We even have a Google-powered Search Engine integrated with the site, allowing you to trawl some of the major UK job sites for vacancies.  All you need to do is click on the “Search Engine” tab at the top of the page and enter the job title and city (or town) you are looking for work, in the search box provided.

If you Choose the “Videos” tab above, you will gain access to very useful tutorials that will help you in your “quest for work”.

Job search can be a time consuming task so why not find smarter ways to use search engines like Google.  It has been said many times that looking for a job is a full-time task initself.  Well, by using the Internet more efficiently, you can dramatically reduce the amount of time spent looking for vacancies.

The following video demonstrates a way to do just that and also find vacancies which have only been put on the Internet over the past 24 hours!

Should I include salary information on my CV?

No.  If a prospective employer specially requires to know this information, you should ask yourself why?  In some cases, unscrupulous employers do so in order to attract the prospective employees that will accept the least money.  In other words, they will filter out the people who earn the most and focus on getting the job done on the cheap.

Should I include my reason for leaving each job?

Not on your CV or covering letter.  However, many application forms do ask this and so you should answer this with care.  The way you answer this question will affect your chances of being short-listed for an interview.  However, you should not lie as you can be caught out sooner or later.

Should I send a photo with my application?

Not unless your personal looks is important for you to carry out your job.  Unfortunately, some employers will use photographs to discriminate against some candidates.

Should I include references in my CV?

No.  Bear in mind that you may be sending off quite a few applications for jobs.  If your referees are contacted every time you send off an application for a job, they will soon get tired of this.  It is far better to allow the employer to contact your referees after you have been to the interview or better still, after you have been selected for the job ’subject to satisfactory references’.

Should I include my hobbies and interests in my CV?

Absolutely.  However, be careful that you do not give them the vague impression that your activities will take up so much time that you are unable to perform your job well.  Also, if you do include hobbies and interests, make sure that they give a balanced, and positive, impression.  For example, cover something from the following five areas but don’t use the headings though:

• Physical activity (i.e. walking, canoeing, cycling, mountaineering, swimming, jogging)
• Mental agility (i.e. reading, crosswords, logic problems, sudoku, chess)
• Creativeness (i.e. painting, drawing, writing, digital video production, diy, photography)
• Awareness (i.e. current affairs, genealogy, archaeology)
• Membership (i.e. Church, Parents and Teachers Association, School Governor, Magistrate, Women’s Institute)

Should I include my date of birth in my CV?

No.  Although it is now illegal in the UK to discriminate against age, there is no need to encourage employers to do so.  However, some jobs do require that you are within certain age groups and are exempt (i.e. HM Forces, Police etc.).  In these cases, they will require you to complete an application form rather than accept a CV.

Should I include driving licence information?

Only if the job you are applying for requires you to drive a company vehicle.

About the author:  Brian Simms is a freelance ICT and Jobsearch Tutor and has written a number of articles, white papers and produced a variety of vocational learning materials. 

We all know that, before we can even hope to get a job, we must first select the prospective employer and apply for a job. Therefore, this is the most vital stage of the whole process. All too often people make a half-hearted attempt at making the application which results in it ending up in the employers waste basket!

If you follow these simple tips, your application will stand more chance of being seen and therefore more chance of being short-listed for an interview:

• Do not leave the application until the last minute as it will be obvious to the employer. Why should they want someone who leaves important tasks until the last minute? Instead, do a rough draft of the application as soon as you can – don’t worry if it isn’t perfect. Leave this draft for a couple of hours or even a day if possible. The second time round, you will spot glaring mistakes and find it easier to improve upon the letter.

• If you are sending a CV and covering letter, make sure the covering letter is not just repeating what is on your CV. Pick important bits from the Job description /advertisement and use these points to show the employer that you have these skills/experiences/qualifications. Say what you can do for the employer or explain how your experiences reflect mirror what the job advertisement is looking for.

• If your CV has a personal profile and/or key skills included, make sure they mirror the job advert (if applicable). Remember, you may slightly exaggerate the skills you have but do not lie in your application - you will get caught out. The consequences are that you will either mess up the interview or after being in the job for a while, you could get dismissed from the job.

