Your resume is the greatest major asset in your career management inventory and job search. Its job is to provide the evidence that you are a candidate that should be seen.

There is no one right way to write a resume. The important point is to keep it relevant and interesting and avoid key pitfalls.

1. Not including an Objective. Although it may narrow your options, an Objective gives the reader an idea of what you want to do. When responding to an employment opportunity, you may mention it in your cover letter or email, but often employers won’t save this correspondence, so it is valuable to include it on your resume.

2. Not having any “real work” experience. Summers in the sun may have been nice, but employers want to see what you can do in a work environment. Whether an internship or volunteer experience, it helps employers see your ability to function in the professional world. Sometimes being creative in your descriptions can be helpful, for example, waitresses need to have exceptional customer service and people management skills, so include those words on your resume.

3. Listing a phone number you rarely answer. If you are never home, don’t give a home phone number. Rarely will employers or recruiters leave a message, unless your name is on the message tape. If you are a cell phone addict, use only that number and remember to answer it professionally. And speaking of the message, record one that includes your name and “please leave a message.” The old “Hey man you know what to do after the beep” isn’t appropriate now.

4. Not having a professional email address. It might have been fun to have the email address of “beerdrinker@yahoo.com” or “balletgirl@hotmail.com” in your younger years, but now it is time to find an email address that is more business appropriate. The best email address is to use your own name in some format of first name or initial and last name.

5. Not including school internships, etc. Long-term academic projects can be valuable experiences to include on your resume. For example, doing a month long research project during your schools “I-Term”. Assisting a professor with data analysis for his research project or being part of your university’s yearly fund raising endeavors are significant events to include on your resume.

6. Using fancy fonts and formatting. Your resume should be easy to read and follow for anyone. Script or fancy fonts don’t give a professional look. Too much formatting (italics, bold, caps, mixing fonts) will only distract (not add) to the ability to easily read your resume. Pick a universal font like Times New Roman, Times, or Palatino.

7. Not filling the entire page. Resumes should fill an entire page. A half-page resume doesn’t say much about you. Start planning your work experience early in college so you have something to write about. If your work experience is lean, make your margins bigger and font a little larger, but never larger than 12 point.

Author: Marilyn Vojta

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Yes, you must research the company, prepare quality documents, and deliver substantial answers to interview questions, but employers are also looking at the intangibles: energy, drive, enthusiasm, and great communication skills.

Confident speaking is an interview skill that is essential to presenting yourself as a winning candidate. Here are 3 major areas where candidates fall short:

You convey uncertainty with your phrases:

Sounding even remotely uncertain of your ability to do the job you’re interviewing for (and do it well) is an interview killer. No employer is going to hire someone who isn’t even sure himself if he is capable, or who promises to bring inferior communication skills to the job-especially in sales. What phrases convey uncertainty?

I think

I hope

I would hope that…

Hopefully

If

Try

Maybe

Sometime

With luck

If possible

Possibly

You don’t want to “hope” to handle this job, and you don’t want to “try” it. You want to do it.

There is no try, only do or do not. – Yoda

These phrases often sneak into your everyday conversation, but you don’t want them in your job interview.

Speech fillers:

Job interviews generally make people nervous, and understandably so: you’re being judged. And when people get nervous, they often start peppering their speech with “ums,” “uhs,” “like,” “you know,” and other space fillers that ultimately detract from their message.

What’s the message you want to send? That you are absolutely the candidate who can take this job and run with it. That you will make your new boss look like a superstar for hiring you, and that you have no doubts about your ability to be successful. To convey this message, you need to speak clearly, concisely, and confidently. No “ums” or “uhs” allowed.

Watch your language:

Inappropriate or unprofessional language is generally frowned upon when you interview. Everyone “knows” that, but it bears repeating. For instance, it seems obvious that you shouldn’t say “crap” in your interview, but it’s happened–and the candidate lost the job. An interview is a situation where you’re putting your best foot forward. If your best foot is less than completely professional, what are you going to be like on the job?

If you need help with polishing your communication skills, consider joining Toastmasters or a similar group so that you can practice speaking publicly. Also, a good career coach can help you spot those tendencies in your conversation, and give you the kind of constructive feedback that will eliminate any uncertainty you may have about your interviewing skills.

About the Author: Peggy McKee has over 10 years of experience as a nationally-recognized sales recruiter in medical sales and has helped thousands of jobseekers succeed. http://www.career-confidential.com/

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How to write a resume?

You have skills that employers want. But those skills won’t get you a job if no one knows you have them. Good resumes, applications, and cover letters broadcast your abilities.

