Nov

16

Your Resume has never been so Important

November 16, 2008 | Leave a Comment

With talk of major layoffs, redundancies at the moment the job market will get more and more competitive.

Your Resume will now be even more important when looking for that Job.

Too many of us send out badly worded and formatted documents.

If you want to get noticed you will need to spend time to make yourself stand out in the crowd.

I have been in the recruitment industry for the last 11 years and I have seen many Resume’s.

Most Resume’s are a dry list of qualifications, responsibilities and dates lacking in any hint of unique personality. Result …. DULL!

You have just 17 seconds to empress the reader otherwise you will find your Resume will end up in the NO pile.

Your resume must show your personality and make the reader want to read more and ultimately want to interview you.

Please remember to spell check your Resume and always get someone else to read it before you start sending it out to future employers.

Also ask people that you know to read through it and ask them for their honest opinion (not someone you know who will say its great not to hurt your feelings).

Your Resume has to tell the world who you are and what you can do. Never put content on your Resume that the reader can say “so what” when they are reading through it. You want them to be thinking “great - exactly who were looking for”.

Please take your time, make your Resume short and concise.

One very important point to make, remember to tailor your Resume for EVERY job you are applying for.

So many Resume’s are written in a generic way.

If you want that specific job isn’t it worth spending some time making sure you look like the perfect match for it.

Good Luck in your job search

A career recruiter Richard Penfold has written a free guide that demonstrates how to turn these online tests into a CV / Resume that will win you a landslide of interview invites.
Follow the link for a landslide of interview invite
http://www.sentient-recruitment.com/how-to-prepare-a-resume-for-interview-success-review.html
Or visit us for great resume writing tips at
http://www.sentient-recruitment.com/resume-writing-tips.html

Article Source: Your Resume has never been so Important

Nov

15

Covering letters –- a step by step guide

November 15, 2008 | Leave a Comment

Avoid the confusion!

When some people say ‘covering letter’, they don’t mean a covering letter at all, but a full letter of application.

A two or three page letter of application is a detailed piece of persuasive writing to convince an employer that you’re worth considering for the job, but it isn’t a covering letter.

A covering letter (U.S. ‘cover letter’) is a brief one-pager introducing another document that sits underneath it, most commonly your CV. Many employers will use it to decide whether to read your CV or file both quietly under W.P.B. (Waste Paper Bin). So covering letters are important.

When are covering letters REALLY important?

There are three situations when you use a covering letter:
· When returning an application form for an advertised post
· With a CV in response to an advertised post

In these two cases the covering letter may NOT be so important. All that’s required is a short couple of lines saying ‘Please find enclosed…’ and ‘I look forward to…’. It might not do any harm to add some detail but it probably won’t make much difference. The bottom line is that they’ve asked you to apply –- the door is partially open.

· With a CV when no post has been advertised

This is the crunch situation. CV plus covering letter is the main way of getting into companies who aren’t openly recruiting. But an employer has no reasons to be interested in your CV unless you provide some.

Getting Started – sample format

Here is what your letter’s going to look like:

Name,
Address,
Phone No.
Email

date

Dear ,

FOUR paragraphs of text

Yours sincerely,

DO make sure you get the name of the person to write to. Research shows that ‘Dear Sir/Madam’ is a turn off.

Now you’ve got started, each step is a paragraph of your letter… As you go through them keep to the point and don’t use flowery language.

Para 1

Write a short paragraph saying what (or who) has motivated you to write. Say what kind of work or placement you are looking for. The ‘who’ can be vital. If someone has suggested you apply, it amounts to a recommendation.

Para 2

Start a fresh paragraph explaining why you want to work there and the contribution you can offer. Base this on whatever you can find out about them. The key is to make what you say seem unique –- something they might need that not everyone else can offer.

Para 3

Here you refer to your attached CV, emphasising the two or three points that you think will interest the employer.

Para 4

Finish by saying that you would be pleased to attend an interview and (if appropriate) when. If it feels right, you can say instead that you will ring them on a specific date to ask for feedback on your CV.

Then all you need to do is check and sign your letter.

