Category Archives: Job Hunting

Careers Advice, Internet Recruitment Sites, Job Applications, Job Hunting, project management recruitment, Recruitment

Internet Recruitment Sites

Leave a comment

Often the first port of call for most looking for a new job – internet recruitment sites can be effective but need to be tackled in the right way to ensure you are harvesting good results. It is easy to apply online for roles and using the job boards provides very easy access to hundreds of recruitment agency job adverts. However if you are merely applying for anything and everything which broadly covers your skill-set you could be off to a non-starter – look at it from the recruiters perspective, if you apply for roles which vary significantly in salary and seniority then you are wasting their time. You will get noticed but for all the wrong reasons, quickly being labelled as a “apply for all” candidate who does not A. Read the job advert or B. Does not understand their own skill-set

Take time to really understand which roles are relevant for you and make sure you don’t assume that the recruiter knows what it is like to work at xxx ltd. When I say this I mean I have seen CVs which are rather limited in information and often do not have enough of the skills covered which are required for a role, therefore the application is rejected and it is not uncommon to have a call from the candidate asking why they were rejected. When explaining the key areas for the role the candidate will say they have done this and my response was – it is not in your CV. No matter how good a recruiter is at their job if the CV is not including the key skills asked for in their client wish list then the CV will be rejected from the client and it is important for the recruiter to maintain a good relationship with their client.  Sending in CVs lacking vital information looks bad on them so they won’t do it.

Your CV also needs to be compatible for the recruiter databases – often there are some guidance notes on the recruiter sites as to what works best with their systems, make sure you follow these but a good rule of thumb is to keep the CV to a basic formatting and avoiding tables and text boxes. Otherwise you may find that your CV is not displaying correctly on the recruiters screen and could be missing large chunks of information. As the recruiter will be dealing with hundreds of CVs on a daily basis you will easily be discarded for a CV which is correctly formatted and states all the key requirements for a role.

Keyword searching by recruiters is also very popular these days due to the volumes of candidates in databases so it is important to make sure you weave relevant keywords within your CV – do not just list a mass of keywords! This is not helpful to the recruiter who requires some context of how you have used skills, software etc. Take a look at roles being advertised and check that the terminology is similar to that used in your CV, make sure you really work at placing some effective statements about when you have had exposure to certain aspects such as the project lifecycle including how, when, why.

Job Applications, Job Hunting, LinkedIn, project management jobs, project management recruitment

Part time Project Management jobs

Leave a comment

More and more project professionals find themselves in a position where they need to work part time – this may be due to home commitments such as caring for dependents or even other interests such as writing books / working for charities etc. It may seem that employers will not be interested in part time employees as projects can be very time consuming, however there are a great deal of organisations out there who would benefit from experienced project professionals working on a part time basis due to budgetary constraints.balancing home and work

These types of roles are rarely advertised as the hiring managers have not yet thought about taking on additional support in this capacity but it does make sense. Therefore it is important to really think about how you can add value to a project or business and make contact with heads of projects etc. A first port of call would be your existing contacts base – update your CV and drop them a line explaining your desire to work on a part time basis and don’t forget to add in the benefits of a cheaper resource with a great skill-set. Once you have made contact with previous employers, colleagues, and contacts then you are on their radar – hopefully they will keep their ear to the ground and suggest you for additional resource with their contacts too. Then you should look to research organisations who have project management functions to see what is new with them – the best starting point would be to look at their news articles to see if they have anything new in the pipeline which could potentially yield new roles, such as new products / mergers / overhauling legacy systems etc. Before making contact – look to see if any of your contacts have any connection to the organisation, LinkedIn is perfect for this. If you find they do – ask for an introduction to HR or ideally heads of projects. The next part is really important: write a speculative covering letter which includes detail about their changes then talk through your relevant experience and exposure to this, do not be afraid to blow your own trumpet – but simply stating you are brilliant isn’t the way to do it, talk about your actual accomplishments which are relevant to the project and how you add value. Then talk through your desire for a part time position and spell out how this can be a cost effective resource for the project. Some flexibility to your working hours is always a bonus, so if you can be flexible – tell them so!

There is a fair bit of work required on your side with this approach to finding a new role but with competition high for the few part time roles advertised, it is this proactive behaviour which will yield results.

guest blogger, Job Hunting, Working abroad

Essential tips for living in Dubai

Leave a comment

Moving to another country is a huge step to take. But there are plenty of places you could move to that are a lot worse than the Emirate of Dubai so don’t knock it. So here’s a list of tips to help you through those first few weeks of settling in.

Before you go

If you aren’t moving because of work then getting a job is probably high on your list of priorities when arriving in Dubai. Recruitment agencies are just a quick Google search away but it might be easier to do the job hunt before you move. Dubai offers some very attractive salaries and a job is a common reason for the move so make sure you’ve found a role you love before upping roots from your hometown.

Check the most up-to-date laws on visa requirements. It’s not something you want to be worrying about when you’re on the plane or stuck at customs in the airport. Ensure that everything you can arrange from home is already done before you leave. Anything that you still need to sort out should be put onto a to-do list ready for you to check and work through when you arrive.