They tell employers how your qualifications match a job’s responsibilities. If these paper preliminaries are constructed well, you have a better chance of landing interviews; and, eventually, a job.

Modern technology has added a new twist to preparing resumes and cover letters. The availability of personal computers and laser printers has raised employers’ expectations of the quality of resumes and cover letters applicants produce.

Electronic mail, Internet postings, and software that “reads” resumes help some employers sort and track hundreds of resumes. Technology has also given resume writers greater flexibility; page limits and formatting standards are no longer as rigid as they were several years ago.

When writing your resume, you still have to consider what is reasonable and appropriate for the job you want. Advertisements for a single job opening can generate dozens, even hundreds, of responses.

Our article on how to write a resume describes what information they should contain and how to highlight your skills for the job you want.

Resumes: Marketing your skills

A resume is a brief summary of your experience, education, and skills. It is a marketing piece, usually one or two pages long, designed to make an employer want to interview you.

Good resumes match the jobseeker’s abilities to the job’s requirements. The best resumes highlight an applicant’s strengths and accomplishments.

There are four main steps to creating a resume:

Compiling information about yourself and the occupations that interest you, choosing a resume format, adding style, and proofreading the final document.

You may also want to prepare your resume for computer scanning, e-mailing, and Internet posting, especially if you are pursuing a computer-intensive field.

Gathering and organizing the facts

Start working on your resume by collecting and reviewing information about yourself: Previous positions, job duties, volunteer work, skills, accomplishments, education, and activities. These are the raw materials of your resume. This is also a good time to review your career goals and to think about which past jobs you have liked, and why.

After compiling this information, research the occupations that interest you. Determine what duties they entail, what credentials they require, and what skills they use. Your resume will use your autobiographical information to show that you meet an occupation’s requirements.

You will probably need to write a different resume for each occupation that interests you. Each resume will emphasize what is relevant to one occupation. Remember: Even if you do not have many specialized and technical skills, most occupations also require abilities like reliability, teamwork, and communication. These are particularly important for entry-level workers.

The next step is to organize the personal information you have assembled. Most resume writers use the following components.

Contact information

This includes your name; permanent and/or college campus addresses, if they are different; phone number; and e-mail address, if you have one.

Place your full legal name at the top of your resume and your contact information underneath it. This information should be easy to see; reviewers who can’t find your phone number can’t call you for an interview.

Also, make sure the outgoing message on your answering machine sounds professional. If you list an e-mail address, remember to check your inbox regularly.

Objective statement

Placed immediately below your contact information, the objective statement tells the reviewer what kind of position you want, for example, “Seeking a position as an administrative assistant.”

Some objectives include more detail, such as “Seeking an administrative position using my organizational, word processing, and customer service skills.” Objective statements are optional and are most often used by recent graduates and career changers.

Writing objectives can be tricky. A vague statement, such as “Seeking a position that uses my skills and experience,” is meaningless. And an overly specific objective can backfire, eliminating you from jobs you want that are slightly different from your objective. If you decide to include an objective statement, make sure it fits the job you are applying for. Tailoring is expected. A statement should show that you know the type of work the company does and the type of position it needs to fill.

Qualifications summary

The qualifications summary, which evolved from the objective, is an overview designed to quickly answer the employer’s question “Why should I hire you?”

It lists a few of your best qualifications and belongs below your contact information or objective statement.

A qualifications summary, like an objective, is optional. It can be particularly effective for applicants with extensive or varied experience because it prevents the important facts from being lost among the details.

Most resume writers choose either an objective or a summary, but some use both.

Education

List all of the relevant training, certifications, and education on your resume. Start with the most recent and work backward.

For each school you have attended, list the school’s name and location; diploma, certificate, or degree earned, along with year of completion; field of study; and honours received. If you have not yet completed one of your degrees, use the word expected before your graduation date. If you do not know when you will graduate, add in progress after the name of the unfinished degree.

The education section is especially important for recent graduates. Include your overall grade point average, average within major, or class standing, if it helps your case.

The general guideline is to include averages of 3.0 and above, but the minimum useful average is still widely debated. Graduates should also consider listing relevant courses under a separate heading. Listing four to eight courses related to a particular occupation shows a connection between education and work. College graduates need not list their high school credentials.

Experience

Resumes should include your job history: The name and location of the organizations you have worked for, years you worked there, title of your job, a few of the duties you performed, and results you achieved. Also, describe relevant volunteer activities, internships, and school projects, especially if you have little paid experience.

When describing your job duties, emphasize results instead of responsibilities and performance rather than qualities. It is not enough, for example, to claim you are organized; you must use your experience to prove it.