I am a careers adviser and freelance writer who has been publishing careers and employment related material for over five years. Find out more about me at http://www.coltext.com

This article may be freely reprinted or distributed in its entirety in any Ezine, newsletter, blog, or website. The author’s name, bio and website link must remain intact and be included with every reproduction.

Article Source: Covering letters –- a step by step guide

Nov

14

Recruitment Careers

November 14, 2008 | Leave a Comment

Do not be put off by rejections, and by the same token, do not get carried away with success; the future is completely uncertain and pretty much anything can happen in this feisty sector.

There are many theories on how to further your career in recruitment. I would suggest to it is best to keep your feet on the ground and always evaluate your situation. A good way of doing this is to think about what a recruitment agency owner is looking for, when he is looking for new team members.

He will undoubtedly be looking for experience of recruitment in either the temporary market or permanent market (which ever is specific to the agency he runs). He will want people who have experience in the sector he is recruiting for. This can be in the form of previous employment in the sector or previous experience of working as a consultant in the same sector. An excellent track record of results in whatever form of recruitment you have worked in previously. He will also be looking for someone who has a positive mental attitude, who is willing to take responsibility and is honest in their work.

A good way to think about this would be to take your first three years or so in recruitment as a type of apprenticeship. Your primary aim here is to make yourself stand out from the crowd and make you ‘hot property’ in the eyes of any potential employer. You need to mould yourself around the above person specification. You need to experience both temporary and permanent recruitment and be able to demonstrate a great track record in both. This might mean moving companies and forgoing higher the higher pay packets you earn with longer service in one firm. If you are career minded, this will enable you to bolster your CV and increase your future earnings potential.

In the right sectors, a good recruitment consultant is worth their weight in gold. Think about it for a minute, in financial recruitment for accountants and such like, average fees for major players are around £8000 per placement. The difference between an ‘ok’ recruitment consultant and and excellent one, could be 2-5 placements per month respectively. That would be a difference of £24K per month £288K over the year in fees! In this scenario, a recruitment director stands to make a huge profit even off a large basic salary and 50% bonus. This shows why in some sectors, top consultants can easily command earnings in excess of £100K. The further good news is, it normally only gets better as contacts and networks grow.

What is the purpose of writing this article? Well, a consultant approached me last week, with a year and a half experience in temporary recruitment, and had seemingly achieved good results on 14K basic salary, earning double in bonuses. He wanted to work for a greater starting salary, around 20K and was not bothered if it was basic or permanent. This is the time to look into the future. A good recruitment consultant can be extremely profitable for recruitment directors like myself. There are vacancies where a good consultant can earn massive pay cheques. My advice to this man was to open his eyes; a good track record and valuable experience qualifies you to have a shot at the big money sectors. Think logically, you do the same job, but for more money!

A career in recruitment can be carved out initially by moulding yourself around the person specification for a recruitment consultant. Think ahead and you can make a small fortune.

John Bult runs an internet jobs board for people in the recruitment industry in the UK

Article Source: Recruitment Careers

Nov

13

Recruitment jobs – crafting a career

November 13, 2008 | Leave a Comment

But if you’re good, one thing’s for sure, the financial rewards can be great. Your early years in recruitment jobs form the basis for long term results if you use them correctly.

For instance, imagine the viewpoint a recruitment agency director might take when on the look out for hot new candidates to expand his team. What is he looking for ideally?

Experience, either temporary or permanent in the area of recruitment they specialise in
Previous experience within the relevant sector possibly as a recruitment consultant or even an employee
An impeccable track record of proven good results in the area of recruitment you’ve so far worked in

I’ve actually been that recruitment agency director. On occasion my major concern has been how to devise ways to stop a particular candidate being snapped up by a competitor. Manage to prevent this occurence and the world is yours on a plate

I take the view that the first three years working in recruitment jobs is a type of apprenticeship during which your main ambition should be to develop your skills so well anyone looking for a recruitment consultant to join their team would be unable to resist you. It’s vital to gain an excellent track record and experience in both the areas of temporary and permanent recruitment. This should be your main aim over and above consideration of possible earnings potential. Look at it this way once you’re CV is crafted to show just how perfect a candidate for a recruitment consultant you are then you will be able to take your pick and work in the most lucrative sector. And your salary here will more than make up for any shortfall in those early years.

