Top tips on creating a winning CV

View the Article: http://www.jobs.co.uk/article/toptipsoncreatingawinningcv-53.htm

Do you feel you truly have the skills and qualifications required to fulfil the role of the job you so enthusiastically applied for two weeks ago? Do you know you would fit perfectly into this position but did not receive an opportunity to prove your ability? You are one of many unsuccessful applicants left pondering how they could get their foot in the door to bag an interview. The answer to that is your CV.

Employers see hundreds of CV's so you must ensure your CV jumps out of the tired old pile of ‘Please accept my resume for consideration of the (insert here) position within your organisation' - instead portraying all of the wonderful personality and expertise you would contribute to their business.

 

Grab their attention from the Get-Go

Your cover letter should demonstrate "fit" to their company and the role you are applying for. Simply inserting a sterile list of keywords relevant to the role in an unstructured manor will not entice them. Use your keywords with captivating language and description of how your skills will directly benefit the employer to subtly persuade them your CV is worth reading in full, catapulting you up their list of priorities. The following article offers some examples of things to include in your cover let that can easily be tailored to suit your career field.

http://www.careerealism.com/examples-start-cover-letter/#!3HPgp

 

Brilliant basics go a long way

Your CV layout must be clear, concise and well spaced to avoid appearing careless or haphazard. Start with all the basics including correct spelling and grammar throughout. Avoid having gaps in your work experience; where necessary draw positives from any periods of unemployment and make reference to them. Double check all personal information to ensure it is correct - avoid missing out on a life changing job opportunity because you wrote ‘.co.uk' instead of ‘.com'

Here is an outline of the sections you need to include in your CV along with a few more presentation tips:

http://www.totaljobs.com/graduate/careers-advice/cvs-and-interviews/cv-checklist

 

The job description holds your key to success

The ability to understand a Job Description's requirements (even those not referenced to) and subsequently tailor your CV to it will see you jump up the ‘employability chart' as your CV will be buzzing with keywords the employer has indented in their mind as they sieve through endless CV's. Knowing how to prioritise your strengths, hobbies and focus of skills gained/used in previous employment will allow you to personalise your CV for every job you apply for and avoid the employer ever thinking ‘...and that is relevant how?' The advice given in the link below on how to tailor your CV should give you a start...

http://www.jobsite.co.uk/career/advice/tailoring_cv.html

 

Look out for Part 2 next week...

Luxury Player? Is there a position for David Luiz?

View the Article: http://www.jobs.co.uk/article/luxuryplayeristhereapositionfordavidluiz-52.htm

A raging debate among Premier League followers over the last 2 ½ years has been "what is David Luiz's best position on the football field?"

A highly talented footballer with great feet and technique, he can make the ball move in the air like few others , fooling many a keeper in the league over the last couple of years. He is energetic, has pace and can attack or defend equally well with his head. He has courage and he has a spark in his temperament which serves a player well when plying his trade at the highest level.

Prior to the World Cup, the debate could be summarised as this:

• Defender: Composed - plays out calmly from the back, will fight for the ball on the ground and in the air, will put a brave tackle when required.........however, he wanders out of position and can't be trusted to consistently track or mark the opposition danger-man.
• Defensive-Midfielder - Can hit pin-points passes across all areas of the pitch, great technique to get out of trouble when cornered, will run all day for his team and will frantically work to get back into position when the ball is lost........but again, too often he strays (often sprinting) out of position to the wings and up front - he also sprints to get back into position but it's too late, he's already exposed his back-line who thought he was their first line of defence, and his willingness to work back does not excuse the fact he should have already been in the covering position when his side loses the ball.
• Attacking-Midfield - Has the ability to score great goals, will work hard up and down the pitch, throw himself bravely onto loose balls to get on the end of a cross, with head or feet........most would agree this is not his position - he isn't focussed enough to keep making the clever runs off the ball which are required to find space at the right time. Furthermore, he will too often over-play the ball in the final third of the pitch when a quick pass or through-ball would do most damage.