Job descriptions often specify the scope of a position’s duties—such as the number of phone lines answered, forms processed, or people supervised. If you worked on a project with other people, tell the reviewer your accomplishments came from a team effort. Also, mention any promotions or increases in responsibility you received.

Use specific accomplishments to give your experience impact. Note any improvements you made, any time or money you saved, and any problems you solved—for example, were you praised for handling difficult customers? Were you always on time or available for overtime? Did you save time by reorganizing a filing system? Did you start a new program?

Mention quantifiable results you accomplished, such as a 10-percent increase in sales, a 90-percent accuracy rate, a 25-percent increase in student participation, or an A grade.

Activities and associations

Activities can be an excellent source of additional experience. Activities might include participation in organizations, associations, student government, clubs, or community activities, especially those related to the position you are applying for or that demonstrate hard work and leadership skills.

Special skills

If you have specific computer, foreign language, typing, or other technical skills, consider highlighting them by giving them their own category even if they don’t relate directly to the occupation you’re pursuing.

Awards and honours

Include formal recognition you have received. Do not omit professional or academic awards. These are often listed with an applicant’s experience or education, but some list them at the end of their resume.

References

Usually, resumes do not include names of references, but some reviewers suggest breaking this rule if the names are recognizable in the occupation or industry.

Most resume writers end with the statement “References available upon request.”

Others assume reference availability is understood and use that space for more important information. Regardless of whether you mention it on the resume, you will need to create a separate reference sheet to provide when requested and to carry with you to interviews.

A reference sheet lists the name, title, office address, and phone number of three to five people who know your abilities.

Before offering them as references, of course, make sure these people have agreed to recommend you. At the top of the sheet, type your name and contact information, repeating the format you used in your resume.

Other personal information

Your resume should include any other information that is important to your occupation, such as a completed portfolio or a willingness to travel.

Your resume is your own, and you should customize it to fit your needs. However, some information does not belong on a resume. Do not disclose your health, disability, marital status, age, or ethnicity.

This information is illegal for most employers to request.

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Each is defined by the way it organizes your experience. Choose the one that shows your experience to its best advantage.

Chronological Resume format

This resume type is the most common. It organizes your experience around the jobs you have held. This format is an excellent choice for people with steady work histories or previous jobs that relate closely to their career objective. To create a chronological resume, list each position you have held, starting with the most recent and working backward. For each position, give the title of your job, name of the organization you worked for, and years you worked there.

Next, relate the duties and accomplishments of that job. When describing your jobs, use action statements, not sentences. Instead of writing “I managed a fundraising campaign,” write, “Managed a fundraising campaign.” Use strong verbs to begin each statement.

Be specific, but not overly detailed, in describing what you did. Employers say three to five statements are usually sufficient for each job. And no job should have more than four consecutive lines of information under it; large blocks of text are difficult to read. If you must use more space, find some way to divide the information into categories.

Your most important positions should occupy the most space on your resume. If you’ve had jobs that do not relate to the position you want, consider dividing your experience into two categories: Relevant experience and other experience.

Describe the relevant jobs thoroughly, and briefly mention the others. If you have had many jobs, you probably do not need to mention the oldest or least important ones. Just be careful not to create damaging gaps in your work history.

Because the chronological format emphasizes dates and job titles, it is often a poor format for career changers, people with inconsistent work histories, or new entrants to the work force.

For these applicants, the functional resume is a better choice.

Functional Resume format

The functional resume organizes your experience around skills rather than job titles. “I often recommend the functional format to students who have not had positions that relate directly to the job they want,” says Bryan Kempton, Program Director of the Career Centre at the University of Maryland, College Park. “By organizing their experiences around skills, they can connect less relevant jobs to the career qualifications they need. For instance, a job waiting tables can be combined with other examples to show organizational or customer service skills.”

To create a functional resume, identify three or four skills required for your target job. For each skill, identify three to five concrete examples to demonstrate that ability. Again, use action phrases—not complete sentences—when writing your list. Arrange your skill headings in order of importance. If you have a specific vacancy announcement, match the arrangement of your headings to that of its listed requirements. The closer the match between your skill headings and the reviewer’s expectations, the more qualified you seem. The last part of the functional resume is a brief work history.

Write only job titles, company names, and employment years. If you have gaps in your work history, you could use the cover letter to explain them, or you could fill them by adding volunteer work, community activities, or family responsibilities to your job list.