• Show the prospective employer that you are the right person for the job by taking more care of your application. This will be the first thing they see of you. Treat it like an advertisement as you are selling something valuable to them – YOU! They are looking to buy your services and they obviously want some value for money.

• If sending by normal mail, allow plenty of time for it arrive. Always send them by first class post whenever possible as this can create a positive impression upon the employer.

Don’t just complete one application and wait for a positive response from the employer before applying for another job.  Applying for jobs is a ‘numbers game’.  The more applications you send out, the more chances you have of getting to an interview and a job.

About the author:  Brian Simms is a freelance ICT and Jobsearch Tutor and has written a number of articles, white papers and produced a variety of vocational learning materials. 

If you are searching for a new career or are trying to decide what major to take up in college, you will need to learn a bit about what type of jobs are available. The best way to do this is by finding career descriptions in the fields that you are most interested. If you think that it is difficult to find career descriptions you are way off base. The fact of the matter is that if you put a little bit of time forth you should be able to find career descriptions sooner than you ever thought possible.

One of the best places to search for career descriptions is online. When you use the internet to search for career descriptions you will find everything that you need within a matter of minutes. Even if you are searching for descriptions of careers that are not common, if you rely on the internet you will always find what you are in need of. The fact of the matter is that career descriptions are all over the internet; it is up to you to find them.

Also, if you are in college a career counselor can help you out. They can give you career descriptions on anything that you are interested in. This is a great option because they can also answer any questions that you may have.

Finally, there are many books that are meant to help people find careers. If you buy one of these books you will have plenty of information at your fingertips in no time at all.

Overall, career descriptions are what you need in order to make a good decision about your future job. If you know what different careers are all about, you should not run into any problems when you are trying to determine what you want to do.

Use every resource that is available so that you can find plenty of career descriptions.

About the Author: Francois is an experienced writer of many http://www.career-descriptions.co.uk/complete-list-of-careers.htm and http://www.career-descriptions.co.uk articles and newsletters for many popular job websites.

Source: http://www.isnare.com

Job interviews. Each interviewer thinks that they are using new and novel techniques. Really it all goes down to the book they read this week or most likely last year.  Once you realize that there is little originality in interview techniques your ability to succeed in interviews and hence jobs and promotions offered to you will soar .and you will be on the gravy train so to speak.  In actuality it is all about  giving the interviewer what is that they want to hear.

Management guru Riteway Strokon notes that the skill of getting through university is to learn to give back to the professor what he told in different words – and importantly words that he understands. So it is with passing interviews.

There is very little originality in interview techniques and questions no matter how elaborate and intimidating the interviewer and interview seems. If ever get an honest out of way real interview this is the tip off that this is either the company with its style of management or the superior you can work with and for to prosper.

First of all read and reread the ad or posting carefully. What are they looking for? 

What skills and traits are desired both by the organization and the ad? Do you have those traits or will you have to groom them.

Reread the ad to ascertain the “corporate culture”. How could you fit into that society so to speak? How would you present yourself both in appearance, attitude and answers to better fit the interview mold?

Further along the path of interview preparation, research the company either as if you were buying one of the company’s expensive products or purchasing a large block of stock. The internet affords the easiest and quickest ever means of initial research.

If you use Google as your search engine of choice try using other search engines – such as MSN or Yahoo. You can even try a search engine of search engines – a Meta search engine such as Dogpile or Clusty.  Look at the links leading to firm’s WebPages. 

Are there links leading from customers for tech support or product information? Who are their major customers? Often the real dirt and info on a company can be obtained from competitors. The best source of information about a Tylenol sales manager would be from their competition – that is someone who sells aspirin for example. Call tech support for the company to check customer service levels as well as the over demeanor and morale of company. If possible such as for retail stores try to talk to some real employees of the firm. What you are looking for is consistency in approach and philosophy all the way down the line and happy satisfied employees and customers. For example the job listing may be all about “targeting and core customer base”. However if you spot that the company is not targeted that their advertising as well as focus is all over the map with no discernable focus and that major customers are unhappy and are ready to jump ship then this is not a good sign for you. 

