COVERING LETTERS.
Many job applications ask for a CV or resume accompanied by a covering letter. This is your opportunity to shine! Make sure that you write a good letter, well set out with NO spelling mistakes!
Before you write the letter look carefully at the job advert, what skills and experience are they looking for? Make sure that you highlight your skills and experience in the area that they are looking for! Tell them you have the skills rather than leaving them to try and work out from your resume if you have the skills. They might get it wrong and think that you do not have the skills when you don!
Monday, 11 July 2011
Monday, 4 July 2011
Use of Spellchecker on your Job Application Form
If you complete a Job Application Form online you will probably use the spell checker function on your computer. Be warned!! Make sure that your spell checker is in the correct language. I realised this today, whilst completing a form that my spell checker was an American version whilst I needed to use the British version. Needless to say I have asked the family nerd to change it, but until then , it is out with the dictionary!
Answering the questions in an interview
So, you get offerred an interview and you turn up looking smart and clean. You are pleasamt , they are pleasant and ask you to sit down...... that's when the hard part starts.
The point of an interview is for the prospective employer to see if they like you and the prospective employee "you" to see if you like them.
The last two interviews I have had, I did not like the firm and could not imagine working there! This is a bad attitude if you really need a job. At an interview you should appear keen to work there, smile, and don't be too candid. For instance I was asked "what made you apply for this job". My answer "It is five minutes walk away" was not what they were looking for- so a better answer would have been " I have seen the work that your company does and I think they are a market leader who I would really like to work for".
Some questions seem a bit stupid- "can you use the e mail" ( I thought nearly everyone could) Yes I answered as if it was a stupid question which it was to someone who has done office work for 30 years, but the interviewer was not impressed- obviously as I didn't get the job.
Teamwork - do you work as part of a team or work alone. There is my standard answer borrowed from my nephew "there's no I in TEAM" but the better answer must be, "I can work alone and am happy to do so but there are many occassions when it is beneficial to ask for the assistance of others who have different skills to yourself"
The point of an interview is for the prospective employer to see if they like you and the prospective employee "you" to see if you like them.
The last two interviews I have had, I did not like the firm and could not imagine working there! This is a bad attitude if you really need a job. At an interview you should appear keen to work there, smile, and don't be too candid. For instance I was asked "what made you apply for this job". My answer "It is five minutes walk away" was not what they were looking for- so a better answer would have been " I have seen the work that your company does and I think they are a market leader who I would really like to work for".
Some questions seem a bit stupid- "can you use the e mail" ( I thought nearly everyone could) Yes I answered as if it was a stupid question which it was to someone who has done office work for 30 years, but the interviewer was not impressed- obviously as I didn't get the job.
Teamwork - do you work as part of a team or work alone. There is my standard answer borrowed from my nephew "there's no I in TEAM" but the better answer must be, "I can work alone and am happy to do so but there are many occassions when it is beneficial to ask for the assistance of others who have different skills to yourself"
Friday, 1 July 2011
Interview Preparation
So you are lucky, you have been granted an interview- now is the time to do some preparation work.
Look at the companies website if they have one and try and find out the spirit and the ethos of the company- and the tailor your answers to the replies as if you were working there. If they are big on customer service, think about how you have shown good customer service or if its your first job, think about times when you have had really good customer service and be able to explain why they think its so good.
If you are having to go for a job that is beneath your normal level of work then tailor your answers. I went for one yesterday, the poor woman asked me if I could send an e mail- I then started to explain an Search Engine Optimisation Project I was working on- I don't think she understood, all she wanted was "yes, I can and I can forward and add attachments".
Find out where you are going in advance and allow extra time. If you really want the job allow double the travelling time. I was called to an interview recently and it coincided with a strike of teachers and an University Open Day and students going home. I sat in traffic for 45 minutes unable to move and was half an hour late, having allowed only 15 minutes flexibility. In the end I didn't like the job so I was not disappointed that I didn't get the job, but I am sure if I had listened to her questions better, and answered what she had asked, and not been late I would have stood a better chance!
Look at the companies website if they have one and try and find out the spirit and the ethos of the company- and the tailor your answers to the replies as if you were working there. If they are big on customer service, think about how you have shown good customer service or if its your first job, think about times when you have had really good customer service and be able to explain why they think its so good.
If you are having to go for a job that is beneath your normal level of work then tailor your answers. I went for one yesterday, the poor woman asked me if I could send an e mail- I then started to explain an Search Engine Optimisation Project I was working on- I don't think she understood, all she wanted was "yes, I can and I can forward and add attachments".
Find out where you are going in advance and allow extra time. If you really want the job allow double the travelling time. I was called to an interview recently and it coincided with a strike of teachers and an University Open Day and students going home. I sat in traffic for 45 minutes unable to move and was half an hour late, having allowed only 15 minutes flexibility. In the end I didn't like the job so I was not disappointed that I didn't get the job, but I am sure if I had listened to her questions better, and answered what she had asked, and not been late I would have stood a better chance!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)