Job Support 4 You
  • Home
  • CV
    • Personal Statement/Profile
    • CV Templates
    • Power Words For CV
    • The Do & Don't Of CV's
    • Video CV/Resume
  • Covering Letters
    • Covering Letters Templates
  • Applications Forms
    • Sections Of An Application Form
    • The Do & Don't of Application Forms
  • Interviews
    • Types Of Interviews
    • Interview Preparation
    • Interview Questions
    • The Do & Don't Of Interviews
  • Networking
    • Networking Steps 1 & 2
    • Networking Steps 3 & 4
  • Job Search Methods
    • Methods Part 1
    • Methods Part 2
  • Employability Skills
  • Transferable Skills
  • Job Websites U.K & U.S
    • List Of U.K Websites
    • List of U.S Job Websites
  • Recommended Sources
    • YouTube Channels
    • Twitter
  • Recruitment Agencies
  • 16-19 Section UK Only
    • Work Based Learning
    • Apprenticeships
    • Higher Education
    • Training Courses
    • Voluntary Work
    • Useful Websites
  • Blog Section
  • The Gallery
  • Links Section
    • CV Links
    • Covering Letter Links
    • Networking Links
    • Interview Links
    • Telephone Interview Links
    • Video Interview Links
    • General Job Searching Links
  • Download Section
    • Download Documents
    • Download Infographics 1
    • Download Infographics 2

Soft & Hard Skills Explained!

13/12/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
When doing a job search, it’s important you have a clear understanding of your skills. You could be asked about your soft and hard skill sets however, some job seekers do not know the difference. To help you understand your skills, below we have provided a brief explanation of not only what soft and hard skills mean but also a selection of examples.


Hard Skills

Hard skills are the things that we are taught/learned via schools, colleges, training etc. They are considered tangible skills because they're easily identified and measured with things like tests and exams. They are easier to evidence via certificates and awards. When writing a resume or applying for a job, it's essential that you convey hard skills to your prospective employer, such as schooling, degrees, training and certificates.

Examples: Computer Software, Mathematics, Engineering, Ability of operate heavy machinery, foreign languages, web design, nursing, finance, electrical, legal etc.


Soft Skills

Soft skills unlike their hard counterparts are not easy to measure as they are essentially your interpersonal/people skills, character traits & personality. They help us to not only interact well with others but make a positive contribution to your employer. Acquired over time and developed during your life experiences, we can transfer them from job to job (transferable skills).

Examples:  Soft skills include attitude, communication, creative thinking, work ethic, teamwork, networking, decision making, positivity, time management, motivation, flexibility, problem-solving, critical thinking and conflict resolution.

0 Comments

LinkedIn Strategies for The Job Search

13/12/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
LinkedIn has become an important tool in the job search process as part of the networking strategy. It can help you connect with various individuals, groups or companies that can help you either by giving advice or even possible job opportunities. With that said, it may sound simple and enticing but it can be difficult and if you new to this, then it will take some time before you end up receiving the benefits of the work put in. To help, here are some strategies that you should keep in mind when using LinkedIn:


Connect with former managers & co-workers 
Wondering why you should connect with past people who you worked with, it’s simple. A potential future employer or recruiter will want to see that you have the ability to do the job. People who you have worked with know your skills, potential, work attitude & what you can do better. Consider them as LinkedIn references, which can help evidence your work skills and also help with referrals.


Look at other LinkedIn profiles
It does no harm to look at other people’s profiles on LinkedIn. You may discover some new ideas to help your profile to stand out more or you can get an idea of the level of competition you face. Either way, looking at other profiles can help you to improve yours, especially if you new to LinkedIn and struggling to develop your profile.


Get referrals from past bosses & co-workers 
When adding past bosses, line managers & co-workers, make sure you keep in contact with them. Don’t be afraid to let them know that you on a job search and what you are trying to achieve. You can ask them about introducing you to other people who could help or even a referral for a job. They can use their knowledge of your work history and their expanded networks to make more powerful introductions or requests.


Collect your recommendations 
Nothing communicates a vote of confidence from your network quite like a recommendation. When anyone reads your LinkedIn profile, they can see exactly what other people have said about you. The viewer knows that you can't alter a recommendation; they’re more likely to trust the content and believe you're the right person for the job.
0 Comments

Rehearsing For a Job Interview

13/12/2015

2 Comments

 
Picture
When you have got a job interview, it’s important that you prepare properly. One of the most important techniques is rehearsing your performance. Like an actor/actress who prepares for their film roles, they rehearse their roles and lines so that they give the best performance they can.  Like them, to help you give the best performance in the job interview, it’s best to rehearse your response to questions, greetings & posture/body language.

Below are a few aspects that you should be rehearsing before your next job interview to help increase your chances:

·    Practice focusing your discussion on the employer’s needs – The reason the employer has advertised the job is because the company has a need(s) that it needs someone to fulfil.  Show that you understand those needs, that you possess the specific skills to handle the job, and that you are in sync with the company culture.

·    Don’t discuss previous rejections – Interviews are about making the best possible impression you can. A lot of interviewees fall into the trap of discussing how they have interviews beforehand and failed. You should avoid this at all costs.

·    Make eye contact, but don’t try for a laser lock on the interviewer – Eye contact is important in the interview. Not only does it show that you are listening & engaging but also the level of your interest. Don’t think you have to stare at them though as it sends the wrong message. You’re allowed to blink!

·    Develop and practice justifiably proud statements of your accomplishments – An employer wants to see through your responses how you have used skills. Make sure you rehearse backing you answers with specific examples of how they were used in your previous jobs.

·    Don’t practice long monologues – For the job interview, the old saying ‘Less is better’ is such a true statement. Interviewees who give long-winded explanations can end up boring the interviewer. When rehearsing your responses, keep them short and to the point. You want to keep the interviewer interested, not bored!

Rehearsing may feel daft for some, but the more you rehearse, not only do you feel more comfortable, but also it can also increase your confidence levels. Make sure that you don’t over rehearse; you don’t want your responses to the interview to sound robotic!
2 Comments

Using Job Rejection As A Chance to Improve

13/12/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
As every job seeker knows during the job search process whether you’re applying for a particular job, having an interview or just reaching out to others to explore possible opportunities, the outcome of your efforts does not go the way you want.  You are faced with being rejected, usually for various reasons (some your fault others not).
 
The most important thing to do is DON’T TAKE IT TO HEART. A lot of job seekers take rejection personally meaning it has a big negative impact on your confidence. Rejection should never be taken personally. Instead, you should look at what you did well and then the areas you need to improve on.
 
You rejection will either come in the form of a letter/email or a phone call but no matter what from you receive it, you need to ask for feedback so you can learn from any mistakes or weak areas.  Always try to speak the individual who interviewed you as sometimes when a HR rep contacts you, they are limited to what information is on paper in front of them.
 