Jose Mourinho of Chelsea and Brazil's Felipe Scolari are two of the world's most respected and knowledgeable coaches and both have demonstrated their belief his most effective position is at the heart of their defence. Yet football has just witnessed one of the worst positional displays of an international centre half in living memory when he partnered Dante against Germany on Tuesday, proving beyond question he is NOT a centre half, regardless of what his legendary coaches thought.

David's overall performances at the World Cup have only served to fuel this debate - all the above positives have been in evidence - however, this 7-1 capitulation at the hands of the Germans in the Semi-Final has finally closed the debate - it proved there is NO job on the pitch where he can be relied upon to carry out all the responsibilities. Even in modern football where we have as many formations as we have Geometric shapes, he is out of a job.

Top level modern football formations do not have room for a "Luxury Player".

So where does he go now? Off to enjoy Parisian life initially - Paris Saint-Germain is a club where, no doubt, he will be a major success in a league which is a little more forgiving than the English Premier League or the latter stages of the World Cup playing against the best attacking sides in the world. They have the money to bring a squad of talented players together to win a league approximately as competitive as the SkyBet Championship. Because it is not played at anything like the frantic pace of the Championship this is the league where he will get to play in his favoured position, based "somewhere on the pitch" roughly occasionally between the CDM (Central Defensive Midfielder) and the CAM (Centre Attacking Midfielder) and other times on the wing or up front or indeed, at right back... playing in his LCM role (Luxury Centre Midfielder).

We wish him well. Technically he is one of the most gifted footballers in the world and clearly made a very good decision in moving to France. Of course, we know he doesn't really need to turn to Jobs.co.uk just yet but who knows, if he plays in one of the major leagues in future or dons the Brazilian National shirt again he may need to take a closer look at the job specification.

What are your thoughts?

Now you want to find that dream job?

View the Article: http://www.jobs.co.uk/article/toptipsfindingyouridealcareerpart-51.htm

Top 6 Tips - Finding your ideal career (Part 2)

  

Previously, we began sharing our tips on Finding Your Ideal Career with a look at what you enjoy doing then an imaginative look at creating your own "Personal Job Advertisement" before taking a career choice quiz. Now it's time to conclude by choosing the right career and finding the courage to just "go for it"!

If you didn't catch part 1 of the article you can read it here:

http://www.jobs.co.uk/article/top-6-tips---finding-your-ideal-career-%28part-1%29-49.htm

 

Develop your skill, experience and qualifications

When identifying your dream job or suitable career, you may have a realisation you need more experience or new skills in order to succeed and build a career in the field. Rather than attempting to gain new skills, first see how you could improve the ones you already have! Evening classes are available in order to build on your qualifications, as well as a wide range of courses that can be taken for specific roles. If experience is where you're lacking, volunteer work or apprenticeships are great ways to gain experience as well as meet influential people in your career field.

https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/advice/courses/Pages/default.aspx

 

Carefully consider for your current and desired future positions

Knowing your options when looking for a new career is of high importance. You will already know some of the jobs available to you with your current levels of experience and qualifications - now research others. In addition to this, decide your flexibility for learning new skills and gaining experience. If you're income is critical to your household, opting for a career that will require beginning with a low-income trainee role or internship or returning to full-time education may not be practical but don't make assumptions without investigating it first. This guide for choosing a career is thought-provoking, looking at the practicalities of career-changing.

http://www.wikihow.com/Choose-the-Right-Career

 

Go for it!!

 

Nobody said that making a career choice or transition would be easy, but it has been said that the risks we regret are the ones we didn't take. With the decision between reaching for your dreams or living with the constant 'what ifs' in the palm of your hand, the more daring, yet more rewarding option is a clear winner, right? The following article offers advice on how to gain the courage to go for your dream career, with acknowledgement that others may try to rain on your parade, and how to overcome these obstacles. It's important to remember the only person who needs to be pleased and content with your career choice and decisions is yourself. Those claiming the money is in finance when you wish to work with animals can work as an accountant themselves! Make yourself happy. 

http://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-finally-find-the-courage-to-pursue-your-dream

 

After following these tips and the advice in the accompanying articles you should have a much clearer idea of your ideal career and the steps you need to take in order to put yourself in the best possible position to approach it. Now Go Get That Job!

