job search Tag

How to spot a job scam We all know how stressful job-searching can be. After investing so much time preparing and submitting applications, it can be disheartening to receive numerous rejections. On top of that, there are job scams to look out for. In this blog post we share what you need to know about job scams and how to avoid them. What is a job scam? Job scams often involve fake online job advertising which target jobseekers via email, phone or social media. The end goal is to gain personal information from candidates or steal money from them.  Sadly, job scams are on the rise. According to a survey conducted by ActionFraud, “Over 700,000 jobseekers reported losing more than £500,000 through job scams – a 300% rise over the last two years”. Jobseekers aged 18-24 are more likely to be targeted as they are less knowledgeable about the job market and are often more desperate to find a job.  8 ways to...

12 November, 2019 /

[caption id="attachment_18465" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="There are over 350 different job roles across the NHS"][/caption] The NHS is one of the biggest employers in the world with over 1.6 million employees. When thinking about the health service, most people primarily think of doctors and nurses, but there’s a whole network within the organisation consisting of different roles - including non-medical. From the caterers who provide daily nutritious meals and skilled security personnel ensuring everyone is safe, there are also Human Resources departments focusing on retaining staff and keeping employee morale high. Working for the NHS can lead to a rewarding career, with benefits including flexible working options, pensions and opportunities to progress. Knowing you have contributed towards helping someone’s health can be also offer job satisfaction that you won’t receive in a regular office position. In order to treat millions more patients, there is an increased need for more professionals to join the healthcare sector....

25 May, 2018 /

[caption id="attachment_18497" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Don't make these common LinkedIn mistakes"] [/caption] Are you using LinkedIn effectively? With more than 546 million users (*as of 24 March 2018), LinkedIn is one of the world's largest on-line communities. It's important that you use it responsibly so it can continue to be the powerful professional networking tool it was designed to be. Here's five things you shouldn't do on LinkedIn: 1. Don’t send random connection requests Send connection requests in a mindful way. Think about why you want to connect with the person and personalise your connection request message by explaining why you think you should connect. 2. Don’t give fake endorsements You should only endorse people for skills you know they have and generally speaking only for those skills you have witnessed first-hand. Don’t feel obligated to endorse your connections just because they have endorsed you or if LinkedIn suggests an endorsement. 3. Don’t be an over-poster We’ve all seen them, the LinkedIn addicts who...

15 April, 2018 /

[caption id="attachment_18513" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="LinkedIn is a powerful networking tool"] [/caption] We've all done it. Logged in to LinkedIn, set up a profile, connected with some friends, old work colleagues maybe some family members and not returned for months or in some cases, years. The most common responses I get from people when I ask them if they're on LinkedIn are: "Oh yeah I am, I have a profile but it's not up to date and I haven't been on there for years." "I used to be on LinkedIn but I didn't see the point of it so I deleted my account." The whole premise behind LinkedIn is that it is a professional networking tool. But the thing is, if you are not using it to its full potential, it fails to be effective. That's no fault of the tool itself, but of the user of the tool - that's you and me. So what exactly...

25 February, 2018 /

[caption id="attachment_16177" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="It's good to have an up to date CV ready to send to potential employers"] [/caption] 1. Age or date of birth There is no need to include your age or date of birth in your CV since age discrimination legislation dictates that employers cannot discriminate based on a person’s age. 2. Meaningless career objective One of the things that annoy employers and recruiters the most is meaningless career objective statements. You know the ones: ‘A hard-working individual looking to join a progressive organisation where I can further develop my skills’....

28 January, 2018 /

[caption id="attachment_18570" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Tips for the perfect CV"] [/caption] Here's 10 steps to help you towards creating the perfect CV: 1. PERSONAL INFORMATION: Include your name, address, Email and contact telephone number/s. You do not need to include your middle name. 2. SUMMARY OR TITLE Include a single paragraph summarising your expertise and experience or a title that describes you and directly matches the role you are applying for. 3. SKILLS AND STRENGTHS Bullet point your skills and strengths to make it easy for the reader quickly identify what value you can bring to the role and to the company. 4. EMPLOYMENT HISTORY List your previous roles in reverse chronological order being sure to include a description of the company and your role along with your duties and responsibilities. 5. KEY ACHIEVEMENTS For each role, you should include 3-6 key achievements that demonstrate your competencies and excellence. Be sure to quantify achievements wherever possible e.g. Boosted productivity by 60% through...

05 October, 2017 /

[caption id="attachment_18573" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Have you updated your profile lately?"] [/caption] How long has it been since you updated your LinkedIn profile? If your answer is months or years (shame on you), now is the time to turn the spotlight on your LinkedIn profile and give it the shiny New Year’s makeover it deserves. Here are ten ways to make sure your LinkedIn profile stands out from the crowd: 1. ADD A RECENT PHOTO If your LinkedIn profile photo is more than 2 years old, it is out of date. Make sure your photo is not one of you out on the town holding a wineglass, but one that portrays you as the professional you really are. 2. MAKE YOUR PROFESSIONAL HEADLINE WORK FOR YOU Although your entire profile should be keyword-rich, making your Personal Headline as keyword-rich as possible will go a long way towards getting noticed. When someone searches for someone using key words...

25 September, 2017 /

[caption id="attachment_16775" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Thinking of changing career?"] [/caption] Changing jobs is challenging enough but changing to a whole new career can be overwhelming.  One of the biggest hurdles faced by career changers is how to make a smooth and successful transition to their new career.  To help, we’ve put together this step-by-step guide to make the transition to your new career an easier one. Research A vital first step in changing careers is to research your new career. Speak to people in the industry to gain a realistic insight in to the culture, conditions, opportunities and challenges. As part of your research you should aim to identify any skills gaps, transferable skills and any qualifications or certifications required for your new career. Find out what others in your chosen new career have done for example, what are their backgrounds? What was their progression route? What qualifications do they have? Develop a plan A good...

05 September, 2017 /

[caption id="attachment_18658" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Become an employed graduate"] [/caption] Although the latest economic reports suggest the grip of the recession has been ever-so-lightly loosened, the economy remains slow continuing its impact on the job market. Graduates are finding the job opportunities they expected to be waiting for them after years of study are not as plentiful as they had hoped. A dwindling number of graduate positions and large numbers of emerging students make for a frustrating combination. The lucky ones make industry connections alongside their studies moving into roles straight from university or college. Mature graduates with little or no experience in their new field of qualification often find it difficult to secure an entry level position, with some reporting they have had to take extended periods of unpaid work in an effort to gain relevant work experience. Not an ideal situation if you have a family to support, a mortgage and...

04 April, 2017 /

[caption id="attachment_18663" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Brand You - The most important brand of all"] [/caption] Personal branding has become one of the biggest buzz terms in recent years. If you haven’t bought into the hype but now wonder if you should have, here’s an overview of personal branding and why it could work for you. What is personal branding? Personal branding is about creating a brand for yourself just as a you would when marketing a product. In personal branding, you are the product. Why do I need a personal brand? By developing your personal brand, you set yourself apart from others. How do I develop my personal brand? Personal branding guru Dan Schawbel has developed four-step personal branding process to help you develop your own personal brand: Four step personal branding process: Discover – figure out who you are and how you can brand yourself Create – create a personal branding tool kit Communicate – communicate your brand regularly Maintain – maintain...

20 February, 2017 /