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1475IEW NextStep CV
1475IEW NextStep CV
1475IEW NextStep CV
A STRONG CV
SUCCESSFUL INTERVIEWS
FINDING YOUR IDEAL JOB
Michael Page International is a world leading recruitment consultancy
133 offices in 23 countries worldwide | www.michaelpage.co.uk
NextStep
3 6 8 14
What’s on offer Getting ahead – and
2 Getting Ahead – and
staying there
5 How to write an
effective cover letter
10 Top 10 Interview
Questions…
staying there
Welcome to NextStep. It’s Not sure what you want to These are the biggies, so
up-to-date and packed with say? Read these tips and start rehearsing now.
Welcome to NextStep Although we are unable NextStep also provides insights
information relevant to you. get writing.
12 Why temp? by Michael Page to help at this particular into CV writing and covers
3 All in a day’s work 6 How to write a International. This stage in your career, we topics such as top interview
Why not? Temping booklet contains a have brought together a questions, how to do research
strong CV
How to get the most out of could be just what your valuable collection of selection of information from and networking, key activities
your job seeking workday. ired of sending off your
T lifestyle needs. hints and tips for people our consultants, clients and you should be doing each
CV and hearing nothing? such as you who are candidates to assist you day and tips for temping. And
4 Networking for 13 Top tips for temps
It’s time you changed tack. looking for a job. with your job search. there are note pages included
success
How to be not ‘just another for you to jot down thoughts
8 Interview advice This booklet provides answers
se your resources
U temp’; but a valuable and ideas as you go about
and market yourself Nervous about meeting the resource that is in demand. to many of the most frequently
your job search.
to best advantage. client? You needn’t be. asked questions we receive
14 Where to find work about the recruitment process Make the most of this handy
No jobs around the corner? as well as helpful advice about guide. It won’t take you long to
It’s time to think smarter where to go to find a job and read and we’re sure you’ll gain
and look further afield. how to generate leads. some valuable insights to help
you find your ideal job.
Good luck!
NextStep
When searching for employment, it is your subscription. Students/ ‘boards’ which have excellent 6. JOB CENTRES
important to exploit every possible avenue graduates embarking on a search engines that enable
No matter what your opinion is
to find the opportunity that will suit you. professional career can often you to specify criteria such
of job centres, they are packed
Many job vacancies nowadays are handled take advantage of reduced as discipline, job type, salary,
with job vacancies which
by recruitment companies, but there are rates. These publications are location. Some provide user
are updated daily. Advisers
other ways to find work also. Depending a key source in your job search. logins that will save your details
are on hand to arrange
on the current stage of your career, all or a and ‘post’ any relevant jobs to
3. EMPLOYMENT interviews where appropriate.
combination of the below job sources should you as they come in.
AGENCIES There are obviously far fewer
be utilised.
5. DIRECT SPECULATIVE opportunities advertised via
Generalist and specialist
1. NEWSPAPERS APPLICATIONS this source for professionals
professional agencies
but if you are at the more junior
Familiarise yourself with those chronicles that are key players in the If approached correctly, direct
stages of your career, these
cater specifically for your profession and know recruitment market. All types speculative applications can
centres can be helpful.
on which days job vacancies are advertised. of organisations from Public sometimes uncover vacancies.
For example, accountants will use the Financial Sector to Blue Chips use It is sensible to find the relevant 7. GET YOURSELF
Times and jobs are advertised on Mondays agency services to recruit all recruitment contact within the UPDATED!
and Thursdays. Visit the corresponding online levels of staff on temporary and organisation and address any
If, despite your best efforts,
websites to further search for jobs and to permanent contracts. Even at application to them. Do not
you are finding the job market
research company information. Your local the most senior level, search bombard them with follow up
slow, now may be an ideal
newspaper will also have a ‘jobs day’ and this and select firms are often used calls and letters. Take no for
opportunity to bring any rusty
should be read weekly too. Again, more senior to resource key staff. Spend an answer and be prepared in
skills right up to speed or
vacancies tend to be advertised nationally or in time and effort researching and some cases not to receive a
indeed embark on a course/
industry journals rather than regionally, but your registering with a selection of reply at all, if no vacancy has
qualification that will be helpful
Where to
local paper will keep you updated with business agencies best suited to your job been advertised. Ensure your
to your job search. If you are
information specific to your region. level and requirements. As well cover letter clearly states the
considering this, we suggest
as national agencies, it is worth type of job you are interested in
Avoid regional jobs magazines which are often you visit www.hero.ac.uk which
contacting smaller recruitment and ensure it is something you
merely a tardy repetition of the local paper’s lists all universities and colleges
companies in your region who are realistically suitable for!
jobs pages. Remember that newspapers of higher and further education
often have substantial local
find work
generally are still a great source for jobs! On a similar note, do not in the UK. It provides useful
market knowledge.
be afraid to ask friends, links into websites and is a
2. PROFESSIONAL JOURNALS /
4. THE INTERNET colleagues and family whether short cut to any local education
MAGAZINES / PERIODICALS
their employers are recruiting. information you need.
