Companies need to have rules—that’s a given—but they don’t have to be shortsighted and lazy attempts at creating order. I understand the temptation. As my company has grown, so has our difficulty maintaining standards. There have been many instances where someone crossed a line, and we were tempted to respond with a new rule that applied to everyone. But that’s where most companies blow it. In just about every instance, upon closer inspection, we realized that establishing a new rule would be a passive and morale-killing way to address the problem. The vast majority of the time, the problem needs…
Author: CareerExperts
From the telephone interviews to the assessment centres, applying for a job can be a very lengthy process. The assessment centre is an incredibly crucial stage of your job application since this is where the company tests your workplace skills in person. The style of the assessment centre can vary between each company, but there is a general trend of activities which will take place. You can expect a group task, interview, presentation, individual task and a potential series of tests. Appearance The assessment centre begins from the minute you arrive at the door. It is important to arrive at…
‘Why do you want this job?’ is one of a number of common interview questions that is very likely to come up in any job interview you attend. So make sure you’re ready for it! When attending a job interview, it is always important to tell and show your interviewer that you want the job. It sounds obvious, but many candidates lose sight of this fact when they’re feeling nervous and under pressure. If this job interview question pops up, it’s the perfect time to explain why the job is perfect for you. Think about it from two angles: Why do…
So, you think your employment history is lacking some pizazz? Whether you’re panicking that your latest waitressing job isn’t really selling your abilities or your current role is unrelated to your desired career path, there are three very simple ways to ensure your employment history brings the wow factor. Read on to discover how to make any job look impressive on your CV, no matter what your experience. 1. Use the job description to anchor your CV A really simple way to make any job look impressive on your CV is by tailoring it to the job description. All too…
Money. Cash. Moolah. Whatever you call it, it really does make the world go round. In fact, it’s why most of us get up in the morning! It can give us everything from life’s luxuries to a roof over our heads and food in our bellies. Those little sheets of paper and metal coins are our lifeblood, so it’s no wonder people will go to extreme (and sometimes illegal) lengths for more money. However, you don’t need to rob a bank or hack a super-corporation to get your hands on some extra readies! There are plenty of good, easy jobs…
At times, we all need some extra motivational inspiration to carry us through the working week. It’s not always easy to focus and push ourselves to perform at our best and it’s a fact of life that we all have our good days and our bad ones. If you’re feeling low on inspiration this week and need a motivating boost, we have just the solution for you. Our ten inspirational quotes for work will help you to refocus on your dreams, get you positive attitude and work towards happiness and success! Our top inspirational quotes for work are: 1. Stay…
Choosing your degree subject is a big decision and there are a vast number and range of degrees to choose from. If the more conventional degrees like Maths, English and History aren’t appealing to you and commercial degrees like Business Management, Finance and Marketing seem a bit boring, you might want to consider some unconventional ideas… Take a look at these nine weird degrees! 1. Bagpiping – Carnegie Mellon University Do you want to be a bagpiper? Or a bagpipe teacher? Well, then there’s no better degree than this! 2. Brewing and Distilling – Herriot Watt University Pints at the…
Whether it’s What is your greatest weaknesses? or Describe a time you made a mistake at work, that ‘weaknesses’ interview question is sure to induce sweaty palms. But recent research from scientists at University College London suggests that there’s no need to worry about admitting your weaknesses. It turns out that people who voluntarily bring up their flaws when interviewing for jobs are more likely to be successful because they stand out from their rivals. But there’s a right and a wrong way to answer this question even if you are honest about your pitfalls. Read on to find out…
When choosing your career, there are plenty of common options that usually spring to mind. Teaching, being a Doctor, working in a commercial environment e.g. finance, HR, marketing or sales. While there are plenty of jobs out there that we are all too familiar with, there are also a few weird jobs that you wouldn’t have imagined. Someone’s got to test the newest water slides and someone has to look after the six ravens that live in the Tower of London. Yep, there are some weird jobs out there, so let’s take a look at 24 examples. 24 weird jobs…
Nearly 4 in 5 candidates (78%) say the overall candidate experience they receive is an indicator of how a company values its people. What does your candidate experience say about you? The experience a candidate has throughout your recruitment process has a big impact on their opinion of your business, their decision on your job offer and their performance within the role if they join you. Delivering a poor candidate experience can result in: High-calibre candidates turning down your job offers Poor reviews online. 72% of candidates who have had a poor candidate experience have shared their negative experience online…
