It’s been a while but here’s the next letter in the series…..
A-Z guide to FINDING WORK YOU LOVE – Q
May 8th, 2012How safe is your online CV?
May 4th, 2012If you’re a recent graduate or college student, you’re probably used to submitting your personal details to the institution online. If this information were to get into the wrong hands, it would have severe consequences. Fortunately universities today have a grip on security. For example, Dell virtualization can help universities to keep data safe and easily accessible. Many universities also use Dell virtual desktop to help ease the user problems while switching computers.
But what happens once you’ve left university, you’re job hunting and you’re submitting your CV to online job boards? Many job seekers incorrectly use the scattergun approach to job hunt, posting their CV on as many job boards as possible in the hope that something positive will come back (of course, I know you don’t do this!). Depending on the information in the CV, this could leave the job seeker open to internet fraud.
To highlight the issue, a few years ago a fake website was set up during National Identity Fraud Prevention Week. A fake firm placed an advert and invited people to submit their CV. Over half the CVs submitted contained enough information to apply for a credit card.
The following information is like gold dust to fraudsters and should therefore be avoided on your CV:
- Date of birth
- Marital status
- Place of birth
- Passport number
- National insurance number
- Driving Licence number
The above information should never be shared with a potential employer until you are sure that the opportunity and the employer are genuine. If you are at all concerned about where your CV is going, it’s a good idea to research or even call the company or recruitment agency before sending it.
Miserable Adventures in Graduate Job Hunting
April 23rd, 2012My life is not like “Girls”, the new show that’s just premiered on HBO about girls post-university struggling to find paid employment and make ends meet. Actually, it is quite a lot like that, but unlike the “Girls” I don’t sponge off my parents or have delusions about being some great artist.
I did study art at university, but I don’t want to be an artist. I always wanted to something within the industry, and thought (perhaps naively?) that studying my passion would allow me to work with it in some way. Arts administration, arts PR, that kind of thing.
People aren’t lying when they say the job market’s hard. I know other people think that graduates should stop moaning about being unemployed because LOTS of people are unemployed, but it really is an indescribably demoralising experience to come to the end of those 3 glorious years, in which you have worked hard, despite what some people think (ok, I could have worked harder). But I achieved good things, and was ready, am ready, to knuckle down and really make myself invaluable to an employer.
Thankfully I’d worked part time during university, so on graduating I had a bit of money to keep me from starving. At first I held out for that big break, but then I started doing part-time bar work. People tell me I need to lower my standards, but I’ve applied for so many things: Jobs in arts administration, general administration jobs, dogsbody stuff for the person who does the administration, bar work, those awful sales jobs where you stand on the street annoying people.
The good news is I have an internship starting in a few weeks, a great “foot in the door” opportunity. I don’t know if they’ll be able to employ me, but it’s a step in the right direction. I just wish they’d pay me!
A – Z guide to FINDING WORK YOU LOVE – P
March 27th, 2012And here’s the letter P….
A-Z guide to FINDING WORK YOU LOVE – O
March 19th, 2012Coming to you from the wonderful world of Disney…..
A-Z guide to FINDING WORK YOU LOVE – N
March 10th, 2012You can do this one online, by phone, skype or face to face…..
A-Z guide to FINDING WORK YOU LOVE – M
March 5th, 2012And here’s your letter M in our series…..
A-Z Guide to FINDING WORK YOU LOVE – L
February 23rd, 2012OK so we’re pretty much half way through the series to help you find work that you love. Here’s the letter ‘L’….
A – Z Guide to FINDING WORK YOU LOVE – K
February 7th, 2012OK so where were we……..can you guess what K will be?
How to prepare for an interview
January 21st, 2012If you’ve been offered an interview, you’re already over the most difficult hurdle. In today’s job market, it’s not uncommon to find that only 5% of applications for jobs result in an interview. However, the hard work is about to start. You’ll need to make the most of the opportunity, and convince your prospective employers that you’re the best possible candidate.
Prepare Beforehand
Find out as much information as you can about the company or organisation that is considering hiring you. Check their website, Facebook page, Twitter feeds and press releases, also checking trade news sites for any mentions. Find out as much as you can about their market – who they sell to (or receive funding from), and who uses their services or products. Almost all organisations have two types of customers; you will need to get an understanding of both. Make a note of any questions that you need to ask at the interview stage.
Plan Your Route
Check how long it will take you to make the journey, and if necessary do a dry run. Allow yourself plenty of time on the day.
Dress for Success
Your interview outfit will depend on the type of company you’re seeing. A company looking for a quirky, creative type will have different requirements to a company seeking an ultra-conservative executive. Study photos on Facebook and the company’s website for pointers. If in doubt, be cautious and wear a suit.
Practice Your Technique
Interviews can be daunting if you’re not used to them. Ask your family and friends to give you ‘dummy interviews’ for practice, and get used to answering questions. If there are any gaps or omissions in your CV, be prepared for the interviewer to pick up on them. Decide in advance how you’ll answer any awkward questions to present yourself in the best light. If you’re well-prepared in advance, it’ll be harder for the interviewer to put you on the spot, and you’ll feel more confident. If you can video your dummy interviews, you will learn an awful lot from watching yourself in an interview situation.
On the Day
Arrive in plenty of time – 10 to 15 minutes early is ample, and won’t give you too much time to feel nervous. Give your name to the receptionist, along with the name of the person you’re meeting. Take your notes and a copy of your CV, and have a final check through whilst you’re waiting. Breathe deeply and evenly to combat nerves.
During the Interview
Answer questions as clearly and fully as you can. Present yourself in a good light, but be honest about your achievements. Asking one or two questions about the company shows that you’ve done your homework, but don’t ‘grill’ the interviewer.
Afterwards
Check what’s going to happen next. There may be another round of interviews, or they may make a decision straightaway. Remember to thank the interviewer for their time as you leave.
We are proud to host this guest post from Susanna Cha on behalf of Guardian Jobs
