If you are looking to make a big impression with and improve your CV then it’s crucial that you don’t make any careless mistakes. Whether it’s poor formatting or inappropriate content, it only takes one or two blunders for employers to start doubting your credibility as a candidate. Before you hit the job market or make any further applications, check out StandOut CV’s latest visual guide to the 9 deadliest CV errors and discover how to improve your CV. Here are some key point to note: 1. Avoid anything that makes your CV look unprofessional; this includes things like unprofessional…
Author: CareerExperts
It’s the end of the day: “What are you up to tonight?” “Well, first I’ve got my spin class, then yoga, then I’m off for cocktails with the girls, then when I get home I’ll be spring cleaning the house and baking cupcakes for the kids’ bake sale! What about you?” “Erm…” Sound familiar? Everyone else in the office seems to be whizzing around all day with endless energy like excitable Labradors, while you’re sat at your desk like: By the time the end of the day comes, you’re wondering whether or not it would be socially acceptable to crawl…
Job hunting – it’s rarely easy especially when it comes to looking for a new role whilst still being in employment. Finding the time to search and apply, sneaking a look at emails on your lunch break and dashing out of the office to take phone calls can leave you feeling awkward and guilty. It’s definitely worth it though, because when you get that call inviting you to interview for that fantastic role you want, you’ll feel great! But here’s the trickiest part, how can you get time off work for your interview? Attending an interview on your current company’s…
Salespeople get a lot of stick for what they do. Many people have a negative opinion of those who sell for a living, but this view probably exists thanks to bad salespeople. In fact, being in a sales role takes a lot of guts, drive and self-motivation, salespeople deserve much more credit than they get! There are those who are naturally gifted with selling skills or those who pick them up along the way. However having found your way into sales, it’s almost guaranteed that you have your own techniques and strategies you like to use when it comes to…
Early summer is the perfect time to spring clean your CV. When a recruiter or a job advertisement has a pressing deadline, you will be able to relax in the knowledge that your CV is ready to send. Working on a CV now, ahead of the peak hiring periods, allows you the time to carefully assess your CV and career against your objectives. Make sure that you take the opportunity to review every aspect to ensure a thorough update. Here is a checklist you may find useful to follow. Format The best and most effective CV format is still a…
Did you know that those aged between 18 and 29 are more likely to switch jobs than ask for a pay rise from their current employer? Well, a recent report found just that. Whilst if you’ve been in that situation you’re likely to be nodding your head in agreement, changing jobs every time you feel you deserve and need a pay rise is far from ideal. The saying goes: ‘if you don’t ask you don’t get’ and whilst this is perhaps a quite presumptive approach – when it comes to asking for a pay rise – if you’re too afraid…
The importance of building team spirit in the workplace is undeniable. While it’s true that some jobs, and some people, are better suited to going solo, others can flourish in a team environment. In roles where we are required to cooperate, interact and, in the long run, share success with our colleagues, effective teamwork and team spirit can have a noticeably positive impact on working life. Being able to work well as part of a team is often assumed to be a given – it sounds easy enough, doesn’t it? However, this doesn’t come naturally to everyone. For whatever reason,…
In today’s world, there’s fierce competition for jobs everywhere. With more and more people earning valuable qualifications, such as university degrees, employers are looking for that extra flair in potential employees. This is where soft skills come in. No matter where you go, soft skills such as communication, decision making, flexibility and time management, are becoming as equally desirable as technical skills because they show competence within the workplace. A great set of transferable, soft skills to possess are interpersonal skills. Emotional intelligence – defined by experts to be “Somebody’s ability to monitor their own emotions, other people’s emotions and…
Getting a promotion at work isn’t easy. You have to earn it, but contrary to popular belief it isn’t all about working hard. Follow our 8 tips and see if that promotion comes your way. 1. Build strong relationships If you’re looking to take that next step up, building strong relationships and connections at work is crucial. Do you have a good working relationship with your Manager? Do your colleagues respect and enjoy working with you? Are you well-known around the office? Do you have valuable industry connections? Sometimes it’s less about what you know, but who you know that…
Once upon a time, the only people who needed digital skills were those who wanted a job in the IT sector or other computing careers. These days, in a world where search engines, word processors, email and social media reign supreme, there’s no escape: we are living in the digital age. The digital revolution shows no signs of slowing, in fact, there have been political debates surrounding digital skills. Some believe that schools should be teaching these skills as part of the foundation curriculum with the same amount of focus as is given to maths and literacy. Everything is online…
