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How to proofread

6/20/2018

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In today's competitive job market, it’s vitally important that you make a positive impression at every stage of your job search. An application, with accompanying CV and cover letter, typically provides the first opportunity to impress a prospective employer. It’s therefore vital that all correspondence and documents are error free.

There are various approaches to proofreading: what may work well for one person, may not prove so effective for another. Finding your preferred method will help you routinely incorporate proofreading into your application process. Here are our top tips on how to proofread.

Never rely on spelling and grammar programs
Spell checking with Microsoft Word or similar programs can be useful. Never, however, depend solely on software to check for errors. Even advanced automated spelling and grammar programs have limitations and are unable to identify all mistakes. You will still need to personally examine your content for poor sentence structures, punctuation and syntax, regardless of employing the help of technology.

Take your time
Proofreading may seem a little tedious, especially when you are applying for several roles. However, all the hard work put into applications could be wasted, if they are littered with errors, or don’t meet expectations for business communication.

Attempting to identify and correct all errors in a document, after reading it once, isn’t recommended: this could lead to you missing some mistakes. Allow time away from your screen before going back to proofread and remove anything that could potentially be a distraction. Read each sentence slowly and focus on one small digestible section at a time. This will ensure that you’re giving every aspect of your application your full attention.

Read your application out loud
Reading your CV or cover letter aloud will allow you to hear how the text sounds when it‘s read. This can also help you spot any stylistic flaws, such as duplicate wording or unusual sentence structures. Always try to read at a steady pace; reading quickly can impact the relationship between eye movements and cognitive processing, causing you to skip words and make unconscious corrections.

Also remember to proofread with your target audience in mind. Ask yourself whether individual written statements and sections achieve your overall objective? If not, then change your draft. It’s important to keep a flexible mindset when critiquing your own copy.

Printing and Marking
One of the most effective ways to spot mistakes is to print and physically mark errors. Holding a printed copy gives you a new perspective compared with text on a screen.

Correct punctuation will enhance your message and make it more engaging, by directing the reader and providing them with beneficial pauses. Incorrect, or absent punctuation, will make your text appear disorganised and potentially hard to understand.

Make a note of your mistakes
Regularly proofreading your work can help you to identify any frequent mistakes that you make. Noting these will help you to look out for them whilst you’re writing. Eventually, it will lead to you avoiding them altogether.

Establish your own style guidelines, to ensure that your language and presentation of words is consistent; for example, use of capitalisation or representation of brand names.

Fact checking
Proofreading isn’t just about spelling and grammar, it’s also about fact checking. Make sure that all the details, such as dates, financial values and company names within your application, are correct. It’s worth remembering that references are likely to be taken in the later stages of a recruitment process. If then, information that your referee provides doesn’t correspond with the content a recruiter or hiring manager has read, your progression towards that coveted job offer may come to a sudden halt.

Check for relevance
When checking an application form, ensure your responses are concise and that you answered the questions asked! You may well have additional skills and experience to offer, however, if these aren’t listed as ‘essential or desirable’ in a job description, then don’t include them. Adding superfluous information will just dilute the impact of your relevant areas of expertise and work history.

​It’s also good practice to re-read and critique your CV against every role profile, before you submit your application. In addition to checking content relevance and bias of achievements, also ensure terminology within your application corresponds with the role description’s wording.

Use good formatting
Even a perfectly worded document needs good formatting to make a strong impression, or, at the very least, to meet business standards. Choose a font that looks professional and is easy to read. Calibri or Arial fonts, sized between 10 and 12 points, work well. We also recommend adding spacing to avoid a text-heavy application. Using spaces between sections will make it easier for recipients to read and help their assimilation of information.

Final words of advice
Everyone's approach to proofreading is different. However, once you establish and implement effective proofreading methods, your mistakes will start to disappear. Thoroughly reviewing application drafts and investing time in modifying content improves accuracy, clarity and quality of documents. Alternatively, you may wish to use a professional proofreading service that employs qualified professionals. Whatever your chosen approach, proofreading will prove an invaluable investment and strengthen your first impression. It could just give you that all important competitive advantage!