Working in the right sector could literally make a good recruitment consultant worth their weight in gold. Consider that in financial recruitment for accountants and such, major players in the field average approx £8000 per placement. An OK recruitment might make 2 placements a month while an excellent one could be making 5. That would mean £24K for a top flyer that adds up to fees of £288K in a year. If this were the case the recruitment director despite paying a generous basic salary and 50% bonus would still make a huge profit. This just goes to show how easily the very best consultants can earn well over £100K in some sectors. And better still as contacts and networks increase so does the recruitment consultants earnings.

I felt compelled to write this article after being approached just yesterday by a recruitment consultant who has notched up 18 months in temporary recruitment. She did very well, earning a £20K bonus on top of her basic salary of £15K and is now on the lookout for a job that pays a better basic – around the £20K mark. She’s in a great position to ‘think big’. Any recruitment director, like myself would consider her a great candidate as very profitable, good recruitment consultants aren’t easy to find – and there are definitely big money recruitment jobs to be found. With her good track record and another 12 months experience this time in permanent recruitment she will be well on her way to landing a recruitment job in a sector that pays big money – and let’s face it, it’s exactly the same job with much fatter fees!

As I pointed out at the beginning not everyone is suited to recruitment jobs. However if you are and you’re also good at what you do, there are boundless opportunities for you to take advantage of. It’s a fabulous career with the potential of earning really good money after just a little clear thinking in the early stages of selecting a job.

Hope you do well.

John Bult runs an internet job site for people in the recruitment industry in the UK

Article Source: Recruitment jobs – crafting a career

Nov

13

Finding the right people for Graduate Vacancies

November 13, 2008 | Leave a Comment

A CV offers an overview of the applicant’s ability to meet the technical demands of a job and often this is the main criteria used to determine their suitability. But a host of more complex questions needs to be asked to decide with any conviction whether the candidate will be able to deliver.

It’s a straightforward process to decide whether someone is capable of delivering the desired results. They have demonstrable experience on graduate jobs or can show they have transferable skills that will lead to their success. Sadly, applicants who appear to have all the qualities required to do well in a graduate role, for any number of reasons often fall short.

Target levels have to be reached consistently in graduate jobs and this requires sustained motivation. The most charismatic and natural sales person still needs to maintain discipline if they are to succeed. In other words if they get bored quickly they may under perform. Motivation can also be effected by a number of invisible factors. An otherwise good candidate may fail to do well if they are facing health issues, bereavement or divorce or other possibly dramatic changes in their life.

History has a habit of repeating itself. This is a basic rule to remember when recruiting. If a person’s history reveals they have worked in several sales roles but never stayed longer than a couple of years in each of those positions you can pretty much guarantee that in another 2 years they will again be looking to move on. So the question for you to consider is whether a commitment of 2 years is enough to justify giving them the job.

Finding the right people to fill graduate vacancies is made even more difficult if you yourself lack experience in sales jobs. You may be an expert in your field, possibly used your knowledge to set up business. Now you’re ready to expand and need someone who can sell your service or product. There are countless graduate people who are gregarious, persuasive and outgoing but many are sweet talkers who can’t back up their hot air with any real substance. So to make the right choice you need to stick to some sound principles.

Create a shopping list for yourself. What sort of basic experience would you like your employee to have? What traits are desirable? What achievements are required and within what time frame? Keep this list to hand when looking for evidence that candidate meet your requirements. Keep in mind that past behaviours and traits can predict quite accurately their future behaviour. Also look at past events that show how capable an applicant may or may not be and give you an idea of their personal and behavioural traits. Consider how they’ve made past decisions as in the future this will be consistent. How do they react to pressure? Do they give up at the first hurdle or get on with the task no matter what? Is honesty a strong point or are they more likely to embellish details that under scrutiny can’t be supported? Have they consistently met past goals? A history of winning ways and behaviours bodes well for future results in graduate jobs. Applicants for graduate vacancies tend to reflect what you’ve asked for so be sure of what you want when writing your advert – use your list as its basis.

