To help with your 2012 job seeking strategy, we've asked our experts to identify what's new, what's important and what will impress when it comes to finding work in the new year
Tanya de Grunwald is founder of careers advice website Graduatefog.co.uk
Don't forget the opportunities that SMEs offer: Many graduates ignore SMEs (small and medium enterprises) and focus all their energy on the big graduate schemes with companies they've heard of - but in doing that they are missing out on fantastic opportunities. Working for a small company can feel risky, but even big companies are going bust nowadays so nowhere is 100% 'safe'. What's more, if you choose wisely, you'll might well get to do much more varied work than if you'd been accepted for a big graduate scheme. Don't worry if you don't have all the skills and experience specified in the job ad.
Because SMEs tend to have fewer applicants for their roles, they are often willing to be more flexible than big companies are. If you're missing one of their must haves, don't draw attention to it, just highlight the skills and experience that you do have and explain how you feel that would be an asset to their company.
Charlie Duff is a digital engagement specialist and community manager for BraveNewTalent, a social platform enabling talented people to network with top employers
Don't be afraid to let people know you're job seeking - if you don't ask, you don't get: There's no need to be ashamed of looking for work. Recent research we commissioned showed more than one in five would not tell anyone they were job hunting. This was even higher – 36% - among those aged 55 and over. We know that most jobs are never advertised, and when people are recommended for jobs they are more likely to get them. So even if you feel a bit sheepish about it, you should definitely ask your family, friends and business contacts if they know of anywhere you could be valuable. Additionally, open up to your social networks as your social circles can help you professionally. People generally love to feel they are helping others, and if you don't ask, you certainly won't get.
Mildred Talabi is a CV consultant, trainer and the author of 7 Keys to a Winning CV: How to create a CV that gets results, published by Harriman House
Seriously sell yourself on your CV - and don't forget the interests and activities section: Learning to sell yourself on your CV is going to become crucial for graduates. Previously, all you needed to waltz into the job of your dreams was the mention of a decent grade from a top university and one or two work experience placements here and there, but not anymore. Today, more and more graduates are coming out with good degrees and work experience to match so employers really are spoilt for choice.
The solution for the savvy graduate is to learn how to sell yourself on your CV in order to give yourself the edge over other candidates, and one way to do this is by focusing on the interests and activities section of your CV. Where previously this was a token section included at the very end to fill up space, the new rules require job seekers to pay closer attention to what goes here, because employers have certainly started to do the same. Interests and activities reveal much more about a person's character and the attributes they'll bring to a role. So if you really want to stand out from the crowd, mention that peculiar craft-making hobby you have, or the fundraising dinner you organised to raise money for your local youth centre. Be unique, be specific, and be honest in what you share and you may just find yourself at the very top of the interview shortlist pile.
Lucy Williams is a careers adviser at the Careers and Employability Centre, University of Birmingham
Learn to spot application fatigue - stop applying when you get totally fed up with the process: Going through selection processes can feel like an assault course. This is deliberate - recruiters want applicants to look at the exercises involved and feel like it's not worth the battle. In theory, this should leave them with applicants who enthusiastically plunge into the assault course based on their determination to work there. In short, making applications is mentally tiring and the process often unhappily collides with academic deadlines and all the other activities which keep students busy.
When you are time poor, it's better to put your energies into a small number of quality applications than apply to a large number of employers, each demanding to know why you've applied to them in a tiny word limit forcing you to produce a haiku-like answer in which you successfully demonstrate your fit with their values, culture and mission. Finally, stop making applications when you get totally fed up with the process. I can tell when students have application fatigue, which means the recruiter can too. OK, so you might miss a deadline but there are other ways to get a job and trying a new method might help get your energy and enthusiasm back, which means you're more likely to succeed.
Alexandra Hemingway is a careers adviser at the University of Surrey
Use social media to gather information about an employer: Networking is not a new idea, but social media has greatly improved access to new contacts. For starters, networking online is great for people who'd rather take the time to consider what they type than front up to a stranger in person, or on the phone. The important thing to remember is that networking isn't just about asking people to give you a job, it's an ongoing process of gathering information. The more you know, the better position you're in to prove yourself and your abilities.