Just as you are playing a game at presentation in the interview process management often has to play a similar game with their supervisors who may be clueless. Look at what was the most major and vital industry to the American economy that was the automobile industry. It used to be said “What is good for General Motors (GM) is good for America. Now the American car industry with its insulated senior management is on its way to hell in a hand basket. Or at least with senior management is still being served executive meals on white linen far away from any employee cafeteria or worker lunchbox. Management may be shown a video or given a course and be clueless about basic concepts in life that your 4 year old nephew knows instinctively Preparation is the key to successful job interviews. Lastly it is always a good idea not to laugh at the incongruity of the interviewer’s questions and answer questions with a straight face while maintaining eye contact.

About the Author: Bill Piker Job Employment Coach Miami Beach billys_office@yahoo.com http://www.aceemploymentservices.net http://www.ace-training.net http://www.winnipegjobshark.com

Source: http://www.isnare.com

Figuring out job interview question and answer strategies can be a nerve wrecking experience particularly for first timers or those that are in desperate need of a job. They would prepare endlessly for days, study self help books about ‘How to face an interview’, memorize answers to ‘expected’ questions etc. This article looks at the psychology of interviewers, job interview question and answer strategies, and what most people do wrong while faced with an interview.

Most people think that attending interviews means answering tough questions. Hence they try to prepare answers to as many questions as possible by reading books related to facing interviews. But it would be humanly impossible to remember all the answers and recall them at the right time. It should be borne in mind that by inviting you to an interview, the employer has already short listed you based on your resume that you are suitable for the job. Otherwise you would not have been called for the interview in the first place. Hence the purpose of the interview is mainly to ascertain three things - that the contents of the resume are true and that you are capable of doing the job, that you would be with the company as long as needed and that you would form a good chemistry with other employees of the company.

Keeping the above points in mind, the questions in the interview are likely to be oriented towards revealing the real you as most people write only good things about them in their resumes – as no one likes to admit that he or she was a failure. Most of the competing candidates would have more or less same qualifications; otherwise they would not have been called for interview and you have to stand out among the crowd by giving intuitive answers in the interview. While others might be busy rehearsing the generic questions, it might actually make it easy for you if you remember the main purpose of the interview as given above.

If you are asked the typical question, where would you see yourself in X years time, a proper response would be that you would want to be in the same position as the interviewer is, both starting at the same time. This type of answer would prompt the interviewer to ask more questions seeking clarifications. It would also send a positive signal that you are serious about the job and that you would stick around with the company. Giving intuitive answers would make you stand out among the crowd and compel the interviewer to hire you. Other points to remember when attending interviews are: questions are expected from you also, show your eagerness to know about the company’s business and lastly clear any suspicions of the employer that he or she might have about your capabilities.  It is not a requirement to learn by heart expected questions and answers by guessing what the interviewer might ask. You just have to remain calm and allay any reservations that the interviewer may have about your capability and the job is yours.

About the Author: Steven French is a recruitment consultant to http://www.UteachRecruitment.com - the specialist UK teaching jobs recruitment agency. Visit Uteach Recruitment to find your perfect UK teaching job today.

Source: http://www.isnare.com

Are you a college student who’s feeling pressure from your parents to get a job, once you’re out of college? Are you a recent grad who needs to succeed, but can’t decide what you want to do with your life? Have you been laid off from your company in mid-career, and you need to keep money coming to support your household while you look for your next job? Are you re-entering the workforce after being away for years, and you’re not sure how to get back in the game? Or are you making a much-needed career change, but you’re unsure what direction you want to take or what company you want to work for? A temporary assignment could be just the thing to help jump-start your next career move.

Now, “temp” is often a “bad word” in social circles. Movies have been made about crazy temporary secretaries, and working conditions of temps aren’t always the best, according to Hollywood. But don’t write off temping because it’s not sexy.  It’s not just for unemployable office grunts who can’t find a real job, anymore. Taking on temporary assignments can buy you valuable time to decide what you truly want to do with your life, or it can help you pay your bills, when you’re between permanent full-time jobs. Far from being a last resort of a desperate corporate cast-off, temping can offer a lot of benefits — in the short-term and the long-term. 

What’s in a name?

