Graduates – 10 Top Tips To Make A Good Impression At Interview

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career, elevator speech, graduate, job advice, job interview

Some of you will be graduating soon and probably busy applying for your first job. How well do you think you’ll perform at interview? It’s a difficult thing for anyone at any level, and we’ll try our best to guide you through some of the likely questions and situations you might find yourself having to deal with. As a team we can easily be classed as veteran interviewee’s of more years than we can care to mention, so here’s some advice we hope you’ll find useful.

1. First impressions

The obvious one – first impressions count! You have no idea how true this is.  Ask any psychologist. You need to smile and make sure you have a firm handshake without breaking anyone’s bones. Eye contact is vital so keep your gaze just a few seconds longer than usual, without looking like a lunatic.

2. Questions and answers

Let the interviewer lead the interview but remember that you don’t have to wait until the end of the interview to ask questions. While they’re telling you all about the job and the company, questions from you at this point will emphasise your interest in the position. They may start with the question “Tell us about yourself and your experience, and why you think you would be the best candidate for the job”. This is where it helps to have your elevator speech handy as a brief introduction to who you are and what you can do. Give examples of your technical and transferable skills and show how these will help you with aspects of the job.  Prepare stuff to recite when prompted – you’ll find it a much easier process if you do this.

3. And again – your turn

Have questions ready to ask. It’s really important that you ask relevant questions about the job, the company, your prospects within the company… Show the panel that you’ve gone the extra mile and taken the time to find out that bit more about the company – it will definitely go in your favour. Sods Law dictates that they will answer your best question during the conversation, before you’ve had a chance to ask it, but don’t worry about this all through the interview.  It’s automatic to experience a feeling of dread at this point, when you think that you’re not going to have any killer questions to ask at the end.  But worrying about it only distracts you from the interview process, so if this happens, let it slide. Just remember to let the interview panel know that you were keen to ask a particular question, but they had already answered it earlier. It will also serve as a recap and you might be able to think of something else related to it on the spot.

4. Preparation

Before the interview (not the night before – do give this some thought) you should consider how you handle situations like interviews. A common question from an interviewer will be “What makes you nervous”? Have some idea of how you will answer this. They want to know how you handle stressful situations and an interview is a prime example. How will you answer a question like “What are your salary expectations”? A difficult one if you don’t know whether you are over or under selling yourself. Figure out what your strengths and weaknesses are – you need to be able to say what you’re good at and what you’re not so good at. But, do remember to add how you have overcome this weakness using an example e.g. nervous speaking in front of groups = attended a course on PowerPoint presentations/public speaking and am now much better at it!

5. Your reasons for wanting the job

Ask yourself why you want this job because you’ll likely be asked this on the day. Only you know the answer and you need to make it a good one. Just because you need a job isn’t a good enough reason for someone to hire you. Ask yourself what you actually know about the company. Are you interested in a long-term career or is this simply a stopgap for you? They might ask you where you see yourself in 6 months’ or 5 years’ time – how will you answer this. Easy if you see yourself long-term with the company, but not so easy to answer if you don’t.

6. Dress Code

Make sure that you dress professionally. Casual is not good and gives the wrong impression. Of course, this will entirely depend on what type of job you are applying for, but for a professional career position, get it right and buy that killer suit.

7. Be enthusiastic!

You’ve been invited for interview because they believe you can do the job. It’s just down to you on the day to show that you can do it better than anyone else they might be interviewing. Even if you don’t tick all the boxes for the job criteria, I’ll bet you have something just as good or even better to offer. The interview panel don’t know this yet, so you have to tell them. Don’t be negative about a past (or present) employer, working conditions etc., as this will give a really bad impression. Try to show that you are flexible and willing to take on responsibility.

8. Timing is critical

Whatever happens don’t be late!  Arrive 10 minutes before – and if you’re too early then take a walk around the block.  Just don’t leave it until 5 minutes before the interview is due to start, because the interview room might be some distance away from the reception area you have reported to. You don’t want to be running up 3 flights of stairs and arrive out of breath and stressed.

9. No coffee stains please…

Sometimes, you might be required to take your references with you, so make sure you have these ready and in good condition in a folder. Don’t expect an interviewer to be impressed if you hand over evidence of your capabilities with coffee mug rings as your personal logo.

