12 March 2009
By John Vasicek, Team Leader - Darnell International

Like everyone else, I have been following the upsetting news regarding unemployment across the UK.  BBC reported that unemployment will reach 3.2 million. Another business group reported that unemployment will reach just over 10% of the workforce by the second half of next year.

For the unemployed, or those preparing for a layoff, that translates into an increasingly competitive job search. With all of this in mind, I was thinking, how can today’s job seeker gain the advantage to find their job during this recession? It is for this reason that I decided to give put together my top ten tips, in the hope to help.

1. Networking: Networking for your next job is always important, but with higher unemployment and more job seekers in the field, it is even more important. Many job seekers learn about the openings through their network before they are advertised. Friends, family, business associates, trade associations, alumni groups, and church organizations may provide a head start to your next job interview before the public finds out. So take the initiative to reach out to your network.

2. Stay Organized: Nowadays, job seekers are soliciting more companies and networking with more people to find the next job. This requires that today’s candidates be extremely organized during their job search. Establish a centralized database to store information, such as: the company and interviewer’s name and title; the company’s products and services; the date of the job interview; and the status of interviews, thank you notes, and other follow-up tasks.

3. Focus Your Accomplishments: A resume is the perfect place to boast. Clearly list key accomplishments, and the correlating impact under each job listing. Each impact statement should begin with the results of the achievement. For example, “Cut overhead costs by 25 percent by streamlining workflow and centralizing operations.” Load the resume with active verbs and keyword nouns. Active verbs sell the employer and keyword nouns increase the odds of your resume being found in a resume database.

4. Consider a Functional Resume: If you are considering a career transition–as is the case for many job seekers in recently impacted fields, such as the high tech, travel and airline industries–a functional resume is needed. A functional resume highlights cross-over skills and achievements and downplays job titles and industries. This is an ideal way to show prospective employers that you’re perfect for the job, even though your experience may not be directly related.

5. Broadcast Your Resume: Candidates are plentiful in today’s job search, so it is important for a job seeker to get in front of a prospective employer first. A direct way is by e-mailing the resume to targeted companies and recruiters, and posting it to major career Web sites. This automatically provides job seekers with the broadest reach to any hiring manager in search of candidates.

6. Search Local Company Directories: With fewer jobs available but more job seekers, companies are not advertising in the classifieds; they don’t need to because candidates are showing up on the company’s doorsteps. Research local company directories and Web sites, and proactively contact the company for available opportunities. Also, to demonstrate further interest, the job seeker should tailor the resume to fit the job description.

7. Research and Prepare: Make a distinct impression by being the best-prepared job candidate. Research information on the company before the interview, and use this information to ask educated questions during the interview. Some employers have even interviewed candidates who were armed with a printout highlighting important facts about the company’s products and services found on the company’s website. 8. Follow-up Frequently: Since employers are now interviewing many job seekers for one position, it is important to regularly remind prospective employers that you are still available and interested. Reminders work well through frequent follow-up with phone calls, e-mails, and written notes.

9. Be Realistic About your salary expectations: The high-flying days of the dot.com era are history. Have realistic expectations while negotiating a compensation package. Research the competitive salary range for the position within the specific geographic region, along with vacation time, 401K plans, and other components of a compensation package. Hold out for you’re worth, but be open and flexible. And remember to always let the employer bring up the topic of compensation first.

10. Present Sample Work: Since you want to stand out from the rest of the competition, impress prospective employers by bringing a portfolio of best work samples to the interview, even if it was not requested. Compile both recent and dated samples of work to demonstrate expertise and results achieved at prior jobs. Be ready to discuss the ideas and strategy behind each sample.

The market is fierce when it comes to finding a job today, but job seekers who follow these tips are sure to come out on top.  Contact me or any of our other recruitment consultants to close the gap between you and your job.

1.  Your covering letter is the first thing someone reads when they look at read your CV. You want someone to read at it and want to go through your CV. Be brief, use enthusiastic language, be interesting it shouldn’t be longer than one page,.

2.  It is important to be accurate – spell the name of the company contact correctly and structure the letter in a formal way.

3.  Writing in the first person by saying “I this and I that” is too repetitive so try to avoid this.

4.  Go to the company’s website and tell the reader how you can contribute to furthering their organisation.

5.  Say what you are applying for and why you are the ideal person for the job.

6.  Refer to your CV in different ways. Make these relevant to the job and the employer.

7.  Use examples by backing up a statement by including a scenario from the workplace. This will enable the reader to analyse your logic and thought process.

8.  Try not to bend the truth in your covering letter. An employee may use this as a basis to direct questions to you during an interview.

9.  If you are not applying for a specific role then you need to be slightly broader in your content:

- Research the company and try to understand what they look for in employees
- Call up the company and get the name of a decision maker to ensure it lands on their desk, otherwise it may get lost in the internal post.
- Ask for a particular action like a reply or an interview.
- In the body of your letter try and include as much of your experience as you can but be factual.
- Mirror the language used on the company’s website.

10.  Follow up the letter with a phone call to check your application has arrived. Leave this for a few days to enable delivery of the letter and also giving the reader chance to actually go through your CV in detail.

If you are not used to working in a highly pressurised and fast paced environment, you better pull up your socks.
With over a 100 qualified staff and a client base second to none, Darnell International never experiences a dull moment.Our clients and candidates will rely on you to provide a fast and effective solution for whatever their needs.
We pride ourselves on our top quality services and passion for recruitment. Our good working relationship with our clients, candidates and most importantly our fellow team members is what makes working for Darnell International a worthwhile experience!

