Posts Tagged ‘career’

Can’t find a job?

Are you doing all you think you can do yet still aren’t able to find a job?  Have you been doing everything that you think your mates are doing, but while they are getting work you are left scouring for more jobs?

This either means you are a bin man looking for a job as a CEO or you aren’t doing it right!  Read on to find out what you aren’t doing to get the job that you want…

Networking

If you network you will be opening yourself up to tons more jobs - if your friends, family and previous workmates are all aware that you are job hunting then you stand a much better chance of finding a job than if you simply sent CVs around.

Make sure that you get heard on different social and professional networking sites around the web, like Facebook and LinkedIn and you’ll be increasing your chances many times over.

Online Cover Letter

Many people don’t believe in the online cover letter when applying for a job - this is ridiculous!  If the application asks for you to send in a cover letter then that’s exactly what you have to do.

The cover letter is the best way of separating you from other applicants and provide a good first impression hopefully giving you “The Edge”!!!  A cover letter is a necessity so make sure you send it in…

Generic Cover Letter

There is nothing more off putting for an employer than reading through a generic cover letter - everyone can say that they are a great team worker that is punctual and a fast learner.  When it comes down to it your CV will be thrown to the side with nonsense like that on it.

You need to come up with a shiny new cover letter for each application - this sounds like hard work, but it’ll be worth it if it gets you a job!  You need to show how your abilities will work in this specific position.

Only The Net

Don’t focus your search for work only to the Internet.  This is a great way to get your search started but you won’t find every job available online.  If you want to open up a can full of job opportunities then you should ask around and get in touch with people who will be in a position to give you a hand like human resource managers for example.

Follow Up

You are making a big mistake if you aren’t following up on your job applications - just because you haven’t heard anything doesn’t mean that you have been passed over.  It is possible that your CV didn’t even make it to the boss’s desk for whatever reason.  Follow up the application and keep your CV fresh in their minds!

Can’t Get Employed?

Are you struggling to find a job?  Have you found our advice useful?  Leave us a comment and let us know…

Interview Tips and Advice - Techniques For Being A Winner!

Through a recession it is even more daunting when the thought of job-hunting comes along - there is one job and about 10,000 people after it.  You need to have an edge to take you further than all the rest…

Having a great CV is one thing but once you get to the interview you really don’t want to mess up and give the wrong impression.  Instead you should be following these simple yet effective tips to make sure each interview you attend is a winner!

Ask

Don’t be afraid to ask some of the big questions that you wouldn’t usually ask - one of the most important questions to ask towards the end of an interview is if you have given the interviewers reasons for them to believe that you are not suitable for the role.

If you ask the question and they give you an answer you will be able to talk through their thoughts together and most probably clear up any issues - even more you get a better chance to win them over by tackling their worries.

Job Before Yourself

Don’t rattle on endlessly about yourself, instead you should be talking about the position.  You have been brought in to fill a job and to see if you are able to fill the role perfectly.  You haven’t been brought in because the employer wants to get to know your personal life better.

Involve the job in your answers and how you would fit in given the opportunity.  By doing this you will be able to help the employer visualise you in the position which obviously isn’t a bad thing!  When talking about yourself make it about you in the job not you in the world…

Research

You should never walk into an interview knowing nothing about the job and the company you are applying to.  You should spend a good amount of time looking into what the company does and its place in whichever market it is involved with.

You can then incorporate what you have learnt into the interview allowing the employer to know that you do your homework and you know what you’re talking about.

Accomplishments

You should make a note of five of your main accomplishments from your previous job that you can incorporate into your interview.  You will find that accomplishments transpose well from job to job and an employer will be able to recognise how accomplishments can benefit their business.

Make sure you highlight how your accomplishments managed to aid the business and how they would aid this business if you were hired.  You’ll turn into an attractive investment…

Working Aid?

Are you looking for a job?  Have you had any luck with our interview techniques?  Do you have advice for other interviewees?  Leave us a comment and let us know…

University Leavers - Did you know…

Although you may think that all you have to do to get a job now-a-days is to simply go to uni for three years, get pretty drunk and then pick your degree up at the end of your time there.  I’m afraid that just isn’t the case.

Despite what you might think the path after university is just as tough as any other and you need to be aware of what steps you should take to make sure you make the most of your time after university.

You should know that;

Being First Isn’t Necessary

When you see a job advertised on a website you should necessarily act quickly and fill out an online application to make sure you are one of the first to be considered.

There isn’t a little man at the other end waiting for applications to come flooding in like a radio competition waiting to pick a winner.  It is key to take your time and mull over your answer to make sure your application is as good as it should be.

There Is A Hidden Job Market

That’s right, there is a hidden job market.  It’s not a number of stalls in a dodgy back alley that you need a secret password to get in to.  The hidden job market refers to all the jobs that you won’t find on a career site but instead jobs that manage to advertise themselves through friends, family, newspapers or university for example.

One of the best ways to get a job is to simply get your plans out there and hope for someone to bite - if you tell someone you want to work at a hospital, they might know someone that works at the hospital for example.

