The experienced I have developed by working in senior roles in both the public and private sector has taught me more than anything else, the importance of understanding and developing people. As a leader, a coach, a change champion, a program manager, evaluator, and trainer, I observed that it is people that make things happen.
Many of the people I work with, regardless of where they are in their organization, are unsure if they are good enough. Over the years, I have made innovation my goal, starting with myself and working together with a range of other people. I meet wonderful people on this continuous improvement journey while completing an MBA in the Smurfit Business School, a Higher Diploma in Management in University College Dublin, and a Higher Diploma in Leadership from Harvard alongside a range of coaching and self-development courses. Together we share our experiences of work and life. It is the wisdom I gain from these shared experiences, that I bring to my clients.
Everyday that I Chair or sit an interview panel, or facilitate senor leadership groups or individual coaching and leadership sessions is a privilege. There is nothing more rewarding than observing people develop, innovate, believe in themselves and get the success they deserve.
Our Clients
Our Services
CV and Interview Preparation
We support people from initial recruitment to senior level positions in general, technical and specialist posts in particular in the following sectors: Civil Service; Health Service/Medical, Garda (including Garda Recruitment), Defence Forces, Education, Local Authority and Agriculture.
Interview Board Specialists
We provide experienced Independent Chairpersons and specialist Board Members across a range of sectors, providing support and direction to the Interview Process. Our services include Interview Board Training, Shortlisting Support, and support on giving feedback to candidates.
Coaching
Do you feel you are struggling in your current role or feel that you are in the wrong job? Our team of wise and experienced coaches, support leaders to improve performance through self awareness, skill-development, developing productive relationships, increasing confidence and improved focus to reach and exceed goals
CV Prep for Civil and Public Sector Clients
Our clients are highly successful at interviews across the civil and public sector. We support people from initial recruitment to senior level positions<br /> in general, technical and specialist posts in particular in the following sectors:
Business Sector CV and Interview Preparation
Our clients are highly successful at interviews across the following sectors from recruitment to senior-level positions in, Financial Services, Insurance, Construction, Agri Sector, Technology, Legal and Sports and Leisure.
“Clare’s technique is the best I have come across. Her success rate is second to none!”
Innovate Together is one of the worlds best kept secrets. A senior colleague told me about Clare. I had gone to other people and I was still struggling to make it through interviews. Clare pared everything back to basics and made sure I knew everything about the role I was going for. She challenged me and recommended reading material for areas that I was not confident in. Through our discussion, I remembered situations that I had totally forgotten. I was able to translate those situations into really strong relevant examples. I could feel myself growing into the role during our discussions. The thought process she brought me through was really useful and better than any course I have ever done. It was like two years learning in four hours. Working with Clare brought me to a new level. I got the job after two rounds of challenging interviews and a presentation.
As a teacher with aspirations to advance myself in my teaching career, I have previously used the services of a number of Interview Preparation Advisors. The fit never seemed quiet right until I met Clare from Innovate Together! Clare O’Sullivan’s outstanding characteristic is that she cares about, and has an in-depth understanding of people. Within minutes of meeting Clare, I immediately felt at ease and in extremely competent hands.She expertly and calmly led me through the intricacies of interview preparation, laced with practical wisdom and common sense advice. Clare’s magical skill is that she somehow manages to get inside her client’s head and soothe their insecurities. A session with Clare left me feeling calm, clear and organised about what I had to do to properly prepare for the interview at hand. I got the job that I really wanted! I cannot recommend Clare highly enough.
Clare's technique is the best I have come across. After months of trying to find the right job matching my skill set, when the chance for an interview came up, I was afraid I was going to mess up the opportunity. Clare analysed the job spec in depth with me, finding key areas around which interview questions could arise. She worked with me to hone my answers so I could really bring out the best in my skills, raising my responses from average to great. At the same time Clare made me see that I had achieved enough to be good at the job, giving me the confidence I needed to overcome my pre-interview fear. Two years on I am loving the job. Now I recommend Clare and Innovate Together to all my friends when they are going for interview, or need a boost in their career: her success rate is second to none.
Because of Covid 19 the company I was working with downsized and I was let go. A friend recommended Clare to me. I was so anxious to find another job I was not thinking straight. I was also ashamed of losing my job. Clare was kind but firm. She took her time, and showed me a bigger picture. She encouraged me to stay connected and make appointments to meet people every week. She supported me through my CV development and together we highlighted areas where I needed to find out more information. She showed me how to work on my strengths and turn areas for improvement into strengths. I went into my first interview fully confident. I am now in a job that I love. Looking back, it is hard to believe how low I was when I first met Clare. I will never forget her kindness, understanding and practical approach.
I was anxious about getting an internship and was very sceptical about getting outside advice. Innovate Together was recommended to my parents by friends. Clare immediately put me at ease, got me to understand the job I was going for and make sure I really wanted it. She asked me about college work and summer work that I had done on the buildings and before I knew it I was telling her about the people I worked with and the situations I had come across. Clare then showed me how best to link my experiences to the competencies required for the role. She also understood the technology I was talking about. I went to the interview with confidence. I got the internship and I am still with the company. From Clare, I learned to be myself and believe in who I am.