A key way today to search for a
If you are a member of a professional body Many companies today
job is through the internet. All of
you should regularly read any relevant actively encourage employees
the above mentioned sources,
magazine, to view advertised vacancies to introduce prospective
from agencies to newspapers
and keep yourself updated with industry candidates to their business,
Thinking laterally about how and where you find work could will have online websites
in some cases awarding cash
information. Many such publications are
broaden your chances of successfully finding a rewarding and on which vacancies can be
subscription only and if you are not doing ‘bounties’ if an individual is
found. There are also job
fulfilling job. so already, now is the time to purchase sourced and recruited this way.
NextStep
Networking for
success It’s not just what you know, but who you know.
Marketing yourself can be a powerful tool in
today’s competitive world.
The key to successful by phone, letter or email. The you can talk to employees and
networking is to use your process should be relatively apply for jobs on the day. Find
available resources to market informal since you already out the industry tradeshows in
yourself and try to uncover have an association with these your area (through the internet
hidden job opportunities. Often, people. Some ideas for key or trade publications) and try
finding opportunities in this way questions you can ask are: to attend as many as you can.
can give you a real advantage Make sure when you go that
• Do you know how I can
over other suitable candidates. you have prepared some key
begin working in…?
There isn’t anything complex
questions to ask and have an
about networking and it should • Can you recommend
up-to-date CV with you.
be a key aspect of the job people for me to talk to?
search process. • Do you know of anyone In addition, find out the
who employs people with names of recruiters or HR
One of the best resources
skills like mine? professionals in key companies
available to a job seeker is
where you want to work. Once
the people they know. When You may want to include your you have a list, write to the
you are looking for a job, you CV as a reference, or as a sales person and ask them for some
should let the influential people
tool in case your contact wants
around you know about your advice or an interview to learn
to forward your details on to
qualifications and the type of more about the company. You
other associates.
job you are looking for. Make should be using this contact as
a list of friends and family Networking to people you a networking opportunity, so
who are employed, present don’t know is also key to a try and get job leads and make
and past co-workers, bosses successful job search. Many connections should they agree.
- even teachers. After you have companies have stands at Have your CV ready in case
compiled your list, contact them industry trade shows where they ask to see it.
NextStep
APPEARANCE & LAYOUT CONTENT Tell the potential employer
a little about themselves to
Handwritten or typed The content of your cover letter
demonstrate you have properly
cover letters can be equally should be brief and structured,
read the advert and that you
acceptable and opinion is avoiding lengthy repetition of
have done some research into
still divided on this issue. information covered in your CV.
the organisation. State why you
Increasingly, however, recruiters Firstly clarify your approach. If
are interested in them as an
are asking that applicants you are replying to an advert,
employer.
email their details, leaving the say so. Mention job title, any
handwritten posted option as reference number and where You need to succinctly
a non-starter. Whatever the and when you saw it. emphasise why an employer
method of your application, may want to meet and recruit
In some cases an advert will
ensure your letter is neatly and you. Highlight your transferable
indicate a more substantial
clearly presented on paper of a skills, achievements and
How to write an
letter is required. Always
similar size and quality to your versatility; what you can
follow a specific instruction
CV. Check and check again contribute and what makes you
and include any information if
for grammatical and spelling different. Mention personality
it is particularly requested, for
errors. Handwriting should be traits relevant to the role applied
example, current salary.
NextStep
How to write a
strong CV
More often than not, your CV is the first impression that you’ll make on a potential employer.
Here’s how to present yourself clearly and professionally.
NextStep
Interview advice
Research shows that people make their mind up about someone in the first few seconds of
meeting with them. So it’s best to get off to a good start from the outset.
NextStep
Do Not...
with additional information.
• Show your enthusiasm for
the role, even if you have
• Criticise your present employer or mention problems you some reservations. These
have in your current role, even if encouraged to do so. can be discussed later.
