Top Tips for Job Seekers

8/2/2019 Top Tips for Job Seekers

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Top tips for jobseekers


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e perfect CV is the CV that achieves the interview no more, no less. If the CV gets your name on the inter-

ew short list it has done its job.

e good news is that your CV is the only part of the whole job selection process over which you

ave complete control. So it pays to make sure you get it right. Austin Banks will be happy to

ovide constructive feedback on your CV and offer any suggestions if we feel it will improve your

ances of obtaining an interview.

the meantime we have put together a guide that will help you avoid the common pitfalls and

sure the right information is included in the right order. There are no hard and fast rules but

om experience, we have found the following format works best:

CV Structure

ontact Detailse best place for your contact details is at the top of the first page in the middle or on the left. Make sure you

clude your:

ull Name

ome Addresselephone Numbers (Home, Mobile and Work if you dont mind being contacted there)mail Address

ersonal Detailsou may wish to include your date of birth, marital status and your driving license status either

ere or at the very end.

ersonal Profilerite a concise and punchy personal profile (aim for around 20-30 words). It must do two things.stly, it must encapsulate your career aspirations and secondly it must summarize what you have to offer your

ext employer.

ofessional Qualificationsyou have any professional qualifications or are studying towards a professional qualification,

ovide details here.

How to write an effective CV


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How to write an effective CV (cont)Work Historyhis is arguably the most important part of your CV. As with education, list your jobs in reverse order starting

ith your most recent or current job. Think carefully about what skills you have used and acquired during each

b. If you have limited work experience remember that even the mundane jobs have taught you something.

ow, for each job provide basic details including job title, company name and the start and finish dates of your

mployment.

sing bullet points, list your activities and achievements during that particular job.Important: After each bullet

oint ask yourself so what? What does this mean to a potential employer

or example, suppose you used the following bullet point:

Operated Till

oes this offer the employer any insight into what you learned from the experience that might benefit them if

ey were to take you on? No

might be better to put something like this:

an a busy checkout serving the general public, which improved my ability to work underpressure and gave

e experience in dealing with a wide range of different people.The above bullet point offers much more of an

sight into what you gained from the experience that might be of use to your next employer.

pply the so what? question to all your bullet points and that will help you to create a CV that sells you in a

ositive light.

nterestseep this section brief. Two or three interests are enough. Think about what you write here before you list them.

mployers can learn a lot about a person from their interests.

rosswords and software design for example would suggest that the job seeker is intellectually able. Squash

nd Badminton might suggest a competitive personality. TV and reading might suggest that the job seeker

refers his/her own company.

hink about the kind of impression your interests create and be prepared to answer questions around this.


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DontsDont leave gaps.Dont use fancy fonts and borders.Dont try and be humorous (recruitment is serious).Dont list your salary requirements.Dont use the word I unless absolutely necessary.Dont use jargon.Dont use pictures or photos.

DosDo check thoroughly for spelling mistakes.

Do use short sentences

.Do use good quality plain white A4 paper if you are printing your CV.

Do use bullet points.

Do try to stick to 2-3 pages.Do take the time to get it right.

ow to Succeed in Interviewsou only get one chance to make a good first impression. How to Succeed in InterviewsThe importance of re -earching your potential employer cannot be over emphasised. Nowadays,with so much information at our fin-ertips, there is no excuse not to do your homework. Probablythe easiest and quickest way to access up-to-date

formation is via the Internet. Spend sometime exploring the companys web site.

you havent got easy access to the Internet, use more traditional methods - visit a businesslibrary and readrough annual reports, or call the company and ask for information to be sent out to you.

repare answers to the most frequently asked interview questions. In particular, those questionsthat you may findfficult to answer and work out how you will cope with them.

ere are some examples of common questions:Why did you apply for this job?What do you know about our company?Why should we give you this job and not someone else?What are your outstanding qualities?

CV dos & donts / succeed in interviews


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Succeed in interviews (cont)

What are your weaknesses?What would you like to be doing five years from now?Why do you want to leave your current job?Why did you leave your last job?What motivates you?What is your ambition?What is your biggest achievement?How do you handle rejection?How do you handle tension?How do you take direction?

What would your last boss say about you?What were the minuses of your last job?What have you done that shows initiative and willingness to work?What do you see as the main responsibilities of a __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _?

or a comprehensive list of interview questions and answers you may want to consider purchasing ororrowing Great Answers to Tough Interview Questions by Martin John Yate.

o succeed in any interview you MUST:

Be on time. Aim to arrive 10 to 15 minutes early giving you time to relax and get a feel for the company.Give a firm handshake and smile during the introduction. You must not underestimate the importance of this.

It is your first impression and there is no worse start than a sloppy handshake.

Be pleasant, poised and maintain eye contact as much as possible.

Be aware of your body language. Dont sit with your arms folded. Try to be open and relaxed.Listen carefully to questions; dont be afraid to ask for clarification and take time to think about your an-swers. Silences will seem a lot longer to you than they actually are.

Be honest. You wouldnt want your employer to lie about your career and salary prospects so stick to thetruth about your jobs and qualifications. These things are easily checked out.

Always try to support your answers with examples of past achievements.Be clear and concise.

Avoid saying negative things about your last or current employer.

Prepare questions for the interviewer.

Thank the interviewer at the end of the interview and reiterate your interest in the position.

Dont let the interview drag on by overselling yourself if you see signs that the interview is coming to aclose.


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you resign and your employer decides to offer you a more attractive salary or overall job package in ordero persuade you to stay, you have been counter offered.

ounter offers are more common than you might think. Recruiting quality people can be anexpensive and

me-consuming process for employers and you might unexpectedly find yourselfin a bargaining position.

your employer tries to persuade you to stay by offering you a pay rise equal to, or above yournew job offer

ou might first want to ask yourself why it took the threat of leaving to bring it about.

Most of us are easily flattered and the offer of more money coupled with colleagues telling youthe placeont be the same without you can easily make you forget the reasons you wanted toleave in the first place.

ont feel guilty and always take the time to think the situation through carefully beforeresponding to a coun-er offer.

is usually a good idea to discuss it with your friends and family who may offer a more objective viewpoint.

Once you have made a decision, stick to it and handle the situation in a professional and courteousway for

e benefit of all parties concerned.

How to handle a counter offer


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Starting a new job can be a daunting experience. Now, more than ever, it is important to makethe rightmpression. You may be working with these people for a long time and how you comeacross in the first days

and weeks can have an impact on how you will be perceived in the futureand what opportunities will be

made available to you.

To make the best possible start in your new job, it pays to follow these guidelines:

Donts:

Dont think because you are new, you can sit back and take it easy for a while and let everyone elseshow you what to do. Show initiative and enthusiasm.

Dont try and re-invent the wheel from day one. Learn the job and the processes that are in place be -fore you start trying to change them.

Dont be drawn into discussions about other members of staff. You dont know whom you can trustand whom you cant at this stage. Stay away from office politics.Dont use your work phone to make personal calls without asking and even then, keep them to a mini-mum.

Dont leave on the dot, come back late from your lunch breaks or start booking holidays straight away.

Dont sit in silence and wait for people to talk to you. Think of questions to ask people and start conversa-tions yourself.

Dos:Demonstrate that you have researched the company & products wherever possible.Have a note book and pen ready and write everything down.Ask questions when you dont understand (you are not expected to understand everything).Make sure you are well presented and that your body language indicates enthusiasm and willingness towork.

SmileTry to remember peoples names. It makes your life easier.

How to start your new job successfully

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Top Tips for Job Seekers