John Bult runs an internet jobs board advertising graduate vacancies in the UK

Article Source: Finding the right people for Graduate Vacancies

Nov

7

Which company you are applying for!

November 7, 2008 | 1 Comment

Ok, let’s take a look at the most common scenario: You see a relevant appointment advertisement in a newspaper or an online job portal. You apply for the job and next day, you get a call from the HR executive of that company for the first round of telephonic interview.

A lot of people are not always prepared for those sudden telephonic interviews. And there are some people who do not even remember the name of the company and the post they applied for after a few days (this group mainly consists of people who send as many applications as possible at one go).

And just think what impression you would create on the prospective employer when he or she would discover that you do not even remember the name of the company you applied just the other day. Unless you are a brand name in the industry, or if it is not the first day at job for the HR executive, you should seriously wait for the next company.

So, is there anything wrong with you in this situation?

A lot of people will think that the applicant made a major blunder as he or she could not remember the name of the company. But, as far as my experience goes, I must say that the problem is somewhere else and the problem is much deeper.

Why he or she could not remember the company name? Because the applicant sent his CV to as many companies as possible without doing any background check. You might be saying that we often know a lot about different companies. For example, we all know about McDonald’s - we know which the nearest McDonald’s outlet is - we know about the prices and can even spot the correct logo of the company. And we also know that McDonalds is a big company.

Is this enough to know about McDonalds when you are applying for that company!

This is just one situation. We often hear about different companies from different sources like friends, networks, news sources and sometimes even from different product advertisement of that company. And all these things create a discreet identity of the company in our mind. At some point of time, perhaps you do not remember any particular information of the site, but you can see that image. If you are relying only on this image to apply in a company there are high chances that you are committing a mistake.

When we get some information, it is also important to know why we are looking for that information. For example, normally you do not want to know the McDonald’s stock value when you want to buy a Big Mac! But when you are thinking about applying for McDonald’s the stock value may be more important than the price of Big Mac!

There are thousands of online job search portals to help you find the next job. At the same time the web also offers a vast pool of information on different companies. Why don’t you do some background studies on the companies before you apply for the job! And, if you do some search, you won’t even forget the company name next time when the HR calls you - lol.

Steve McMains is a media professional and writes for different online publications on media and advertising industry. For more information on preparing for a job interview, he recommends you to visit: http://www.mediajobmarket.com

Article Source: Which company you are applying for!

Nov

7

Advertising Possibilities and Recruitment Agencies

November 7, 2008 | 1 Comment

There are many ways in which recruitment agencies can garner candidates, especially with communication technology improving year on year. Below is a breakdown of the tools agencies use to attract candidates.

Firstly, advertising on general jobs boards: In this day and age, there are a small number of extremely large general jobs boards, which cover every sector of the economy. The amount of visitors and applications that go through these sites are enormous. For example, monster.co.uk gives massive exposure for job advertisements; however the flip side is that you can get a non specific response. The problem is perpetuated if you operate in a specialist sector.

Secondly, CV searches on general jobs boards. The large job board operators usually permit recruitment agencies to search the uploaded CVs for specific criteria. This may well avoid the non specific response problem mentioned above, if you operate in a specialist sector. This can be a good method for making a high quality shortlist, in a short period of time. As this option has become more popular, the board operators have become more efficient at ensuring that candidates returned on the search will indeed be genuine job seekers. Obviously, as this method of attracting candidates has become more popular, competition has become more intense and agencies run the risk of investing time into searching for candidates, without any end product.

Thirdly, Press advertising. Before the internet came along, this was the only main way of garnering CVs. It was also very costly compared with today’s internet prices. The main pull of press advertising is that it can provide an excellent profile for your recruitment agency, and is an effective way in branding. If the advert is designed correctly the professional image of your agency will be broadcast to the country. However the amount of candidates press adverts can bring in, is negligible compared to some of the internet packages available now.