Nothing sabotages your productivity quite like bad habits. They are insidious, creeping up on you slowly until you don’t even notice the damage they’re causing. Bad habits slow you down, decrease your accuracy, make you less creative, and stifle your performance. Getting control of your bad habits is critical, and not just for productivity’s sake. A University of Minnesota study found that people who exercise a high degree of self-control tend to be much happier than those who don’t, both in the moment and in the long run. “By constant self-discipline and self-control you can develop greatness of character.” –Grenville…
Have you got an interview coming up? Make sure that you avoid these top 7 interview mistakes! 1. Arriving late This immediately sets a bad impression suggesting that you may be disorganised, a poor time-keeper or that you don’t care about the opportunity. Do everything in your power to make sure that you arrive on time: Allow for travel delays Do a practice run Know where you’re going If you are running late, be sure to ring ahead and let your interviewer know. 2. A flimsy handshake This just doesn’t make a good first impression. A strong handshake (don’t go…
The results are out! The Guardian has released the results for their UK university league tables 2016. Where does your uni come in? The top 3, Cambridge, Oxford and St Andrews are unsurprisingly non-movers, but there have been some dark horses that have moved their way up the ranks in the university league tables for 2016. Contenders such as the Universities of Surrey, Sussex and Coventry have all shot up the table into the top 20, whereas big players such as Imperial College, the London School of Economics and the University of Sheffield have all taken a tumble from where…
Job searching – it isn’t an easy task but it is well worth all the effort when you land a great opportunity! There’s plenty of job seekers out there, so you need to make sure you’re ticking all of the boxes and standing out from the crowd. You’ve got plenty to offer employers, so make sure that they see it. Here are the top 6 reasons why job seekers fail: 1. You’re unsure about what kind of job you’re looking for If you’re just starting out in your career or looking to make a big change, then before you even…
What does it take to become successful? Hard work? Time? Tenacity? In truth, it’s like asking “how long is a piece of string?” – there isn’t really a set answer. However, if we asked you what you needed to do to be successful, what would you say? It’s almost guaranteed that you will mainly consider the physical, tangible things you could do. Of course, development of professional skills, expanding your knowledge and building business relationships will all help you on your way. That being said, something that can easily be overlooked is the power of looking within. We’re talking about…
Working from home has become the latest trend and we are talking globally here. Every day, more and more companies are allowing their employees to work from home at least once or twice a week. And even more companies are seeking to outsource, looking for employees who can work from home and, sometimes, from a different country. We can see these “work from home” job offers increasing every single day on different job boards and people are really starting to get into this new groove because, let’s face it, staying at home has to be better than going to the…
Tony Robbins is a renowned motivational speaker and self-help guru – his talks and advice surrounding many topics can be transferable to both your personal life and your professional success. When it comes to building relationships, whether you’re trying to win over your interviewer or simply make a new friend in a colleague, he wants you to know one thing: “Rapport is power.” Rapport itself can be defined as a relationship in which the parties “understand each other’s feelings or ideas and communicate well.” And it’s your secret weapon when it comes to being successful in your professional endeavours. Got…
The Monday blues are a common phenomenon. After a lovely weekend doing whatever takes your fancy, being back at your desk can bring you hurtling back to reality with a thud. That being said, usually, as the morning goes on (and after a strong cup of coffee), you’re soon back in the swing of things. But what about when the Monday Blues hang around all week and you generally feel unhappy at work? Everyone has had ‘one of those days’; the boss is on a rampage, the phone won’t stop ringing, deadlines or targets are looming and you feel like…
If you want to land your dream job, then it’s likely that your CV will need to be approved by at least one recruiter. Impressing recruiters is your gateway to hiring managers and job interviews – but what exactly do recruiters want to see in a CV? This latest guide from StandOut CV shows how recruiters read your CV and what steps you can take to adapt your CV in order to give them what they want. By seeing things from a recruiter’s perspective, you will have a much greater chance of writing an effective CV. Recruiters must open your…
A new dawn for workplaces has evolved in recent years, with creatives and start-ups paving the way for change when it comes to our 9 to 5 duty. Gone are boring office designs and regimented working days, and in its place are energetic, fun, and most importantly engaging workplaces and job roles which are making waves across a number of industries. But, along with these new office trends comes a new skillset. With a record number of students applying to university in 2015 (a 2% increase on 2014) according to UCAS, savvy graduates know that when it comes to standing…