Know what YOU want, and how to get it...

So, you have your CV written up. What next?

Firstly, and most importantly, decide what you want to do, and why you want to do it. This may sound obvious, or silly, but it's not, it is crucial. 

It may be that you have worked as a Secretary in a multinational IT company's UKHQ for the last 5 years. You may have loved it - brilliant. On the other hand, whilst you may have enjoyed aspects of your role, it may be that ideally you'd like to stay in your industry but work for a smaller company. Or get out of the IT industry altogether. It's the same for any profession. Writing down key words such as;

• location
• culture
• size
• industry
• money
• (and of course) role

will really help you to get into the right frame of mind for your jobsearch. What would push you towards one employer, or pull you away from another if they both offered you a job? Start with your absolute ideals, and then think about what you would prefer, and then again about what you will accept. 

I would then suggest writing a list of all the companies you would like to work for, and why. It may be that you used to work with them as a client/supplier, they were a competitor, or that you have heard good things about them and their products through trade press and networking. You might also want to Google companies within your target sector in your area and then select those that fit in with your original criteria.  Be sensible, flexible and open-minded and you should end up with an extensive, healthy looking list of many companies to aproach.

The next step would be to do you research into these companies. Take your time to find out the names of contacts within HR and your relevant department. Find out (through their website, networking, calling through to the company) if they are currently recruiting, and if so, who is responsible for the initial stages. If they do not have any live vacancies, don't be put off - they may need someone in the near future but don't have "sign-off" for the recruitment yet.

Once you have these lists to hand, you can send your CV along with targeted cover letters to each company, explaining (briefly) your exact reasons for wanting to work with them, and what benefits you can bring to them. Whether they are currently recruiting for live vacancies, or are just thinking about the near future, this will make you stand out against standard, robot-like written applications.

Secondly, get your details on to the job boards, such as; 

• Monster
  
• Guardian Jobs
  
• Reed
  
• Jobsite
  
• Totaljobs
  

These are all fairly generalised, with a wide range of jobs covering various positions. If you work in a more technical or specialised profession, I suggest researching which job-boards specifically target you - there are far too many to list but if you need help with this please contact me for suggestions.

Make your details sound interesting. List your skills clearly and use tag words that potential employers will search for. As a recruiter I spent many happy hours trawling job boards - the best CV's stand out as they are full of relevant detail. 

If you speak languages, make sure this is clear. If you are willing to relocate, or travel, make this known. These little details will make a huge difference when an employer is scanning a hundred CV's a day.

Thirdly, approach Recruitment Agencies. I would recommend using industry specific  agencies wherever possible - the Consultants will understand the job you do, will be able to probe into your skills and experience and gather information that may not be on paper. This will enable them to match your details to jobs they are working on - even if your CV doesn't scream out that you may be ideal. Believe me, a good consultant is worth their weight in gold, and will know industry details that may prove invaluable.

It may seem like a good idea to flood the market with your details - in fact the opposite is true. Clients who receive the same CV from 5 or 6 agents start to doubt the processes. If an agency doesn't sound like they have an absolute understanding of your role and requirements - if they just talk at you rather than asking you questions - I wouldn't let them represent you. Start by working alongside 1 or 2 experts, and if they can't help within a week or so, start to widen your net. 

If you are new to an industry, or new to work in general, the high street agencies may be a good place to start. This time last year, I would have suggested using your agency as a first resort - but in the current climate, be aware that no matter how good a Consultant is, the recruiting company may not be willing to pay agency fees.

Most importantly:

Stay positive, and keep working at it. No matter how good you are, don't rely on a job coming to you - contact as many companies directly with a personal touch as you possibly can, keep in touch with your agents and respond quickly and professionally to any emails or messages**

Finding a job can often be a full time job itself, and in these times it will inevitably harder than usual. The more preparation and research you do at this stage, the better. Make sure you keep a strict list of where your CV has gone, and who sent it (you, or name of agency). There are jobs out there, and you can get one!

** Please ensure both your email address and voicemail message are professional - You wouldn't believe some of the things I've heard or seen!