If you unsure of what things to ask following a rejection call/letter, here are a selection of questions you could ask. These questions are only a guide and make sure you only ask a few questions that cover what you need to know. When asking questions to get feedback, it’s important that you don’t appear as needy or as aggressive.
 
  • Was there something in particular about my qualifications that lead you to this decision?
 
  • Did you have any reservations about hiring me that I can know about?
 
  • Is there a particular skill or certification that, if I had it, would have helped me get the position?
 
  • Could I have improved my communication with you in any way?
 
  • What could I have done better to influence your decision in my favour?
 
  • Please describe the person who did get the job. What made that person different/better than me?
 
  • Would you offer me any advice as I move ahead with my job search?
0 Comments

Benefits of Personal Branding

13/12/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Personal branding is a series of strategies and techniques that shape an appealing identity, maximizing the practitioner's chances of attracting new attention. For traditional companies, that strategy is about attracting new customers and building relationships with current ones. But for the individual job hunter, it's about establishing your professional identity to woo and attract potential employers.
 
Building a personal brand takes commitment and hard work, but it's a strategy that lasts forever. Once you build that personal brand, you'll have an easier time landing that perfect job, and you'll have a platform for business development and relationship building for years to come. Here are some of the benefits of having & developing your brand.
 
 
Gains in confidence
You develop confidence as you develop your personal brand. That confidence comes from looking at your strengths and knowing that you have many positive qualities to share. When you know that you have something of value to offer, your self-esteem/confidence soars. Your personal brand developed well, will highlight your strengths and gives you a direction in which to use them.
 
As an added bonus, personal branding also minimises your weaknesses. It’s human nature to want to improve your weaknesses, but by crafting your brand, you can determine whether you really need to use your weakest skills at all.
 
 
Building credibility
Your target audience wants to know that you can do what you say you’re going to do. You build credibility not through your words but through your actions. If you live your personal brand and keep your brand promise to your target market, you are automatically on the path to credibility.
 
Your actions, which align with your brand, validate that you can be trusted and show that you are credible. This will help with you making good impressions.
 
 
Leaving your mark
Part of the branding process is becoming known for something. Your first step is to identify your best characteristics so that you know what to build on. In a way, developing a personal brand is a means of ensuring that you leave a legacy. People will remember you through your actions, your expertise, and the emotional connections that you make.
 
But keep in mind that strong brands often repel as much as they attract; not everyone belongs in your target audience. Defining who you are means that you need to be brave enough to let your true self be visible.


Distinguishing yourself from the competition
You are hardwired to notice what is different. You notice the person dressed in red in a sea of black clothing. Differentiation is crucial to your personal branding success. If you are like everyone else in the market, you are a commodity, and you look the same to the customer as all the other options. If your target market discerns nothing special about you, it’s easy for the customer to pass you by.
 
 
Focusing your energy
You are probably as crazy busy as everyone else is. A benefit of having a personal brand is that when you have a clear understanding of who you are, what you do best, who you want to work with, and how you want to use your talents, you also know what you don’t want in your life.
 
Using your personal brand like a filter allows you to more easily say yes to the right opportunities and say no to the wrong opportunities. You know what is “on brand” and what is “off brand” for you. Branding gives you clarity so that you can focus your energy on what’s truly important to you.
0 Comments

Ways You Can Hurt Your Personal Brand

13/12/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Your personal brand is how present yourself to others. Everyone already has their own brand identity: the qualities that make you different and unique. The process of personal branding gives you an opportunity to discover, strengthen, and market those qualities. However, you branding is more fragile than you may imagine. You need to be vigilant in maintaining the standards that you've set for your brand. All it takes is one major mistake, especially one that you handle poorly, and all that you've built will vanish making your task even more difficult.
 
 
Letting it go stale: Taking your brand for granted
Never assume that you personal brand is done. Your personal brand can easily grow stale. Keep your brand fresh by continuing to grow and serve your target market. Yes, it’s possible to stay on brand and grow your brand at the same time! Don’t ever take your brand for granted.
 

Lacking consistency
Being inconsistent is a brand killer. People like to know what to expect; it gives them comfort and solidifies that they can count on you. You need to be consistent in your marketing materials, in how you dress, with what you say, and with how you behave. You need to maintain a brand identity and follow it steadily. Consistency is key so that people know what to expect from you and can trust what you stand for.

 
Speaking before thinking
With branding, there’s a certain irony: Your words alone can’t build your brand; you need actions to back them up. But your words can most definitely undermine or damage your brand all by themselves. Be thoughtful in how you phrase your answers, and notice the impact your words have.
 

Exhibiting bad behaviour
Every time you’re in public (whether at a professional event or at the supermarket), you represent your personal brand. Don’t ever fool yourself into believing that how you behave matters only in the workplace. Be careful how you behave, even when you think no one is watching you.


Being unresponsive
Unresponsiveness reflects badly on your brand. It’s especially dreadful in a business setting because your lack of response tells your clients that you don’t respect them. Your behaviour quickly becomes a known (negative) part of your brand: “That Tim, he never returns his calls.”
 
Your personal brand is built around serving your target market. Ignoring them and not responding to their needs, will make them not to recommend you to others. You may do excellent work, but if the customer doesn't get your full attention, your business will develop a reputation as one that doesn't care about the customer. To keep your brand sharp, respond!
 

Having an unprofessional online image
You’ll work hard to establish yourself as a solid professional. You dress the part, you put in extra hours, you produce stellar work, and then you blow it with your picture on Facebook behind a table lined with empty bottles of vodka (looking like you just drank every drop of it).
 
You can blow off steam and have fun but think before you start sharing things with world. Monitor your online images and posts, knowing that employers/recruiters are watching. You don’t want to work hard to build your reputation and have it ruined with a single picture/post.

 
Don’t tell the truth
You may think telling a few white lies won’t do any harm, but you are very wrong! How would you feel if you invested time or money into something that you were lied about? Would you trust them? Would you want to deal with them again? Once one lie is discovered, a reputation can be formed and spread quickly. If you've lied to enhance your brand and it’s discovered, individuals will quickly lose trust in you and depending on the lie, your brand may never recover. Honesty is the best policy!!
0 Comments

Interview Rapport Tips

29/11/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
​If you asked interviewees what helps them have a good interview, majority would say how well they sell their skills & experiences. While that is true, one other aspect that helps your interview go well is building a good rapport with the interviewer. The better the rapport you develop, the better your interview will go leaving a lasting impression. If you are wondering how you can have a good rapport in the job interview, here are some quick tips.


First Impressions Count: Your first impression in the job interview counts in so many different ways. How you present & introduce yourself can either help or ruin any chance of a good rapport with the interviewer. Be warm and welcoming when greeting them, giving them the appropriate handshake (remember not to shake a woman’s hand with a strong grip). Don’t come across as arrogant or unfriendly.

