Thinking About A New Job

Where to start when you have been in the same position for some time.

For the steady employee with no gaps in their employment the following hints and tips might help.

Step 1. Research the Job Market

When researching your job market choose a few similar positions in a variety of different organisations.  Take note of the requirements of each advertisement and specifically target your CV to match these requirements.

What should your research focus on?:

• ·      Qualifications/training
• ·      Personal characteristics
• ·      Skills, knowledge and experience
• ·      Salary range
• ·      Key duties and responsibilities
• ·      And any other particular requirements

If you have been working in the same industry for some time use your contacts.  Talk to recruitment agents, talk to managers in the same field as yourself, find out what is happening in the market, are people moving around or are people staying put.  Both scenarios may be of benefit to you, depending one what you are looking for. 

In a thigh labor market where people are staying put, if a company needs to fill a specific position they may be willing to pay over the odds for the right candidate.  

In a loose labor market you may have a greater choice of vacancies to suite your needs.  It is important to do your research, as jobs boards and recruitment agencies may give an incorrect impression of how the job market is behaving and what the true availability of vacancies is, so don’t just rely on one source to make up your mind.

Time to Move On?

The Graduate's Path to Employment

There are several different paths to employment at this stage in your career, the forward thinking student will have been doing some work during their summer holidays to gain experience as an employee.  For those students who did not get the opportunity to do that, some of the following options might help:

·      Talk to your professor; ask him/her if they know anybody who would give you a job or an internship, or simply an interview.

o   All universities are in some way linked to the organisations that are offering internships, whether it is through personal friendships or professional relationships.

·      Apply to do an internship in your area of study

o   Start with the Google search word Internships and this will take you to all sorts of possibilities.

o   Once you are in the company, you have the opportunity to make an impression.  This is vital in today’s competitive graduate job market.

·      Consider taking a temporary position

o   For the same reason as above, once you have your foot in the door you have the chance to make that all important good impression, if and when a permanent position becomes available you will be in the right place at the right time

·      Apply for jobs on a jobs board related to your field of study

o   For this action you will need a CV.  But you don’t have much work experience to put on your CV so what should you do. This is the time for you to learn about the different kinds of CVs and which is the most suitable for you in your time of life and career.

·      Look at the Times top 100 Employers and find out which employer is in your field of study.

o   Make your application directly to these employers using your functional CV and a portfolio if one is called for.

·      Register at an Agency

o   Recruitment agencies are always looking for new candidates to register with them.  The agent will then place your CV with the employer he/she thinks is most suitable.  The agent works on commission so they will do the best they can to get you employed.

The Interview

Make a good impression AT INTERVIEW

Posture

Stay tall when entering the room. Make eye contact as soon as you enter and smile.

Mirror your interviewer

Mirroring is a very valuable tool to use when being interviewed. Try to reflect the emotions of the interviewer. If the interviewer is excited about a subject under discussion, then show enthusiasm with your own body language. 

Listening

Show you are listening by leaning in and maintain a natural eye contact, verbally summarise what your interviewer is saying from time to time. 

Leaving a Positive Impression

When you are leaving the room, don’t rush, say goodbye and thank the interviewer for their time. Gather up your stuff calmly and smile.

Body Language speaks louder than words

Body Language mistakes at Interview.

Some of the most common body language mistakes at interview are things we all know, so why do we keep doing it.

 

1. Eye Contact 

So we are in conversation with someone with the power to give us a job in the company we want to call home for the next 5 years, how are we feeling? A little intimidated possibly, slightly nervous, don’t know where to look.

LOOK AT THE INTERVIEWER – IN THEIR EYES – BUT DON’T SCARE THEM

Lack of eye contact is a red flag for the interviewer, they think you can’t be trusted or that you are lacking in confidence or hiding something….

2. Fidgeting

Still feeling a bit nervous, understandably because it’s an interview and probably one of the most stressful situations we will find ourselves in. Fidgeting is known to release some of this stress, something to do with that stress hormone cortisol being released. But playing with your hair, touching your face or other fidgeting habits sends the message

“IM NOT CONFIDENT AND IM NOT PREPARED”, so don’t do it.

3. Smile

We all know if you smile you will get a smile back. So what’s the problem? Feeling a little nervous still, just smile at as many people as you can on the way to the interview, by the time you get there it will be part of your day. It is said that smiling helps lower your anxiety and your blood pressure.

4. Handshake

Ok so sometimes it’s a little hard to know what to do in an interview situation. If the interviewer offers you their hand take it and shake it, a nice firm handshake. A limp handshake leaves the interviewer feeling unsatisfied and with a feeling that is lacking in enthusiasm. Practice with your friends.

5. Sit up straight.

Bad posture gives a bad impression, if you are slouching or bent over, the interviewer may think you are lacking in confidence and so lacking in the ability to do the job.

6. Crossed Arms

Crossing your arms in any conversation is just a sign of discomfort and reflects a certain anxiousness or psychological distress. This is not the message you want to give in an interview.

7. Nodding

If I had a £1 for every time I interviewed someone who couldn’t stop nodding. I am explaining a little about the company and the nodding just wont stop. It is very off- putting for the interviewer. Just don’t do it people.

Body Language can speak louder than words

The Cover Letter

The Cover Letter

WHEN IT COMES TO THE PERFECT COVER LETTER HERE ARE A FEW THINGS TO THINK ABOUT.

Here are some rules you'll need to stick to if you want to increase your chances of success:

1. be concise and to the point - keep it to one side of A4;
2. include a named contact whenever possible to show you have sent it to them personally;
3. relate your skills to the job advert and make a case for why he employer should want to meet with you
4. proofread - always double-check your spelling and grammar without relying on a computer spellcheck program;
5. target the company by tailoring your cover letter for each application;
6. page layout should be easy on the eye, set out with the reader in mind;
7. check to make sure you've got the company name and other key details right;
8. read it and cut out any unnecessary words or sentences;
9. if sending electronically, put the text in the body of the email rather than as an attachment to avoid it being detected by span filters;
10. stick to your own words, avoiding jargon and formal clichés

https://www.facebook.com/groups/CvClinic/

If this was the cover of a book would it entice you to open the book and read on? Can you say the same for your Cover Letter