Tag Archives: Careers Advice

Careers Advice, guest blogger, Job Hunting

Get back to work! Tips for the long-term unemployed

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The reasons for which people find themselves out of work for long periods are many and varied. Whether you have been out of work for personal reasons (illness, family crisis, raising children) or by choice (ski seasons, summer seasons, an unintentionally extended career break), the results are always the same: a great yawning hole in your CV. Getting back to work can then be considerably trickier since you now lack recent and relevant experience, and most companies seem incapable of taking a chance on their next recruit. However, an incomplete CV may not be the sole cause of the problem. For instance, many job seekers target niche markets or simply aim too high, while others have not yet discovered that they interview poorly or have bad references. Fortunately, these are all factors which can be improved with a little perseverance and some external careers advice.

If you feel your CV is holding you back, there are several ways in which you can fill in the gaps. Consider further education, which either adds another academic qualification or provides you with a trade skill, putting you a step ahead of the competition, though beware that this could be a costly affair. Volunteering and charity work are great ways to keep active, meet people and make job networking links. If possible, subscribe to a temping agency and take on any part-time work you are offered. This will prove that you do not wish the grass to grow under your feet any longer. Try not to lose any existing skills you have, such as languages and sports, so your CV remains up to date.

Back to work

Once you are happy that you are doing everything possible to enhance your CV and your employment chances, it is essential to keep the job hunt going. The first step is to subscribe to a recruiting agency, which will help link your CV to relevant job descriptions while you search yourself. Spending 20-30 hours per week looking for work is recommended, time which is best spent targeting jobs you are truly qualified for or writing to your most desirable employers. In applications, always try turning a negative into a positive. For example, your long-term unemployment means you fully appreciate the value of a job. You can get further advice from careers centres where advisors provide interview coaching and often highlight strengths which you had not seen for yourself.

It can be an emotional and difficult time but it is essential to remain positive and not become despondent or desperate. Do not isolate yourself from friends and family (nor burden them continuously with your problems) but keep enjoying doing the things you can afford. When you find that much desired job, everyone will be delighted for you and you can really thank them for their support.

http://www.itris.co.uk/

guest blogger, Planning, Training

3 Things Businesses Need In Abundance

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The business world is a tough one to survive in. It is no surprise that phrases such as ‘dog eat dog’ and ‘it’s tough at the top’ are used on a day to day basis when talking about business because they really do describe the way it is in today’s corporate landscape. Therefore, in order to make it in such an environment, a business and its workforce need to display certain characteristics that will take it above and beyond to supersede the competition.

A great business idea and plan of action are both imperative to succeeding as a company, but the venture is still likely to fall short if there is no real passion and motivation driving it. Here are three personal attributes that any business needs to display if they don’t want to be left standing still.

Creativity

Even the most basic business in society need to be forward thinking in their approach and therefore needs to be constantly coming up with new creative ideas. In a world that is littered with competition at every turn, it is important to stand out in as many ways as possible and being creative is going to help you do just that. New ideas are what drive a company forward and keep it always evolving. If you have a great deal of business creativity then the chances are you are likely to be the ones setting the trend rather than struggling to try and copy it.

Encourage creativity in the work place by allowing employees to share and develop any ideas they have. Arrange regular meetings between departments so that different areas of the company can interact and bounce ideas off one another, but most of all you should promote an environment that allows room for any idea to flourish; no matter how good or bad it seems. You could even send your employees on some creativity training courses in order to get the most out of them.

Dedication

Most of the big companies that are the front runners in business today would not be there if it wasn’t for the hard work and dedication of their valued employees. If you have people that are willing to put their all in for the benefit of the company then turning a good idea into a great one is a real possibility.

Success1

Creating a dedicated workforce is no mean feat, but it is no coincidence that some of the most successful companies in the world are also the best ones to work for. A list was recently released stating which corporations had the highest job satisfaction rate and search engine giants Google and technology overlords Apple both featured highly. Feeling valued as an employee, enjoying what they do and a good pay structure were all cited by the people surveyed and are all sure to breed dedication amongst employees.

Determination

With any business venture there are sure to be as many low points as there are high ones, maybe even more. In these situations you need to know that the people in your company are going to be able to pull together and work through the tough times. Many businesses come out of difficult periods stronger and with a better understanding of what it takes to make it in this unforgiving industry and this is much more likely to happen if everybody digs in and shows a little determination.