Plan to go shopping

When you arrive, chances are you’re going to want some sort of contact with the life you left behind. Enter a mobile phone. Your current one may work in Dubai but the rates to call back to the UK will be extortionate. Look into buying a cheap phone and then, once you’re settled in, consider buying a nicer one with a contract.

Luckily, Dubai uses the same plugs and sockets as we do in England so you probably won’t actually need to bring adaptors or replace your beloved hair straighteners. It makes settling in that little bit easier knowing you can go out with decent hair. You will want to invest in a GPS system though. Trying to find your way around is going to be difficult for the first few weeks so having a sat-nav and a paper map to hand can make life a bit simpler.

Dubai

Know the local customs

Dubai is a wonderful place but like anywhere in the world, there are laws and rules. You are new to the country so follow all the laws strictly. There’s nothing to be gained from annoying the locals in your first couple of weeks. Alcohol is not promoted in Muslim countries so don’t go treating it like a week in Kavos, drinking and rolling around the streets. It’s possible to get jail-time for drink-driving so don’t even think about it.

The same applies for the way you dress. Women are generally expected not to flaunt everything they have. It’s disrespectful, and in any case, nobody wants to see you hanging out of your hot pants. Stick to loose-fitting clothes that cover shoulders and thighs. Just think in terms of trying to be respectful to your grandparents, channel 1940s vintage and you should be set.

Make the most of your time there. The culture is drastically different from the UK so if you go there with your eyes wide open, you’ll gain some truly magical life experiences. Expect to have moments where you feel overwhelmed and, in those instances, do something that makes you feel closer to home. That could be calling your family or it could be visiting the shopping malls and indulging in a little retail therapy. The most important thing is to make sure you’re happy and have the time of your life.

Author Bio: Andy Jonson is a human resources specialist and recruitment consultant. Through this article, discover up to date career and Dubai recruitment agencies to find the right job.

guest blogger, Job Hunting, LinkedIn, Networking

7 Tips on Using LinkedIn to Land Your Dream Job

Leave a comment

As a professional social network, LinkedIn has transformed the way business professionals communicate, interact and network. It has also completely changed the recruitment and employment process, shifting the practice online with virtual connections taking the place of networking events.

With graduate employment prospects at an all-time low and an oversaturated and a hugely competitive job market, workers are looking at other means for boosting their job prospects. LinkedIn has become a highly valuable tool for both employers and potential employees.

Here are some simple tips on how to harness the unique power of LinkedIn to get you the best chance of landing your dream job.

Grow Your Network

They say when it comes to the marketplace it’s about who you know not what you know and whilst that may still be true, LinkedIn has made networking and getting to know people easier than it ever has been before. Your entire professional contact book can be managed and controlled online via LinkedIn. Maximise your reach across the business world by building up as large a network as possible. Link up with all your co-workers and friends and then join in discussions through groups, answer questions and generally interact with as many as people as possible. Mine the contacts of every new connection you make to further extend your contact list.

Optimise your Profile

Your profile is your virtual first impression and acts as your online business card. It needs to be as slick and professional as possible. There is no point having hundreds of connections to an outdated or misinformed profile. Optimise your profile to make yourself easy to find using keywords in your job title and bio. Provide clear points of contact and be clear about who you are, what you do and what you are looking for out of LinkedIn.

networking online

Boost Visibility

Now you have a perfectly optimised and highly attractive profile as well as a sizable bank of connections; you need to boost your visibility across the network. Stay front of mind with all your contacts by posting regular status updates, participating in conversations across LinkedIn groups and utilising the question and answer tool. Seek opportunities where you can show off your detailed knowledge and expertise in relevant fields.

Be Clear About What You Want

LinkedIn can be used in a variety of ways by a range of people seeking different results. Be clear from the beginning about what you wish to use LinkedIn for. In this case if you are looking for job opportunities, make sure you are connecting with people in your fields of interest. Follow companies that are in your area and connect with people already doing your dream job. How did they get to where they are now? What route did they have to take? Is this something you can follow?

Be Professional

Possibly the most important tip to using LinkedIn, particularly when job hunting, is to remain strictly professional at all times. LinkedIn is not Facebook or Twitter but a business network for professionals. Maintain a professional decorum in your communications. Personalise messages and adhere to the general practices and etiquette of the site. If you get an invitation to connect from someone you don’t know don’t just ignore them, start up a conversation and take their details, as you would at any networking event or conference in the past.

Seek out the best opportunities

Don’t just sit back and assume that job opportunities will appear now you have a strong connection list and an optimised profile. Take the initiative and find what you want first. Search for opportunities at companies and within sectors which interest you. Reach out to HR managers at companies which are advertising or you are keen to work with. You might find you have much in common (including some mutual connections).

Get Recommendations

There is nothing more credible to your job search than professionally endorsed skills and experience from relevant experts. Endorsements and recommendations from co-workers, managers or clients instantly boosts the credibility of your profile and shows potential employers clear evidence of the qualities you have and can offer.

Now go and land that dream job you’ve always wanted!

Ross Moffat is a freelance writer for Education Consultancy Beattie Communications, who has been writing professionally for over 2 years.