Small Talk: The job interviewer is a meeting that is very formal but there is always a bit of small talk, especially at the beginning of the interviewer. If you’re wondering what small talk is, it’s the part when the interviewer asks “How are you today?” While this is not only used to help you ease into the interview, it a method used to gage if there can be any potential rapport. Make sure you answer in a positive manner and never forget to enquire about them e.g. “I’m fine thank you. How are you today?” or “Besides a bit wet from the weather I’m good thank you. How’s you today?”

Smiling: The power of the smile should not be underestimated in the interview. Not only does it help you to be seen as more approachable and welcoming but also more engaging. Be warned that if you try to force a smile, an interviewer will stop that and it’ll do more harm than good. 

Focus On What You Say & How You Say It: When you are engaging the interviewer, it’s important that you realise that what you say or how it’s said can have an impact on the dynamic of the interview. Candidates whose answers come across as arrogant or cocky will not help them build up a rapport. Your responses should be coming across as positive and friendly as you can. Try to avoid words that may cause offence or come across as negative.

Listening: Many of you interviewees have probably sat in your job interview wondering is your interviewer actually listening to you. Well, they are wondering the same of you. By demonstrating that you are listening will help develop rapport with the interviewer. By asking for clarification or mentioning a point that you heard earlier on from the interviewer not only shows you are listening but are very attentive. Interviewers are more engaging if they know the candidate is actively listening to the questions and statements being made.

Body Language: If you haven’t realised it already, the right positive body language can help in your interview. If you want to develop the rapport with your interviewer, you need to demonstrate that you are approachable, engaging and positive. You need to look at how you greet the interviewer, how you sit in the interviewer & how your body language comes across when responding to enquires. Avoid all aspects that be considered as rude and negative.
0 Comments

Why Getting Interview Feedback Is Difficult

29/11/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Once you find out that you were not successful in a job interview, the first thing you want to know is why you were not successful. Was it because someone was better than you? Did you make mistakes? A lot of questions go through your mind as you try to process the potential reasons. Not only that, you want/need to know the areas you need to improve on as well as tips that could make your next interview the one.

However, as you know it’s not always easy to get that feedback or if the feedback is the real reason. Employers have no legal or ethical obligation to explain why you weren't the one. Instead, you are likely to be offered these reasons: “We didn't feel you were the best fit for this job” or “We chose another candidate who had more experience” or “Company policy won’t allow me to comment.”

Below are a few reasons why it can be difficult to get feedback or even the real reason:

Legal: Companies are extremely wary of lawsuits accusing them of discrimination. The less said, the less to be sued about.


Time: You have all heard the expression ‘Time is money’ and that is true for a lot of businesses. You won’t get feedback as it can be seen as a waste of time & resources. 


Discomfort: No one likes giving bad news of any kind. It can be very uncomfortable especially if you liked the individual(s) that you have to inform. Some interviewers, managers, HR reps etc dislike giving negative feedback, so do not answer calls for feedback.


Lack of Information: At times there can be lack of reasons noted down for why you were rejected for the job. Even if you did reach someone who could help, the information might not be there to pass onto you.

NOTE: It’s always important that you the candidate always review your interview performance straight after your interview. As you can’t always rely on getting feedback, you have to review yourself to help you develop & improve. Be honest about it. You can check out our ‘After Interview Checklist” to help you review your performance.
0 Comments

Tips For A Better Interview

29/11/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
​When you get a job interview, you have hope that you’re one stop away from getting a job. The last thing you want is to get that call or letter afterwards that thank you but say you were not successful. To help you avoid that latter outcome, here are some tips to help improve your interview performance & your chances of a good outcome.


Storyteller: One of the biggest mistakes candidates make in the job interview is to treat the interview as a question & answer session. While you are answering questions, you should not treat it as such. You need to treat it as a conversation. Tell stories about your experiences and skills that relate to the job. Think about your conversations with your friends etc……how you are usually discussing topics and answering questions. This is similar to how you want your interview to flow but, staying within the formal structure of the interview. Interviewers remember the candidates whose interviews flowed like a conversation.

Your Role: Most interviewees don’t understand their role in the job interview. Most think they are there to get the job. Well you’re wrong. Yes that is the outcome you want but your role in the interview is to show/demonstrate that you are the ideal candidate for the role & a good fit for the company. It’s also for you to assess to see if the company & job role are ideal for you before committing & investing your time.

Don’t Beg: One thing that can convince an interviewer you not right for the job role is neediness or being desperate for the job. Don’t think you’ll be hired just because you show how much you need the job. If you want the job, believe in yourself and show confidence. 

No Waffling: Have you ever been in an interview where you thought that you need to the fill the silence with something? A lot of interviewees feel that silence is a bad thing in the interview, so they need to fill it, most times with irrelevant information. The best approach in the job interview is to stick to the points. No interviewer wants to hear you waffling on. Waffling on is the best approach to bore the interviewer and losing their interest. Don’t try to fill the silence, it’s not always a bad sign.

Remember Boundaries: During interviews candidates can at times become too informal either because they miss-read the interviewer’s kindness at the start of their interview or the conversation is going well. Nothing kills your chances than being too friendly with the interviewer. Remember that there are rules and boundaries you must follow. No matter what, you must always be professional and formal.

No Emotions: We are all emotional people and they are with us every day. With that said, we know that we have to keep emotions out of certain roles. The job interview is one of them. Candidates must remember that the interview is not the place for you to discuss your personal life/problems or to lose your temper if you feel challenged. Keep control and stay professional. Some questions are there to challenge you so be prepared.

Show You’re Invested: You want to stand out, then show the interviewer that you really want the job. One way of demonstrating this is to ask questions about the role and company. Have questions prepared to ask. Asking nothing or little about the role will not impress the interviewer and will leave them with the impression you are not invested or interested
0 Comments

Pre-Interview List

29/11/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Every interview candidate knows that level of preparation can make a big difference to your interview. The more you prepare, the less pressure you can feel and the more relaxed you are in the interview meaning you can perform better. Below are a list of things you should have done to help you be ready. You can use it to make sure you are fully prepared. As some interviews are different, you may need to add other points e.g. Have you research and developed the presentation for the interview?


Have you reviewed the job role & the requirements for it?

Can you identify which of your qualifications are relevant for the job?

Have you identified which or your transferable skills can help you in the job role?

Did you research the position, company, and industry?

Do you know how people dress where you’re interviewing?

Is your interviewing attire clean, pressed, and ready to go?

Do you know where the interviewing site is located and how long it takes to get there?

Have you memorised a short "sales pitch" to highlight your best selling points?

Have you rehearsed everything, from small talk to answering potentially tricky questions?

Have you practised answers to anticipated/common questions?

Have you prepared and memorised a list of questions to ask?