There could be many reasons why you didn’t get the job.Try and do the following before applying for a job:

• first of all, don’t apply for a job that you might over or under qualify for.
• make sure that you write a good cover letter- first impressions count.
• arrive slightly early for your interview.
• don’t be arrogant- remember that the first thing the interviewee will look at is whether they will enjoy working with you. • don’t be too relaxed- make your interviewee feel good about themselves.
• be confident in your work or knowledge and show that you are interested in the job.
• avoid only answering questions, speak your mind, e.g.  when taking him/her through your portfolio or talking about a previous experience, tell him/her a little story. Break the ice.
• do not talk badly about previous employers.If you have done all of the above, don’t feel bad; chances are, another applicant probably had a little more to offer. Call it coincidence and try again elsewhere.

It is very important, when sending your CV and application form to company, that you add a cover email. It is not necessary to send a cover email when dealing with a recruitment company or recruitment firm.

Use the following guide to write your cover email:
• Specify the position that you are applying for
• Supply a reason why you applied for the specific job and why that specific company.
• Include your relevant work experience, knowledge and projects.
• List dates that you are not available for interview or other special circumstances.
• Include your contact details
• You can even give explanations of poor exam results or other.
• Keep it short.

A lot of people consider the CV to be a standard document and see no reason for alteration, unless they have something to add. They can’t be more wrong!

By tailoring your CV according to the job description, you can get the most out of your application. 

 First and foremost, list only the necessary detailsRecruiters usually have very little time to examine your CV.If you have done work that is completely irrelevant to the next job, then don’t bother putting it down, unless it gives the college some insight into your personality.It is better to list 1 relevant job and elaborate what is was that you did, instead of listing many unrelated jobs. Blabbering on about irrelevant things will only result in the college putting your CV aside. 

Be realistic. If you are applying for a job with a lower salary than your previous job and you are willing to scale down then it might be wise to, once again, list the relevant information on your CV. Companies won’t often recruit over-qualified personnel. If you are demanding a better salary, be realistic; don’t expect too much more than what you previously earned. Remember, you’ll undergo a salary review shortly after starting and this might be a better time to discuss a raise. 

Avoid using “I” and only put your hobbies right at the end.

Be confident in what you want and where you want to be and be willing to work for it.

Today, estate agents have a really bad reputation for being money hungry. People assume that you have no desire in assisting them with their needs but instead will do anything to sell property.
Your relationship with a buyer can very quickly turn sour if communication is bad. Handing them offers that do not match their criteria, will only make matters worse.If your customer is buying a house for themselves, they will not settle for anything less than their dream home and will certainly not be in a rush. Keep in mind that you are not selling a couch, so an alternative simply won’t do justice.
Buying a house is possibly one of the biggest financial commitments that a person may take in their lifetime and Estate Agents play a valuable role in this process. So think carefully before laying random possibilities on the table.If there is only one place that suits their requirements, then so be it.If your customer is looking for a quick investment or office as such, an alternative could be a useful option in this case but once again be careful with the price range. People usually budget very carefully before beginning the search and will, in most cases, push their luck.Sometimes settling for a smaller deal could land you with more money than always pushing for the big ones.

Finance is the second largest UK industry and is vital to the well-being of our economy.

More than 1.25 million people are employed in the finance sector. Almost every adult in the UK has at least one financial product. Businesses simply could not exist without the protection and income of this sector. Finance is the second largest UK industry and is vital to the well-being of our economy.

Honours in psychology is essential!

Getting into high-level financial positions usually requires a degree, however in Finance, non-academic qualities are just as important as academic qualifications. Employers usually look for good personal skills, including team-working skills, good self-motivation and an interest in financial and business affairs. 

No-one can get anything done in a messy office especially when it comes to office  jobs. Your office should be as efficient and pleasing as it possibly can be. The more organised your office is, the more productive you’ll be.
A cluttered office can lead to disorder, cut down on the amount of work that gets done and encourage negative energy in the workplace. On the other hand, a tidy office that is pleasing to the eye fosters positively and increases productivity.  

Here are a few tips to get you started: 

1. Get a large box in which to put all your clutter and unfilled papers. Go through and evaluate each object in the box. Should it be archived, attended to immediately then filed, filed for a later time, or thrown away? This method can cut down on the papers that have accumulated in your workspace.  

2. If you don’t have a filing system, start one. Most people file one of two ways: chronologically or alphabetically. Choose the method that works best for you.  

3. You should also have an inbox and outbox on your desk for incoming and outgoing work and mail. When you get something into your inbox, deal with it immediately to avoid a paper pile up. Other than that, your desk should be free from papers other than what you’re working on at any particular time. If you’re not working on something right now, it shouldn’t be on your desk. Make sure you’ve got a wastepaper basket handy, or better yet, a recycling bin.   4. Keep your office floor clean and free of debris and clutter. Vacuum carpets daily, or sweep if you have hard floors. A weekly dusting of all office furniture can keep irritating dust to a minimum.  

5. Lastly, try adding some personal, fashionable touches to your office, such as artistic wall hangings or a few indoor plants. A few creative touches can go a long way towards improving not only the look, but the overall mood, in your office!