10. The evening before the interview

We’re not going to say try to relax the evening before because you won’t. If you really want the job you’ll be pretty nervous. That’s natural – and that’s the best advice anyone can give, to just be natural and be yourself. That’s the person they’re looking for.

Good Luck!

Social Media Pitfalls – Jobseekers Beware!

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career, facebook, find a job, job hunting, job tips, jobs, jobseeker, linkedin, recruitment, social media, twitter

Without a doubt, social media offers a variety of benefits and opportunities for job seekers. However, as much as we encourage you to take advantage of the pluses, we also want you to be aware of the potential pitfalls.

Here’s our list of the 9 major social media pitfalls to dodge during your job search:

1. Lying about your work history and qualifications

Doing this in any way, shape or form is a NO-GO! The rise of social media profiles makes it A LOT easier for potential employers to catch false information. Nobody likes a cheater! Your work experience, as shown on LinkedIn or Facebook, should match the resume that you hand to employers. Your information should be consistent across all networks.

2. Posting offensive comments anywhere social

Any use of profanity or offensive language will reflect negatively upon you, so avoid status updates and comments that could be interpreted as racist, sexist, criminal or discriminatory in any way (even if you assume that no one would take it seriously…someone could, and that someone could have been your future boss.)

3. Badmouthing a former employer, colleague, supervisor…etc.

This should be a no-brainer, but surprisingly enough, many people still air-out dirty laundry about past or current employment situations without considering the consequences. If you give someone the impression that you’ll badmouth them once you part ways, it’s unlikely they’ll even consider you. Also, beware the “I’m so bored,” or “this work stinks” posts. They reek of “lazy bum.” And, of course, revealing any snippets of confidential company information is 100% off-limits.

4. Not doing good with your grammar. (doing well!)

Yes, even with 140 characters in a tweet, using correct grammar is key! How many job postings do you see with “strong written and/or verbal communication skills” as REQUIREMENTS? These aren’t optional anymore. So don’t make a poor first impression by using subpar grammar. If your Facebook posts are consistently sporting spelling errors, incorrect usage, or odd abbreviations, potential employers don’t ignore them. Check your grammar and spelling to make sure that it’s top notch.

5. Sharing questionable pictures.

Whenever you upload a new photo, keep in mind that the wrong picture could easily go viral. Your friends might decide to share the pictures on their (public) networks. Or, even worse, they tagged you, and now all someone has to do is type your name into a search engine, and voilà… Look. At. You. Don’t let this happen. Adjust your privacy settings so prior approval of tags is required, and keep any inappropriate pictures offline (and as far away from potential employers as possible).

6. Venting, venting…and more venting.

We understand that there are days where you need to let off some steam, but as tempting as it may be to express your anger and frustration with 1000 of your closest friends on Facebook or Twitter, it may come back to haunt you. Think potential employers may see it as a sign of emotional instability? So if you’re angry or upset, give yourself time to cool off, or go to the gym and sweat it out. Never post anything in the heat of the moment.

7. Oversharing

Social networks encourage you to share information with your friends, but there are limits. One way to avoid this is to not make your online presence all about you. Share some interesting articles and videos. That way you’ll show that you have something meaningful to say other than what’s on TV tonight or what your doctor says about your intestinal problems. In short: know what to share, when to share it and with whom. Maintain a level of professional aloofness by limiting the content you upload.

8. Joining questionable groups or discussions

Who doesn’t enjoy networking with like-minded people? If you are actively searching for a job in a certain field, joining industry related discussions and groups is a great way of showing initiative and passion for a field. However, be careful about the more ‘casual’ groups you are joining. If you belong to the “I don’t get drunk, I get awesome!” group, you might want to reconsider the talents you boast to the online universe. And, clearly, any discriminatory groups fall under the category of BAD IDEA.

9. Ignoring what everyone’s saying on your networks 

Pay attention. You probably won’t have time to check all your networks regularly (seeing how there’s a new one every week), so using a social monitoring service will help you manage your professional online image across the different networks.  With most of these services you’ll receive instant notifications if there is inappropriate content on any of your profiles. And it goes without saying that the sooner you fix the content, the better.

Good luck!

Tips to Help You Find a Job on Twitter

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career, find a job, job finding tips, job hunting, jobseeker, social media, twitter

When many people think of Twitter, they think of people “tweeting” about their lunch, pictures of cats and other fairly meaningless snap shots from their day.