All businesses would almost definitely fail to get off the ground without determination. When starting your company it can be a very testing time and you will ultimately ask yourself whether this is really what you want to do and if the life of a business owner is really one you are cut out for. However, this is can be the making of a powerful business man. The determination it takes to get back up time and time again in the face of adversity will put anyone in great stead to make it in this ‘dog eat dog’ world.

Chris Mayhew is blogging here on behalf of Now Go Create. This innovative company offers courses on creativity training and brainstorm facilitation to help improve the productivity in your workplace. Creativity is integral to businesses so visit their website today to see what they can do for your company.

guest blogger, Hiring Manager, Interviews

Interview Tips for the Employer

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Being on the employer side of business instead of the one searching for a job can make it seem as though you’ve got all the advantages.

However, finding the right employee for your organisation is a tricky proposition. Not only will you have to carefully read between the lines of your prospect’s CV, you’ll have to determine if he or she is a correct fit for your organization.

What’s more, each applicant will have to be evaluated as to their potential longevity with the company. The last thing you want to do is spend a large amount of time screening a pool of applicants, painstakingly select the perfect one, train them for months, and then have them leave you within a short period of time.

Once you’ve determined the unique needs and requirements of the position and your strategy for selecting the ideal candidate, it’s time to focus on the interview process. While there are many interview guides for job candidates, employers as well can suffer from lack of knowledge regarding interview techniques and etiquette. Many executives actually become quite nervous at the idea of meeting and greeting a candidate.

Assuming you’ve screened candidates properly, and are awaiting a meeting with an excellent prospect, there are several tips to follow for a great interview.

Make a Good First Impression

Remember that the candidate is also screening your company for an appropriate fit. Be sure to have a tidy, clean space for receiving your candidate. Organise any loose papers neatly in lever arch files to eliminate clutter, and offer water or coffee. Dress in professional clothing (appropriate to your industry) and introduce yourself in a friendly manner, stating your full name and title. You may chat a bit about the weather or other neutral subjects but try to keep small talk to a minimum.

Prepare in Advance

A good candidate will arrive well-prepared for the interview and you should do the same. Take the time to become acquainted with his or her CV and make notes to yourself about which points you’d like to learn more about. Being prepared with a lever arch file of carefully listed questions will help reduce any anxiety you may have about the meeting as well.

Interviews

Ask Smart Questions

Your questions should help you relate your candidate’s knowledge, skills and abilities to the requirements of the position. Asking open-ended questions will allow him or her to expand upon certain subjects. It is fine to ask about past failures and how they were handled, or ask about why he or she is seeking a new job, but don’t try to trap them or test them under pressure. Record answers carefully and file them (along with your candidate’s CV) in a lever arch file for quick reference.

End on a Positive Note

Each and every candidate should be treated kindly and respectfully even if you know from the beginning you won’t be offering them the job. Thank him or her for their time, and advise them as to where you are in the hiring process so they’ll know when to expect a response from you. Once you’ve selected a candidate for a job offer, be sure to contact each person you interviewed to let them know that the position has been filled. You may also provide feedback, upon request, to those not selected.

 

Careers Advice, Friday Snippet, Planning, Recruitment, The CV Righter

If I had a crystal ball – looking forward to your next career move

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Ever wondered what it would be like to be able to look into a crystal ball and see where you will be in 5 or 10 years time? I remember when I was at Uni fresh faced to the world and its offerings, worried about whether I was making the right moves with job applications and cautious about opportunities that seemed too good to be true. The truth is that we have an idea in our minds where we want to be in the future but do we really put together a plan of action.

I have spoken with a great deal of project professionals at varying levels of seniority and all said the same thing – you may have a plan but it is often the case that you deviate due to life or economical changes. However with a strong plan and determination you can succeed in your chosen path with a little effort. The issue tends to lay by those not being clear in articulating what it is they want and not knowing where to go to actually get it.

We offer a service which not only assists you in clearly defining your skill-set to employers, we also advise how and where to go to once you have a strong application. For those out there who really research and put the work in, they are yielding great results and the jobs you could only hope for as you continue using tried and tested (but bulging) resources.

Take time out to let someone who knows the industry well and has a great deal of experience in indentifying opportunities coupled with a wealth of experience in turning CVs into something which works. Having worked with HR staff and senior management in all industries from financial services, IT, engineering to healthcare and digital media to name a few we understand what it is that grabs the attention of employers for the right reason and we also understand how these roles come about so we can advise a backdoor approach which gets you ahead of the competition.

Drop us a line today with your CV and we’ll talk through how we can best help you and we will give you a free CV review to help you understand how your CV is coming across to others.