Dec
7
Before you plunge headlong into accepting a position, it is always worth checking out an employer to see just what kind of company they are. The research that you undertake should be discreet, for obvious reasons, but it is well worth doing, since companies will always present a side that they want you to see, rather than being completely upfront.
One of the best ways to find out about a company is to do an internet search and find out as much as you can. Look at some of the more obscure pages, where some of the company’s ‘dirty laundry’ may be hidden. The first few pages may be press releases or PR for the company, but those lower down the search engine rankings, may contain vital information about financial status, potential for growth (or contraction) as well as information about any negative publicity that they have had, or any tribunals that they have gone through.
Having done some research it is always worth alluding to this in the interview. You can make some comments about their recent activities or new areas that they are working in: just something to show that you have ‘looked them up’. This shows not only that you are serious about the position, but that you are willing to take time to find out about the company and what they do.
If you want to know more about how they treat employees make a few telephone calls, particularly to a local recruitment agency, you may be able to learn more information about how the company rates as an employer, although a good recruitment agency will always be diplomatic!
Even if you are temping, then it is worth undertaking a little research about a company where you will be undertaking a temping position, since ultimately that may help you to enjoy a more productive career, so whilst it may seem somewhat onerous, it really is worth the effort.
Nov
24
If you don’t have a degree and you worry about how this will look on your CV, then don’t worry, because you will be able to create a really good CV, even if you don’t have a degree. But you need a CV because lots of online recruitment agencies will want you to post a CV online, so you can’t put off writing one forever!
Due to the fact that so many people have a degree these days, employers are now often looking for different skills and attributes. They want people who can show creativity, assertiveness willingness to learn and the ability to apply themselves. So instead of thinking ‘Oh I haven’t got a degree, so I am unemployable’ think about what you have got. Do you have any hobbies or interests that you can include on your CV? Hobbies that demonstrate creativity could include painting, sketching, sewing, crafts, card making and so on. If you don’t have a creative hobby, start one, but make sure that you include it on your CV.
Don’t lie on your CV, but include other experience apart from education. Do you belong to any groups? If so include these on your CV. Have you undertaken any voluntary work? Do you care for pets, or have you done babysitting? If you have children of your own, then include some of the skills that parenthood brings, such as coping with responsibility, organisational skills etc. Even if you don’t have children, but run your own house, then this also brings with it budgetary skills etc.
Include whatever work experience you have, even if it is not directly related to the field of work that you wish to enter now, since employers may be looking for someone who will be willing to try their hand at everything and they like people who are forward thinking and willing to embrace change, so include statements like these to help make your CV stand out from everyone else’s.
Finally, use a spellchecker to ensure that your CV has no spelling errors and that it does not contain any grammatical errors. Then when your CV is finished you will find that any recruitment agency you approach will probably be very impressed.
Nov
24
Create a Better Covering Letter
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When you send in your CV to a company or a recruitment agency, then you should include a covering letter, explaining that you have included your CV and that you hope they have a position for you to apply for or that they will keep your details on file if they do not etc.
The covering letter is the first thing that an employer or recruitment agency will see, so you need to make sure that it presents you in the best possible light. You need to ensure that yours is a little bit different from all the others that employers see, injecting a little of your personality into the letter, but don’t go over the top when it comes to being funny.
First of all make sure that your covering letter is polite. This may seem obvious, but often the letter is presented in terms of the applicant doing the employer a favour. If this is how your covering letter reads, then it may well end up, with your CV, being filed in the bin!
Always ensure that your letter has no spelling errors and that it reads well. If you are unsure about this, then ask a family member or a friend to read it for you and tell you whether or not it is well written. The letter should be quite warm in tone, but also relatively formal. You are not sending a text to a friend: you are enclosing your CV, which is an important document.
Make a brief reference to your CV in the letter and highlight some of the main skills, experience and work experience that you have. Be brief and do not simply copy chunks from your CV. The covering letter should be a way of summarising your experience and just drawing some positive attention to you, not giving chapter and verse of your history to date.
Finally, if you are posting a hard copy of your CV and covering letter, then remember that it may need extra postage, due to its size or weight, so take it into the Post Office and ensure it has the correct postage attached!