In reality, however, many industry professionals use Twitter not only as an informational resource, but as a recruiting resource. As one of the most prominent and widely-used social media platforms on the Internet, Twitter has the potential to be a powerful tool in your next job search.

So how can you find a job on Twitter? Does job hunting on Twitter really work? Here are a few tips that could put you on the path to finding your dream job through the power of social media.

Be Professional

When putting together your Twitter profile, put your best foot forward and conduct yourself like a professional as this will help you find a job through Twitter. Don’t put rude or controversial statements in your profile bio, and be mindful of what you share, say, and retweet.

Many employers are out there looking for the right talent and culture for their company so keep this in mind when summing up your words on Twitter.

Be Yourself

While you should conduct yourself in a professional manner, it’s also important to come across as genuine. Use your own photo in your Twitter profile, not a picture of a celebrity or a cartoon. Tweet what interests you, and don’t try to present yourself as someone (or something) you’re not. Let potential employers see who you really are.

Become an Expert

Twitter is a great opportunity to share your expertise with others. If you have a blog, post links to your most recent entries (without excessively “spamming”). Answer questions and use what you know to help others. It might just get you some attention from people who are looking to work with someone just like you.

If you have a variety of skills, promote these through hash tags; spread the word of your great abilities and this may lead you to your next career path or internship.

Be Original

When trying to establish a presence on Twitter to gain a job, don’t be afraid to re-share the work of others — but be sure to create and share content of your own. Putting together an insightful blog post, a useful infographic, or even an informative or useful photo or illustration can go a long way toward establishing you as someone interesting who others want to follow and hire. Every piece of original content is another brick in the road toward landing a job through Twitter.

Be Patient

Getting attention takes time. Build your audience slowly. It may take months or longer for you to get any kind of significant following on Twitter. Don’t be resentful of the success of others, and above all, don’t spam or fall prey to “purchasing” followers through services that offer thousands of followers for a price. A massive number of false followers are easily identifiable, and the repercussions can last much longer than the followers themselves (as Twitter regularly sweeps out false accounts).

Use the Tools

The sheer amount of information Twitter has on hand can be staggering. In fact, presenting lots of information in a short time is what Twitter does best — so learn how to manage it.

Software applications like Tweetdeck allow users to monitor search results on Twitter, filter feeds by lists or subjects, and otherwise tweak their Twitter experience for maximum effectiveness. Watch the search filters for possible job openings in your field, or openings to create opportunity for yourself.

Follow the Right People

If you’re serious about finding work on Twitter, then you’ll want to follow professionals in your industry. Don’t bog down your feed with too many celebrities, joke accounts, and other personalities you’ll never engage with.

Engage

Once you’ve gotten a foothold on social media, it’s time to take some chances. Engage with people in the industry you want to connect with — even if you feel you have no business doing so. Don’t just hit them with an empty “hello”. Ask a question. Start a discussion. Get a dialogue going. Don’t take it personally if you don’t get a reply — information moves fast on Twitter, and is easily missed. Keep trying, and be persistent without being obnoxious.

Good luck

Job Searching in 2013

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find a job, job finding tips, job hunting, video resume, linkedin, social media, jobseeker, 2013

If you’re a job seeker in 2013 here’s what we think is in store for you this year.

Expect More Emphasis on the Social Job Search

2013 will be the year of the social job search. This phenomenon expanded exponentially during 2012 — and as job seekers get more comfortable with the concept the less helpful tools will be weeded out. The 2013 job search will be more targeted and people will truly begin to recognise the importance of referrals, in addition to finding innovative ways to receive them.

Job Seekers Will Get More Creative With Their Application Methods

Competition for great jobs is fierce out there right now, with no signs of this getting any easier. To set themselves apart, job seekers are going to start getting more creative in their application methods. This will range from attractive infographics, to career-related blogs, to a more wholesale embrace of online video in the hiring process. Applicants will be looking for ways to set themselves apart from the pack to land their dream job.

The Future Job Search: Video, Crowdsourcing and Transparency

The future job search landscape will shift from a static, boring job description to job opportunities as living, breathing things. Job seekers will have more opportunities to watch video about job openings, directly contact hiring managers, and know when jobs are closing. The job search won’t be as black and white on our computer screens — and this will make it easier for candidates to know what they are applying for.