Did you gather everything you need? (Five copies of your resume, list of references, and samples of your work, if necessary.)
0 Comments

Cons of Online Social Networking

29/11/2015

1 Comment

 
Picture
Social networking is allowing anyone who is currently undertaking a job search a multipurpose tool that can help them. Such as its growing importance, it’s becoming as important as the customised resumes & cover letters you send out to employers/recruiters. If you can use this tool in the correct manner, it can greatly benefit your job search efforts. However, too many individuals get too caught up in the benefits and don’t realise that there are also negatives that should be aware off. Here are some concerns that you need to be aware off.


Networking fatigue: Both job seekers, recruiters/employers can grow tired of once what was a novel tool. The major issue is they all realise that they’re spending too much time keeping up with groups/activities. When this happens, they either invest less time on their respective social media account or give up on it. 


Digitally Eternal: What a lot of users don’t realise, if you not careful with your settings, even when you have deleted unflattering images, that doesn’t mean they are off the web. The same can be said of old profiles. Job seekers have been shocked to see images/posts that they deleted long ago reappear that has cost them opportunities or hurt their online presence.


Narrow niches: Social networking while allowing you to reach a far wider audience, you are essential restricted on what type of jobs your profiles sell you for. Most companies are looking for an individual who specialises in a particular role not a jack of all trades. 


Employer’s Research: As job seekers use social networking for research, this is true of employers. They research to see what your online presence will reveal of you. Whether it inappropriate photos, or maybe a post about something you later regretted, they could find material that could cost you a potential interview or even worse…..a job. 


Recruiters’ Time: While it’s true that recruiters now use social networks to source potential candidates, the fact is this activity takes up a lot of time and resources. This results in that sometimes your profile could be overlooked or not looked at all.
1 Comment

Learning Style Questionnaire

29/11/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Did you realise that we all have a preferred method of learning? Think about your time in school.....what lessons did you enjoy more? We all have three main ways that we like to learn. They are:- 

1) Visual Means - This means you best learn things by seeing tasks done first yourself.
2) Auditory Means - This means you best learn by having things explained to you.
3) Kinaesthetic Means - This means you best learn by doing things yourself.


Knowing what your learning style can help you in so many ways including your job search. If you want to know what your learning style is, then download our free learning style questionnaire (which you can see below) from our Download Section. 
0 Comments

Tips To Use Social Media In Your Job Search

29/11/2015

4 Comments

 
Picture
Social media is a growing tool used in today’s job search. Its impact is growing and can have multiple uses in your job search from networking to applying for a job. With its growing importance, below are helpful tips on how to use your social media in the job search.


(1)    Using LinkedIn To Market Yourself In Your Job Search
Social media is a crucial component of the modern job search and LinkedIn is a valuable tool. It allows you to make connections not only with recruiters, employers, professionals but to get yourself (your brand) out there to be noticed. Below are some helpful tips when using LinkedIn: 

•    When including a photo of yourself, make it a professional-quality headshot that shows you to best advantage (not a party photo).

•    Update your status at least once per week year-round, to seem more passionate about your career — and to avoid setting off alarm bells with your boss that you're seeking greener pastures.

•    Join and participate in at least three career-useful industry groups.

•    Get 10 or more recommendations, to ensure that you look like a top candidate, especially recs from executives, managers, clients, or suppliers. Scratch-my-back recommendations are easily spotted and don't carry as much impact.

•    Line up at least 150 connections, to increase your chances of having first-degree connections in places you want to work.


(2)    Incorporate Your Online/Email Contacts In Your Job Search
Once you have finished your online profiles whether it be LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook etc, it’s important that you upload your online & email contacts to those accounts. Don’t upload any that won’t benefit your job search & keep your personal contacts separate. Having these job search contacts included in your online profiles will allow you to quickly contact the relevant source quickly to see how they can help you apply for a job, introduce you to someone or help with your research.


(3)    Check Out The Competition
Spend a few hours looking over your competition's profiles and portfolios on social media websites. What are your overall impressions of each individual? Good, bad, so-so? What changes would make each person more appealing? Keep a list of pros and cons to guide you in preparing or developing your own checklist for social profiles/presentations. 

There are some job seekers go social with an online work portfolio. If this is something that appeals to you, there are services online that allow you to create one from templates to showcase your accomplishments, skills, career history etc. If you do create one, have a link to it on all your social media profiles.


(4)    Ask You Facebook Friends For Help With Your Job Search
Facebook accounts are used majority for personal & social reasons which is why a lot of the people we know on it are friends. Some job seekers use Facebook to connect with companies & recruiters while others just for their friends. If you use Facebook then you need to check your privacy settings. Firstly, you might not want employers or recruiters seeing your Facebook due to it being for personal issues only so make sure you have adjust your privacy settings. Secondly, even if your Facebook is for personal use only, don’t be afraid to ask your friends for either job leads or help.


(5)    Include Variety In Your Connections/Contacts
When using social media, one advantage is having a variety of contacts/connections on whatever platform you are using. Besides making connections with leading professionals & recruiters linked with your chosen industry profession, it be wise to make more connections such as mentors/job coaches, industry groups/associations and other job seekers even if they from other industries. Other job seekers from other industries can provide diverse advice or inform you of diverse recruitment styles. 

The important thing, you chose the diverse contacts that you feel will benefit your job search. Everyone’s job search is different, so make sure when making your connections it is to help a purpose in your job search!
4 Comments

Right Mindset For The Job Search

29/11/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
How you approach the job search can make a major a difference to how well or bad it goes. The right mindset can make your search more successful & at times even fun/enjoyable. It’s important to stay upbeat, conquer your fears and face your job search head on. Don’t get yourself tied up in psychological knots. To help you get into the right mindset, below are three helpful tips that you can follow.


Don’t Wait 
There no point waiting to job search until your confident enough. For some, that confidence may take a long time to come or may never come. You best thinking back to when you were last feeling confident, focus that feeling to the present. Once you get going, the confidence will develop and grow. If you wait for confidence, you could be missing out on opportunities.  

​
Don’t Be Ashamed 
One of the biggest obstacles that face individuals conducting a job search is feeling ashamed. Whether it being ashamed to ask for help, job leads, advice or even over being unemployed. There is never no shame in asking for help, advice, job leads or over being unemployed in the job search. That is all in your mind, nowhere else. The ones who aren't ashamed tend to have a more productive job search.


Dealing With Rejection 
Rejection unfortunately happens in the job search, but the way you embrace it can either make or break your job search. For most, rejection means that they are no good and they take it to heart. What you must remember, when you see all these successful people, they have all been rejected some time in their life. Rejection doesn't mean that you’re no good. It means that either you still need to develop something, change an approach/plan or that you faced tougher competition. Use the rejection to re-motivate yourself!
0 Comments

NEW LINKS ADDED TO LINK SECTION - 22

8/11/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Here are the latest links to helpful articles that have been added to our Links Section. All links are grouped into the topics they relate to which is stated above the groupings. We hope you find these new links helpful. All the new additions are at the bottom of each section and highlighted in red!

