Job Seekers
It can be hard work finding the right job and it is a fantastic feeling when you receive the job offer.
Here are a few tips that can make the process easier for those of you who are not currently working in the UK - and might also be useful if you are already here.
Applying for a job
Whether you are applying through an agency or directly to an employer the procedure is the same.
- Be realistic. Only apply for jobs where your skills and experience match the requirements in the job description – employers want someone who can prove that they have the skills and experience necessarily to do the job.
- You will get your perfect job through high quality applications – not high quantity
- All applications should consist of a covering letter and a CV
Covering letter
For every job that you apply for you must write a cover letter if you want your application to be taken seriously. Your CV states what you have done and what you are capable of doing – your covering letter should match your skills and experience to the requirements stated for the job that you are applying for. This letter does not need to be long but is should be relevant and focussed.
CV writing
Think of your CV as your first interview.
It is certainly your opportunity to make a first impression – and you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression!
Here is how to lay out a CV.
- Personal details with full contact details
- Statement of key skills/experience
- Past employment. Start with your current/last job and work back. Each employment section should include: dates, job title, work you were employed to do, achievements in the job, reason for leaving.
- Education
Once you have written the CV check the language settings on your word processing software set the language setting to UK English and do a spell check. We have lost count of the candidates who submit a CV that claims “fluent English” when the standard of the CV leads us to believe differently.
There are companies that will write a CV for you – we like www.careerconsultants.co.uk as they also give a lot of free advice.
One final point to consider: Most agencies do not read your CV when you send it to them. It is automatically added to their database and recruitment consultants only ever see it when they search their database..so don’t leave out important keywords.
Nordic Staff read every CV submitted – before it is included in our database.
Networking Sites
Employers are increasingly using networking sites to get more information about candidates. Currently this is mainly companies using LinkedIn and Zoom to look at the background of candidates for management jobs. This will change – we see a future where your CV is part of your Facebook/MySpace site - so make sure that your profile matches and supports your CV.
Living and Working Abroad
Each country has different tax, insurance and employment regulations – you can find links to information on our blog
Good luck with your job hunting.
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