For most of us, the biggest danger we face at work is running out of coffee (many of us turn into monsters without it)! But for some, every day on the job is riddled with danger. So what are the most dangerous jobs in the world? Crofton’s Injury Claims have created an infographic documenting some of the most unusual and dangerous careers from around the world. Would you dare quit your job and embark on any of these careers? Some of the most dangerous jobs in the world are: Spain – Matador Unsurprisingly, when your job revolves around getting an angry…
We’ve all said things that people interpreted much differently than we thought they would. These seemingly benign comments lead to the awful feeling that only comes when you’ve planted your foot firmly into your mouth. Verbal slip-ups often occur because we say things without knowledge of the subtle implications they carry. Understanding these implications requires social awareness—the ability to pick up on the emotions and experiences of other people. TalentSmart has tested the emotional intelligence (EQ) of more than a million people and discovered that social awareness is a skill in which many of us are lacking. We lack social awareness because…
Hiring the right people is one of the toughest challenges that every business faces. It is only with the right team that a company can thrive and grow. This is why it is so important for businesses and managers to recruit effectively. For employers, recruiting isn’t getting easier. It is becoming increasingly more difficult to attract top talent to businesses because candidates have so much choice. This is why more and more employers are choosing to work with good recruiters that have the expertise to find high-calibre candidates. If you’re unsure about whether working with a recruitment partner is the…
Do you know life working at a big corporate isn’t for you? Whilst you’re at university, it can feel like large-scale graduate schemes are the only graduate jobs out there, what with them being recommended by careers services and taking up the majority of the careers fairs. But fear not, there are many other options and in fact only a minority of students will end up working for those big names. So how do you find out about, build relationships with and ultimately get a job with smaller companies who never come near campus? By taking the following avenues you’ll…
Moving abroad is considered to be an exciting and adventurous move, full of healthy changes as well as challenges to overcome. Having a career in a different country can be a daunting prospect, and there are many things to consider before taking the leap. With differing laws, cultures and customs to contend with, you need to research extensively and be sure that the move will be right for you. Here are some factors to consider before taking your career abroad. Cost of living First off, the cost of living differs greatly from country to country, and it might not be…
Employers will not look at your CV with the same tender-loving-care that you have crafted it with – if it’s a recruiter they will simply say ‘will this earn me a fee’ and as they are looking to pick the low-hanging fruit they will reject it immediately if the answer is no or I don’t think so! When you read 100s of CVs you speed read the content by quickly scanning from left to right – you are not looking for detail. Your CV must therefore be a sales brochure, stating the key features and benefits that are relevant to…
How do you keep up with what is going on at any career stage and whatever job you do? Sometimes, it feels like the more you discover, the more you realise how little you know. We are data and information rich. But how do you find the relevant knowledge amidst the deafening noise to help you become wiser? This nagging sense that we are constantly missing something in a sea of data and opinion, or that others know more than we do, can fill us with doubt or leave us overwhelmed. The challenge is to join up the dots between information,…
Serious marketers are always keen to keep up to date with trends and to further their marketing knowledge through self-study. As a result, they’re continuously adding new books to their reading list. Here are some of the best marketing books that we would recommend all marketers read! 1. Made to Stick: Why some ideas take hold and others come unstuck In the course of over ten years of study, Chip and Dan Heath have established what it is that determines whether particular ideas or stories stick in our minds or not, and Made to Stick is the fascinating outcome of their…
Leaving university can be an exciting but also daunting time. After studying hard and taking your exams, entering the job market can feel like a large leap into a new world. Many graduates secure a graduate scheme or internship, however that’s not for everyone. Most people leaving university will start to approach job boards, recruitment agencies, and contact employers directly to secure that first all important full-time position. Without a doubt, there is one key document that you will need to make that first big impression, and that is a professional looking graduate CV. Writing your CV is the first…
I recently saw a comment below a CV tips article: “I have been out of work now for 6 months. I am a Chartered Engineer with many years of Project Management experience with good skills and a good CV. Your tips would only work if there are suitable jobs out there, but in these troubled times there are few here in the North West. Thanks anyway.” Feelings of sympathy obviously come to the fore, but they’re closely followed by bafflement. These troubled times … It’s hard to conclude that times are that tough when currently there is a 20,000-a-year shortfall…