The Niche Set Will Rule

Niche job boards have continued popping up recently, and remain one of the best ways for candidates to differentiate themselves and find jobs that fit their skill set. With niche job boards, candidates can put the appropriate amount of time and energy into each position, including researching companies, personalising cover letters and resumes, and building relationships with hiring managers. They will serve as some candidates’ best resources in the coming year, as they continue to crop up for every corner of every industry.

It’s Not Who You Know, It’s Who Knows You

While everything seems to be rushing towards online, especially in regards to job searching, the same rule of “it’s not who you know, it’s who knows you” still applies.  Social media tools such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn are key to not only reach out to those in your network, but to expose yourself to networks for opportunities.

Two Powerful Words – Social Networking

Simply put, social networks provide a way for job seekers to tap into a large pool of job opportunities easily. Job seekers have become increasingly frustrated at searching for jobs online and getting no response, and they intuitively know that the best opportunities are found through people not search engines. As social networking has become a core part of our cultural dynamic, we are continuing to see more and more job hunters taking advantage of a vertical they are comfortable with in order to find work.

Keep Up With the Times, Including Managing and Maintaining Online Social Media Profiles

If job seekers have LinkedIn and Facebook accounts, their profiles will be vetted along with their references. If they don’t have any profiles, then unfortunately they’re simply not going to get hired. As the world becomes interconnected via social media, it’s more important for job seekers to do what they can to build up as much relevant information on their online profiles as possible.

Personalised Search

Job seekers can find jobs easily based on their own personalised criteria. Often these searches can be automated through overnight email alerts. It’s not just about finding jobs and recruiters finding candidates anymore. That’s the easy part; especially with technologies like LinkedIn. We will start to see an increased emphasis on personalising the approach and connecting with candidates for an enhanced application experience. It’s no longer about identification — now it’s about connecting and relationship building.

Good luck!

Job Searching During the Holiday Season

Tags

cv tips, find a job, holiday season, job advice, job finding tips, networking, new year, recruitment, resume, Xmas

Are you about to start a job search or are you in the midst of looking for a new job? Are you thinking about waiting to start or putting your job search on hold? If so, think again. Contrary to popular opinion, this is a good time of year to find a job. Employers don’t stop hiring just because it’s the holidays. In addition, the holiday season is a perfect time of year to network your way to a new job.

Hiring continues

Hiring continues regardless of the time of year. For many, the holiday season is a time to sit back and relax, to take a break from business, to focus attention on friends and family. For businesses, the needs that drive hiring throughout the year don’t change just because the paid holidays are bunched up on the last pages of the calendar.

Job searching at this time of year

The fact is employers continue to focus on hiring even though there is a temptation to do otherwise. The same should hold true for job seekers. It can be easier to say “I’m not going to bother, it’s a bad time of year for job hunting.” than it is to move forward with a job search. However, for those who do keep plugging away, the additional opportunities are worth the effort, especially as there may be less competition from other job seekers at this time of year. In addition, companies that budget on an annual basis may have jobs that they need to hire for right now.

Use down time

If you’re working at company where the holiday season is a slow one, take advantage. If you have vacation time you need to use up, schedule some networking meetings. It’s an ideal time of year to connect with acquaintances you haven’t been in touch with in a while. Both to celebrate the holiday season and to let them know you’re in the market for a job.

Use personal and professional events

If you’re attending a holiday social event, it’s definitely appropriate to mention that you’re job searching. Accept all the invitations you receive, both personal and professional. You never know who may be able to help. Friends and family, as well as business acquaintances are typically more than happy to assist.

Send holiday / festive cards

Sending a “Happy Holidays” or a “Happy New Year” greeting card to networking contacts, recruiters, and to employers you have interviewed with is another good way to connect with those who can help with your job search.

Connect online

Send email or use a professional or social networking site (like LinkedIn or Facebook) to get in touch. The holiday season is a good excuse to touch base and a good time to reinforce or expand your network.

Relax and enjoy

During this time of year, it’s also important to take some time for yourself and your family. Do relax a little and don’t forget to enjoy the holiday season – it’s important for all of us, whether you’re job seeking, or not.

