Posts Tagged ‘unemployment’

Job Security

Are you worried about keeping hold of your job through the recession?  Are you finding that you are constantly worried about getting fired because the economic downturn is forcing your business to make cut backs?

Well, now you shouldn’t have to worry anymore.  Despite the recession there are some sure fire ways to make sure that you get to keep your job while others get the chop.

Making Or Saving

There are two types of employees that will definitely be in the same job when the recession goes away - those that save money for their business and those that make money for their business.  If you fit into one of these categories then you’re golden!

Even if you aren’t in a position to save big bucks for the business then you should still think about how you can do things on a small scale for the business.  For example if you can save money on printing you will get noticed and when it comes to time to get rid of someone on your level you will be that much safer.

Be Indispensible

Don’t hide away from the office, embrace it!  You need to tackle things head on when it comes to projects and activities.  You need to be the one employee who is indispensible so that when it comes time to getting rid of people, you are immediately made safe.

Think about transferring to a more critical area where you can make a difference.  Try and get involved with serious projects where you can take more responsibility.  Do anything to get stuck in…

Are You In The Best Position

Although it might sound like a good opportunity to go from a production role to a junior management role you should stand back and take a look at the economic climate.

If you decide to take the job as a junior manager you may suddenly find that you are getting all the blame for the company going under due to the recession - that’s hardly classed as a successful promotion.

Education

You should think about getting more education under your belt to increase your profit value - by having many more skills in your cap you may have what it takes to beat off the others when it comes to redundancy time.

If you are lucky your company may even have a policy in place of reimbursing employees when it comes to education so check it out.  You won’t be losing anything, you’ll be gaining an employable skill!

Friends

There is nothing more important than your friends when it comes to trying to stay in a job.  You should find out who you haven’t spoken to in a while and then make it an aim to speak to them again.  This way you are staying fresh in everyone’s mind and when you do need a favour you won’t just be springing on them out of the blue.

Keeping your job?

Are you going to be in a job this time next year?  Are you worried?  Let us know…

Are you employable?

How do you know if you are employable?  If you aren’t able to get a job no matter how hard you think you’re trying then that is a bit of a giveaway!  If you find that you are trying to get a job but no matter what you do nothing seems to be working then perhaps the key simply is that you aren’t employable…yet!

Below is a list of some of the main ways to make sure you are employable and finally get that job you want…

Targeted Resume

You have to make sure that your CV is targeted specifically at your potential employer you are applying to.  Your CV won’t be applicable for every single job you apply for so make sure you cater to each and ever position specifically.

Each position will ask for different qualities from their employees so you need to make sure that your CV fits in with what they are looking for.  This will show that you are not only perfect for the position, but that you took the time out to research what they are looking for.

Networking

There can’t be enough said for networking - done correctly it can be a great and fast way of getting work.  People tend to turn to the Internet to search for jobs, but if you make sure that people know about your hunt then you stand a much better chance of finding work.

This can even be done online through social networking sites like Facebook and LinkedIn where you can socialise and networking with other people who know of positions that aren’t being advertised.

Research

You should spend some time researching the company you are applying to work for - if you get in the interview and can’t answer the simple question like what do you know about the company then the potential employer will lose interest fast.

Search online for information about the company and search newspapers and press releases to get a better feel if possible about what message the company portrays.  This will also be a great way of feeling out how smart or casually they dress so you don’t turn up looking like a fool.

Feedback

It is a good idea to get feedback from your mates or family about your interview techniques and CV writing.  Ask someone you trust to go through your CV and make sure that it is as good as possible for the position you are applying for.

Do the same with your interview technique - find out if you come across like a helpless child or an overbearing bully.  This will be an amazing insight into how you come across when you sit in for interviews.

Employable?