CV Masterclass - Tips to make YOU stand out from the crowd

There's no denying it. We are living in a difficult and harsh financial climate, with unemployment figures reaching over 2 million last month, the highest since 1997.

Redundancies have unfortunately become a daily occurrence, and pay cuts for employees at all levels are commonplace. This week, top executives at The Guardian Media Group, including Alan Rusbridger, Editor-in-Chief, took a 10% pay reduction. Thousands of others are in the same boat.

So what does this mean for you? Many people won't have bee involved in a job hunt for a number of years. Those that have, will most probably have relied on agencies, in a much easier market, and probably by choice. 

If you are looking for a new job now, competition will be fierce. Many companies will have recruitment freezes on for everything other than the most vital of roles, and are unlikely to be using agencies as a first choice. 

The recruiting Manager or HR department will most likely receive hundreds of applications for every advertised role, along with various speculative applications. Many of the candidates applying will not have the relevant qualifications for the job, or may even be overqualified. Some CV's will be far too long, with pages of waffle covering up any useful information, and this will inevitably frustrate the employer. Some candidates still feel it necessary to include lengthy lists of personal information and hobbies, information on their spouse and children, or photographs. 

You may think that being "different" makes you stand out in a positive way. However, imagine you are that Manager, or HR Assistant, trying to get on with your other duties but inundated with all of this information. You would probably start to become ruthless - only paying real attention to the most professional looking resumes with clear and concise details, and skimming over the rest. As a recruiter, I read hundreds of CVs a week, and had feedback from clients at all levels. They all had similar frustrations with badly written resumes landing on their desks.

So, how do you write the best possible CV? Here are the basics;

• DO: Select a classic, easy to read font in size 11 or 12. Use the same font throughout in black, and make headers bold to ensure they stand out.
  
  
• DON'T: Use a flashy font, make the text too small or use a variety of fonts or colours. You may believe this will make you stand out, in fact, it will make the words "swim" and potentially discourage a prospective employer from reading on.


• DO: Follow a professional, structured template, with an easy to follow layout, including;

1. Contact Details: Name, Address, Phone (Home & Mobile), Email, Professional Web page or Portfolio Link (if you have one).
   
2. Skills Summary: Just a few lines using keywords to describe what computer packages, specialist or industry related skills you can bring to a new employer.
   
3. Career Objective: What you want from your next career move. A short, concise statement that informs the reader what you are looking for from a new role.
   
4. Career History: Your work experience to date. Start with your most recent role and work backwards. Include bullet points outlining your duties and day to day tasks, and prioritise the most important. Also include key accomplishments within each role, and your reason for leaving.
   
5. Education: Details of your school, any further education, and training courses (both internal and external). Unless you have been in education very recently, it is not necessary to list all GCSE subjects and the grades individually. However, A Level and University information should be clearly listed here.

• DON'T: Attempt to create a wacky design with photographs, pictures or text in strange places. It will confuse the eye and take up excessive time, which could deter the reader.
  


• DO: Keep it concise. For each role, get straight to the point, using keywords, tangible examples and figures to illustrate your skills and achievements where possible. This is your opportunity to sell yourself and your success to date. Employers like to hear about these key things;

1. Money: Have your actions directly or indirectly saved your employer money? If you've found ways to reduce departmental expenses by bringing in new procedures, got a project in under budget or negotiated with suppliers to to reduce costs, explain how and the effect its had. If you have made your company money, this is the time to breakdown your achievements. If you have overachieved against your target, show this either in £ or % here.
2. Time: If you have managed to bring in a project ahead of schedule, or are consistently saving your Directors or Direct Managers time by implementing new processes or systems, give details. Explain how it's made a difference. If you have managed to negotiate additional time-frames, or renegotiated delivery times without negatively affecting your client customer, give examples.
3. Also give details of any ways you have have gone above and beyond your job specification, of internal/external awards you've been given or any special recognition you've received. This will include any articles you may have had published, speeches you may have given or mentoring or training you've given.

• DON'T: Waffle, make jokes or lie. CV's are there to sell what you can do in a clear and concise way, not a place to exaggerate or make false claims. You will be found out and this will go against you in the long run.
  