Guest post written by CV-Library. CV-Library boasts a range of vacancies, from retail and sales to teaching. It’s one of the UK’s leading job boards and also owns sector specific career sites, including Jobs Medical.


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Headhunters: The benefits of working with a headhunter in your job search

11/24/2017

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The economic climate following the 2008 global financial crisis, together with the influential growth of the Internet, has had a significant impact on many service sectors, recruitment being no exception.
 
In a drive to save money, more recruitment has been taken in-house and company talent acquisitions teams have turned to LinkedIn as a primary recruitment tool. In addition, the fall in advertising costs, has resulted in a greater number of recruiters and companies posting jobs online. Whilst advertising online has generated a higher volume of jobs to apply for, it has led to frustration too. Candidates frequently mention that they don’t receive any specific feedback on their CVs or suitability for a role, after applying to an advert or replying to an email from an in-house team. As a result of limited contact and dialogue, candidates often lose the opportunity to gain advice about career moves and insights into the job market. Recruiters lose the opportunity to discover sought after skills and experience, which a prospective candidate may have failed to convey effectively in their CV.
 
The growth in the hidden job market is another challenge for job seekers. Companies may not wish to publicise jobs, due to the confidential or strategic nature of particular appointments. Working with an executive search consultant, commonly known as a headhunter, can complement direct job applications, open up access to hidden jobs and provide wider benefits too. Prospective candidates can expect to receive constructive feedback on their CV, interview presentation and their suitability for a role, as well as various market insights.

How do headhunters work?
Executive search firms are well networked and often specialise in particular fields; relationship building, market knowledge and professional reputations underpin a headhunter’s work. They appreciate the importance of good candidate, as well as client, relationships in a recruitment process. It’s in their interest to only place individuals in roles, and within companies, which are a strong match for candidates, both professionally and personally. They will explore an individual’s longer-term objectives and whether a particular organisation’s culture is likely to be a good personal ‘fit’, rather that just focus on matching skills and experience.
 
Headhunters are engaged to research the market thoroughly, make targeted approaches and qualify candidates carefully on their clients’ behalf. Therefore, anyone included on an initial long-list or subsequent final short-list can be confident that they have been positioned as someone who can do the job, and it is a role that should benefit their career. In addition to working on retained or exclusive recruitment assignments, headhunters may also make speculative introductions to companies they partner, should they feel their skills and experience would be of interest. This approach can be particularly beneficial for those interested in confidentially exploring new career opportunities, without wanting to promote their ambitions on LinkedIn or through their network of contacts.

Tips for working with a headhunter
Like all relationships, working with a headhunter is a two way process. To optimise the benefits headhunters can offer professionals seeking career advancement, it’s worth understanding how to work effectively with executive search consultants. We asked Maarten Jonckers, Managing Director of Nicholas Alexander Executive Search, a leading retail search firm, for his top tips on how to work with a headhunter:

1. It’s vitally important that individuals are completely open about their personal and workplace circumstances, and share anything that could impact their job search. No-one, least of all decision-makers, likes their time wasted. So if a job entails relocation, individuals need to explore the implications of this after their very first conversation with a headhunter.
 
2. Individuals should be clear and upfront about compensation, including current and ideal remuneration packages. They need to identify what constitutes a deal breaker and communicate this early on. This helps to prevent potential disappointment later in the process and facilitates discussions, if appropriate, with hiring managers before offer stages.
 
3. Providing a headhunter with a well-written CV is essential. Whilst we provide additional accompanying notes on short-listed candidates, it’s important that individuals ‘own’ their CV. If it were an area they needed help with, we would recommend that they engage a professional CV writer.
 
4. Whilst headhunters will offer advice on potential roles and companies, we’re not career counsellors. Saying ‘I’m open to opportunities’ is too vague: individuals need to have a relatively clear idea of what they want to do, to enable headhunters to help them.
 