Having the right job isn't a matter of life and death...

View the Article: http://www.jobs.co.uk/article/havingtherightjobisntamatteroflifeanddeath-50.htm

Often quoted (and mis-quoted), the legendary former Liverpool FC boss Bill Shankly's most famous quote actually goes like this: "Some people believe football is a matter of life and death. I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it's much, much more important than that!"

Football was Shankly's hobby, his main interest. It was his passion and in many ways it was his whole life. It was also his job. He took his job home with him and shared it enthusiastically with his family, almost constantly, and as a result they lived it all with him.

Few of us would be fortunate enough to claim our job allows us to fulfil as many of life's dreams or goals as his did, however, most of us would agree that being in the wrong job - one which holds very personal interest for us - can have a massive impact on our lives - and in turn, those of the people around us.

When we spend so much of our time at work (on average 35% of our waking hours), why do so many of us continue treading the mill when we know we can't avoid bringing it home with us?

It's probably a combination of factors including: we don't think we are qualified enough to secure a job we'd enjoy more...? we are trapped in a job which pays well and we can't take the financial risk...? we don't think we have the energy to start from the bottom and work our way back up again... ? through the hustle and bustle of a busy life we have simply lost sight of our initial dreams and goals...?

Almost every reason that exists could also be labelled an excuse - undoubtedly, we can't all jump off the corporate ladder and expect our families to fend for themselves while we pursue our childhood dreams - but the truth is, it's never too late to seek the perceived happiness of a career in a field you have more genuine interest in... maybe you just need to find out if the impossible dream really is out of your reach before giving up on it completely...?

It's so simple - brainstorm what you really want to do and what you would get out of it. Then work out if it's realistic for you to take a shot at it. You can either set about pursuing the dream starting now - or re-affirm that you will make the most of what you have now...

As Shanks also said "If you can't make decisions in life, you're a b****y menace. You'd be better becoming an MP!"

We can't all become MP's so let's make our minds up right now.. start here with Jobs.co.uk

Reached a Dead End?

View the Article: http://www.jobs.co.uk/article/toptipsfindingyouridealcareerpart-49.htm

Are you new to the job market? Have you reached a dead end in your current career? Or have you had a sudden realisation that the career you chose your younger years isn't really you? Whatever your reasons for jobseeking, the toughest part is working out where to begin. Before you can begin searching for a long term, potentially satisfying career path, you must first discover which careers will interest you and challenge you whilst being a good match for your abilities. These five top tips for finding your ideal career will help you on your journey - by ensuring you pursue the most suitable jobs opportunities.

Know what you enjoy! Knowing exactly what interests and motivates you in your recreational time is a crucial step in finding the right career. Whether your learn that the endless fashion knowledge you gained from spending every Monday night reading Vogue sparks journalism aspirations, or that kitchen redecoration last summer demonstrated you would now love to be a decorator... The link below will help you narrow down your options through the discovery of patterns within your answers. http://www.forbes.com/sites/dailymuse/2013/11/01/9-questions-thatll-help-you-find-your-dream-career/

Create your "Personal Job Advertisement"
Imagine that job sites and newspapers didn't advertise jobs, but jobseekers instead. The ingenious idea to create an advertisement of "you" forces you to summarise your qualities, interests and requirements from a job into half a page of writing, giving sometimes eye-opening results. After writing your advertisement send it to 10 friends in different career fields asking each to suggest three different job titles for you, leaving you with a list of around 30 possible careers, some of which you may have never considered previously. Research any of the careers that interest you, you may be surprised by how many new doors open! http://careers.theguardian.com/careers-blog/find-your-ideal-career

Take the "Career Choice Quiz" Taking a quiz to discover your most suitable career is one of the most common methods used on the internet, but finding a reliable and accurate quiz is often harder than you may at first imagine. This quiz consists of 68 questions to test four 'pairs of preferences.' At the end of the quiz you receive a four letter code based on which of the pairs you matched a higher percentage to, and each code has a suggested career type. For example the code ENFP is 'The Journalist' with their skills being included as 'advertising, acting, sales and politics' - go get your code.... http://www.careertest.net/

Look out for Part 2 in the next few days where we will share the other 3 Top Tips

Reached a Dead End?