I was attending University in Dublin and living in Ireland away from home. I was overwhelmed by the process of preparing for my internship. My family were unfamiliar with the process. Clare took me on board and was a great support to me. She talked me through decisions and ensured I was confident going for interview. I completed a series of individual and group interviews and got the internship I wanted in a large multinational IT company. Three years later I am still there and have had opportunities I never imagined. I continue to keep in touch with Clare who is always a source of inspiration and guidance.
We had never used external expertise previously for competency based interviews. Clare was recommended tous by a friend. She was professional and flexible in her approach and immediately put the Board and theCandidates at ease. Most importantly, Clare advised on many procedural elements that reduced our risk ofexposure, for which we are very grateful. She also challenged us and her leadership and strategic approach prompted us to look at the ‘bigger picture.’ We have used Clare on many occasions since. My only hesitation in recommending Clare, is that she will not be available when I call upon her next time!
“I was fortunate to have sought Innovate Togethers valuable coaching expertise at a most crucial time when I decided to embark on a new career path. Clare’s coaching and interview preparation played a significant role in my progression to a senior medical position in a short space of time. Clare’s sensitive approach enabled me to work through difficult options, identify areas for further development and giving me confidence that I could take on challenging academic courses and maintain a balanced lifestyle. Clare’s coaching was excellent during the period when I was transitioning to senior roles. I have no hesitation in recommending InnovateTogether and Clare as a coach.”
Innovate Together is one of the worlds best kept secrets. A senior colleague told me about Clare. I had gone to other people and I was still struggling to make it through interviews. Clare pared everything back to basics and made sure I knew everything about the role I was going for. She challenged me and recommended reading material for areas that I was not confident in. Through our discussion, I remembered situations that I had totally forgotten. I was able to translate those situations into really strong relevant examples. I could feel myself growing into the role during our discussions. The thought process she brought me through was really useful and better than any course I have ever done. It was like two years learning in four hours. Working with Clare brought me to a new level. I got the job after two rounds of challenging interviews and a presentation.
As a teacher with aspirations to advance myself in my teaching career, I have previously used the services of a number of Interview Preparation Advisors. The fit never seemed quiet right until I met Clare from Innovate Together! Clare O’Sullivan’s outstanding characteristic is that she cares about, and has an in-depth understanding of people. Within minutes of meeting Clare, I immediately felt at ease and in extremely competent hands. She expertly and calmly led me through the intricacies of interview preparation, laced with practical wisdom and common sense advice. Clare’s magical skill is that she somehow manages to get inside her client’s head and soothe their insecurities. A session with Clare left me feeling calm, clear and organised about what I had to do to properly prepare for the interview at hand. I got the job that I really wanted! I cannot recommend Clare highly enough.
Clare's technique is the best I have come across. After months of trying to find the right job matching my skill set, when the chance for an interview came up, I was afraid I was going to mess up the opportunity. Clare analysed the job spec in depth with me, finding key areas around which interview questions could arise. She worked with me to hone my answers so I could really bring out the best in my skills, raising my responses from average to great. At the same time Clare made me see that I had achieved enough to be good at the job, giving me the confidence I needed to overcome my pre-interview fear. Two years on I am loving the job. Now I recommend Clare and Innovate Together to all my friends when they are going for interview, or need a boost in their career: her success rate is second to none.
Because of Covid 19 the company I was working with downsized and I was let go. A friend recommended Clare to me. I was so anxious to find another job I was not thinking straight. I was also ashamed of losing my job. Clare was kind but firm. She took her time, and showed me a bigger picture. She encouraged me to stay connected and make appointments to meet people every week. She supported me through my CV development and together we highlighted areas where I needed to find out more information. She showed me how to work on my strengths and turn areas for improvement into strengths. I went into my first interview fully confident. I am now in a job that I love. Looking back, it is hard to believe how low I was when I first met Clare. I will never forget her kindness, understanding and practical approach.
I was anxious about getting an internship and was very sceptical about getting outside advice. Innovate Together was recommended to my parents by friends. Clare immediately put me at ease, got me to understand the job I was going for and make sure I really wanted it. She asked me about college work and summer work that I had done on the buildings and before I knew it I was telling her about the people I worked with and the situations I had come across. Clare then showed me how best to link my experiences to the competencies required for the role. She also understood the technology I was talking about. I went to the interview with confidence. I got the internship and I am still with the company. From Clare, I learned to be myself and believe in who I am.
I was attending University in Dublin and living in Ireland away from home. I was overwhelmed by the process of preparing for my internship. My family were unfamiliar with the process. Clare took me on board and was a great support to me. She talked me through decisions and ensured I was confident going for interview. I completed a series of individual and group interviews and got the internship I wanted in a large multinational IT company. Three years later I am still there and have had opportunities I never imagined. I continue to keep in touch with Clare who is always a source of inspiration and guidance.
