Hints and Tips - Page 10 of 10

Don’t get caught out by the interview spectrum

Years ago if you wanted a job you could be sure you would have to go to the offices of the company you applied to, have a formal interview probably with the person you’d be working for and then perhaps wait a week or two to hear anything back.

These days, candidates need to be prepared for a broad spectrum of interview types and techniques which extend far beyond this traditional view.

Here’s my guide to the interview types you need to be prepared for when job-hunting. Continue reading “Don’t get caught out by the interview spectrum”

The advantages of a portfolio career

Do you really need a full time 9-5 job? What if there was another way to fulfil your passions, earn enough money and perhaps give a bit of something back too?

Such a thing exists, and it’s called a portfolio career. It’s basically a way of working part-time on a few different things which all add up to your career. It’s also a great way of eeking out a work-life balance or gaining new skills while still doing a job you enjoy. Think of it as having your cake and eating it. Continue reading “The advantages of a portfolio career”

Should you have a visual CV?

Earlier this year visual CV creator Enhancv.com attracted attention when it created CEO of Yahoo Marissa Mayer’s one page CV. As a visual person it really appealed to me and I have seen others like it but despite the appeal I would be cautious before creating one.

Like many things, CV trends have moved on at a fantastic pace and you might be tempted to create a beautiful visual CV which you hope will help you stand out. But there are pitfalls to watch out for. Continue reading “Should you have a visual CV?”

Avoid the frustrations of working with a recruitment agency

Working with a recruitment agency to support your job search can be a frustrating task. We have often described it like ‘dating’ where you have to see a lot of different people before you find one that you think is right for you!! We asked Amy Stephenson at Human, one of the recruitment companies that we work closely with, to share some tips to help avoid the frustrations and get the best out of the relationship. Continue reading “Avoid the frustrations of working with a recruitment agency”

The 10 secrets of interview success

Fear of interviews is common, especially when you’re facing your first ever interview, your first after a knock like redundancy, or if it’s for a job or promotion you really want.

However, you can help reduce that fear, stand out from the crowd and increase your chance of success by practising these ten tips. Continue reading “The 10 secrets of interview success”

Writing a winning CV

Competition is tough for jobs as more and more hopefuls apply for every vacancy. How do you make your CV stand out from 100 others? It’s a tough challenge, but here are my guidelines for structuring your CV for success. Continue reading “Writing a winning CV”

Is auditioning the new interviewing?

Is auditioning the new interviewing?

A recent article in People Management gave an insight into TGI Fridays’ use of auditioning instead of the traditional interview as part of their hiring process. Not just front of house staff, but prospective bar tenders and kitchen staff were also put through their paces in a half-day session which included impersonating dishes off the menu, “selling” obscure objects to the judges and group exercises.

The closest the candidates came to a proper interview was a series of 60-second speed-dating-esque chats. So is auditioning better than interviewing? And how should you prepare if you’ve been invited to something similar?

Continue reading “Is auditioning the new interviewing?”

Five tips for researching your prospective employer

When it comes to progressing your career, finding the job you want online and clicking the ‘submit your CV’ link is the easy part. However, once this is done, or even before it’s done, smart candidates spend some time researching their prospective employer. Should their application get to the next stage, they are ready. This preparation time will pay off. Putting you in a stronger position to ask specific questions during the interview and selection process.

Here are a few tips to help you have the crucial facts to hand. Continue reading “Five tips for researching your prospective employer”

Common mistakes people make on CVs

Even getting shortlisted for a job is like climbing a mountain in the current job market so it’s best to be sure your CV doesn’t get discounted for common mistakes. Here are some errors to avoid, drawn from my experience of both writing CVs and recruiting for positions across a wide range of sectors and levels of roles. Continue reading “Common mistakes people make on CVs”

Five bonkers interview questions that should never be asked again

Every candidate knows that preparing for interviews is critical to give yourself the best chance of getting the job. I can give you lots of advice about how best to do that based on your skills, experience and the job you’ve applied for, but what if the person who’s interviewing you decides to throw in a curved-ball question?

Continue reading “Five bonkers interview questions that should never be asked again”

5 tips to prepare for a interview when you’re not even job-hunting

The job market is tough and there will always be stiff competition for good jobs. If you’re not looking for a move at the moment, you might think that you’d be wasting your time spending any energy preparing for a future job interview, but you’d be wrong.

I’ve seen many strong candidates panic at the thought of a job interview just a few days away. They wonder how they’ll be able to prepare while still juggling their current job and family/home commitments.

To avoid last-minute panicking and to give yourself the best start the next time you’re the candidate, here are my top five tips. Continue reading “5 tips to prepare for a interview when you’re not even job-hunting”