Are you employable?  Have you found our advice useful?  Are you going to try and be more employable over the future months?  Leave us a comment and let us know…

How To Get The Sack

When you’re battling through a recession it’s not that hard to lose your job - many businesses are now asking employees to either leave or take a drastic pay cut - while these options are not very nice, sometimes there’s no other way to turn.

However, if you are going to lose your job, you want to make sure you don’t do it in one of the following idiotic ways!  Below is a list of some of the easiest ways available to lose your job so if you are thinking about keeping it try avoiding everything on the list;

Deadline?  What deadline?

Deadlines are in place for a reason - they aren’t guidelines, they are deadlines…if you are given a deadline make sure you don’t fall on the wrong side of it.

Other people, including your boss most likely, are depending on you to get your work in on time so if you let them down you will find your place securely in your bad books.  Once you get a reputation for bad punctuality then you might as well leave…

Surfin’ The Net?

Granted, there is nothing wrong with checking your personal emails now and again throughout the work day - however, social networking has become the latest addiction ripping society apart and some people can’t help but check their Facebook accounts every 3 minutes.

You are being employed to do work, not to Poke your mates when they don’t reply to your status’s.  You should be able to spend a suitable amount of time online for your personal business but don’t let it creep into your work time.

What Should I Do?

You are being hired to fulfil a specific role in the business - if you don’t know what the role is then how can you work properly.  Obviously you are allowed some time to fit in to the role in the beginning of your time in the office, but after a while you should be clear on what is expected from you.

If you find yourself lost in your job after a year then you are definitely doing something wrong - you won’t be able to do your job properly and you will effectively be deemed useless if found out which of course you will be in no time.

How Good Am I?

If you constantly need to be told that you have done a good job and that you are on the right track then you aren’t in the right job…you should really go back to school.

A craving for the limelight shows your boss that you are far more interested in boosting your own career and less interested in being part of a team - what better way to turn your employee off of you?

Looking to stay hired?

Are you hoping to keep your job?  Have you found our advice useful?  Do you do any of the issues listed above?  Let us know…

The Future Is Coming

Technology is raging on becoming more and more evolved with each passing week - soon you’ll find yourself out of your element!  You need to keep up with the times and unfortunately that means you need to do a bit of work by going back to school…

Skills

If you are finding yourself constantly stuck behind a desk while those around you are being promoted left, right and centre then it could be because you aren’t technologically adept enough to earn such a promotion.

You should think about getting hold of a degree in computer science which will teach you about data structuring, programming and other handy tips.  You will be boosting your skills with such a degree and you should start to notice that you are joining everyone else who is climbing the ladder.

Graphics

Graphic design can be a great skill to have that will get you a well paid job in any economic climate.  Think about getting your hands on a degree in graphic design as you’ll need one to get a job in the field…There is a lot of call for good graphic designers so if you’re good in the field then you should find that the move is a useful one!

Languages

The technological age calls for us to learn new languages - programming languages are extremely useful in today’s technological age so by learning one you will be one step ahead when it comes to dishing out the jobs.

Degree Reinforcement

Although you may have been out of education for a long time you can get back in to education by taking part in an online programme for example.  Try your hardest to get the best degree you can get - employees with bachelor degrees earn a fair amount more money than employees with A-Levels, GCSEs or GNVQs so think about taking your education further.

Online

If you want to do more in terms of education but you can’t find the time to get a degree done then turn to the Internet - you will be surprised at how much you will be able to get done in your spare time.

By doing a degree online you will find that you’ll be able to stay working, earning money and getting that all important work experience while still getting the benefits of a degree.

Relevance

The more time you spend out of education means the less relevant you are becoming in the field.  Now more than ever t is important to remain relevant in the field.  If you aren’t careful then you’ll find yourself totally untrained for the most in demand jobs in the next decade…and that isn’t good!

Worried About Technology?