We had never used external expertise previously for competency based interviews. Clare was recommended to us by a friend. She was professional and flexible in her approach and immediately put the Board and the Candidates at ease. Most importantly, Clare advised on many procedural elements that reduced our risk of exposure, for which we are very grateful. She also challenged us and her leadership and strategic approach prompted us to look at the ‘bigger picture.’ We have used Clare on many occasions since. My only hesitation in recommending Clare, is that she will not be available when I call upon her next time!
Clare has been an independent chairperson on a number of senior level boards for us over the past years. She is very flexible and supportive of both the Board and Candidates. Candidates have given us feedback of how quickly Clare settled them into the interview and they were very clear on what to expect from the interview after her introduction. She is excellent at reducing the stress level of everyone particularly during on-line interviews. We are impressed by how quickly Clare got to know the intricacies of our organisation. She always manages to get to the heart of the interview and is never afraid to professionally drill down and ask the questions others might shy away from. We bring her back to work with us as often as we can.
I was fortunate to have sought Innovate Togethers valuable coaching expertise at a most crucial time when I decided to embark on a new career path. Clare’s coaching and interview preparation played a significant role in my progression to a senior medical position in a short space of time. Clare’s sensitive approach enabled me to work through difficult options, identify areas for further development and giving me confidence that I could take on challenging academic courses and maintain a balanced lifestyle. Clare’s coaching was excellent during the period when I was transitioning to senior roles. I have no hesitation in recommending InnovateTogether and Clare as a coach.
Let’s Connect
If you are ready to become the best version of yourself, to give your talents the chance to shine then get in touch today as I offer a complimentary 20-minute coaching session for you to decide if professional coaching is right for you or not.
If you would like to learn more about my in-house company business programs, please book a call to discuss how I can help you attract, retain and improve employee performance.
Covid 19 Support:
If your career or job has been affected by Covid-19 please book a complimentary coaching session so we discuss putting an action plan in place
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Know If I
Need a Business
Coach?
What is interview coaching?
Interview coaching is a process to bring out the best in you and/or you business during the interview process. We work with you one to one to identify your strengths and weaknesses within the interview. By doing so you dramatically increase your chances of a successful outcome. See our testimonials for greater clarity or get in touch to learn more.
How do I know if Interview coaching is right for me?
If you find yourself unmotivated at your job, struggling to find new work, or feeling like your career passions and talents are underutilized, it might be time to consider interview coaching. Whether you’ve hit a crossroads or a brick wall, an inteview coach can help you determine the best path forward in maximizing your passions and potential. Not only do professional career coaches help you ask the right questions, they provide resources and support that can help you figure out your next steps and hold you accountable for setting and achieving your career goals.
How many sessions will it take before I am ready for the interview?
Normally, it takes between 2 to 3 sessions to see the rewards of our coaching. Please bare in mind this is just an estimate and each candicate will vary based on the job and experience.
Where are you based?
We are based in Dublin and have an office in Kerry. Regardless of where you are in the world, we can support you via a range of technology platforms, include zoom, teams and skype. We also work with clients over the phone and via email. Whatever your situation and wherever you are, we will make it work for you. We can be flexible with time zones if necessary.
When should I get in touch?
It very much depends on what you want to do. If you are looking for a coach or mentor, then why not get in touch today. It is never too early or too late. We often advise that if there is a role that may happen in six months of a years’ time, now is the time to get in touch and start the preparatory work
If there is a particular role that has just been advertised, get in touch as soon as early as possible. The more time you have to prepare, the better. It is particularly important to make sure your CV or Application Form is of the highest standard as many organisations short list based on your initial application.
How much to you charge?
Each case is dealt with on an individual basis. We give a free consultation. Contact us for your individual price.
My CV or Application Form is already submitted. Is it too late to get in touch for Interview Preparation?
We prefer to talk to you before you submit the form, but its never too late to get in touch
How do I contact Innovate-Together?
You can contact us on the Contact form on the website or by email info@innovate-together.com or by phone. We will endeavour to get back to you within 48 hours.
What is the process?
You can contact us at any stage of the process. In general terms the process is as follows: Ideally, preparation for a role should start with coaching some months before a competition is advertised. This is particularly important for mid-level and senior roles. We suggest at least two coaching sessions during this time.
When the job you are interested in is advertised, contact us as soon as possible so that we can guide you on your CV or application form preparation. The amount of time required here will depend on the level of the role and the quality of your existing CV. For some roles, a recorded video interview is required to shortlist candidates. For other roles shortlisting is completed based on the quality of the CV or application form and criteria determined by the employer.
Interview preparation can be undertaken in one or more sessions. The amount of time required depends very much on the level of the role. It is very much an iterative process and involves understanding the role and the competencies as well as building your confidence and agility for the interview.
Some roles require a second interview. Very often this includes the candidate making a presentation followed by questions and answers and a second interview. When you are successful, we also can provide initial coaching to get you up and running in your new role,
The important thing is that we have a flexible approach to working with you regardless of what stage of the process you engage with us.