There are many different kinds of “temps,” including:

* factory workers
* administrative assistants
* computer programmers
* project managers
* systems analysts
* marketing professionals
* accountants
* executive directors of non-profits
* lawyers

Also called “contractors,” “consultants,” or “interim employees,” what all these folks have in common, is that they are not permanent full-time employees who are locked into one single full-time job. They have an employer — their placement agency — whose job it is to keep them working.  Now, if you don’t like calling yourself a “temp,” you can say you’re “on contract” at a company, or you have a “short-term assignment.” So many companies use temporary labor (also called “contingency workforce”), these days, that the stigma of being short-term is considerably less than it was, even ten years ago. In fact, many people (myself included) have opted to stay temporary for long periods of time, rather than taking full-time permanent jobs. Being a “free agent” in the working world offers freedom, good pay, and variety of work, not to mention the chance to meet many different kinds of people in many different workplaces.

Temping can also provide you with clues about what to do next in a job market that’s full of uncertainty. Through temping, you can explore a wide range of work options, even if you don’t have any idea what your next professional step is. You can take a break from the permanent full-time job scene, but still keep money coming in to support your family. You can gain valuable exposure to a variety of different kinds of businesses and a variety of different industries, without taking years out of your life. In today’s world, when consumer markets are shifting, jobs are moving offshore, and economic trends can sink whole industries, you have to stay nimble and understand what all your professional options are.

Thinking about going into law? Try being a temporary paralegal or legal secretary for a few months before you enroll in years of law school (and take on thousands of dollars in student debt that will weigh you down in the future). Thinking about civil engineering? Try working in a civil engineer’s office for a few weeks, to see if it suits you. Thinking of becoming an office manager or a marketing guru? Try a few assignments on for size, working in that field, and see what you think. Temping — especially when you’re new to the job market, or you’re new to a whole industry — can offer telling insight into what kind of world you’ll be entering, if you eventually decide on a certain line of work.

So, don’t write off temping because of stereotypes. Many people in many walks of life take short-term assignments, and some professionals actually do so for most of their careers. Temporary work can give you (and your loved ones) peace of mind that you’re gainfully employed… and offer considerable freedom to explore all your career options, without taking on a life-altering commitment that you find out later isn’t really for you.

About the Author: Kay Stoner has been working steadily since 1987. She has temped on both the East and West Coasts of the USA and wemt temp-to-perm numerous times, doubling her annual salary several times in the process. For info on her book, “Temping Your Way to the Top” visit http://www.temptothetop.info

Source: http://www.isnare.com

There is nothing secretive about hidden job market. This common sense guide will help you to discover additional job opportunities that are not listed with major newspapers and well known job search sites. 

1.) People you know

There are some job openings that are not listed. Also many employers don’t have a particular vacancy but would consider hiring the right person. 

How do you find out about these positions? The only way to discover such jobs is by asking people that you know: relatives, friends, acquaintances… There is a good chance that someone knows about employment opportunities in your field.

2.) Professional job sites, small newspapers

Many job search sites specialize in particular professional field such as IT, medicine, telecommunications and so on. These sites are often overlooked by job seekers. You can find many professional web sites by going to http://www.yourcareerlinks.com (scroll down to the bottom half of the page and follow professional links that apply to you).

Also I suggest looking for local job search web sites that offer vacancies in your city or state. One can discover such sites using search engines such as Google, Yahoo or MSN.  In addition, people often ignore employment sections of small newspapers. While they don’t list many jobs, these employment sections are still worth looking at.

3.) Apply unsolicited

This is not the best job search technique. However, you have nothing to lose by applying to companies that don’t have particular job openings. 

You can find many potential employers through Yellow Pages, Thomas Register (directory of various companies usually available in reference section of public libraries). You should send your resume to as many companies as possible.

Another alternative is to use premium resume distribution services that are listed at http://www.yourcareerlinks.com/resumeservices.html (scroll to the bottom half of the page).

Hidden job market is relatively easy to discover. Many job seekers ignore job search techniques described in this article. I hope you are not one of them. Information provided in this article will help you to find additional employment opportunities.

About the Author: By Archie Lubman http://www.YourCareerLinks.com - Best Job Search Engines

Source: http://www.isnare.com