Fourthly, specialist specific job boards. This should be the most direct method for recruitment agencies to garner CVs in their specialism. Job boards that are targeted to the specific sector are most definitely more appealing to those hunting for jobs, and those hunting for candidates. If designed with care, they will likely be preferred to general boards by google.co.uk in its rankings for the specialist sector.

Finally are resourcing agencies. This is perhaps the most recent invention in candidate garnering. These are agencies that start the recruitment process away from the consultants, usually where labour is cheaper. These agencies are told by the consultant to search job databases for a particular ‘type’ of candidate that will be suitable to the job description. By using a resource agency, the recruitment agency saves money on advertising and reduces their initial workload. The obvious flaw in this procedure is that the cheap labour in the resource centre, is likely not to be skilled in certain sectors and this may not be a good option for specialist sectors.

The power of the internet dominates how most modern businesses operate. As a result recruitment agencies use a variety of tools that are available to them, rather than a sole method, to garner candidates. There may well be more options arising in the coming years as communications develop further.

John Bult runs an internet jobs site for recruitment agencies in the UK.

Article Source: Advertising Possibilities and Recruitment Agencies

Nov

4

Job Application Forms - A Jobseeker’s Guide to Successfully Completing Job Applications

November 4, 2008 | Leave a Comment

Are you new to the job hunting scene? Do your hands get all sweaty when you go to pick up a pen to fill in job application forms? Do you start shaking like a leaf just at the thought of such a stressful event? If you fit this description, then this article is definitely for you!

First of all, if you have a resume or CV, all the information you need should be already there. If you lack a resume or CV, it may be time to create one.

When are job application forms used by an employer? They are commonly used for entry-level, part-time and blue collar positions in order to screen potential employees.

For other kinds of jobs, the application is simply the paperwork that the Human Resources department makes all its applicants fill out. Many times an employer will ask you to submit an application after they have interviewed you.

Here are a few tips on completing job application forms:

Be prepared with all necessary information. Be sure to have your drivers’ license, resume, social security and names, addresses and telephone numbers of previous employers.

Read and follow all instructions carefully. Review the entire application form before filling it out. You should think of this application as your first real test in following directions.

Neatness counts! Be as legible and as neat as you can since the application form reflects you. If you have a typewriter available, consider typing it. If you are filling in the application by hand be sure to use only blue or black ink and use some “white-out” for little mistakes.

If you are seeking a certain kind of job, tailor your answers to suit it. Focus your education and experience to the job you are applying for. You want to show your employer why you are more qualified for this position than any of the other applicants. Be sure to include background experience when appropriate.

Don’t leave anything blank on your application. Employers give out job application forms because they want similar information from all applicants. If a question does not apply to you simply respond with an “n/a” or “not applicable”.

Answer truthfully. You certainly do not want to put lies on your job application. Lies can be discovered and you can get fired for these.

Stay away from any specific salary requirements. Employers will often use this question as a screening device. It would be better to say that you are “open” to the kind of salary you get or that it is “negotiable”.

Provide references. Choose your references carefully. Make sure you ask a person if they are willing to be a reference for you. Most young job-seekers today have a nice mix of professional and character references.

Proofread your job application before you submit it. After you finish your application, sit back, try to relax and proofread the application checking for all errors.

One final word. Your goal in completing an application is to get an interview. Take your time and do the very best that you can.

There’s more on writing job application forms here including a job applications guide.

Article Source: Job Application Forms - A Jobseeker’s Guide to Successfully Completing Job Applications

Oct

29

How Prepared are you for your Interview?

October 29, 2008 | Leave a Comment

Interviews can be nerve wracking and if you turn up unprepared it could cost you your dream job.
Interviews are varied and they won’t always follow a set pattern but if you consider the following points your chances of success will be improved.
Make sure you are well prepared with as much information about the role you are going for and the company as a whole. The company’s website will be a good source of information about the company as well as information about the products or services they offer.

Make sure you know how many people will be interviewing you. Also try and find out what their roles are within the company.

It may sound obvious but make sure you know exactly where it is you have to go to attend the interview. Make sure you have the correct directions as well as any information on parking or the nearest railway station. Always make sure you give yourself plenty of time to arrive. Arriving late will give a bad first impression. Arriving also gives you the opportunity to gather your thoughts and prepare yourself.

