From Career Fairs to Career Moves: Lessons from Dublin JobExpo Real-life tips on interviews, CV pivots, and standing out in a crowded job market.

Last Saturday, 26th April, I was in Dublin for the JobExpo. My session on Time Management for Professional Advancement was scheduled towards the end of the day, so I spent most of my time in the Career Clinic, meeting a lot of wonderful people.I truly love the JobExpo for this reason — it gives you the chance to chat with individuals who might not even be aware of what a coach does. In everyday life, I might not have the opportunity to connect with this audience, so this format makes the event even more enriching.

Throughout the day, as so many different people were taking their seat across for me,  I noticed several recurring themes in the conversations I had. Most of the attendees were either looking for their first job ever or their first job in Ireland but there were also professional with important experience that were now reinventing themselves.In the hope of helping many others facing the same challenges, I’ve put together a brief summary of the most common issues and some suggestions on how to address them.

1. How to Prepare for an Interview – The STAR Model

The STAR model is a behavioural-based interviewing technique and is now one of the most widely used methods in hiring processes.Regardless of whether the question focuses on soft skills or technical skills, the STAR model helps provide a structured, comprehensive answer that showcases your experience, attitude, and even your technical capabilities.

One of its main advantages is that it helps employers predict how you might behave in future situations, based on your past choices and lessons learned. It also provides insight into how well you might fit within an organisation’s culture and values.

Let’s look at how it works in detail:

In a STAR interview, the interviewer will ask you to provide real-life examples demonstrating a particular skill. For example:"Can you tell me about a time when you had to deal with a person described as difficult?"

To answer successfully, you should structure your response following the STAR model:

• Situation: Set the scene. What was the context?

• Task: What was your responsibility?

• Action: What specific steps did you take?

• Result: What was the outcome?

When telling your story, it’s important to stay concise and avoid unnecessary details. Focus on the parts of the story that directly demonstrate the skill the interviewer is interested in.A clear, structured answer is much more powerful than a long, unfocused one.

Example of a STAR Answer:

Question: “Can you tell me about a time you had to meet a tight deadline?”

• Situation: "In my previous role as a marketing assistant, we were launching a new product, and two weeks before the launch, we realized the promotional materials weren't ready."

• Task: "I was responsible for coordinating with the design team and ensuring the materials were finalized and printed on time."

• Action: "I quickly organized daily check-in meetings with the designers, reprioritized tasks to focus on essential materials first, and personally handled the communication with the printing company to speed up the process."

• Result: "We managed to deliver all the materials on time, and the product launch was a success, attracting 20% more attendees than initially forecasted."

2. How to Structure a CV When Pivoting to a New Career

When making a career pivot, your CV must shift the focus from your previous job titles to your transferable skills.Rather than heavily emphasizing your work history — which might not seem fully relevant to the new role — I recommend creating a skills-focused CV.

Main points in a skills-focused CV:

• Highlight transferable skills prominently and in the first page of your cv. Skills such as communication, project management, leadership, analytical thinking, or customer service, depending on the new field.

• Summarize relevant experiences under each skill rather than listing jobs strictly in chronological order. You will still keep the Work Experience section but it will be much shorter

• Tailor the profile or summary statement at the top of the CV to focus on your motivation for the pivot and your readiness for the new role.

This approach shifts the employer’s attention away from "lack of direct experience" and instead highlights the value you can bring from day one.

3. How to Draft Your CV for Multiple Types of Applications

If you are targeting different fields — for example, Sales and Data Analysis — it’s important to prepare a separate CV for each career type.Although much of the core information (education, companies, dates) will stay the same, the emphasis should change based on the skills and experience most relevant to each field.

For each version of the CV:

• Spotlight the experiences and achievements that are most relevant to the specific job.

• Reorder bullet points to feature the most applicable experiences first.

• Use industry-specific keywords that resonate with each field.

This way, every recruiter or hiring manager can immediately see why you're a good fit — without having to read between the lines.

4. Why Matching the Language of the Job Description Matters

An important but sometimes overlooked if not even completely refused because perceived as not “authentic” tip is to match your CV language with the job description.Many companies now use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) — AI tools that scan CVs for specific keywords and phrases before a human even reads them.

To give yourself the best chance:

• Mirror the language of the job advert in your CV.

• For instance, one of the example I keep bringing is, if your CV says you "work well with deadlines and in a fast-paced environment," but the job spec emphasizes "time management skills," adjust your wording to include "time management skills."

• Stay truthful: Only adjust the wording for alignment — never claim skills or experiences you don’t actually have.

This small but powerful adjustment can ensure your CV passes the initial screening and lands in front of a real person.

5. Additional CV Tips for Success

Other additional tips that can be used for your cv can be:

·       Use a strong professional summary: A short paragraph at the top of the CV explaining who you are, what you bring to the table, and why you're a great fit.

• Focus on achievements, not just duties: Wherever possible, describe the impact you made, not just your responsibilities. If you have a more traditional cv with more emphasis on Work Experience, list of each position you covered what were the requirements and what the achievements

• Keep formatting simple and clean: Fancy layouts with columns on the side or graphics can confuse ATS systems. Stick with clear fonts, bullet points, and logical structures.

• Add a "Key Skills" section: Particularly useful for career pivoters, a clear list of your top skills makes your strengths obvious at a glance.

Final Thoughts

Participating in the JobExpo once again reminded me that job searching can feel overwhelming — but small adjustments can make a big difference.Whether it’s preparing for interviews with the STAR model, restructuring your CV to highlight transferable skills, or fine-tuning your wording for ATS systems, taking the time to be strategic pays off.

If you’re currently navigating your first job in Ireland, switching careers, or simply feeling stuck, remember: you have more valuable experience and skills than you probably realise.Sometimes, it’s just a matter of learning how to tell your story in a way that others can immediately understand and appreciate.

Ready for a New Career Chapter?

Looking for more personalised support?If you read all the way to here and you’re preparing for interviews, planning a career pivot, or simply feeling unsure about your next step, I’d love to help.As a certified coach with experience helping individuals from all backgrounds, I can work with you to craft strong CVs, prepare confidently for interviews, and find clarity in your career journey.Feel free to reach out — let's chat about how we can work together to unlock your next opportunity!

About Me

I'm a certified EMCC coach with over 20 years of experience working in corporate environments.Throughout my career, I've developed a real passion for helping people unlock their potential and achieve goals that truly fit their lifestyle and values.

I'm especially interested in positive psychology and how the right mindset and positivity can make a real difference in our careers — and in our lives.I love reading and learning about the science of happiness, and I bring that passion into my coaching work to help my clients find paths that feel both fulfilling and sustainable.

If you're curious about how I can support you on your career journey — whether it’s landing your next role, pivoting to a new field, or simply finding more clarity and confidence — feel free to reach out. I'd love to hear your story!