Writing a Good Covering Letter

A covering letter can be a good way to get yourself noticed during the job search. Jobs are highly competitive, especially in certain fields, and you will need to make sure you have something that makes you stand out. Use lots of buzzwords that will match up with the required skills for the jobs and make sure you fully outline how your experience matches the criteria for the position.

A cover letter is your chance to show that you are very interested in a position. Don’t just make it technical – let your personality show through as well. A recruiter or hiring manager will want to know whether you are going to fit into a team, so make sure they understand who you are and what you are about. Tell them about why you want the job, how you feel they can benefit from your experience and why you are an outstanding candidate.

Is it Really Worth Contacting a Recruitment Professional?

Stop putting off getting in touch with a recruitment consultant or agency. If you’re thinking about sending them your CV or introducing yourself in order to find a new job, there is no time like the present. Recruitment consultants can definitely help you to find the job of your dreams.

Recruitment professionals will have access to lots of jobs that you wouldn’t otherwise hear about. This is because many companies will use their trusted recruitment agency to find all of their potential candidates when a position opens up. This reduces their workload as they won’t have to source candidates themselves.

Recruitment professionals will also be able to help you throughout the recruitment process, providing support and advice along the way. They can provide an invaluable service to anybody looking for a new job, helping them to succeed in interviews and, where necessary, put together any written work or presentations.

Staying on the Good Side of your Boss

We all want to be able to get on with our boss and have a good time at work. It is not an easy relationship to manage though and sometimes, employees can find it hard to know exactly how to behave with their boss. Here are some tips for keeping your boss happy:

  • Ask questions and show an interest in the company. This will show that you are interested in your job and the people around you.
  • Also, don’t be afraid to have a laugh with your boss, if they are that kind of person.
  • Never take it too far though. Know when to stop. If you’re not sure whether to crack that joke or tell that story, ask yourself whether it will make you look professional. If it won’t, keep quiet.
  • Look for ways to go above and beyond your usual job role. This will help to get you noticed as a high achiever by your boss.

Deciding on the Right Career for You

Finding your perfect job is no easy task. It will take a number of factors for a job to be just right for you, so getting the perfect combination is easier said than done. We have some relevant advice for anybody trying to find the ideal job for them:

  • Think about your strengths, as well as your weaknesses. Then think about how this could translate into a career for you. Ask friends and family what they think too.
  • Visit a career advisor. They will be able to give you relevant and professional advice that can be totally invaluable. This will help you to assess your options and know what kinds of careers are out there.
  • Consider what you enjoy. This is absolutely essential as you will be spending a lot of your time at work. See how your favourite things could feed into a career, for example, if you love helping people and enjoy working with children, teaching could be the ideal job.
  • Browse through prospectuses and brochures. See what people with your qualifications are doing and how your skills and experience could be put to use.

Finding the Right Agency when Job Hunting

If you are looking for a new job, probably one of your first ports of call will be a recruitment agency. Employers will often use an agency when recruiting, so this is an excellent way to gain access to many of the best positions on the market. The question is – which agency do you choose?

How do I find an agency to work with? 

The internet is an excellent resource, and you can also look for agencies local to you who have job roles nearby. You will sometimes be able to sign up online, or you may be required to email them over your CV.

Do I really need to work with an agency at all? 

It is very helpful to. Think of all the hard work an agency can do for you. Once you have signed up, you will no longer have to search for positions and apply for them individually.

Can I choose more than one agency? 

This is very much up to you. Agencies will often ask if you’ve signed up with other recruiters, and whilst you don’t have to be honest, it could be easy to slip up. It mostly depends on how seriously you are looking. If you need a new job straight away, work with as many recruiters as you have to. If you aren’t in a position to attend high volumes of interviews, maybe just work with one agency.

How do I know if an agency is right for me? 

Watch out for agencies who don’t want to meet with you in person. They tend to be less reliable when making matches between employers and candidates. If they don’t make the effort to get to know you, how can you be sure that they’re making the effort to really find out about the role they’re offering you?

Other than that, the most important advice is to find a recruitment consultant who understands you and what you are looking for. If you’re able to talk to them, be honest with them and they present you with good opportunities, keep the relationship going as it’s likely to be a beneficial one.

Getting training to return to work

With many people on the hunt for a job, training and experience is essential if you want to give yourself the edge over other candidates applying for a position.

Even if a job is advertised as no previous experience necessary, you may find that an employer will favour a candidate that has a small amount of experience over those who don’t.

If you have been out of work for a while and are looking to get back in to working then why not enrol in a training course to bring you up to scratch. If, for example, you are looking to go in to an admin role then you may want to brush up on your computer skills. There are a wide range of IT courses available to people of all abilities from basic PC skills to advance spreadsheet and formatting courses allowing you to get the most out of packages such as Microsoft Office.