5. Making the right next career step can take time, especially at a senior level. If someone is actively looking for a role, they may be tempted to chase headhunters for progress. Good headhunters will provide regular updates. In the meantime no phone call or email simply means no news. A ‘keen’ amount of communication will not help move anything forward.
 
6. Headhunters promote individuals by highlighting the benefits they can offer a business. There is no cost to the candidate, except for their time; however, time is money to a headhunter. So it’s important that individuals are available to speak to a headhunter at agreed times and of course, except for extenuating circumstances, attend their confirmed interviews!
 
7. If an executive search consultant gives advice, it’s because they feel it will benefit an individual and they should use it to their advantage! For example, early on in a search process I will talk to prospective candidates about the negative implications of accepting a counter offer and how this can affect their career, both in the short-term and long-term.
 
8. We help prepare candidates for their interviews and coach them through the process, however, the onus for research and preparation stills lies firmly with the individual. Our role is to provide advice on likely areas of interest in an interview, but a headhunter’s input should not be a substitute for an individual’s own pre-interview work.
 
9. Headhunters recognise that those individuals actively seeking a new job, may be exploring opportunities through additional routes. However, complete transparency and integrity is of the utmost important. If a target list for speculative company approaches has been agreed on, then the individual needs to ensure those companies don’t receive their CV through another source. Regular updates on the progress of other interviews are vitally important, as this helps us manage and influence timescales.”
 
With these recommendations in mind, working with a headhunter could unlock additional career opportunities, complement job search strategies and establish a mutually productive long-term relationship. The advice, feedback and knowledge executive search firms provide, can prove invaluable in navigating today’s job market.
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Job boards: How to get the best results when job hunting

9/29/2017

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Job boards are one of the most wide-reaching and practical tools to help you find a job.

Whether you have a vague idea of what a job board is and use one, or you have no idea they even existed, this guide will talk you through what a job board is, how they work and how to use them to get the best results when job hunting.

What is a job board and how do they work?
A job board, also known as a job site, is a type of employment website used by job hunters, employers and recruitment agencies. There are a whole range of job boards out there. Some are generalist, like CV-Library, and some are industry-specific.

Job boards are designed to host thousands of job adverts on behalf of employers and recruiters to increase the visibility of their vacancies.

You, as a job hunter, can search through these vacancies and apply for the positions directly through the job board. All you need to do is upload your CV to the job board and you’re ready to apply.

Using job boards to apply for jobs
You can sign up to as many job boards as you like, but be aware that many employers and recruiters post their jobs on several job boards to maximise their vacancies’ exposure. As a result, you may see the same role multiple times.

If you have seen the same role on several job sites, it doesn’t matter which site you use to apply for the role as job boards are just a hosting platform – your application will end up with the recruiter in charge of that vacancy regardless.

​Therefore, there’s also no point in applying for that same role on all the job sites it’s hosted on. If anything, this could harm your chances of receiving a call back from the recruiter as you’re unnecessarily clogging the application pipeline.

It’s also worth noting that, once you have applied for a position via a job board, your application leaves the site and lands in the hands of the recruiter handling the vacancy.

As a result, if you’re interested in the status of your application, the job site can only inform you whether your application was successfully submitted. Any other details now rest with the employer or recruiter.

Other job board features
Once you have uploaded your CV, it enters the job board’s secure CV database. Recruiters and employers paying to use the job board’s services can access this database and use it to search for candidates that are suitable for their vacancies.

As a result, you may receive a few calls from recruiters pitching you positions that they think you’re a great match for.

If you don’t want to be contacted by recruiters, that’s OK. You can easily hide your CV from view in your account area, but you will still be able to apply for roles via the job site.

Tips for using a job board successfully
Hopefully you now have an understanding of how a job board works. Here are some tips to help you use a job board successfully and find your next role.

Find the latest opportunities
Job boards host thousands of vacancies which you can easily search through.

Most sites have a range of advanced searching tools so you can find the jobs you’re looking for. Some of the criteria you can search by include: keywords, job title, location, salary, job type, industry and the date the advert was posted.