Using Google Search Techniques to Uncover Niche Job Boards

Tags

CV, find a job, job advice, job boards, job finding tips, job hunting, job tips, jobseeker, keywords, linkedin, monster, recruitment, resume

If you’re a jobseeker, you may like us not be much of a fan of large, be-all-end-all job boards, especially as they are getting more and more spammy – as anyone who has tried to post a CV on Monster recently will tell you.

More and more, hiring managers are turning to industry-and location-specific job boards to hire candidates from. However, for many jobseekers finding these often obscure (and not well ranked on Google) websites can be time-consuming and difficult, resulting in missed opportunities to connect with employers looking to hire your skill set.

In our latest blog post we look at some of the search techniques that you can use on Google to find hidden niche job boards – whatever industry your expertise lies in.

Right, let’s get started. In a fresh Google search enter the following:

“your-industry+Careers” intitle:”job board”

or

“your-industry+Careers” intitle:”job listing”

Here’s an example: ”Healthcare Careers” intitle:”job board”

We found:
http://www.jobjobhealth.com
http://www.jobmonkey.com/healthcarejobs/

And then: ”healthcare careers” intitle:”job listings”

Which returned:
http://www.healthcarejobsite.com
http://www.health-care-jobs.advanceweb.com
http://www.hospitaldreamjobs.com

So in just two searches, we found 5 niche job boards.

Here is another example:
“marketing careers” intitle:”job listings”

and Google returned:
http://www.marketingjobforce.com
http://www.salescareersonline.com/local-job-listing.html

Then:
“marketing careers” intitle:”job board”

Got back:
http://www.marketinghire.com
http://www.marketingjobforce.com
http://www.sectorpages.com/marketing-job-board.html

Again, with just two Google searches we found five niche job boards. But it doesn’t stop with industry niches. You don’t have to enter your industry, instead you can enter your state, county or city. Change over the word “careers” with “jobs” to widen your net.

By playing around with this type of search query you will be able to build a list of niche sites that can complement your efforts on the larger catch-all job boards.

Good luck!

Understanding Your Character Traits When Job Searching

Tags

career, character traits, job finding tips, job hunting, personal branding, personality matching

Once done with degrees, masters, professional qualifications, training etc, everyone faces the challenging task of deciding on the right career path to follow. As the world becomes a smaller place to live and work with most countries a few hours flight away, the opportunities really are endless but the key contributor to your professional happiness and satisfaction is really understanding yourself. This means understanding your character traits, your likes, your dislikes to name but a few.

The fact is that we are all living longer and therefore will all be working longer, unless you win the lottery, but assuming you don’t, wouldn’t you rather spend as much of your working life as possible doing something that is best suited to your character? If your answer is yes then this blog article should give you some food for thought and if your answer is no, read on anyway, you might just learn a thing or two about yourself.

Most character traits fall into one of the following:

The Analytical Character

The analytical character is diligent and likes to take the necessary time to complete any task, completing the task as instructed and to the very best of their ability. Being focused and organised, they check and recheck information, ensuring potential errors are kept to an absolute minimum. The analytical character finds great value in factual and detailed ways of doing things and are great at following set instructions and processes while also being brilliant when tasked to come up with new ways of doing things. They enjoy working with detail and work best in jobs that have clearly defined procedures and systems to adhere to. They don’t need too much direction once a task has been set within primary boundaries and are very capable of devising their own action plan. They are most likely to make logical and rational (not emotional) decisions about most things but like to take their time before making a decision. The analytical character may feel slightly uncomfortable in the company of emotionally charged people or situations and would much rather be around people who are open yet balanced about their feelings.

The Driven Character

The driven character is very confident and goes all out to get the job done. They are very focused, know what they want and hunt it down, doing their best to overcome any potential and actual barriers. They are risk takers who thrive on the challenge and are very skilled at making quick but necessary decisions. The driven character thrives on finding solutions. achieving results and are brilliant at directing and guiding others around them to deliver results based on a set objective. They tend to be very demanding characters. They demand a lot from people around them but are most demanding from themselves based on the high standards they have set themselves. They work best with people who are driven to be successful and have set goals that they strive to achieve. The driven character is a brilliant yet tough negotiator and will work tirelessly to get the best deal possible. They tend to be outspoken but with a clear vision and may struggle to work with individuals who may not have the same voice or clarity in vision.

