Jobs & Careers with Piers Linney - 41

ADVICE :

CHECKLIST

Nail that

APPLICATION

BEFORE YOU APPLY FOR THAT JOB - WAIT! IT
MAKES SENSE TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE PREPARED,
AND TO DOUBLE CHECK YOU'VE DONE EVERYTHING
YOU CAN TO BOOST YOUR CHANCES OF SUCCESS...

Words: Katherine Kavannagh. Images: Getty Images.

Take your time and triple
check your CV

Consider carefully whether
you actually want the job

* Use a large, bold font for your name and
place it at the top. Don't bother putting
'CV' or 'Curriculum Vitae' on it, it's obvious
what it is!
* Adapt it for the job you are applying for. If
the advert asks for someone who is good
at time management, make sure that your
CV includes an example of this.
* Ensure your contact details are correct, and
relevant (no silly/joke email addresses) and
that there are no typos. Get someone else to
read over it to double check it for you.
* Make it clear to read - 12pt is a good size.
* Place your current or most recent
experience at the top of your work history.
* Don't add your references - just write
'References available on request'.
* If the job requires you to send samples
of your work, or you are emailing your CV
with a covering letter, make sure you add
the attachments before you send.

When it comes to job hunting, less is more.
It is all too tempting to apply for every job
going, even if you're not particularly
interested in the role, but it is better to send
off a few thorough applications for jobs
you really want. It may take longer in the
beginning, but it will be worth it in the end.

Tailor your covering letter to suit
each company you apply to
Don't send out one blanket letter for all your
applications; take your time to tailor each
letter for each job. Be sure to cover any
particular skills or attributes that were
mentioned in the application.
And make doubly sure it is addressed
to the right person, and free of spelling
mistakes and grammatical errors.

Edit your online profile
If employers are interested in you, they will
check you out online. So go through your
Facebook, Twitter and Google+ accounts
and delete anything that is unprofessional.
Change your privacy settings so that potential
employers can't see personal photos of you
on the beach, or getting drunk with friends.

Be prepared for interview
Imagine if your application made it through
to round two and they called and asked you to
come for a chat. Tomorrow. Are you ready?
Always have your interview outfit clean, and
read our feature on interview tips (p44).

Keep a list
Make a note of the jobs you have applied for,
who you sent your application to, on what
date, and all their contact details. That way
you can follow up on applications quickly
and easily. If the advert states 'only those
successful will be contacted' and you haven't
heard anything after a few weeks, then

unfortunately you haven't made it through
this time. If it doesn't, wait two weeks, then
contact the HR department, or the person
you applied to directly, ideally by phone, or via
a follow-up letter. Ask if your application was
received and is being taken further, and, if
not, for any constructive feedback. It won't
hurt to ask, and you may learn something.

Be proactive
Don't wait for job adverts to appear. List
your CV on job boards such as Cvlibrary
(www.cv-library.co.uk), and register with
job-hunting websites so they can email you
when a suitable job is listed. Go to recruitment
fairs, search on company websites, and tell
everyone you meet that you are actively
looking for work. It also doesn't hurt to phone
companies directly - call and speak to a
human, ask what opportunities are available
that may not have been advertised yet. If no
positions are available, ask if you can send in
your CV to go on file.

Have a plan B
If you've been looking for work for a while
with no success, start thinking about ways
to make more of your free time. Consider
taking further training, or swotting up on
your social media skills. Also, look into
volunteering or interning to learn new skills.
Showing employers that you're not just sitting
around waiting for a job to land in your lap
will show you have initiative.
J O B S & C A R E E R S /// 0 4 3
http://www.cv-library.co.uk
Jobs & Careers with Piers Linney

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