Always dress to impress, decide what you are going to wear the night before to avoid rushing around the day of your interview.

Have a copy of your CV with you and ensure you have read it through so you are able to answer any questions.

When meeting the interviewer(s) for the first time, always greet them with a smile and a strong handshake. Make sure you maintain good eye contact at all times, especially with the interviewer to whom you are responding to. Respond to the style of the interviewer, if they are formal - be formal, if they are informal - be informal.

Ask questions and show a real interest in the position and the company. Aim for questions that indicate an interest in their line of work or products and your enthusiasm and interest in the role itself, rather than holiday entitlement, pensions etc.

Make sure you are prepared for questions you think they may ask you. Try to focus on your achievements when answering and portray every response in a positive way. If you do not understand a question, don’t guess the answer - ask them to explain the question further. Although you may be nervous and want to give the impression you are knowledgeable, don’t talk too much. Give yourself time to think about your answer before you reply.

Have your own questions prepared in advance but try to ensure that you use them in the context of the interview and think about the information you have already been given by the interviewer already. This will help to show the interviewer that you are interested in the company and want to find out more about the role you are being interviewed for.
The type of questions you may want to think about:

*What career development pathway could I expect over the next few years?
*What training is available within this role?
*What is the overall culture of the company?

At the end of the interview, if the opportunity arises, ask them how they felt the interview went. Also, if you are interested in the position, it is important to tell them.

Finally, make sure you know what the follow up procedure is, and when you can expect to hear back from them. Always thank them for seeing you.

Derek Rogers is a freelance writer who represents a number of UK businesses. For information on online recruitment and job vacancy services, he recommends Matchtech, the UK’s leading Technical Recruitment Agency.

Article Source: How Prepared are you for your Interview?

Oct

26

Job Interview Preparation - deal with tough questions.

October 26, 2008 | Leave a Comment

Going for job interview and do not know how to prepare! Well,here are some points, which you must consider while going for the job interview.

Giving an interview is not any simple task. Remember that interview is not any general conversation, but is a test to assess you.

Going for interview without any preparation, will land you in trouble and you will lost your impression forever. You must do good, planned preparation for the interview.

Before going for a job interview, collect all the data about the employing company. Visit the web sites and point out necessary information about the company. Write down the standard type of questions you will be asked by the interviewer. Prepare for your answers. Put your answers based on the facts and your qualification. Because, the entire outcome from the interview is dependent on how you answer the questions and how smartly you justify yourself.

Always be ready to be able to say why you are looking for this job, why you want to do this job in this particular organization. Then questions like what your weakness and strengths are, then what are your best achievements are, what you really want to accomplish as a career, what your experience tells you and many such general questions. The answers to these type of questions should be informative and you must justify your points in details. Point out some examples by which you can best describe your answers. Have detail study of examples you are going to point out.

Then get the handbook of company’s terms and conditions. Go through it properly and you can save your time at the time of interview. Collect the hard substantiation as an evidence for what you have accomplished, which will put you ahead of the others who are competing with you. Make sure you resume or CV is up to date and keep it very clean and noteworthy. Carry your latest updated resume with you even if already given to the interviewer. Always carry more than one copy of resume with you.

Try to collect and remember the company relevant issues. Prepare some questions to ask about the company role and related topics. Search for the company’s trade and research company policies. You can ask any doubts if you have any in your mind.

Always review your aim, short-term goals, and long term goals. Speak honestly and clearly. Be energetic and build the rapport with the interviewer. Justify them how you plan to achieve them with every thing you got. Make sure that you have at least two or three good references, which will put you, one-step ahead of the other candidates. Always have a positive mind set, be enthusiastic and focused. Think of various strategies to deal positively with the flaws you have. Try to get some personality tests. Personality tests shows your merits and weak points, and be able to act positively from the results.

Then at the last minute, dress properly. Wear good combination of formals, and dress smartly. Be confident and look smart.

Download ebooks of Job Interview at the Job Interview Handbook website.

Article Source: Job Interview Preparation - deal with tough questions.