The Amiable Character

The amiable character is always looking for ways to help and would never knowingly be a burden to anyone. They constantly look to put others first. They tend to be loyal and very friendly. They enjoy listening to others and appreciate being listened to. The amiable character goes out off their way to maintain good relationships both personally and professionally and really flourish in environments where shared values and respect are a core focus. They tend to be emotional decision makers and tend to enjoy being around people who are assertive, strong, clear in vision and direction because they like to be part of a winning team even though they may not have a lot of the necessary drive or assertiveness to lead. As friendly as the amiable character is, they may struggle to get on with people who are detached from emotions.

The Expressive Character

The expressive character is full of life and energy as the seek out the good and positives in every situation they find themselves in. They enjoy expressing new ideas and are easily engaged when it comes to activities that are fun, exciting, new and informal. They thrive on possibilities, get excited about “what may happen” and are most productive in environments that encourage self expression, fun and importantly, a strong sense of team spirit. They love working with people and are brilliant at expressing ideas and persuading others to see their vision. They love to be around people who are energetic and enthusiastic like them but the expressive character can quickly lose interest just as easy as they gained the initial interest once that activity seems to be less interesting. The expressive character may find it difficult to adjust to or enjoy working in a structured organisation.

Next Steps

The challenge for every job seeker is to identify and understand which character trait best describes them and then use this to help shape their job search strategy.

Good luck!

Working Abroad – Real Option or Unrealistic Dream?

Tags

career, career change, careers abroad, find a job, job advice, job finding tips, job hunting, networking, working aborad, working overseas

‘The world is your oyster’ – how many times have you heard that expression, and what exactly does it mean?

You have the ability to achieve anything you want in life, the world, like a pearl is very valuable – finding work abroad and living within other cultures is the best way of exploring it.

Living and working abroad will broaden your horizons, give you confidence, and possibly allow you to develop knowledge of another language – it will undoubtedly be an adventure – whatever stage of your career you are at.

A wide variety of international work opportunities exist around the world. So, if you are interested in finding overseas employment, where do you begin?

Things to consider when making up your mind to relocate abroad: 

• How would a move abroad affect your long-term career aspirations? Is now a good time to relocate or should you wait?
• Have you considered the views of others close to you? You will be away from your family and friends for a prolonged period. It is possible your partner will also have to relocate, perhaps you have children – you will have to find new schools etc.
• If you currently rent your home you will have to see your lease through to its end, if you own a house will you sell it or rent it?
• Language – It is possible that English will not be the primary language of the country you are moving to. Do you know enough to get by?
• Will your wage be paid into an account in the UK or will you have to open an account in your country of temporary residence?
• Will you enjoy living within the culture of the country you are moving to? Such things as dietary habits, climate, housing, media, and local customs will all be different from what you are used to.

How to find a job abroad

There are several ways to get work abroad, some more difficult to achieve than others. The ease at which you will find work is dependent upon which country you hope to move to, the type of work you are looking for, and what skills you can offer.

Get a transfer abroad with a company/organisation in your home country

Many companies now have offices around the world and one of the easiest ways for employers to work abroad is to get a transfer with one of these companies. Make enquiries with your firm to find out where they have other offices, or if you are currently job seeking target your applications to multinational firms.

Find work with a foreign company

Start with a search on the Internet and within social media channels especially if you have a network that in part works abroad. If you have skills that are in demand in the countries you seek to relocate to then you have an advantage.

You will be looked upon particularly favourably if you have Engineering or IT skills. If you speak the language of the country you are looking to relocate to you can visit job sites within that countries domain as well.

Visit your local library, there are many books on how to go about finding work abroad. Read English language newspapers from the country you are looking to locate to, they are also likely to have appointments advertised.

If you can afford to and have the time it is recommended that you visit the country you are interested in working in. This may be the first time that you have been to the country and there is a chance that it is not as you imagined. It is advisable that you see what life is like in the country before you move there as you may not actually like it.

Make contacts while you are there, speak to expatriates of your own country as they may be able to give you some tips on finding work. Contact your national embassy and explain what you are trying to do, try to establish contact with local trade organisations. Take a copy of the local business telephone directory so you can continue your cold calling when you are back home.

Work for an expatriate owned foreign company

In this case language barriers will not be such a problem. It is possible that you may, within your networks have contacts within these types of firms who can help set you up.