Combination Resume format

This format combines the best of the chronological format with the best of the functional format. Combination resumes are as varied as the histories they summarize. One variation begins with a chronological format but then subdivides each job description into skill categories. Another variation uses a functional format but, for each example of a skill, identifies the organization where the example occurred.

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Assembling the following information about you in advance will make it easier to complete applications:

Identification

Be prepared to give your name, address, phone number, and social security number. You may also need to bring proof of identification when you pick up and drop off the application.

Employment history. List the month and year you started and ended each job; your supervisor’s name, address, and phone number; your job title, location, salary, and major duties; and your reason for leaving.

Education and certification

Know the name and city of the schools you attended and the year you received your degrees and the name, level, and award and renewal dates of certification.

Special skills

List any special skills you have that are closely related to the job, 1such as computer applications, typing speed, or equipment operation.

References

Provide the names, phone numbers, and addresses of three or four people who have agreed to recommend you. When you pick up an application, don’t miss an opportunity to make a good first impression. Dress as you would for the job. Politely request two copies of the form, or make your own copies of the original before you start filling it out. Read the entire application before you begin.

Then, use one copy as a rough draft and the other as the final product. Use a typewriter or write neatly with black ink. Answer every question on the application. Write “not applicable” or “none” if a question does not apply to you. Some reviewers suggest answering “will discuss in interview” if asked for information that might disqualify you. Make a copy of your completed application. If you go back for an interview, take this record with you. Having a completed form will also make it easier to fill out the next one.

Although forms do not offer the same flexibility as a resume, you can still find ways to highlight your best qualifications. For example, you can use strong action verbs to describe your duties. If you do not have paid experience, you can give job titles to your volunteer work or list relevant academic experience, substituting student for job titles.

Computer application forms

If you are filling out an application for a computer database, you will want to use keywords and simple formatting no boldface or bullets.

Put the most important information first. Include as much information as you can for each question without becoming wordy or repetitive.

The more relevant details you provide, the better your chances of using a keyword that matches an employer’s requirements. Before submitting the form, copy and paste your answers into a word-processing program so you can check the spelling.

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Sending a résumé without a cover letter is like starting an interview without shaking hands. The best cover letters spark the employer’s interest and create an impression of competence.

Cover letters are an opportunity to convey your focus and energy.  If you don’t have a lot of experience, use the cover letter to show you have enthusiasm.

Writing a strong cover letter and then calling to follow up shows the employer you have drive and interest.

Although you should feel free to consult references and models, use your own words when writing a cover letter; don’t mimic another person’s writing style.

Parts of the cover letter

Cover letters should be written in standard business format with your and the reviewer’s addresses at the top and your signature above your typed name at the bottom. (E-mailed cover letters do not include mailing addresses.)

All letters should be single spaced, flush left, with each paragraph followed by a blank line.

Use professional, polite words. Revealing your personality is fine, as long as your style conforms to business protocol.

Most cover letters are two or three paragraphs long. Every cover letter should fit on one page and contain the following four parts:

• Salutation
• Opening
• Body, and
• Conclusion

Salutation

Whenever possible, send your letter to a specific person rather than to an office.

Consider how differently you respond to a letter addressed to you, as opposed to one addressed to “Occupant.”

If you do not know whom to write, call the company and ask who is hiring for the position. Check that the name you use is spelled correctly and the title is accurate.

Pay close attention to the Mr. or Ms. before gender-neutral names. Finally, use a colon after the name, not a comma.

Cover Letter Opening

The first few sentences of your cover letter should tell the reviewer which job you are applying for and the connection you have to the company.

If someone the reviewer knows suggested you apply, mention that recommendation. If you are responding to an advertisement, refer to it and the source that published it.

Your knowledge of the company might give you another opportunity to connect yourself to the job. You could briefly describe your experience with its products, cite a recent company success, or refer to an article written about the company. But don’t go overboard; save specifics for the interview.

Cover Letter Body

The next portion of your cover letter is a brief explanation of your qualifications.

Don’t simply repeat your résumé;  summarize your most relevant qualifications or provide additional details about a noteworthy accomplishment.

Address the employer’s requirements directly, and don’t be afraid to use special formatting to your advantage.

You can also use the body of your cover letter to address gaps in your work history or other problems evident on your résumé. But do not volunteer negative information unless you must. Always maintain a positive, confident tone.

Cover Letter Closing

In your final paragraph, thank the reviewer, request an interview, and repeat your home phone number.

The closing is your chance to show commitment to the job. If you tell the reviewer you plan to call, make sure you do it.

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There is no point thinking that you can just “wing” it when it comes to a job interview. The reality is that you only get one chance to make a great first impression so get to work on some simple but highly effective preparation steps.