You can also get clever with your search criteria through Boolean search operators. By using Boolean, you’ll be able to make your search as specific as possible to help you uncover the most relevant jobs.

Use Job Alerts to save time on searching
Job boards, particularly the generalist ones, have a useful feature called Job Alerts, which email you jobs matching your search criteria.

You can set them up in seconds. All you need to do is input the relevant criteria. For example, if you’re looking for a marketing assistant role in Bristol, your alert would feature “marketing assistant” AND “Bristol”.

With Job Alerts, you can keep an eye on several combinations of job titles, locations, industries and more, helping you stay on top of your search.

Optimise your CV and get scouted by recruiters
If you love the sound of recruiters contacting you with great opportunities, you need to optimise your CV with keywords and industry jargon related to your desired role or industry. This is so you can be found easily.

When recruiters search the CV database, they search via keywords related to the role they’re trying to fill – in the same way that you would look for a job.

To make sure your CV is pulled to the top of their search, you must tailor your CV to the job you have in mind. Simply look at a relevant job description for inspiration and try to mirror some of the keywords and phrases throughout your CV. This will help you become more discoverable.

Read career advice from industry experts
Most job boards also have a blog featuring a range of career advice written by industry experts. Therefore, if you need a helping hand with additional information job boards can be a useful resource.

About the author: Laura Slingo is Digital Copywriter for the UK’s leading independent job board, CV-Library
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Interview Coaching: Invest in yourself for interview success

9/28/2017

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Behind many successful entrepreneurs, politicians and business leaders, is more often than not, a coach. Coaches provide feedback, guidance and support; all important tools for achieving success. If you have experienced interview disappointment, you probably need to stand back and review, not just your interview preparation, but your whole interview approach. Repeating the same pattern of preparation and performance is unlikely to result in your desired outcome. Instead, it could dent your confidence, at a time when you need it boosted. It may well be time to get serious and engage a coach: specifically an interview coach.
 
What does an interview coach offer?
Most people have a sense of which aspects of their interview technique they would like to improve. However, we all have our blindspots and seeing yourself through an interviewer’s eyes can be revealing. A coach will help address your own concerns, as well as help you understand elements that you may not be able to see, or, you are aware of, but are less inclined to tackle. An interview coach can assist you with job specific interview preparation, and answers to interview questions. In addition, they will help enhance your personal impact and presentation, ensuring that you feel confident and ready for an interview. Furthermore, they can provide you with valuable personal support, throughout the interview process. In short, you are not on your own; you will have someone to use as a sounding board: whether it be over the choice of interview outfit or what to write in your post interview thank you email.
 
What does interview coaching entail?
Interview coaching should, by its very nature, be tailored to your particular needs. Whether that’s help preparing an impactful opening personal statement, knowing how to score well in competency interviews, or controlling interview nerves. Coaching is a collaborative process, with work and preparation for both you and your coach, before and after your interview coaching sessions. So be prepared for ‘homework’. Whilst there will be a set time arranged to spend with a coach, either face-to-face or via Skype, additional time for research, preparation and feedback undertaken outside the session, is typically included in the fee. You will need to be committed to put into action your coach’s recommendations. For example, practicing the delivery of your answers: practise really does make perfect! The amount of coaching required varies according to each individual. For someone who hasn’t interviewed for many years and is experiencing a degree of anxiety at the prospect, a one or two hour session will not deliver a polished, confident, interview ready performance. If time and budget are factors, then if required, enlist someone who can continue to work on your coach’s recommendations with you. Choose someone who will be supportive, but objective.
 
Who are interview coaches?
It’s important to work with an interview coach who has relevant, recent experience and knowledge of the recruitment sector, and who has operated at a senior decision-making level. In addition to helping you hone your interview technique, interview coaches with this calibre of background, will be able to provide valuable insights into the recruitment process and, based on their first-hand experience, advise you on interview ‘don’ts’. What may seem like a great interview answer to you, could be a recruitment cliché and pet hate of hiring mangers. They may also offer additional services, such as developing job search strategies, LinkedIn profile writing or CV writing.
 
