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Employers: Back to work interviews

Employers: Back to work interviews

Back-to-work interviews help to reintegrate staff returning to the workplace. This can include planned absences such as maternity leave or a sabbatical.  The aim is to welcome employees back, brief them on any relevant matters and ensure they are fully prepared to take up their duties again. The most frequent use of return-to-work (RTW) interviews arises after sickness absence.  UK employers seem to suffer a very high incidence of “chronic Monday-itis”.  Short absences for relatively minor matters form the vast majority of ill health absence, so it’s important to deal with this type of absence rigorously and tactically and that’s what I’ll be focusing on in this article. Such meetings are one of the most effective tools in the managers’ arsenal of absence management techniques.  The fly in the ointment…
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Are your job ads SEO friendly?

Are your job ads SEO friendly?

It’s a hard task modern recruiters are faced with. No longer do you sit and wait for candidates to come to you – instead today’s recruitment is all about driving candidates towards your vacancies.  Naturally, there is still a necessity for job adverts, but the way in which recruiters have to think about these ads and the way they construct them is changing. With that in mind, we thought we’d give you some tips to make sure your ads start showing up in searches. It’s important to look at your job adverts as part of a wider content strategy – ensuring they work in tandem with your site content and the way that your site map is put together. Having a straightforward hierarchy with ads which incorporate plenty of internal…
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What should I do about an employment gap on my CV?

What should I do about an employment gap on my CV?

You only need to show approximately the last 10 years of work experience on your CV, so if there are any gaps prior to that then it won’t matter. However, you will of course need to explain any recent gaps. A short gap of a few weeks or even a couple of months could easily be explained by stating that you were looking for another job – which is the most common reason for an employment gap. If however the gap was longer, there are still great ways of explaining this to a potential employer without putting them off. Here are a few fantastic tips to help you understand how to fill an employment gap on your CV... Be proactive Any period between employment should always be a proactive one,…
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A 101 guide to having your CV quality checked

A 101 guide to having your CV quality checked

Another pair of eyes checking your CV is essential. If you want to ensure it is not only free of mistakes but is also of the highest quality, ask a professional to review your CV. There are too many things to go wrong for just one person to take all the responsibility. Just the one small mistake which is missed could mean an instant rejection. Hiring managers are inundated with hundreds of applications and don't have time for mistakes, no matter how big or small. Whether it's formatting, structure, spelling and grammar - everything needs to be perfect. Here are a few tips to help show you the way… Find a professional/manager So who should you get to check over your CV? Should I look online for a professional service?…
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10 quick but important CV writing tips

10 quick but important CV writing tips

The CV is your most important sales tool you can use when looking for a new job. It is one of the tools you'll use again and again throughout your entire lifetime. Knowing some of the top tips to writing a good CV is important when you are getting your CV together. You want your CV to stand out from others and showcase your talents and abilities very well. Be honest. It's easy for an employer to check your facts. It may seem to make you look better at the time but it can backfire. Also, if you are found out later you could be terminated. If you over-inflate your abilities you just won't be able to live up to the expectations. Use one page only if that's appropriate. Condense…
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6 questions you should ask at a job interview

6 questions you should ask at a job interview

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…
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The top 4 unique soft skills your career badly needs

The top 4 unique soft skills your career badly needs

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…
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6 tips to help you get a pay rise

6 tips to help you get a pay rise

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…
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3 reasons why your CV could be rejected

3 reasons why your CV could be rejected

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…
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Adding humour to your CV

Adding humour to your CV

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…
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