Work in an industry that offers lots of scope for travel

One of the safest options is to find work in your home country within an industry that offers lots of opportunities to travel. The Armed forces, Diplomatic corp., Leisure and Tourism will all potentially lead to placements abroad. If you have language skills and show a particular desire to work overseas then you will be given preference.

Visas and immigration laws

To work for an extended period in a country of which you are a non resident you usually require a work visa. This can prove to be difficult in some countries and you may only be granted access if you already have a job waiting for you, or if you have specific skills that that country is looking for. To get a visa contact the embassy of the country you want to move to within your own country. If there is not an embassy write to your foreign office for advice.

Check the employment figures of the country you hope to move to as they can provide an indication as to how easy it will be to get a work permit. The USA, New Zealand, Australia and Canada all have fairly elaborate immigration rules.

Tailoring your CV to different countries

Employers in different countries essentially all look for the same qualities in their applicants, however a country may have their own unique conventions when it comes to CV writing. Generally though make sure your CV and covering letter are clear enough for a national in your targeted country to understand who you are and what you want. Your must show that you have an understanding of the country and industry sector within that country so that people feel that you can contribute immediately.

Working in Europe

Since 1992 nationals of one EU Market State have had the right to live, work and study in any other Member State. This right has now been extended to include the EEA (European Economic Area) countries.

Freedom of movement inside the EU means that you have exactly the same rights as a national of the State in which you have chosen to work. You are entitled to the same rates of pay, the same health and social services and the same rights to benefit when you are ill and unemployed. However some of these benefits are only available after tax and Social security contributions have been made in the relevant country.

Residence regulations

If you hold a valid passport/identity card from any EU or EEA member state you can enter another member state for a period of up to three months (six months in the case of the uk), then you need to obtain a Residence permit. In order to do this you must be able to prove that you will not have ‘recourse to the funds’ of the Host State. In practice this means that you will be able to prove that you will not claim state benefit and are able to support yourself either by having a student grant, employment, or access to funds.

If you cannot prove that you will not be dependent upon state funds then you will definitely have trouble getting a residence permit.

Volunteer work

There are many voluntary organisations such as VSO, the Red Cross and Oxfam that would love to hear from you if you want to work as an aid worker in a disadvantaged country which may be poverty stricken, or ravaged by war. The chances are your work will not be paid and in fact you will probably have to pay your flight and cost of living out of your own pocket. The work will be physically and mentally draining, but you will be doing something thoroughly worthwhile. Your eyes will be opened to the reality that much of the world is not fortunate enough to be able to feed itself daily, let alone know what the ‘internet’ is!

Other volunteer opportunities are available with organisations such as Raleigh International who carry out worthwhile community infrastructure building projects in the third world and conservation organisations such as Operation Wallacea who operate in the pacific conserving reefs and endangered species. These expeditions usually last a couple of months, to take part there are selection procedures and you are required to raise sponsorship.

Organised work schemes abroad

Other organisations can do the leg work for you to locate work within a country. BUNAC (the British Universities North America Club) is a non-profit, non-political, student organisation with its own travel company. They can book and arrange all your flights, accommodation and work within the US and Canada, they offer support services and one of the best things is that there are lots of other like-minded people doing the same thing who you will be thrown together with.

If you are using an organisation of this type make sure you research their them thoroughly before you hand over any money. 

Teaching English as a foreign language is possible in many countries and you do not need formal teaching qualifications. Often you do require A-level English language or an official TEFL qualification.

Holiday work

There is lots of scope for finding seasonal work in foreign countries, you could be picking grapes in the south of France, shearing sheep on a ranch in Australia or instructing skiing in north America. This work is only for a short period, and you have to work hard for very little money, but if you are with a couple of friends and are not stuck out in the wilderness it can be lots of fun.

Studying abroad

It is possible to go to another country on a student exchange programme for a year of your degree, or to undertake your entire degree abroad. The Internet provides one of the best resources to find out about placements, so do your research.

In conclusion

Is working abroad a real option or unrealistic dream? The answer is an unequivocal yes, however relocating abroad can be very expensive depending on where you move to. People who move abroad do not generally come out financially better off than before they left their home country.

Finding work abroad can be a long process but one that is definitely worth pursuing, do not give up, when you have your job your experiences abroad will stay with you for the rest of your life.

Good luck!

CVs Aren’t Dead…Yet!