Will interview coaching result in a job offer?
Regardless of how good your interview preparation and performance is, there may, at times, be aspects of the interview process that will be beyond your control. For example, a company may simply decide that they no longer wish to make a particular appointment. Your expertise may have been just what they were looking for to lead an expansion programme, however, if there has been a change in the company’s investment strategy, the process may end. In a competitive market, you may experience just missing out on an offer, however, with your new found confidence, interview skills and insightful knowledge, securing an offer will only be a matter of time. Walking out of an interview feeling confident, knowing that you have answered the questions well and given a strong account of yourself, is an achievement in itself and, importantly, the interview would have been a positive experience.
 
And finally…dispelling a common interview skill misconception
People often don’t know how to ‘sell’ themselves. For those who feel less than comfortable about the interview process, the prospect of ‘selling’ themselves to complete strangers is daunting, to say the least. The good news is that you don’t have to adopt a sales person’s persona: in fact we would advise against it. The best sales people simply align themselves with another person’s needs. An interview provides you with an opportunity to demonstrate that your skills, personality, qualities and experience correspond with a company’s needs. An interview coach will help you to convey your match for a role through all the opportunities an interview affords, from making a strong first impression and use of body language, to delivering quality answers and asking pertinent questions.
 
Coaches are not exclusively for sports men and women: anyone who has a goal to achieve can benefit from expert support and feedback. Coaching is an investment, not least in terms of time. However, it’s a small investment that offers many rewards and a tangible return, through a new job and salary.
 

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Your Guide to Graduate Schemes

9/19/2016

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As university students embark on another year of study, the daunting task of deciding what to do next is on every student's mind. A popular first step on the career ladder for most graduates is graduate schemes; a programme that not only introduces young people to the world of work, but also offers on-the-job training with that all important salary. If you're trying to decide whether a graduate scheme is the way to go, we're on call to tell you exactly what a graduate scheme is, what you can expect from one, and ultimately, if it's the best course of action for you.

What are graduate schemes?
Graduate schemes are programmes designed to help recent graduates filter into the working world by developing their skills in a professional environment. Many companies run graduate schemes and take a certain number of graduates every year under their wing and provide on-the-job training. There are a variety of schemes available, all dependent on the employer, and you'll find that they are more common in some industries than others. For example, if you're an engineering graduate, you'll find that there are naturally more graduate schemes available in your field in comparison to social care. These schemes not only differ in terms of employer, but also in length, style and entry requirements. Head's up, graduate schemes are really competitive and many employers will only take you on board if you've obtained a 2:1 or above.

Why choose one?
Graduate schemes are an excellent way into the professional world. They offer a cushioned route onto the career ladder which is great for graduates who most likely haven't experienced a full-time 'proper' job yet. Not only will you receive direct exposure to a working environment, but you'll receive on-the-job training, and the opportunity to use and develop the skills you are taught. Many graduate schemes have some great salaries attached (ready to help you dig your way out of that overdraft!), and they offer fantastic networking opportunities to help build your professional connections. You need to bear in mind that you might not necessarily be offered a permanent job at the end of your graduate scheme, but you'll most likely receive a formal qualification which will look amazing on your CV in addition to all that valuable experience.

​What you can expect
So if you make it onto a graduate scheme you'll most likely have an introductory period where you get familiar with the company, departments, clients and position in the industry. You should then embark on a structured programme. This is likely to involve some specific placements within departments around the company where you will be offered training opportunities for both technical and soft skills, and they'll be unique to your company and sector.

Types of schemes and contracts
All graduate schemes will differ depending on the company and industry. They also vary hugely in length. On average graduate schemes last around two years, but they can be as little as a year, and if you're going into a law programme it could be six!

​There are three main types of schemes. Rotational schemes often place graduates in broad managerial positions across the company; technical expert schemes focus on a specific career, role and skills set, such as engineering; and the project scheme, which aims to combine aspects of the previous two offering the best of both worlds!