Are you worried about getting hold of a job at the rate technology is raging forward?  Are you worried that you will become a dinosaur even though you have just finished education?  Let us know what you think by leaving a comment…

Time On Your Hands

The unemployment rate is at the highest it’s been in a long time - the chances are you know someone who is out of a job.  The opportunities for the unemployed in Britain are not looking too good either and they will probably be out of work for some time.

But fear not - just because you don’t have a job doesn’t mean you have an excuse to laze around the house all day worrying…make the most of the time you’ve got on your hands…

Create Work

There are things that need to be done in your house all the time but because you aren’t in work at the moment you are probably finding it hard to motivate yourself - if you have something to do, like wash your windows, then make a job out of it!  Do this for all your chores and you’ll be giving yourself a useful purpose once again.

Spread Your Wings

If you are finding it difficult to get a job in the industry that you usually work in then don’t be afraid to spread your wings and try new things in new areas.  There may be something that you have always wanted to do but haven’t yet had the opportunity to do it because you’ve been stuck doing something you didn’t want to do - take the opportunity.

Re-evaluate The Way You Live Your Life

Having time off from work can be a great piece of time where you can re-evaluate your work/home balance.  You can take a closer look at the things you put on the backburner because work got in the way for example.

Go to the gym, eat right for a change, sleep right!  Do all the things you were failing to do when you were stuck in your job.

Languages

Now you have the time you should really think about spending around half an hour each day learning a new language - imagine the boost a new language will have for your CV!  It’s not like you don’t have the time anymore, so make the most of the time you have to add an impressive skill to your CV.

Furthermore, when you do get a job and the economy starts to perk up again, you will find that you’ll move up the ranks a lot faster because you will have shown you were willing to add to your skills.

Internship

If you have decided to take the opportunity to move from one career to another then you should take a look at the possibility of internships.  You will be putting yourself in a position to learn from an established company.

Although you’ll probably be in the position at a cut rate, you will still be earning money and making good steps into a new career that will probably suit you better.

Time To Tango?

Have you found yourself with too much time on your hands thanks to the recession?  Has our advice inspired you to do more with your time?  Let us know…

Top CV Issues You Can Overcome

Looking for a job can be a tough deal - we’re fighting our way through a recession as we speak and unemployment rates have shot through the sky.  You need an edge above everyone else and you aren’t going to get it with a CV full of issues.

If you have any of the issues listed below then don’t worry because we’re going to tell you how to overcome them and apply for a job without and worries or fretting!

Gaps

Gaps in your employment history can be a nightmare and can bring a world of worrying.  If this is something you have to deal with then try to use a CV format that looks more at your skills.  You can do this by making a strong summary of your skills followed by a brief list of your work.

A Lot Of Jobs

If you’ve been in a lot of positions through a very short time period then you should think about being completely honest.  Although tons of jobs in a short period of time can be a bit of a flag for some employers, it is a good policy to remain honest.

If you have good reasons for the amount of jobs then feel free to explain so in your CV - maybe you were searching for a better pay packet, the businesses you worked for crashed in the recession.

Only One Company

Working in only one company will obviously show off your loyalty to a potential employer, but it will also show that career growth wasn’t a big issue in your life which is not an attractive feature.

Highlight the different positions you’ve held, rather than simply the fact you were at the business for a long time.  A potential employer will pick up on the fact that you have been in a number of positions and gained skills.

Little Experience

You may have just graduated from university and you have little experience on your CV.  If this is the case you should make sure that you are adding any internship work, part-time work and volunteer work to beef up your CV.

Temping

If you have a lot of temporary work listed on your CV then you shouldn’t worry too much.  More than half of executives actually see temporary work in the same way as full-time work.

You should list the temp work in reverse chronological order in the same way you would with full time work - don’t forget to write that the employment was temporary so potential employers can be clear about your history.

CV Issues?

