Year: 2019

If you want to truly impress in a job interview you should ask your own questions. This will show your enthusiasm for the role and the company, and will also help you decide if this is what you want. An interview gives both you and the employer the chance to see if you’re the right fit, so it’s important you ask the right questions. Some of the below questions can be asked throughout the interview when the time feels right, but you should also pose a few right at the end. This will leave a positive impression and ensure the employer is well aware of your passion for the role. Here are 6 questions you should ask at a job interview. 1. Could you tell me more about the daily…

Every job seeker who writes a CV should always tailor it to the role and the company, utilising the job advert, job description, and additional company research online. The final ingredient is the injection of soft skill examples relating to what the company would deem to be important. For example, a sales or customer service role would obviously require a high level of communication and negotiating skills. Far too many job seekers fail to understand and recognise the importance of soft skills when writing a CV. But employers are looking for examples and any kind of indication that the candidate holds the relevant specific skills and if they can put them to good use. The hiring manager always runs the risk of hiring someone solely based on their qualifications and…

The very thought of asking your boss for a pay rise seems like a very daunting prospect – but it can be done if you know how. You shouldn’t sit back and accept a salary that you don’t believe in, and if you think you deserve more then you should ask. Consulting with your boss needs to be at the right time and in the right manner. You have to remain professional throughout if you want to succeed in getting a higher salary. Here are 6 tips to help you get that pay rise. 1. Do your research Before you even consider asking your boss for a salary increase you should do your research. It’s important you fully appreciate what the average wage for your role is, as well as…

Writing and sending in your CV to the employer is typically the only way you can gain an interview. You can of course also walk into the business with your CV and hand it in directly, which we would highly recommend if possible. But the approach is still the same – the employer will not hire you without seeing your credentials on a CV. If the candidate fails to convince the employer with their CV that they are the right person for the job, they will be thrown onto the ‘reject’ pile. There are three main reasons why every employer rejects a CV, and if you can avoid them you are going to give your interview chances a well deserved boost! Here are the 3 reasons why your CV will…

Writing a CV is a difficult task, but knowing what the employer wants to see is probably the hardest part. You could write a perfect error free CV but still fail to get an interview, and one of the reasons why could be that your application lacks personality. It’s easy to get so focused upon listing all the achievements, skills and qualifications that we forget the importance of personality and creativity. The employer sometimes wants to see some individuality, and a unique approach to CV writing to stand out from the crowd. Here’s how you can do that: Don't be afraid to be lighthearted on your CV  When the hiring manager has to read hundreds of CVs all day, one of the best ways to lighten their mood and become…

Some jobseekers are fantastic at answering interview questions, but struggle to even get to one because of a lacklustre CV. Their failed attempts at explaining why they are worthy of employment means they keep on receiving rejection email after rejection email. If this sounds familiar to you, or you just want to ensure you get through to the interview stage; then read on for some great advice. We have 5 reasons why your CV will be rejected and how to avoid them. 1. Employment gaps An employment gap of a few months or even years will raise suspicion. The employer will jump to conclusions if you don’t attempt to explain your gap, which will likely result in rejection. Also, check back over your timeline to ensure there are no discrepancies…

As an agency we deal with many different vacancies - acting doesn't tend to be one of them. However, we do get actors and actresses through the doors from time to time, looking for work in between jobs - and I'm often asked for advice on writing an acting CV. If you're a new actor or actress, here are 5 tips to get your acting career started. If your roles are a little thin on the ground, here's how to give your CV the boost it needs for success. First of all, let’s start with: What is a CV? If you’re a recent school leaver and are unfamiliar with what a CV is, let’s take a look. CV stands for Curriculum Vitae, and is the most commonly used format in…

With so many high quality CVs to choose from, the employer is often spoilt with an excellent choice of applications. So just one mistake could see your application go straight to the ‘no’ pile. If you want to make it to the interview stage, here are the 10 things you should avoid when writing your CV. Applying when under-qualified When conducting an online job search you will come across lots of positions which offer great benefits. A nice big fat yearly salary along with a company car sounds great, right? But are you qualified for the role, and do you have the right skills and experience required? There is nothing wrong with applying for a job you feel you could do, even if you are not a perfect fit. You…

10 years ago, I very rarely saw anything on a CV that resembled a personal statement. This kind of thing would be reserved for the cover letter, with the CV keeping strictly to the core sections (work history, education/qualifications and references - and sometimes skills and hobbies). Nowadays it's the other way around - I rarely see a CV that doesn't have a personal statement. And for those who've not written a CV for a while, I'm referring to a three or four line statement that goes underneath the name and contact info. However, having said that, I rarely see a GOOD personal statement. In fact, it really amazes me just how much people waste the opportunity that the personal statement provides. The role of a personal statement "A personal…

So, you’ve just found the perfect job and have already written your CV and cover letter. Wait! Before you send it off you need to check that you haven’t made these common CV mistakes. If you want to ensure your CV doesn’t get instantly rejected, here are the top 10 shocking CV mistakes you’re probably making and how to fix them… Writing a generic CV  If you write just the one CV and use that to apply to numerous different companies, you are making a big mistake. Why? Because a company would always want to see an application that recognises the needs of the company and the role. You should always tailor your CV to each role and company to ensure you are highlighting what’s relevant to them. Even if…