How to find graduate schemes
Your university career services should be the first place you look for graduate schemes. No doubt they'll offer career or graduate fairs so you can go and have a chat with employers, or they'll have a section on their portal for graduate opportunities.

​Job boards like CV-Library are another way to find schemes; just set your criteria for the scheme and then set up email alerts so you can be notified as soon as new schemes go live. There are plenty of graduate recruitment sites out there too, keeping you updated with schemes, training and entry-level roles. Just have a Google! Make sure you utilise social media too, many companies have accounts dedicated to recruitment and graduate schemes across Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

How to apply
You'll be able to find graduate schemes all through the year, but application season is usually between September and January. Remember, most schemes will only take recent graduates (if you've graduated less than two years ago), so it's okay if you didn't get round to applying in your last year of university!

In order to succeed in your graduate-scheme hunt, preparation is key. Conduct thorough research on the company and the type of scheme. Make sure your CV is up to date and tailored to the application! Don't be afraid to ask about the application process if you're unsure, but if you've found the scheme online, the site should talk you though each step until you meet the workplace.

​There are more options!
You must remember that graduate schemes aren't for everyone and there are other opportunities out there. So if you're not accepted onto a graduate scheme or you can't find one that's suitable for you, don't panic! You might well be able to walk into your dream job without a structured training programme leading you there.

If you're thinking about looking into these schemes, click here to check out some of the graduate programmes on offer.

About the author: Laura Slingo is Digital Copywriter for the UK's leading job board CV-Library
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What to wear to an interview

7/15/2016

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With an interview confirmed, most candidates turn their attention to interview questions and company research. Your brilliantly prepared answer to an opening interview question, won’t however, be the interviewer’s first impression of you. We all make snap judgments based upon visual clues. Psychology research has identified that it takes just one-tenth of a second for a person to judge someone and form an impression. However unfair and superficial this feels, it’s better to accept this aspect of human nature, rather than attempt to single handedly challenge the norm.
 
Your appearance and what you wear to an interview will tell the interviewer a lot about you. Well-chosen clothes and a polished look portray sought after professional qualities. With interview stakes high, it’s important to use every potential advantage. When people feel and look their best, success is easier to attain. Here are some interview outfit ideas to assist you when you're deciding what to wear to an interview.
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Tips for finding part time and flexible working jobs

6/30/2016

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Part time work is no longer just associated with balancing a career and parenthood; motivations and the necessity for flexible working are wide reaching. You may wish to simply escape the 9 to 5, free up time for additional study, or work in early semi-retirement.  Whatever the reason, looking for a quality part time jobs can take time and persistence. People often adopt a I’ll-see-what’s-out-there approach as a starting point, only to get disillusioned before they have really begun.
 
In any job search, remaining confident and positive is important: when looking for openings that only account for a fraction of job opportunities, it’s crucial. Establishing a strategy not only assists from a practical point of view, it also helps create personal resilience to help counter any challenges along the way.
 
Define Objectives
The first step is to clarify the type of work and contract you want; this is often the hardest part. Not having one specific option in mind, however, is a big advantage. The key to finding flexible working opportunities is adopting a flexible mindset. Do, however, be clear about your objectives, as this will help determine the scope of your search. Start by listing the types of sectors, job functions and operating levels you are potentially interested in, together with the skills you would like to use. Add practical considerations, such as salary, location, hours and preferred number of days, then consider which elements are the most important to you. Defining your priorities will ensure that your energy and time is invested wisely in pursuing the opportunities that have the greatest potential.
 
Targeted CV
A CV, specifically written to target part time work, is vital for your job search strategy. Whether you work with a professional CV writer or prepare one yourself, writing a CV provides an opportunity to assess, as well as promote your skills, experience and the value you can add to a business. You may be considering a new career direction. If so, then a strong emphasis needs to be placed on your transferable skills. An effective way of achieving this is through a prominent skills section with evidenced examples to demonstrate their value. If you are targeting different operating levels, then the language used in your CV can assist. For example, a managing director who wishes to move into part time consulting or a non-executive director role, needs to convey a guiding voice of experience not just a leadership tone. A CV that specifically targets the flexible work sector will place you in a strong position for both application and interview stage.
 