CV LINKS
•    11 Important Tips for CV Writing 
•    7 Easy CV formatting tips that will get you more interviews 
•    Are YOU using these words on your CV? How describing yourself as a 'hard-working, reliable team player' is hindering your career 
•    Create a killer CV 
•    Create a Standout CV: Tips from the Pro’s  
•    CV PROFILE WRITING 101  
•    CV Tips  
•    CV Tips 
•    CV Tips: How to write about your skills and strengths in a CV  
•    CV Writing Tips 
•    CV WRITING TOP TIPS 
•    Easy Tips for Formatting Your CV  
•    How to get a perfect CV 
•    How to Write a Great CV – Making The Leap Top Tips 
•    Make your CV standout – Top 10  
•    Recipe for CV Success 
•    Recruiter to Jobseeker: 5 Reasons Why You Should Spend More Time Editing Your CV 
•    The only three tips you need to get your CV in the “yes” pile 
•    Top 10 Things Better Leave Off Your CV 
•    Top 5 – CV Tips 
•    Top Tips to Make your CV Stand Out 
•    Writing a skills-based CV 
•    15 absurd mistakes on CV’s
•    20 Beautiful Infrographic Resumes That Will Inspire You

Cover Letter Links
•    A Cover Letter that Gets Interviews 
•    Catch a Recruiter's Eye With These 7 Cover Letter Tips 
•    How To Write A Killer Cover Letter 
•    Secret Cover Letter Strategies Revealed – Land More Interviews In Today’s Job Market 
•    Job Search 101: Seven Keys to a Killer Cover Letter 
•    9 Cover Letter Tips That Will Actually Help You to Get an Interview 
•    Three Tips to Make Your Cover Letter Stand Out 
•    Top 10 Cover Letter Guidelines! 
•    How to write a presentation letter, cover letter free samples
•    3 Tips to Cover Letter Writing 
•    Top 10 Cover Letter Tips 
•    3 Reasons Employers Want to See Your Cover Letter 
•    3 Fixes, So You Don’t Bomb Your Cover Letter! 
•    Four Powerful Cover Letter Openings 
•    Ready for Some Bad Advice? 3 Common Cover Letter Tips to Ignore 
•    Powerful Tips and Tricks for Writing a Professional Cover Letter 
•    Top 10 Cover Letter Tips 
•    11 Essential Cover Letter Tips 
•    Generic Cover Letters - Do's and Don'ts 
•    Helpful Cover Letter Tips For Those Who Have Forgotten How To Write One 
•    Top 7 Tips for Writing a Kick-Ass Cover Letter 
•    Is Your Cover Letter Actually Hurting Your Job Hunt? 
•    How Can I Write a Resume When I Have Nothing to Put on It? 
•    Cover Letter Tips to Take to the Bank 
•    5 COVER LETTER BLUNDERS THAT KILL YOUR CHANCES 
•    10 Tips to Produce a Compelling Cover Letter 
•    Top Reasons and Tips for Sending a Follow Up Cover Letter 
•    Top Cover Letter Mistakes That Can Be Avoided 
•    4 Resume Cover Letter Tips: How To Avoid The Trash Can Like The Plague 
•    How to Write a Successful Cover Letter 

Networking Links
•    Seven Ways to Turn a Social Event into a Networking Event
•    The Top 10 Networking Mistakes
•    10 Wrong Ways To Network
•    4 Mistakes Job Seekers Make With Their LinkedIn Headline
•    4 Ways to Grow Your Reputation on LinkedIn
•    5 Social Media Personas You Need to Avoid to Land A Job
•    Advanced LinkedIn Job Search Strategies
•    How Effective Are LinkedIn Profiles on a Resume?
•    How to Get Your LinkedIn Profile Ready for Your Job Search in 30 Minutes
•    How to Pass the “Social Media First Impression” Test [Infographic]
•    How to Use LinkedIn to Increase Your Hirability
•    Tips to Create a Great LinkedIn Profile
•    49 Ways to Use Your LinkedIn Home Page
•    Begin Networking with Two Easy Steps
•    Handle your LinkedIn status with care
•    5 Great Tips to Using Social Networks in Your Job Search
•    4 Ways Networking Can Help Your Job Search
•    Hands-Up If You Hate the Idea of Networking!
•    Using Social Networking in the Job Search
•    3 Reasons Networking Is A Job Search Priority
•    Networking for Noobs
•    Job Search Networking When You Know No One (Well, Almost No One)
•    Using Social Media to Boost Your Job Search Success
•    Advantages and Disadvantages of Using LinkedIn for Job Search
•    Using Social Media in Your Job Search
•    Social Networking Sites May Hurt Your Job Search
•    11 Keys to Successful Networking For Your Job Search
•    4 WAYS TO USE SOCIAL NETWORKING TO FIND A JOB
•    Do You Have Networking Credibility In Your Job Search?
•    3 Tips for Using Social Media in Your Job Search
•    How social networking can hurt or help your job-hunting
•    Social Media CAN Help Your Job Search
•    10 Networking Tips for People Who Hate Networking
•    Can Facebook Help With Your Job Search?
•    3 Key Social Media Tools for Job Search
•    Dos and don’ts of social networking when job hunting
•    Networking & Your Job Search: It's not who you know, but who knows you
•    Top LinkedIn tips from career experts
•    Turbocharge Your Job Search With Social Media Networks
•    How to Take Advantage of Social Networking in Your Job Search

Interview Links
•    10 job interview mistakes recruiters wish candidates were aware of
•    10 Things You Absolutely Need to Say in a First Interview
•    10 tips to ace your in-person job interview
•    175 Helpful Questions To Ask At A Job Interview
•    3 Reasons Why a Tough Job Interview is Better for You
•    31 smart answers to really tough interview questions
•    4 Killer Follow Up Emails When You’ve Heard Nothing After the Interview
•    4 Ways to Answer "What's Your Biggest Weakness" That Actually Sound Believable
•    5 follow-up emails that come off as rude (and what to write instead)
•    5 Things to Bring to a Job Interview
•    5 things you MUST do after a job interview
•    5 Ways To Build Confidence For An Interview
•    5 Ways You’re Scaring The Hiring Manager At An Interview
•    6 Interview Tips That Will Leave Them Wanting More
•    6 mistakes you can make during a job interview
•    6 Revealing Interview Questions You Should Always Be Prepared to Answer
•    7 Things Employers Want To Find Out During Job Interviews
•    Dress Appropriately for Interviews
•    How to Answer Strange Interview Questions?
•    How to Answer Why You Left Your Job
•    How to avoid the top six most common job interview mistakes
•    How To Build Rapport In A Job Interview
•    How to excel in every type of interview
•    How To Handle Group Interviews Tips
•    How To Mentally Prepare For Interviews
•    How to Recover from a Car Crash Job Interview
•    How to Showcase Your Best Work in an Interview
•    How Your Body Language Can Affect A Job Interview
•    Infographic: 17 Things Not To Say Or Ask In A Job Interview
•    Job Interviews: 7 Ways to be Interesting
•    Job Interview Tips: How to Discuss an Awful Job Experience