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CV, cv tips, facebook, linkedin, recruitment, resume, social media, twitter

Even though we are seeing a move towards CV-less recruiting in high-tech companies, companies in general are still not recruiting without CVs.

However, the idea that companies are just recruiting based on the contents of a 2 sided A4 piece of paper is no longer true. Most recruiters will also be reviewing the Linked-In profile, Facebook profile, Twitter account, Blog commentary (for certain roles), and mentions in the media before making a recruitment decision.

A CV is no longer the universal passport to an interview.

The traditional CV is not dead but is losing its sovereign status as the universal passport into interviews and employment.

While most employers still ask for a CV, (and applicants should still adhere to these requests) it has become one important document amongst many, and a reference point or hub linking to a candidate’s wider social media profile.

Are social media profiles more reliable than CVs?

Since LinkedIn profiles, (in particular), Twitter and Facebook are subject to much more public scrutiny, it makes it harder to embellish information on social media profiles than in a CV, thus giving weight to the argument that social media profiles are gaining in credibility as a tool to understand more about what a candidate is really like.

Social media profiles provide a (potentially) richer information source.

Potentially a social media profile is a far richer information source than a CV. which are very one dimensional. Recruiters in some industry sectors can already get much broader and deeper information about a candidates skills and behaviour by reviewing their social media profile.  This more ‘real-time’ review of a candidate is for some already informing hiring decisions, and while there is still real power in a well worded, employer specific covering letter (or video!) to show commitment to a job being applied for, the traditional CV as a standalone hiring tool is definitely on borrowed time!

Using Pinterest to Find a Job

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cv tips, find a job, job finding tips, job hunting, networking, personal branding, pinterest, resume tips, social media

You might think of Pinterest as another way to kill time online when you should be doing something more important. Millions of early adopters put the 2-year-old social network on the map doing just that – sharing pictures of outfits, cool home interiors and exotic travel destinations.

Now that  11+ million people and companies are using it, though, Pinterest is emerging as an online tool that job seekers can use to market themselves and explore potential careers, industries and employers.

Pinterest lets you save photos or images from news stories, blog posts or other online content in the form of pins that are organized into folders called boards. You can follow other people and re-pin, comment or “Like” their pins. You also can link your Pinterest boards to your accounts on Facebook or Twitter.

Here’s how to use Pinterest for a job search:

1. Optimise your Pinterest profile.

Adjust account settings to allow your profile to appear in results of searches on Google and other search engines. Load your profile description with keywords that match the job you want. Include a recent photograph and links to your website or LinkedIn profile so potential employers can learn more about you.

2. Set up an online CV and portfolio.

Gather samples of your work onto one or more boards to use as an online CV. Don’t get cute with labels; call your CV board “CV Resume” or something similar so it’s easy to find. Pinterest is especially useful if you work in photography, architecture, interior design or other creative fields.

3. Dedicate a board to careers you’re interested in.

Use Pinterest to find information on jobs or careers. Use the search box – located in the upper left-hand corner of the site’s front page – to enter related words or phrases. Pin anything that comes up that you want to save for future reference.

4. Create boards for companies you’d like to know more about.

Pinterest can give you a glimpse into a company’s culture that you can’t get from reading their “About Us” page.

5. Follow experts.

Keep up with employment trends by following the university career centres, jobs websites, outplacement specialists and career coaches that have set up shop on Pinterest.

6. Leave comments.

Strike up a conversation with a career expert or someone who works in a field you’re interested in by commenting on one of their pins. As with any other type of online or real-world networking, you never know where it could lead.

7. Take a look around.

Do some browsing to see what’s out there. If you’re constantly coming back to the same area, or something keeps popping out at you, if might be worth exploring.

8. Protect your work.

If you’re sharing photography or other original work on your boards, use watermarks to protect individual images just as you would when displaying them on other websites.

9. Be professional.

If all you do on Pinterest is share pictures of puppies, think twice about sharing your Pinterest profile with potential employers. If you are using it for a job search, it is an impression of who you are, so when you’re creating your boards, make sure they line up with your professional appearance / values.

10. Watch out for spammers.

The bigger Pinterest grows, the more spammers it’s attracting. To prevent unwittingly passing along spam disguised as a normal pin, be sure to click through on images to see where they lead before re-pinning them. Don’t click on pins that look like ads or giveaways, which Pinterest doesn’t offer.

Good Luck!