Plugging CV gaps
Are you allowing the value of your CV to leak away? Take the following advice and you might be able to plug a few gaps.
The basics of CV (Resume)
It’s time to rewrite your CV. What may feel like the world’s most tedious task – puffing yourself up and bragging about your accomplishments on paper – doesn’t have to be so painful. Just remember one thing: your CV needs to stand out. Employers, especially those who have posted openings on large websites, may receive
Do the right thing
Employees are increasingly taking ethical considerations into account when deciding where to work. The expansion of the non-profit-making, environmental and charitable sectors means there are plenty of options for those who want to make a difference
Interpreting rejections
You went as far as you could – all the way to final interview. You researched the organisation, showed your respect by arriving on time and in the right clothes, struck up a rapport with the interviewer, and felt you had given the best impression of yourself you could.
Handling rejection
It took JK Rowling a whole year to find a publisher willing to print her first Harry Potter book. Some of the rejection letters barely bothered to address her personally. It was, she admits, a very difficult time.
Application no-nos
Potential, experience, talent and enthusiasm are meaningless if you can’t fill in an application form properly, or submit a decent CV and covering letter. Read this guide to avoiding job application crimes and, with luck, you should stay out of trouble for the rest of your career.
Are gimmicks a good idea?
Enclosing a teabag with your application to encourage the recipient to make a cup of tea before they read it is one way to make sure they remember you. But will it ensure you pass that first big hurdle and get an interview? It may get you noticed but the content and presentation are more
Online applications
According to some surveys, nearly two-thirds of companies now accept online applications alongside paper forms. Email is fast and informal, qualities not normally associated with the filling out of application forms. But recruiters report that job-hunters can easily slip into the sort of bad email habits that do not impress. These include rambling (because space
Successful applications
You’ve seen your ideal job and sent off for the application form only to find it leaves a big dent on your doorstep when it arrives. It’s huge and you’re having second thoughts about applying. Don’t be daunted. Read it through slowly and carefully. Chances are it’s not as horrendous as it looks at first
Do the right thing
Employees are increasingly taking ethical considerations into account when deciding where to work. The expansion of the non-profit-making, environmental and charitable sectors means there are plenty of options for those who want to make a difference
How to join the rich list
Is money your main motivation? If so, the obvious place to make big bucks is in the City. You’ll have to sacrifice your work-life balance for a while but, if you like to work hard and play hard, the financial rewards will be worth it
Going it alone
Is your manager making unreasonable demands? Are you bored by unproductive meetings? Do you feel undervalued? Maybe it’s time to break the routine and become your own boss
Foreign affairs
Whether you fancy teaching English in Japan, IT consulting in Atlanta or transferring your current job to the firm’s office overseas, the right research and planning will help put the the world at your feet
Creative urges
The arts and media are notoriously difficult to break into – no wonder as they offer some of the most glamorous and exciting jobs around. To get ahead you’ll need talent, contacts, determination and the ability to work for nothing Could you cut it as a creative? Find out with our quiz
Room at the top
Wealth, power and influence – the allure of a senior business role is undeniable. If you have innovative ideas, the capacity to inspire others, boundless self-belief and plenty of raw ambition, you could become the next Richard Branson
There’s no workplace like home
Why run the gauntlet of rush-hour traffic when you could work the hours you want from the comfort of your own home? If this sounds appealing, you’ll need space, an understanding family and strong self-discipline to make teleworking a success
A new you
Are you stuck in a job that really doesn’t suit you? Do you long to reinvent yourself professionally? A career overhaul can seem a daunting step but, with careful planning, you can achieve those unfulfilled ambitions
Outward bound
Does the thought of being cooped up in an office all day fill you with dread? If so, a career relating to either the built or natural enviromnent could be your ticket to a life in the great outdoors
Workers’ playtime
Turning a hobby into your career may seem idealistic or risky but increasing numbers of dissatisfied workers are finding innovative ways to combine business with pleasure
Career tips
Clueless and confused? You are confused or just plainly at a loss about what career to choose. You know you have certain strengths, but you can’t make sense of your likes and dislikes, and the pressure is piling on to choose something Deadline – breakdown your plan of action into thinking time, research and