Interview Technique
Confidence is as importance as competence in an interview process. People frequently feel the need to justify their desire to work reduced hours. We coach our clients to exude a positive future-focused outlook. An explanation for the question, “Why do you want to work part time?” needs to be clear, concise and delivered without a trace of an apologetic tone. This question though, shouldn’t be confused with “Why are you interested in this job?” A potential new boss wants to hear about the contribution you are keen to make and not how the hours will fit round your other responsibilities. In addition to job specific and competency questions, it’s advisable to prepare answers for commitment questions, as they are often asked in part time job interviews. The interviewer may ask what your long-term plans are or whether you can be flexible during busy peak times. Think through your availability, flexibility and any impactful external factors ahead of interviews. A hiring manager won’t welcome any surprises at a job offer stage, or worse still, after your first few weeks in a role.
 
Job Search
Job boards and recruitment agencies are often the first port of call in a job search. However, with increased disintermediation within the sector, do explore all direct opportunities too; for example, company websites, networking and speculative approaches. Small companies or start-ups that may not have a recruitment budget, will welcome direct approaches from experienced individuals. Over the last few years progress has been made in the flexible job market; there is now an increasing number national firms which offer quality part time work. Identify the ones that most closely meet your criteria and monitor their company jobsite vacancies. In addition, follow companies that discuss and promote flexible work; track their plans to spot opportunities.
 
Know Your Value
If you are making direct approaches, target the companies where your skills, experience and personal qualities will make the strongest contribution. Someone with high-value experience working 3 or 4 days a week could be an attractive option for a small firm. For example, you may have experience in the skills-short technology sector or are a director who is happy to offset seniority with flexibility. We are often asked whether applying for a full-time position and then negotiating part time hours at an offer stage is an effective strategy. Our view is that it is risky to the candidate and unfair to the client. An upfront approach is always best. Present a plan on how you propose to meet the demands of the role working reduced hours and set out how this would also benefit the company.
 
We’d be delighted to offer you advice on your CV, job search strategy or interview preparation for your part time work objective, call us or use our contact form and we'll be in touch shortly. 
 
Lastly, here are some links you may find useful, these include some specialist companies in the flexible and part time work sector that also include work from home.

Timewise is a national job board for flexi work and part time work
Capability Jane targets high quality, professional part time roles
Flexiworkforce is a job board advertising roles with flexible working hours
SkilledPeople focuses on employment for older candidates
Flexibility provides resources for the flexible work sector, including advice on a flexible working request
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Job search and interview tips to help you succeed

5/30/2016

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Infographic providing job hunting tips and tips for interviews:
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<p><strong>Please include attribution to http://www.interviewfit.co.uk with this graphic.</strong><br /><br /><a href='http://www.interviewfit.co.uk/our-blog/how-to-be-job-search-and-interview-ready'><img src='https://s3.amazonaws.com/easel.ly/all_easels/1693549/1464198062/image.jpg?v=4681766' alt='job search tips from Interviewfit.co.uk' width='624px' border='0' /></a></p>
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How to write a cover letter

5/6/2016

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 cover letter advice
An ad for a compelling job has caught your eye, you’ve quickly updated your CV and are all set to send it, then … the dreaded job application cover letter is required! In this post we'll explain how to write a cover letter; but first, what is a cover letter?
 
Put into perspective this is just a short piece of writing to succinctly explain that:
  • You have relevant skills and experience
  • You are someone who makes a positive contribution
  • You are a potential personal fit for the company
In other words, it’s everything that you would want to convey at an interview.
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Whilst sending an existing CV requires minimal effort, the research and tailored writing needed for a cover letter requires a little time and consideration. The preference to leave research and preparation until an interview is confirmed is a natural one. However, you have got to get that interview in the first place…so this inconvenient step in the process has got to be tackled.
 