• Discuss salary if you can possibly avoid doing so. This can • Thank your interviewer at
be negotiated when you have a job offer. the end of the meeting
and reaffirm your interest
• Interrupt your interviewer, even if they interrupt you!
in them as an employer. It
• Worry about interview nerves. They are natural and healthy is okay to ascertain how
- to a degree. Advanced preparation will ensure any the recruitment process will
apprehension does not become debilitating. continue, but don’t appear
too ‘pushy’.
There are some questions Q Are you happy with Q What do you like about
that are asked frequently in your career-to-date? your present job?
interviews and you should
A This question is really A This is a straightforward
prepare your answers before-
about your self-esteem, question. All you have to
hand. The key things to
confidence and career do is make sure that your
remember when responding
aspirations. The answer ‘likes’ correspond to the
to interview questions are to
must be ‘yes’, followed by a skills etc. required in the job
keep your answers relevant,
brief explanation as to what on offer. Be enthusiastic,
brief and to the point. If you are
it is about your career so describe your job as
faced with a difficult question,
far that’s made you happy. interesting and diverse but
make sure you stay calm,
If you have hit a career do not overdo it – after all,
don’t get defensive, and take
plateau or you feel you are you are looking to leave.
a moment to think about your
moving too slowly, then you
response before you answer. Q What do you dislike
must qualify your answer.
about your present
Remember, these responses
Q What is the most job?
are only suggestions. Try to
difficult situation you
Top 10 Interview
personalise your response as A Be cautious with this
have had to face and
much as possible. answer. Do not be too
how did you tackle it?
specific as you may draw
Q Tell me about yourself.
A The purpose of this attention to weaknesses
A Identify some of your main question is to find out what that will leave you open
Questions...
attributes and memorise your definition of difficult to further problems. One
them. Describe your is and whether you can approach is to choose
qualifications, career show a logical approach to a characteristic of your
history and range of skills, problem solving. In order to present company, such as
emphasising those relevant show yourself in a positive its size or slow decision-
to the job on offer. light, select a difficult work making processes etc.
10
NextStep
11
Temporary, locum, contract or interim Pay Rates. Broaden Your Skill Set.
assignments. Call them what you will, but
Certain skills today are in high Temporary contracts can
the days when the concept of a temporary
demand. Employees can find expose you to different sectors
worker conjured up images of disinterested,
they earn more in temporary and often require you to
incompetent receptionists are long gone! A
roles than permanent positions. develop existing basic skills in
temporary worker may be required to provide
As a temp you are paid for some way. You may be offered
sickness or holiday cover. Maternity leave
each hour you work. More work that you would not be
is available for up to 12 months. A covering
hours mean more money. considered for on a permanent
assignment can represent a secure, well paid
The Working Time Directive basis, thus strengthening your
and fulfilling long term role.
(October 1998) protects your CV for future opportunities.
More significantly however, the use of working environment as a temp
In through the ‘Back
temporary staff by many companies today and means you are now entitled
Door’.
is often a strategic move, which can for to holiday pay and will not be
example keep official headcount to restricted obliged to work excessive Temporary work can provide
levels, whilst boosting short to medium term hours. a way in to highly sought after
productivity. All levels of staff are nowadays companies, especially if you are
Try Before You Buy.
hired on temporary contracts, from shop looking for permanent positions
floor workers to professionals and A temporary assignment can in the long term. If new
senior executives. be used as a trial period to vacancies arise you will often
Why
ascertain whether employee have access to details ahead
ADVANTAGES OF TEMPING
and employer are suited. It gives of the outside market and may
Flexibility. both parties a chance to get a even be approached to fill a
real flavour for each other before role. If there is a permanent
Temporary assignments can last from a day
committing long term. This may headcount freeze you could
to well over a year. They can provide a flexible
be particularly appropriate if you be in a strong position when it
approach to your working life, over which you
are trying a different type of job is lifted.
have a good degree of control. If you need
or environment/culture. Indeed
Temp?
for example, to take school holidays off or Meet New People.
there are businesses that
enjoy the idea of breaks from work to travel,
use a temporary contract Temporary contracts are a
temporary work could be the option for you.
as an extended interview period good way to meet new people.
before offering a permanent job. Many firms will welcome you
as a short term employee and
thus part of their team. It is not
unusual to be included in work
meetings, have your opinion
sought and be invited to social
Temping can provide a well paid and fulfilling working events. It can be a pleasant
environment in which to work.
environment. There are numerous advantages that many
people haven’t considered.
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Michael Page International
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