Testimonials

Individuals

"Kate, a chara, míle buíochas as an chabhair go léir a thug tu dom, bhí tú ar fheabhas. Your coaching was fantastic, you really gave me the confidence to believe in myself and that I was able for the job. You also really prepared me for the interview, you covered all the questions and your insight into the whole process was invaluable. Go raibh míle maith agat agus gach dea-ghuí,”
Síniú

“I had the opportunity to engage the service of Kate Lawler recently for a role I was applying for. I found the whole experience extremely positive. Kate brings a wealth of experience, and professionalism to process. She worked with me throughout the process from advice on my application through to interview preparation. Kate is friendly, approachable, helpful, patient and demonstrates a true passion for her work. I truly appreciate the preparation work that she had gone through with me to ensure that I was ready. She provides an outstanding service and definitely one I would recommend to friends and colleagues. Thank you Kate.”
Carol Grogan

“I met with Kate for some tuition and guidance regarding competency based interviews. In my dealings with Kate I found her to be extremely approachable, knowledgeable and experienced in this type of interview process. Kate was able to communicate in a clear and direct manner and her assistance was invaluable.
If you are seeking practical advice and guidance for career promotion from an experienced HR professional, I would strongly recommend Kate”
Public Sector employee

“The course helped me realise what the interview board was looking for in a candidate. It showed me how to highlight these qualities in a clear, concise fashion drawing on my previous, professional experiences. It is essential preparation for any candidate undergoing competency based interview..”
Member of An Garda Siochána

“I have used Kate Lawler HR Specialist services to help me in my quest for promotion in An Garda Siochána. I was first introduced to Kate by a colleague in 2012 when I was going forward for Superintendent. The work Kate did with me on the competency based interview, the application form and the coaching proved invaluable which resulted in success. This year, 2017, I was going forward for further promotion and again I called on Kate’s help. She spent a lot of time preparing me through the application short listing stage and through the preliminary and second interview stages. Her professional knowledge and experience in competency based interviewing, coupled with her honesty, attention to detail and generosity with her time, ensured that my preparation left nothing to chance. I have been again successful and currently on a promotion panel thanks to Kate.”
Paddy

“At the outset I found Kate was very approachable and I never felt anytime I was ringing or contacting her by e-mail that I was annoying her. I suppose I always felt her door was open. After our consultation, I did feel energised again and actually motivated to start completing the form as I gained a different insight and approach to the competency based model. Kate did help me come up with ideas/experiences and she was not just letting me settle on any experience for the sake of ticking a box but I do feel she pushed me harder to do better with them.”
Member of An Garda Siochána

“Kate helped me to prepare for my first interview in a decade. Her understanding of the complexities of the competency based interview helped bring my knowledge in this area up to date.
Through role play and dialogue, I found myself able to formulate clear, concise answers to the focused questions we worked through, with Kate helping me to draw examples from my experience to date.
There was also an emphasis on the softer interview skills. Kate emphasised the importance of body language, appropriate narratives, and self reflection in the interview, and offered incisive suggestions about potential areas of change.
This was all done in a professional, competent and insightful manner, with a few belly laughs along the way.”
Senior Health Professional
Mayo

“I came to Kate for guidance when I was preparing to apply for a supervisory position!
Working through Skype, she helped me put my thoughts in order!
The most inspiring is her positive attitude and ability to bring out your full potential!
Most times, we know what we want to say and how we want others to see us but we cannot articulate it. By asking the right questions, she ignites the spark and instils confidence!
I strongly recommend Kate's services.”
Philomena Monaghan
Scotiabank Canada

Corporations

“This is what I felt Kate Lawler brought to the Interview panel :
Humour - having a sense of humour with the panel and the candidates
Realism - coming across to the panel and the candidates as being down to earth and very real - giving the candidates an opportunity to be themselves
Probing - Kate gave candidates every opportunity to do their best at the interview by asking lots of questions in many different ways - trying to get the most out of the candidate
Adaptability - making allowance for having an inexperienced interviewer on the panel and helping them progress in their skills without judgement
Confidence – Kate inspired a professional confidence on the panel and for me it was good to have someone who was well experienced at interviewing and someone I felt confidently knew what they were at.
Liveliness, enthusiastic and bubbly would also be words to describe Kate, both professionally and personally.”
Miriam Fletcher, HR Unit, Kildare House, Houses of the Oireachtas, Ireland

“What I think you brought to the interview board last week:
You were confident in and comfortable with the whole process of competency based interviewing. This instilled confidence in the board which enabled us to participate at least somewhat effectively! You conveyed a sense of trust which enabled us to discuss both the process and the attributes of candidates without having to be overly concerned about anything other than what we were about.
I valued and depended upon your experience, expertise, leadership and wisdom throughout the two days and also the confidence you placed in us. Lastly, even though we were involved in an important and serious process, in your role as chair of the interview board you set the tone, which was one of ease, openness and professionalism with a little bit of humour thrown in , in perfect measure!. I believe that this enabled the candidates to relax and engage in the conversation and I watched as they responded to your genuine interest in them and your curiosity about their experience to date, their role in what they described and what they believed they had to offer the particular role being interviewed for. I found the experience to be a valuable learning one for me as an interviewer and I observed and I think participated in a process that got the most from those being interviewed.
Thanks Kate!”
Elaine Howley, Chief Executive Officer, NCBI Services - Working for People with Sight Loss

“You brought leadership, experience and significant expertise to the whole interview process. I thought it made sure that NCBI was protected from any claims of unfairness”
David Hickson. Chairman, NCBI Services Company

“High quality preparation clarifying what information we needed to source from candidates and assisting us to frame questions that would get us that information.
Very clear in your direction to us of the process so we were assured and confident because you guided us safely through process. Never received negative feedback or complaints from candidates.
Very respectful in your interaction with candidates, giving an authentic message that we wanted them to do their best.
Very systematic in the record keeping, scores, comments etc. all of which was assuring for board and took burden from us.”
I think this is the most important…’you shared our corporate responsibility to get the best outcome even though you would not be affected by the outcome in the longer term. Therefore we trusted you.’”
Ann Ryan, Senior Manager, HIQA