Phone Interview Links
•    Phone Interviews - How to Make the Right Impression Without the Face-to-Face Element
•    5 Successful Phone Interview Tips
•    7 Tips for Perfecting Your Phone Interview
•    Good call: sound advice for a successful telephone interview
•    How To Answer 5 Important Phone Interview Questions
•    How To Prepare For A Phone Interview: Video

Video Interview Links
•    5 Things You Should Consider When Conducting a Video Interview
•    The Art of Skype
•    How to excel in a video interview
•    Lights, camera, action! – 10 tips for nailing a video interview
•    5 Top Tips for a Video Interview
•    8 Tips For a Successful Video Interview
•    Practical Tips To Prepare and Ace a Video Interview
•    How to Ace Your Video Interview
•    Nailing the Interview via Video Chat
•    Jobsearch over 50: Top Tips for Video Interviews
•    Video: Preparing for a New Style of Job Interview
•    Screen Time: How to Nail Your Next Video Interview
•    Nailing the Video Interview
•    6 Tips for Making the Most Out of On-Demand Video Interviews
•    PERSONALIZE YOUR VIDEO INTERVIEW
•    4 Tips In Creating The Best Video Interview Environment

General Job Searching Links
•    How to Prepare for an Emergency Job Search
•    Job Search Stuck? How to Unstick Your Job Search
•    Get Noticed and Get the Job: 14 Job Search Tips
•    Why Job Hunting Is So Hard, and How to Make It Easier
•    How to Stay Positive When Your Job Search Is Dragging You Down
•    Worst things that Jobseekers can assume
•    When it Comes to Job Search, it Pays to Know Your Keywords
•    Worst things that Jobseekers can assume
•    The Truth About Opportunity Costs And Your Job Search
•    WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO ANSWER "HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN JOB SEARCHING?"
•    The Seven Most Successful Job Search Strategies
•    The Top 4 Job Search Strategies You Need in 2015
•    Stop Screwing Up Your Job Search In These 10 Ways
•    The Secret To Finding A New Job In Just 30 Days
•    My Top 10 Tips for Job Seekers
•    Staying Motivated in Your Job Search
•    Job Search Strategies That Work
•    Job Searching? 4 Common Job Search Mistakes to Avoid
•    How to Survive the Job Search [3 Tips to Maintain Motivation]
•    Job Search 50: The 5 Factors That Determine Real Career Satisfaction
•    How to Overcome Job-Search Misery
•    How to Scale Your Online Job Hunt
•    A Very Simple Recipe for the Perfect Job Search
•    How to Make Your Job Search More Like a Job
•    Getting your application past recruiters
•    Effective Online Job Search Strategies
•    10 Bad Habits That Make You Look Really Unprofessional
•    10 Tips To Boost Self Confidence & Feel Great About Yourself
•    11 creative ways to make your job application stand out
•    13 Tips to Help Nail Your Next Job Search [Infographic]
•    16 Undercover Job Search Strategies
•    27 surprising things that affect whether you get hired
•    3 Things to Never, Ever Say to a Recruiter
•    4 Creative Ways to Get Employers’ Attention
•    4 Interesting Ways Google Can Help Your Job Search
•    4 Tweaks to Rev Up a Stalled Job Search
•    4 WAYS TO GET NOTICED IN YOUR JOB SEARCH
•    5 common pieces of job search advice you should ignore






0 Comments

How Candidates Make Their Interviews Worse

8/11/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Job interviews can be a difficult experience for many candidates and at times they make the experience even more difficult. When a candidate walks out of the interview and says ‘Wow, that was a tough one”, 8 out of 10 times, it is themselves that has made it tougher. Below are some ways that candidates really make the interview more difficult for themselves.  


Fail To Sell Your Brand
When you watch television adverts, you’ll see companies selling their brands (products). They install in you why their brand is unique and why you should buy it. Like them, you should realise that you are a brand that you are trying to sell to an employer. The brands on TV adverts reflect their company’s personalities and like them, you need to reflect your brand (personality) to them. A lot of candidates fail to do this. You do have the ability to define your brand and communicate it on your marketing materials and especially in the interview. For example, a candidate might brand himself as a strong leader, a good communicator, an analytical thinker, and a positive person with high energy. Stand out and impress the interviewer by selling them not just you, but your brand and what it brings to the table.


Not Showing How You Solve Their Problem
When employers are looking for new employees, it because they need a problem solving. This is one of the biggest failings of candidates. If a company needs a new employee to unload a truck, most would say it’s because they shorthanded. However that is not the problem, the real problem is customer service. They need the truck unloaded fast to make sure the goods are received by customers as quick as possible to keep them satisfied/happy. In your next interview, look for what the problem the employer wants solving by the job role and show them that you can do it.


Focus Too Much On Interview Questions

Standard interview preparation is to prepare to answer interview questions. While this is good practice, many candidates get too focused on this. Did you know there are over 2000 potential questions you could be asked? How can you possibly prepare for all for them? You can’t! Don’t get wrapped up with trying to have answered already prepared for every question beforehand. Prepare for a few common questions and some that will target your suitability for the job role. Focusing on preparing for every question will do more harm than good.


Asking Poor Questions
Near the end of every job interview, the candidates will be asked if they have any questions. This is a good opportunity for you to go into an interview with a set of powerful questions. A powerful question displays knowledge of the job, the company, or the industry. It indicates you have prepared for the interview and you have professional knowledge that enables you to ask good, insightful questions. However, a lot of candidates don’t have good questions to ask. Many candidates respond “Not really” or “You answered all my questions.” They are both weak responses that hurt your brand, plus indicate a lack of interest in or motivation for the job.


Not Standing Out From The Herd
During the interview process, the employer will have drawn up a short list of candidates hoping the ideal candidate is in this pool. They will all have similar backgrounds, experiences, qualifications etc. So when asked “What makes you different from all the rest?” most candidates just talk about their experiences and accomplishments. You need to show why you are the stand out candidate for the role. Remember, you are unique and different so make sure you stand out by selling the employer you brand. “What do YOU bring to the role?” 
0 Comments

Understanding The Employer’s Perspective!

8/11/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
​Have you thought to look at the interview from the employer’s perspective? Most of you will say no, as there no reason to. If you have that type of opinion then you’re wrong. It helps to see things from their perspective as it not only can it help you prepare better but also to see that you’re not only one that puts a lot of effort in at getting ready. Have a look below at an employer’s perspective of the job interview and see what you can take away from it that could help you.