View the Article: http://www.jobs.co.uk/article/toptipsfindingyouridealcareerpart-47.htm

Are you new to the job market? Have you reached a dead end in your current career? Or have you had a sudden realisation that the career you chose your younger years isn't really you? Whatever your reasons for jobseeking, the toughest part is working out where to begin. Before you can begin searching for a long term, potentially satisfying career path, you must first discover which careers will interest you and challenge you whilst being a good match for your abilities. These five top tips for finding your ideal career will help you on your journey - by ensuring you pursue the most suitable jobs opportunities.

Know what you enjoy! Knowing exactly what interests and motivates you in your recreational time is a crucial step in finding the right career. Whether your learn that the endless fashion knowledge you gained from spending every Monday night reading Vogue sparks journalism aspirations, or that kitchen redecoration last summer demonstrated you would now love to be a decorator... The link below will help you narrow down your options through the discovery of patterns within your answers. http://www.forbes.com/sites/dailymuse/2013/11/01/9-questions-thatll-help-you-find-your-dream-career/

Create your "Personal Job Advertisement" 'Imagine that job sites and newspapers didn't advertise jobs, but jobseekers instead. The ingenious idea to create an advertisement of "you" forces you to summarise your qualities, interests and requirements from a job into half a page of writing, giving sometimes eye-opening results. After writing your advertisement send it to 10 friends in different career fields asking each to suggest three different job titles for you, leaving you with a list of around 30 possible careers, some of which you may have never considered previously. Research any of the careers that interest you, you may be surprised by how many new doors open! http://careers.theguardian.com/careers-blog/find-your-ideal-career

Take the "Career Choice Quiz" Taking a quiz to discover your most suitable career is one of the most common methods used on the internet, but finding a reliable and accurate quiz is often harder than you may at first imagine. This quiz consists of 68 questions to test four 'pairs of preferences.' At the end of the quiz you receive a four letter code based on which of the pairs you matched a higher percentage to, and each code has a suggested career type. For example the code ENFP is 'The Journalist' with their skills being included as 'advertising, acting, sales and politics' - go get your code.... http://www.careertest.net/

Look out for Part 2 in the next few days where we will share the other 3 Top Tips

Visit Jobs.co.uk and find yourself a job in your area

View the Article: http://www.jobs.co.uk/article/unemploymentintherise-44.htm

Jobs.co.uk is the first place to start if you are currently unemployed. Recent research has shown that nearly a fifth of all jobseekers have been looking for work for over a year, this is very location  affected, but as Jobs.co.uk covers the whole of the UK it is sure to list a job that is relevant to you.

The situation in some regions is significantly worse with Yorkshire and Humber and Wales charting 9% and 10% increases respectively in the number of jobseekers searching for a job for over a year. In both regions, 21% of jobseekers have now spent more than 12 months looking for work.

John Salt, director at totaljobs.com, explains why these regions have been so badly affected:

"The collapse of heavy industries such as automotive manufacturing has hit areas like Yorkshire and Wales particularly hard. The long term, structural unemployment that resulted from these declining industries was partially reduced by huge investment in the public sector which created jobs, particularly for women. That investment is now running dry and job cuts are affecting areas across the country but places like Yorkshire and Wales have been less successful at attracting the private sector investment needed to create new jobs."

By contrast, the South West of England and Northern Ireland have seen much smaller rises in the number of jobseekers searching for work for over the past twelve months. Respectively, these regions have seen a 7% and 3% increases since last year, forcing up the number searching for over a year to 15% and 12%.

These regions have been less severely hit by the cut in government spending and efficiency drives. The South West is one of the lowest areas of government spend per head in the country and well as relatively low levels of public sector employment compared to the rest of the UK, the areas is therefore, less likely to see wide scale redundancies. Northern Ireland, on the other hand, has been largely insulated from the deepest government spending cuts and public sector employment remains high relative to the rest of the UK.

Visit www.Jobs.co.uk for all our current opportunities.