You Should Know What To Look For

You should spend some time researching your intended field and place of work to see whether you would feel comfortable working there.  If you just go after the almighty pound without looking at the actual work then you will probably spend the rest of your working life unhappy and that isn’t what anyone wants.

Does you employer care about their employees?  Are there any team-building activities?  Is there any sort of emphasis on team building?  Is there any medical insurance provided?  You should be aware of all of this if possible…

You Shouldn’t Start In A Fury

You shouldn’t get straight to work straight from university working all out, every minute of the day, as hard as you can never letting yourself stop for a breathe.  By doing this you’ll just knacker yourself out and after a short time you won’t be good for anyone or anything.

Instead, don’t be scared to pace yourself - don’t go to slow as you might get fired for under working but don’t work to hard that you drive yourself into a stupor.  Find a healthy balance.

Class of ’09?

Have you just finished university this summer and about to step out into the wide world to look for a job?  Are you nervous about starting your career?  Let us know…

Job-hunting in the 21st Century…

As the unemployment rate surges past the 2.2 million mark and the recession rages on through the Spring months, it’s time to start thinking about all the possibilities you have to look for new jobs.

Gone are the times where your only options to find a new job were either through the newspaper or at the local Job Centre.  Those days are long behind us…

Today we can turn to more modern and effective methods of job hunting that simply didn’t exist at the start of the century.  For a start, there are fewer jobs and more graduates - do the math…there’s a problem there.

Blog

Bogging can drive you crazy if you aren’t doing it.  Sometimes it’s the only thing people talk about and you can really feel as though you’re missing out.  That’s because you might just be missing out…

Start a blog if you want to find a new job.  Don’t just go on and on about any old subject - pick a subject you’re knowledgeable about and get to it.  Create a series of articles that not only go into detail about the subject but that someone would be able to use as a resource.

Facebook

You may not associate job searching with social networking sites like Facebook, LinkedIn or BrightFuse, all this has changed as these sites are managing to bring opportunities to the masses along with your friend’s pictures of their drunken antics.

Facebook is a great example of how we can create more modern CVs that can be accessed by anyone around the world - use the education and work history fields to act in the same way as your CV but you will save a small forest by filling out the sections online.

Furthermore you can join professional networks through the social networking site and you can even talk to friends in the same industry you are looking to enter who might be able to find you a job.

Twitter

The evolution social networking sites has taken has brought us to Twitter, the home of the mini-blog.  Everyone seems to have tried Twitter, whether they liked it or not is a different story!  Whether you like Twitter or not, it doesn’t matter - it’s a great tool to find jobs.

You can tweet about looking for a new job and then people can stumble on your tweet - you can also go further by linking your tweets with your personal website which will show the world what you can do.

Virtual Career Fairs

This option needs little explanation as the name kind of gives the whole thing away - if you like to socialise and go to career fairs but you can’t be bothered to leave your house then this is for you.  Talk about useful and lazy at the same time…

Looking for a job?

Are you looking for a job and have found some of our advice useful?  Are you planning on acting on out advice?  Let us know…

Forget The Recession - Excel In Your Career

When your job is potentially on the line and the economy is taking one swift beating after another, it makes sense to spend some time thinking long and hard about measures you can take to strengthen your stance within your business.

Instead of feeling scared and nervous about the future of your job, let’s instead take a look at how you can make sure you are a needed employee that can’t be cut when the times get tight.  Instead of being asked to leave why not find out what you do to be asked to stay for more money…

Ask For Help

Who knows better about success than people that are successful?  Email whoever you can who is in a position of success and ask them for advice.  Ask them what advice they could give to someone trying to advance in their career and if you’re feeling good about yourself why not ask if they would be willing to mentor you?  What have you got to lose…

It’s like a job application - a lot of people will ignore you, but some will take in what you’ve got to say and will want to respond and help you out - despite what a lot of people think the world is not entirely made up of greedy people looking out for number one!  People have been known to help other people!

Volunteer

There are so many benefits involved in volunteering - you’re helping the community, or whoever is involved, and you are also benefiting your own CV.  When you’re a student you’re often told that volunteering can help you get the legendary “edge” over the other applicants, but when you already have a job volunteering can be equally as helpful!

Volunteering can get you recognised by the bosses above you who will be looking at your level for people who they would want to progress within the business.  When they see that you volunteer you will shine compared to everyone else.

Opinion Matters

Don’t be afraid of your opinion, even if it goes against the grain.  If you are asked for your opinion then give it, even if you think it isn’t what the majority of people would think.  You are an individual entitled to your opinion and you are being asked for it.

If you feel strongly about something and you aren’t asked for your opinion then you should feel free to stand up for your beliefs as well!  Learn how to present your ideas and opinions in a professional way rather than giving your opinion in an emotional mess of words.  You will get noticed and you will be respected.

Want to get ahead?

Are you stuck in a rut and you want to climb the career ladder?  Have you found our advice useful?  Leave us a comment and let us know…