An easy starting point is Googling organisations that interest you, to find news and facts and reading around the whole of the company website, instead of just the job advert. You could also graduate from Facebook to its more professional cousin, LinkedIn, which allows users to search by company name. This means you can track down current employees and check out their career trajectory to see what are the high priority skills and experiences that worked for them. If you haven't got as far as naming your target, you can also search by location and industry and find out what's happening in your chosen sector. Another way to reach out is to search for alumni of your university to find friendly folk who might help you – Surrey has a group with over 3,000 members. Watch the handy 'LinkedIn grad guides' on YouTube for more tips
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Charlie Ball deputy research director at the Higher Education Careers Services Unit (Hecsu)
Don't get too fixated on getting your dream job straight away: If you're a new graduate, you probably have at least 45 years of working life ahead of you, so don't get too fixated on the idea that you have to get your 'dream job' right now. In the past 20 years, we've seen the rise of the internet, online businesses, multimedia, mobile technology and globalised working, all of which have transformed the workplace and given rise to whole new career areas. It's a fair bet the next 20 years will see all sorts of change, and, for many of you, what will turn out to be your 'dream job', or, at the very least, your long-term rewarding career might not have even been invented yet. You don't have to have a clear career plan yet - it might even be better not to, as you may find it changing as new ideas and experiences come along. So apply - carefully - for roles that are going to give you useful experience in areas like use of technology and information, and dealing with clients and people, and you'll be ready for whatever comes along. Don't apply for every job out there - you'll never be able to offer each role enough attention. Remember that if a job gives you a contact to ask for more information, get in touch and ask what you need to do to stand a good chance of getting it, and tailor every application to the role and your experiences.
http://careers.guardian.co.uk/graduate-job-seeking-tips
Thursday, 5 January 2012
Tailoring Your Resume For A Specific job
Many job seekers dread creating a resume. Putting your education, experience and qualifications down on paper can be daunting. Deciding what to include can be a difficult decision. Many individuals draft one resume and use it over and over, no matter the job to which they are applying. Learning how to tailor your resume to specific job situations is an essential skill that can help you land the ideal job.
Five easy steps can have you well on your way to creating the perfect resume.
Understand the business to which you are applying.
If you are fresh out of school or are considering a change in career, you may not be familiar with how businesses in some industries function. Make sure to do research on a company before applying for a job. Read the profiles of similar businesses in the same industry. If a company lists executive or employee biographies on its website, be sure to read them. Understanding what a certain business needs and values will help you as you decide how to format your resume. Once you have a solid grasp on the business to which you are applying, review resume examples that are specific to that industry. These examples will serve as an excellent guide as you formulate your resume.
Know how to make the best of the amount of job experience you have.
Job seekers who are entering a new field may find that they have years of job experience that is not pertinent to the position for which they are applying. In these situations, you should do your best to highlight your tenure in your previous job and note any accomplishments. These items will show that you are dedicated to your work and can achieve long-term goals.
If you are entering the workforce for the first time or have only worked intermittently, you may be worried that potential employers will view your lack of job history negatively. In order to combat this, list out volunteer activities and other accomplishments that show you can remain dedicated to one task or organization for more than a few months. Highlighting your academic achievements is a good way to demonstrate perseverance and dedication.
Spend time perusing stellar resumes.
You should review resumes from the specific industry to which you are applying in order to understand what conventions and standards are in use. You should also review resume examples to strengthen your sense of how to word various entries. Pay attention to what designs you find both visually engaging and easy to read. Note the types of information that jump out as important, and try to incorporate similar entries on your own resume.
Organize information logically.
This is no-brainer advice that many job candidates neglect when formulating resumes. If you are applying for a job that requires a certain level of education or special certifications, you should include these items right after your contact information and objective. Recruiters and human resources personnel tend to be very busy and may skim over your resume quickly. It is important that you provide essential information that qualifies you for a position quickly. Your qualifications will not matter if your resume is too cluttered to be read easily.
Know what hobbies and interests are worth including.
Many resumes include an area to list hobbies and interests. If you are going to include this area on your resume, you must make it worth the while. Share about activities and hobbies that demonstrate a specialized skill. If you are applying to a small business, your passion for photography and graphic design might add extra value to your candidacy. Hobbies that require perseverance and dedication demonstrate to employers that you are able to complete challenging tasks. Be sure to review example resumes in your targeted job area to see if including such information is common practice.
Submitting a resume is usually the first step in the job application process. Your resume should be clean, clear and well-organized. Make sure that the style of your cover letter and resume are consistent. Use the same font and general graphic design. Keep resumes and cover letters concise. The ability to distill and present a wealth of information in a small package is always attractive to an employer.
http://blog.thecareerproject.org/blog/2012/1/3/tailoring-your-resume-for-a-specific-job.html
How graduates can prove they have the skills employers want
To avoid being told you don't have enough experience ensure you highlight the skills employers are looking for on your CV
Employers hire on a mix of attitude, skills and experience. There are ways you can highlight a great attitude on your CV and a robust experience section is crucial. But you also need to prove you have the skills that employers want.
A lack of the right skills is letting graduates down, according to two recent articles. In Job seekers don't fit the bill Alexandra Levit writes that entry-level graduates are missing a strong work ethic and the ability to get along with others. In Key IT skills that graduates are missing, employers point out a lack of relevant IT skills, but they also say graduates lack understanding in basic business functions (accounting, logistics, marketing, and so on); a real-world perspective (understanding cost or time constraints) and the ability to work in teams.