Have you had any CV issues?  Has our advice helped?  Are you feeling a little less worried about your CV thanks to our tips?  Leave us a comment and let us know…

CV Writing - What To Keep In Mind

It’s that time of the year once again when the University year comes to an end and poor old students are thrown out into the real world with the sole task of looking for a job - it’s not an easy time for everyone…

Recessions aren’t exactly the most exciting periods of time to start searching for a job - you’re up against tons of people for a tiny amount of positions.  Do the math…not everyone’s going to be successful.

CVs - They’re important in case you didn’t know…

So you need to work on your CV - your CV will be your way of getting your personality and experience through to the potential employee through a simple piece of paper.  You have to get it right if you want to be called in for an interview…

You have just a few seconds of browsing time to convince the employer that you’re the right person for the job - this is what you should be keeping in mind when writing your CV.

Be Basic

When you write your CV, the first piece of information on the piece of paper should be your details like your name, email address, phone number, etc…

Make sure you use a permanent address - straight out of university you can find that you will be moving around a lot trying to find affordable accommodation in new cities - use a stable address that you will always be able to get access to.

You should also make sure you don’t put ridiculous email address accounts on your CV - spank21@hotmail.com doesn’t really interest potential employers.  Keep it professional.

Objective

You should include a section devoted to your objectives and skills directly following your personal information.  Remember to keep your writing directly to the point and don’t blah your way through…this will just turn potential employers off…

Style

Choose a style and stick to it - there are three main styles: chronological, functional and combination.

Chronological - emphasis on work experience listed from most recent to least recent.
Functional - a more skills based style.
Combination - more useful for first-time job seekers where you can actually list both experiences and skills rather than choosing one or the other.

Experience

Remember that any experience you have gained over the years is important, no matter what it is.  It can be volunteer experience, academic experience or professional experience - it all shows that you are a hard worker looking for a chance…

These opportunities will also be a good way to highlight any skills that you might have in a sly way - this is a great way to show what you can do through real experiences.

First Job?

Are you looking for your first, real job?  Are you worried with regards to the economic climate?  Leave us a comment and let us know what you’re thinking…

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…

How to go from unemployment to new employment…

As the unemployment rate pushes well past the 2 million mark, it’s high time to start looking at how you can move on from unemployment to new employment.

It’s not as hard as it sounds or feels.  The odds are either you or someone you know has lost their job due to the recession and the outlook is seemingly bleak with regards to new employment leading to financial worries.

But fear not, you need to remain positive if you want to be working again any time soon - there are a few simple ways of making sure you are up for job hunting once again making sure you bring in the payslips every month like usual…

Closure

Obviously losing your job is no walk in the park - you won’t be feeling to happy for a while and you’ll be angry for good reason.  However, you need to say goodbye to this anger and move on.  Without doing so you won’t be able to turn your attention to the future rather than the past.

Understand that the decision was made, in most cases the decision was made because the company couldn’t afford to keep you on board and it couldn’t be helped.  However the decision was made you should put it behind you and look to the future instead.  Don’t waste time while others get out there and snap up the jobs.

Positive Thinking

Remove all negative thoughts as they will undoubtedly only hold you back!  Positive thinking instead will put you on the right path.  If you know what you want you have already started on the journey to get it.

Losing your job could have possibly been the opportunity that you needed to kick start your dreams - maybe you wanted to start a business on your own, maybe you wanted to work at the zoo…decide what you want to do and set about doing it.

Start Each Day Determined

You should wake up each day knowing what you want to do so you can spend the time doing it - if you want to find a job then do it, if you want to create your own website then do it.

Take action, don’t sit about without a clear direction.  Although you might not fulfil each goal in one day, you will find that you are getting closer to completion with each passing day.

Be Positive

Don’t focus on the small amount of jobs available out there right now - instead look at how many are available and be positive and determined to make sure you get one of them.  If you think too hard about the lack of employment opportunities then you have already defeated yourself…

Looking for a job?

Have you found yourself unemployed due to the recession?  Have you found our guide helpful?  Are you worried about your future due to the recession?  Let us know your troubles…