The good news for you is that most cover letters range from the formulaic and boring, to the self-congratulatory and full of unsubstantiated claims. Or, worse still, people write about what the role will do for their career, rather than what they can bring to the role and the business. By simply avoiding these common mistakes, your cover letter will have already achieved more than most.
 
When a well-written cover letter hits the desk of a hiring manager it’s highly valued. With countless application forms and CVs to review, cover letters greatly assist the first cull of applications and heavily influence candidate selection. This short, but powerful letter highlights an individual’s capabilities, as well as their understanding of the role and interest in the company. In addition, the cover letter demonstrates which candidates have actually taken the time to research the company and gives an indication of presentation skills and personality. A cover letter can actively determine whether you are ‘in or out’ at an early stage.
 
Think of the cover letter as a component of your personal branding. Keep this in mind and apply it to a good letter structure and you will have given your application a significant boost. This short guide on how to write a cover letter will help you:
 
Opening Sentence
State the job and where it was advertised in a simple professional sentence
 
First Paragraph
This is your opportunity to gain the reader’s attention. Demonstrate enthusiasm for the role; if you have a specific interest or personal connection with the brand, company or role, tell them. Building connections and rapport is a vital part of the recruitment process. Write with an engaging, motivated tone and keep it to just a few lines.
 
Main Section
This is where you make a compelling introduction as to who you are (highlighting your skills & experience). This needs to then be linked to some key achievements. Study the job description and choose the most relevant examples to share.
 
Closing section
Reiterate your strengths and why you feel you are a good match/would add value. Ensure the tone is professional and keen throughout, but never pushy. Needless to say, make sure your closing valediction corresponds to the letter’s addressee.
 
A good cover letter format strengthens an accompanying CV, by bringing the most relevant aspects of your expertise to the fore. It can make a more personal introduction than a CV ever can and helps create empathy and a firm foundation on which to build in your (confirmed!) interview.
 
We hope you’ll see this letter in a whole new, appealing light! Alternatively, we love crafting influential cover letters for jobs; call us we’d be delighted to help.
 
For additional pointers on how to write a cover letter, you may find our list of cover letter do’s and don’ts useful.
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Writing a cover letter: 24 cover letter tips

4/29/2016

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Cover Letter Writing Tips
A job application cover letter can swiftly advance you to interview stage or cause you fall at the initial hurdle. To help avoid the latter and assist your route to success, we have put together a list of tips for writing a cover letter, compiled from our 15 years of recruitment experience.
 
Do
  • Research the role and company; make specific references to convey interest
  • Relate yourself and your expertise directly to the job and company
  • Address the letter to a specific person if at all possible
  • Ensure you address people by their correct personal and professional title
  • Promote yourself, but be mindful not to use “I” at the start of every sentence
  • Use vocabulary that creates an active rather than passive voice
  • Quote measurable, tangible and relevant achievements  
  • Establish a professional yet personal and enthusiastic tone
  • Keep it to one page, unless there is a compelling reason to expand the content
  • Close your letter in a positive manner and indicate an interest in meeting
  • Make a positive summary statement as to why you are a strong match for the role
  • Make sure the company name and role title is written as they present it
  • Use a closing valediction which corresponds to the letter addressee
 
Don’t
  • Write ‘To Whom It May Concern’, ‘Dear Sir/Madam’ is slightly better, but ideally avoided
  • Use clichéd phrases such as: proven track record or results-driven
  • Use jargon or acronyms unless it specifically benefits the content
  • Make grammar or spelling errors; check carefully or enlist the services of a proofreader
  • Quote subjective, unsubstantiated claims with no evidential facts and figures
  • Tell them you are uniquely qualified for the position – no-one is!
  • Set out your objectives – companies are only interested in what you can do for them
  • Apologise for missing skills and experience, instead emphasise what you do offer
  • Concentrate on style over content – now is not the time to explore your inner creativity
  • Say “I am enclosing my CV” – it’s obvious and they will be expecting it
  • End with a hard close for an interview or mention you will be calling to arrange one

If you need any further pointers or advice on writing a cover letter, get in touch we’d love to help
 
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