In order to get the best out of any interview, employers will have prepared thoroughly. Once they have shortlisted candidates and decided on the interview date, they should have tried to find a good location (a quiet room free of interruptions & suitable for all candidate’s needs).

For bigger companies, good practice states that two managers (employer/department & team manager) and an HR representative are present at interviews. This is to minimise any bias and provide protection against any discrimination claims that the candidate could make from a one-to-one interview. Obviously the size and the resources of the organisation will have a bearing on who actually interviews e.g. smaller companies/businesses may only have one person who can interview candidates.

Be aware that when employers use two or more interviewers, they may have agreed in advance who should ask which questions. This may mean your head turns from interviewer to interviewer.

When selecting interview questions, the interviewers will have made themselves familiar with the application forms or CVs, job description and person specification. To avoid discrimination and to assist the interviewers in making an informed and fair decision, they will be asking the same questions of each candidate; however, individualised questions may be needed during the interview to follow up on particular answers or circumstances. This is perfectly acceptable as long as the questions relate to your suitability for the job and do not stray into irrelevant personal details.

Most questions used will be based on the Job Description and Person Specification (job role) which they initially based their short list on, so make sure you have a good grasp of the detail contained within each of these documents (if supplied to you) so that you can prepare to tailor your answers appropriately.

In order to encourage individuals to talk, interviewers often use open questions which cannot be answered with ‘yes’ or ‘no’ and often begin with ‘what’, ‘why’, ‘how’ or ‘when’. So be prepared to do the lion’s share of the talking! Incidentally, good interviewing practice has it that candidates do 80 percent of the talking and the interviewer’s only 20 percent. They will be looking for candidates to evidence their response with specific examples to assess their skills, achievements & experiences.
0 Comments

Helpful Points About Interviews

8/11/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
The interview situation - it's probably one of the experiences we fear most. But with plenty of advance preparation and practice, you can turn it into a positive experience. Below are some points about interviews you should consider, as they can help you!


Some interviewers can be bad at interviewing people
It not just candidates that can be bad in the job interview. The individual(s) can also be bad at interviewing candidates. There are various reasons but when you feel you going to be bad, just think your interviewer could be thinking same thing about themselves. Know that it not just you who wants to do well in the interview. 


If you have been called for an interview, you should stand as good chance as any candidate of getting the job
You have done the hard part of the job search by getting the interview. Now you have the same opportunity as the other candidates. You are all on equal terms and all you got to do is sell yourself the best & impress to get the job.


The truth is, the candidate who performs best on the day will usually get the job
On the day of the interview, all candidates are equal. You all have the same goal, impress enough to stand out from the rest. If you can’t stand out on the day then you won’t get the job. Remember it counts on the day so make sure you nail it!

​
The most important factor to convey is that YOU are the right sort of person for the job
The interview is about showing why you’re the right candidate. The emphasis is on you to show them. Remember that all your responses should be helping to show why you’re the right candidate for the job.


YOU need to convince the employer that you have a lot to offer
To show that you’re the right candidate for the job then you need to show them what you bring. You need to show your skills, achievements and experiences and how they can benefit not only the job role but also the company. Make sure that you back up everything with examples to help evidence your points. You won’t be hired because you say you’re good at something.
0 Comments

3 Golden Rules About Interviews

8/11/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
For some candidates, attending a job interview is a worrying experience: you get nervous, sweaty, and even dizzy or sick. Suddenly, the idea of stepping into the interviewer’s office is a life or death challenge. To help, below are 3 golden rules that can help you in the interview. These are 3 things that you should always be done in a job interview if you want to do well.


(1) Always be positive about previous jobs
Negativity has no place what so ever in a job interview. One area that a lot of candidates make a mistake is when they have to discuss their previous jobs. We all know that you won’t love every job you have had. Whether it because of the boss from hell or you had issues with your co-workers, you should never state that to your interviewer. No matter how you try to justify it, you can’t go badmouthing about your current/previous job experiences. Keep everything you discuss in a positive light. Any negativity, you need to keep that to yourself. No one who was negative got the job!


(2) Be enthusiastic & motivated
One key aspect to do well in the interview is to show your enthusiasm for the job. From your appearance to your body language, to your responses, everything must show your enthusiasm for the job role and that you’re motivated to do well in everything you do. The interview isn’t just about how good you are for the role, interviewers need to see if you really want it. Employers prefer to hire candidates who really want to work for them. 


(3) Capitalise on your strengths
If you don’t know already, you should be selling your strengths to the employer. Candidates will have both common strengths and their own unique strengths that will show the employer why they are best for the role. No one got a job by selling what they are ok at. Make sure you not only know what your strengths are but also how they can help in the job role you’re interviewing for. Make sure that your strengths outweigh any other potential candidates’ strengths.
0 Comments

Basic LinkedIn Tips

8/11/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
When you are conducting a job search, one tool that you may wish to use is LinkedIn. Not only can it help you your networking efforts to connect with potential recruiters/employers but also professionals who can help you e.g. with advice. However, like any tool, it only good if you use it right. If you are thinking or going to start using LinkedIn as part of your job search, then check out these basic tips.


Before you start, be clear on what type of job you’re after. Are you just searching aimlessly or are you after a certain job role or work in certain industry.

Who is your LinkedIn profile for? Is it for recruiters, HR personnel, employers etc. You may have to tailor it for your audience.

Don’t just use any photo. Pick a good professional photo, preferably a headshot. Make right impression.

Your tag/headline is important. It helps to tell others about you e.g. if you a job seeker, what type of jobs you after etc. Make sure you think about it. If need be, look at other similar profiles for ideas.

Don’t overload your profile with too much information. Keep it concise, clear & to the point (like your CV).

If you link your social media accounts to your LinkedIn profile, remember to always be professional using them. 

Like a CV, keep your profile updated & check for spelling & grammar mistakes. 

Looking at other’s profiles can help to inspire you to develop yours.
0 Comments

Basic Twitter Tips

8/11/2015

2 Comments

 
Picture
Job seekers using social media in their job search is becoming a growing trend. Mostly used for networking and also trying to find job opportunities, its impact is growing especially in this digital age. Twitter is a leading social media platform that is used by job seekers that can have a good impact, depending that it is used wisely and well. If you are considering using Twitter to help you in your job search, then here are some basic starter tips to help you get started.


Make sure you use your proper name for your Twitter handle. Avoid using screen names. You want to be seen as professional.

Fill in the bio to state a bit about yourself. Don’t be afraid to include some of your best qualities. Be warned you only have 140 characters (words) to use to accomplish this.

Include a link as part of your profile to your CV, blog, your website or LinkedIn account.

Have the same professional photo if you using other accounts to help you i.e. Facebook & LinkedIn.

