Ultimate Job Search: Invaluable Advice on Networking, CVs, Cover Letters, Interviews, Psychometric Tests and Follow-Up Strategies

Copyright\r......Page 3
Table of contents\r......Page 4
Acknowledgements......Page 8
Introduction......Page 10
1 First things first......Page 12
1. Find out what skills, qualities and abilities the job requires......Page 13
2. Match those skills, qualities and abilities with your own......Page 15
4. Present those skills, qualities and abilities clearly and confi dently both in writing and verbally......Page 16
5. Demonstrate in your presentation, appearance and behaviour the personal qualities required......Page 17
2 Making a start......Page 18
Skills, abilities and knowledge......Page 19
Results and achievements......Page 20
Match the skills you’ve got to the skills they want......Page 21
Reading the advertisement......Page 22
Putting it in your CV......Page 23
Communicating with others......Page 27
Organizing and planning......Page 28
Drive and determination......Page 29
Create a good impression......Page 30
Present your relevant skills......Page 31
Keep your CV relevant......Page 41
Problem: my career history isn’t straightforward......Page 45
Problem: I’ve had lots of very different jobs......Page 46
Problem: I’ve only ever had one job......Page 48
Problem: I’ve been unemployed for over a year......Page 50
Problem: my current job isn’t very impressive or relevant, or it’s a bit of a step backwards......Page 51
Problem: I’m over-qualifi ed......Page 52
Problem: I’m over 50......Page 53
Problem: I’m under 25......Page 54
CVs for school, college and university leavers......Page 55
CVs after a career break......Page 59
CVs for career changers......Page 61
Your online CV......Page 64
CVs and scanners......Page 66
The clerical CV......Page 70
The sales and marketing CV......Page 73
CVs for technical jobs......Page 76
The management CV......Page 78
CVs for creative jobs......Page 81
CVs for practical jobs......Page 83
CVs for customer relations jobs......Page 85
8 Application forms......Page 90
Application forms section by section......Page 91
Layout......Page 96
What goes into the letter?......Page 98
General points......Page 108
Information calls......Page 109
Speculative calls......Page 110
When they call you......Page 114
Job search stages......Page 116
Job market research......Page 117
Ways of job hunting......Page 121
Using your skills effectively......Page 124
Answering advertisements for vacancies......Page 127
CV and follow-up call......Page 128
Personal letter......Page 129
Recruitment agencies......Page 130
Networking......Page 131
Job fairs......Page 132
Personal appearances......Page 133
Foot in the door......Page 134
Unconventional approaches......Page 135
Why have an interview?......Page 139
What happens at an interview......Page 140
Preparing for the interview......Page 141
Sounding the part......Page 146
Looking the part......Page 148
Acting the part......Page 149
Overcoming nerves......Page 151
The three rules......Page 153
Questions they ask everybody......Page 154
Dealing with negative questions......Page 159
Questions about salary......Page 161
Dealing with closed questions......Page 162
Dealing with the person-specifi c questions......Page 163
Inappropriate and illegal questions......Page 167
Your questions to the interviewer......Page 168
15 Questions for specific jobs......Page 170
Questions for practical jobs......Page 171
Questions for creative jobs......Page 175
Questions for clerical jobs......Page 180
Questions for sales and marketing jobs......Page 184
Questions for technical jobs......Page 190
Questions for management jobs......Page 196
Questions for customer relations jobs......Page 203
16 Questions for school and college leavers......Page 209
Different types of interview......Page 216
Interview extras......Page 220
Write a letter......Page 228
If the organization doesn’t make you an offer......Page 230
Negotiating the offer......Page 233
Index......Page 235