If you are emailing your CV directly to potential employers, always write a professional, tailored covering letter that attracts attention and makes the recipient want to read more. Do your research, find out who the hiring Manager or HR contact is, what the job involves and how you may be suitable. Highlights these points in a paragraph and then sign off professionally, thanking them for your time and explaining why, and how keen you are to speak with them further regarding your skills and experience.

If you are sending your CV in the post, do the same but choose a good quality, white or cream paper. Address the envelope to the right contact and ensure your contact details are clear and obvious. I'd also advise adding a header or footer to your CV with your name and phone number on each numbered page, in case the pages get separated at any point.

It may be that you're applying for jobs in many different types of companies, and even for different roles. In this case, it is wise to save a selection of resumes, each one relevant to the sector or position you will be applying to. This will enable you to select the correct CV quickly, rather than having to amend a master copy each time you apply for a new role.

There are standard templates for CV's on Word packages, and advice and other templates can be found all over the internet on sites such as;

• CV Articles
• Careers Advice
  
• Alec
• Prospects

Most importantly, keep the content of your CV fresh, original, factual and interesting. Try not to use the same words or phrases repeatedly - stretch your vocabulary and check your spelling and grammar. This isn't just a list of skills, it's your opportunity to sell your experience to a prospective employer. Remember, this is your chance to make a first impression, to make yourself stand out. Keep it brief, but ensure your personality shines through, alongside your achievements and the reasons you would be a benefit to this company. Make them want to meet you!

This is a brief, but hopefully helpful guide to writing your resume. However, if you need any help or advice on your personal CV, please do not hesitate to contact me. I'll be happy to help wherever I can.

Good luck!

This City Girl has Gone Good....

If you're one of the many who are looking for a job right now, I used to be that person you probably love to hate.

Until not so long ago, I was the Recruiter, the "Consultant", the one person who could influence a client to see your CV, or not. And I was good. In fact, I'm ashamed to say I was very good at manipulating people, finding out their "pushes" and their "pulls", driving them towards a role in a company that would pay me the highest commission. I made a lot more money than many of the people I was "helping". I apologise for that. I worked 12 or 13 hour days, I hit targets, I went on company trips to luxurious destinations, I got drunk and I partied and the next day I made it in to the office and hit more targets. 

And then I found a heart.

I appreciate that the paragraph above makes me sound cold - heartless - a bitch even. But I'm not, I can assure you. I was, I like to think, one of the better consultants out there. Despite being trained not to, I did actually care about the people I was representing, and because of that my methods were often frowned upon. I was a rare breed in my field...honest, which doesn't go down well in a profession dominated by liars. We weren't supposed to care whether you get your ideal job, or whether you like it, or whether you stayed there (more than 3 months that is...) We're just supposed to bill. And bill more. And more. Until we burn out or steal a client list and set up on our own, in a separate, even less scrupulous practice. At the end of the day, Recruiters are there to make money for their bosses. Lots of it. And if they, don't, they're out, quicker than you can say "I hate Recruiters". It's a harsh world.

I recruited Stockbrokers, Sales Stars and Marketing Guru's. People at the top of their game. People who make hundreds of thousands of pounds a year, but who, bless them, have no idea how to interview. Who still insist on putting a photograph or some "jokes" on their resume. I always got them jobs, I always made my money, but I rarely went home happy.

So recently, I just stopped. I decided I didn't want to lie for a living anymore. I want a life where I can see my friends, spend time with Him, get home before 10pm and not have to drink to "unwind" 5 nights a week. 

But I learnt a lot in my 12 years on the job, and it would be selfish to keep that to myself. I've published articles in trade magazines and presented to hundreds at seminars. So in times that we all know are hard, I want to help you get a head start if you need a job. There's going to be a lot of competition. There will be times you don't win. But I will do my best to share what knowledge I've gained, to give tips and advice, and to answer any questions you have. Whether you are looking for a job at £20k or at £120k, I hope I can help. And I won't make a penny from it.

If you, or anyone you know are looking for work, please take the time to read my ramblings. They may just apply to you. And if you have any questions that haven't yet been answered here, email me and I'll either reply in a new post or personally...

Maybe I'll eventually I'll even become the one you love to love!