are good and bad days on the bike, the positives far outweigh the negatives of the job. 

“Some days it can be freezing for you can get soaked. I’ve fallen off my bike once or twice but the great thing is you just hop back up and keep going.

“I really enjoy it, I get to see parts of the city that I never would otherwise and have made some great friends for all different kinds of backgrounds.”

Most of Deirdre's co-cyclists are men, which "surprised" her. 

"I definitely think that it's a great job for both men and women. You get out and about in air, there's just so many advantages.

"Or maybe I'm just mad," she laughs. 

Her advice for any aspiring creative types out there? Just go for it. 

“If you want to do something, all you need is to want to do it. There’s just this switch that decides ‘right, I’m going for this now’. Listen to it." 

An artist with a spinning ambition, Deirdre is definitely one to watch this International Women's Day! 

To find out more about becoming a Deliveroo driver see here. 

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It's safe to say everyone can get a little bit scared when it comes to job interviews.

They're daunting and unpredictable, and make us all super nervous.

But when it comes down to it, how many of us actually pluck up the courage to ask the interviewer questions at the end?

Young woman thinking with pen while working / studying at her desk

Sure, you might have a few prepared, but most of the time, those either get forgotten about, or you're shoved out the door to make way for the next candidate.

So, if you want some extra information about the company, or want to find out more about room for growth and development, here are a few questions to fire their way at the end of your interview:

What is the company culture?

Victorimedia says that this is, "an oldie, but a goodie." Company culture means what the company does for fun and what the work life environment is like.

By asking this question you'll find out what it's like to work in their business, and what the attitudes of your future colleagues will be like.

Having a good place to work in and having supportive people behind you is a major plus in any job.

advice, advise, advisor

 

What is the performance review process like?

As Enterprisealive.ie writes, you don't want this question to be picked up the wrong way, however, it's a very important question to ask.

It will benefit you to know if you're going to grow within the business, if there will be any promotions available in the future and if you'll get any rewards for a job well done.

If they don't have an answer or look nervous – this could be a red flag that there's not a lot of movement or raise potential.

class, diary, exam

 

Is there anything about my application that gives you doubt? If so, I'd love to discuss those concerns.

This question is certainly not for the faint-hearted, but it's a great conclusion to any interview.

That kind of vulnerability isn't easy, but many employers will be impressed by your confidence to ask it.

If your interviewer replies with some critique, this will give you the chance to explain yourself and set the record straight.

adult, blur, boss

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OK, so you were finally called for an interview; your CV is perfect, you're dressed nicely and now, it's time to impress.

You've researched the company and the person who is going to interview you – you're all set, right?

Related image

While you may think so, some employers like to throw curve balls and ask questions that don't necessarily have anything to do with the job in question.

So, instead of panicking and cracking an abominable joke, top recruitment agency, Glassdoor, used its data base to find the hardest questions you might face in an interview.

Be prepared, ladies:

  • “What on your CV is the closest thing to a lie?” – Marketing and Communications Employee, The Phoenix Partnership

 

  • “How would your enemy describe you?” – Advertising Sales Grad Scheme, Condé Nast

 

  • “What's the most selfish thing you've ever done?” – Graduate Consultant, PageGroup

 

  • “If your best friend was here what advice would he give you?” – CCP, American Express

 

  • “Describe your biggest weakness. Then describe another.” – Forward Deployed Software Engineer, Palantir Technologies

 

  • “How do you cope with repetition?” – Product Specialist, Tesla Motors

 

  • “Who is your hero, and why?” – Product Quality Employee, GE

 

  • “What does social justice mean to you?” – Content Marketing Manager, ThoughtWorks

 

  • “What is your coping mechanism when you have a bad day?” – Consultant, Switch Consulting

 

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Look, there are very few people who don't feel nervous at the prospect of a job interview.

Even if you're confident in your knowledge, experience and skillset, you're still attempting to sell yourself in a pressurised enviroment, and Lord knows that's not always easy.

They say a good CV will get you in the door, but a good interview will get you on the payroll, so preparing for that all-important meeting is absolutely paramount.

If you've recently been called to interview, it's now time to check out our top five tips to overcome nerves and show that interviewer what you're made of.

1. Research the company

Never, ever, ever go into an interview without a clear understanding of the company's goals and objectives.

Trying to bluff your way out of a question about the organisation's history or winging a response on their general aims will be a massive red flag for any interviewer.

You can't be guaranteed they'll always ask, but being able to slip your knowledge in during the conversation will rack up serious Brownie points.

2. Research the interviewer

If you have been given the name of your interviewer, the next step is to check them out on LinkedIn.

Not only will it help you put a face to a name, but it will give you an insight into the values and qualities they rate as both an employee and employer.

And hey, you may have something in common which you can mention if the opportunity arises in the interview.

3. Know your job spec inside out

An interview is your opportunity to show a potential employer that you, put simply, are the solution to their problem.

And the easiest way to do this is by addressing the various aspects of the job spec, and highlighting the various ways you can fulfil them.

Attending an interview without having a clear idea of the role required of you will make for a pretty short interview. ( And not in a good way)

4. Prepare typical responses

Thankfully, most interviews follow a pretty typical pattern which means you can calm your nerves by preparing a list of questions they're likely to ask you.

Do not, however, learn any responses off by heart because – given the pressure of the moment – you may lose track and end up confusing both yourself and your potential employer.

Make some key points around standard questions, and go from there,

Prepare real-life examples

It's become more and more common for employers to ask you to draw on real-life examples in order to bolster and support your claims.

Being asked to provide examples when you don't have any prepared is a nightmare in anyone's language, so make sure you're sorted on this front.

Consider times you solved a problem for a employer or client, or recall incidents where your skillset remedied an issue, and communicate them clearly while allowing your interviewer to ask questions about it.

And finally….

Remember that your interviewer will expect nerves, and will give you time to relax before you get properly started.

Your interviewer wants you to be good because it makes their life easier, so keep that in mind throughout.

Take your time when answering the questions. There is no rush, so don't rap your answers!

Accept a glass of water – you will need it!

Wear an outfit you  feel confident and comfortable in – it matters more than you might think!

Only do what feels natural. Yes, you may have heard that being more animated with your hands makes you look more enthusiastic, but if it distracts you from answering the questions properly then really, what was the point?!

Don’t let changes in the interview set-up throw you. Your knowledge and skills remain the same!

Now, go get 'em, girl.

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