It's crucial that you highlight your skills effectively to persuade an employer you're a strong candidate. Simply stating you have a particular skill isn't enough.
Pay attention to keywords
Use the job description to identify the most important skills for the role, then make sure you use these keywords appropriately. For technical or vocational roles, you can list your skills in a table, while for other roles, you can use them as sub-headings in either a key skills section, or in your work history section.
For broad skills like team work, it's effective to break the skill down into various aspects, such as goal-setting, communication strategies, planning or monitoring. Spotlight what you did in each of these mini-skill areas, and describe the impact your actions had on the team project.
Leave no stone unturned
As you read through the job description and identify the key skills, comb your entire background for examples that illustrate how you've used that skill. These could come from group project work or case-studies from your degree course, or from a previous job, extra-curricular or voluntary activity.
Don't discount anything just because it doesn't reflect your current career goals. As you don't need to declare every detail of a previous job (for example), extract key relevant information, then downplay or omit the rest. Organise the details of the job (responsibilities and achievements) into sub-headings, which you can title with the relevant skills keywords to shift the focus away from an irrelevant job title.
Plug your skills and knowledge gap
Once you've identified your target role, company or sector, work out what missing skills or knowledge might be holding you back. Find out what employers currently want through scouring job ads. Then tackle any areas you fall short in: it might be as simple as asking people in your target industry to explain crucial processes or to let you work shadow; or you might need to search out specific training – whether that's free online tutorials or more specialist training provided through professional or industry groups.
Consider including a small section on your CV that lists ongoing training, mentoring or skill-building activities.
Write a covering letter
A covering letter allows you to add further detail to your application, and to emphasise personal qualities, such as a pro-active approach to gaining skills or a strong work ethic. Focus on how your experience has equipped you with work-related or interpersonal skills, or given you a valuable business or commercial perspective.
Show awareness at interview
Portray yourself as an applicant keen to fill gaps and learn the business. Ask questions that reveal this mindset, such as "What skills would someone in this position need to perform really well?" or "What advice could you give me to improve my suitability for this type of role?"
http://careers.guardian.co.uk/cv-graduate-skills
Employers hire on a mix of attitude, skills and experience. There are ways you can highlight a great attitude on your CV and a robust experience section is crucial. But you also need to prove you have the skills that employers want.
A lack of the right skills is letting graduates down, according to two recent articles. In Job seekers don't fit the bill Alexandra Levit writes that entry-level graduates are missing a strong work ethic and the ability to get along with others. In Key IT skills that graduates are missing, employers point out a lack of relevant IT skills, but they also say graduates lack understanding in basic business functions (accounting, logistics, marketing, and so on); a real-world perspective (understanding cost or time constraints) and the ability to work in teams.
It's crucial that you highlight your skills effectively to persuade an employer you're a strong candidate. Simply stating you have a particular skill isn't enough.
Pay attention to keywords
Use the job description to identify the most important skills for the role, then make sure you use these keywords appropriately. For technical or vocational roles, you can list your skills in a table, while for other roles, you can use them as sub-headings in either a key skills section, or in your work history section.
For broad skills like team work, it's effective to break the skill down into various aspects, such as goal-setting, communication strategies, planning or monitoring. Spotlight what you did in each of these mini-skill areas, and describe the impact your actions had on the team project.
Leave no stone unturned
As you read through the job description and identify the key skills, comb your entire background for examples that illustrate how you've used that skill. These could come from group project work or case-studies from your degree course, or from a previous job, extra-curricular or voluntary activity.
Don't discount anything just because it doesn't reflect your current career goals. As you don't need to declare every detail of a previous job (for example), extract key relevant information, then downplay or omit the rest. Organise the details of the job (responsibilities and achievements) into sub-headings, which you can title with the relevant skills keywords to shift the focus away from an irrelevant job title.
Plug your skills and knowledge gap
Once you've identified your target role, company or sector, work out what missing skills or knowledge might be holding you back. Find out what employers currently want through scouring job ads. Then tackle any areas you fall short in: it might be as simple as asking people in your target industry to explain crucial processes or to let you work shadow; or you might need to search out specific training – whether that's free online tutorials or more specialist training provided through professional or industry groups.
Consider including a small section on your CV that lists ongoing training, mentoring or skill-building activities.
Write a covering letter
A covering letter allows you to add further detail to your application, and to emphasise personal qualities, such as a pro-active approach to gaining skills or a strong work ethic. Focus on how your experience has equipped you with work-related or interpersonal skills, or given you a valuable business or commercial perspective.
Show awareness at interview
Portray yourself as an applicant keen to fill gaps and learn the business. Ask questions that reveal this mindset, such as "What skills would someone in this position need to perform really well?" or "What advice could you give me to improve my suitability for this type of role?"
http://careers.guardian.co.uk/cv-graduate-skills
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