Before you start tweeting, thank about what you want to gain from your Twitter use. What type of people do you want to follow & engage with? What’s your end game….networking or job hunting?

If you got advice or can help, then do so. It’s a good way of connecting & getting know by others. It will help to build your reputation.

Have patience! Using Twitter will take time before you fully reap the benefits of your efforts.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it. Just don’t constantly ask for it as it can hurt your image.

Have various groups to follow that can help you e.g. job search professionals, companies, job boards, recruiters etc.

Create Twitter lists to group your contacts to help you be more organised and efficient in engaging.
 

2 Comments

Ways To Measure Job Search Success

8/11/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
For you to develop your job search to the point it is getting you interviews, you must have ways to measure it’s success. Without certain indicators, how do you know if it proving successful? Many in a job search get stuck in busy mode, working hard all week long on their search, but not knowing whether what they are doing is getting them where they need to go, or at the rate it should be. To help you monitor the success of your job search efforts, below are few ways you can monitor it to see if your efforts are proving successful.


(1) Are you meeting your daily/weekly set objectives/goals?
If you want a productive job search then you should be setting yourself daily, weekly and even monthly goals to achieve. By setting these goals you are not only giving yourself something to work too but also helps you to be more organised in your job search e.g. apply for 7 jobs this month. Not meeting your goals means something is wrong that needs to be addressed fast!


(2) Are phone calls/emails getting returned?
Are recruiters calling you back? Are your emails being replied too? Set yourself time limits of when you should have heard back from jobs, recruiters/employers etc. If you not getting any feedback of any kind you know something is not working.


(3) What is happening with your networking activity?
If you are heavily using networking in your job search efforts, then you must track you efforts to help you know if what you doing working. How many new people have you spoke to? Which form of networking is proving more useful? Which platform (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn) you having more success on?  If you have little or no activity then you need to address this issue.


(4) Are people wanting to interact with you?
Do others want to connect with you? How many new contacts have you made? How have they connected with you? Making connections with individuals or groups who could help your efforts is important. If people are not wanting to connect, what could you do to improve this?


(5) Are you getting any interviews?
Of course the overall indicator of whether your job search efforts are proving successful is if you are getting interview call backs. How many interviews have you had this month? When was the last time you had an interview? Of course if you getting none or just a few occasionally then look over your efforts. What could be done to increase the amount of interview call backs?

0 Comments

Interviewer Notes

2/11/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Many of you will have been in the job interview and while you are responding to the questions you're being asked, you will see the interviewer(s) writing away. For some this can be off putting, while others are wondering what is being written. We can’t tell you exactly what is written down in the notes but we can show you the criteria they are noting or assessing you on. These notes help them to compare candidates helping them to reach their final decision on who is the best candidate is. It's important that you don't get distracted by this. Below are the common criteria the interviewer(s) are noting about.


Appearance – They will assess you on how you appear to them i.e. your attire and personal appearance (clean shaven etc).

Ability To Express Yourself – You be assessed on how you are able to express aspects about yourself and your responses to questions.

Achievements & Experiences – These will be assessed through questions to see if you not only suitable for job role but if you’re capable too.

Education & Training – The level of your education and if you have been continuing your development will be assessed to evaluate if you want to develop yourself.

Work History – Your current & previous employment will be examined to evaluate how you felt about working there, your bosses/co-workers, why you left jobs etc.

Attitude – The attitude(s) you display in your interview will be examined. Were you enthusiastic/passion? Did you show any negativity? 

Personality – The interview is also about showing the interviewer(s) who you are. This helps to see if you will fit in with the rest of the employees and company values.
0 Comments

Beating Interview Stage Fright

2/11/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Interviews make a lot of candidates nervous, they feel all confident until they get into that room and suddenly it hits…….stage fright. You feel nervous, queasy/sick and worried about stammering your responses to the interviewer. The stage fright can hamper how well you sell yourself to the employer. You have to be beat that stage fright just as you would for a speech or theatrical performance. REHEARSING!

You need to get all the mistakes out of your self-presentation first by practising. Once you’re comfortable with it, you then enhance it to tailor it for whatever job you interviewing for, through your research and preparation.

Here are the three steps you can take to deliver a compelling and poised interview performance & not to suffer stage fright:


Polish your basic message

Get your skills, competencies, and other qualifications down. Rehearse until you’re comfortable answering questions and have practised your basic presentation techniques.


Personalise each sales pitch

Research each potential employer to customise your basic presentation for each job. 


Spotlight your audience

Focus on how your talents can benefit your audience (interviewers). Don’t focus on yourself or worry about how imperfect you may appear. Focus on your selling your strengths that can help you do the job and benefit the employer.

Focus on your audience, not on yourself. Focusing on the audience is a giant step toward eliminating nervousness.
0 Comments

Basic Networking Tips

1/11/2015

1 Comment

 
Picture
Networking is important techniques in the job search that should be used. Not only can it help you to discover the jobs that are not advertised (hidden vacancies) but also connect with individuals who can have positive impact on your job search. It may take time to start feeling the benefits of this technique but for a lot of job seekers it is worth it. Here are some things for you to consider during your networking efforts.

​
Make The Time – It’s important that when using this technique you set time every day to network. Whether online or offline, investing time will help you to reap the benefits you seek.


Be Clear – A lot of job seekers just go at networking with no clear goal of what they want from it. Networking isn't solely about finding jobs. It can be used for other purposes that benefit individuals doing a job search. So before you start, be clear WHY YOU are networking e.g. find jobs, make connections etc.


Type of Connections – When you decide to network, do you know the types of connections you want to make? Are you after just general advice? Are you looking for people in a certain industry? Just looking for numbers? Strong relationships? Think about what you want and the connection types you make when networking. Get the right type of blend that can help you.


Be Confident – If you’re not a confident individual then spend a bit of time appreciating what you bring to the networking table. Understand your strengths, skills, experiences and what you personally bring to the table.


Be sincere – A lot of job seekers think that building up vast numbers of connections will help them look good to employers. If you not putting the effort to connect to your network then your connections will see that you only care about numbers and will leave you network. Be interested in your contacts, show that you want to connect with them to make them feel valued and wanting to connect & help you.


Respect – If you want to build & develop a good network group then you need to treat everyone with respect. By doing this, you will not only be respected back but individuals in your network group will be more willing to help you.


Offer Help – Networking is not all about finding help, but also about giving it too. Know you may think I have no help to offer but you have. You may have heard about opportunities, have experiences to share that could help others, tips & advice from things you've learned. If you can help, then do so!



1 Comment
<<Previous

    Archives

    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014

    Job Support 4 U Team

    A team who want to help you with your job search! Posts are written with passion & desire to help. 

    Categories

    All
    Addition
    Application Forms
    Cover Letter
    CV
    Help
    Interview
    Link
    Networking
    Tips
    Website

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.