Find below some helpful interview tips, techniques and advice to help you sail through your big day:Job Interview Preparation:

• Learn about the organization.
• Have a specific job or jobs in mind.
• Review your qualifications for the job.
• Be ready to briefly describe your experience, showing how it relates it the job.
• Be ready to answer the common interview questions  such as “Why should I hire you?” “Why do you want this job?” “What are your strengths and weaknesses?”
• Practice an interview with a friend or relative.

Dressing for Interviews:

• Be well groomed.
• Dress appropriately.
• Do not chew gum or smoke.

The interview:

• Be early.
• Learn the name of your interviewer and greet him or her with a firm handshake.
• Use good manners with everyone you meet.
• Listen to the interview questions carefully
• Relax and answer each question concisely.
• Use proper English—avoid slang.
• Be cooperative and enthusiastic.
• Use body language to show interest—use eye contact and don’t slouch.
• Ask questions about the position and the organization, but avoid questions whose answers can easily be found on the company Web site.
• Also avoid asking questions about salary and benefits unless a job offer is made.
• Thank the interviewer when you leave and shake hands.
• Send a short thank you note.

Information to bring to an interview:

• Identification (for example, your driver’s license).
• Resume or application. Although not all employers require a resume, you should be able to furnish the interviewer information about your education, training, and previous employment.
• References. Employers typically require three references. Get permission before using anyone as a reference. Make sure that they will give you a good reference. Try to avoid using relatives as references.
• Transcripts / Proof of education. Employers may require an official copy of transcripts to verify grades, coursework, dates of attendance, and highest grade completed or degree awarded.

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You will almost always need to complete resumes or application forms and cover letters. Later, you will probably need to go on interviews to meet with employers face to face.

Resumes and application forms.

Resumes and application forms give employers written evidence of your qualifications and skills. The goal of these documents is to prove, as clearly and directly as possible, how your qualifications match the job’s requirements.

Do this by highlighting the experience, accomplishments, education, and skills that most closely fit the job you want.

Gathering information.

Resumes and application forms both include the same information. As a first step, gather the following facts:

Contact information, including your name, mailing address, e-mail address (if you have one you check often), and telephone number.

Type of work or specific job you are seeking or a qualifications summary, which describes your best skills and experience in just a few lines.

Education, including school name and its city and State, months and years of attendance, highest grade completed or diploma or degree awarded, and major subject or subjects studied. Also consider listing courses and awards that might be relevant to the position. Include a grade point average if you think it would help in getting the job.

Experience, paid and volunteer.

For each job, include the job title, name and location of employer, and dates of employment. Briefly describe your job duties and major accomplishments. In a resume, use phrases instead of sentences to describe your work; write, for example, “Supervised 10 children” instead of writing “I supervised 10 children.”

Special skills.

You might list computer skills, proficiency in foreign languages, achievements, or and membership in organizations in a separate section.

References.

Be ready to provide references if requested. Good references could be former employers, coworkers, or teachers or anyone else who can describe your abilities and job-related traits. You will be asked to provide contact information for the people you choose.

Throughout the application or resume, focus on accomplishments that relate most closely to the job you want. You can even use the job announcement as a guide, using some of the same words and phrases to describe your work and education.

Look for concrete examples that show your skills. When describing your work experience, for instance, you might say that you increased sales by 10 percent, finished a task in half the usual time, or received three letters of appreciation from customers.

Choosing a format

After gathering the information you want to present, the next step is to put it in the proper format. In an application form, the format is set. Just fill in the blanks. But make sure you fill it out completely and follow all instructions.

Do not omit any requested information. Consider making a copy of the form before filling it out, in case you make a mistake and have to start over. If possible, have someone else look over the form before submitting it.

In a resume, there are many ways of organizing the information you want to include, but the most important information should usually come first. Check out out free Chronological and Functional Resume Templates to get you started!

Most applicants list their past jobs in reverse chronological order, describing their most recent employment first and working backward. But some applicants use a functional format, organizing their work experience under headings that describe their major skills. They then include a brief work history section that lists only job titles, employers, and dates of employment.

Still other applicants choose a format that combines these two approaches in some way. Choose the style that best showcases your skills and experience.

Whatever format you choose, keep your resume short. Many experts recommend that new workers use a one-page resume. Avoid long blocks of text and italicized material. Consider using bullets to highlight duties or key accomplishments.

Before submitting your resume, make sure that it is easy to read. Are the headings clear and consistently formatted with bold or some other style of type?

Is the type face large enough? Then, ask at least two people to proofread the resume for spelling and other errors and make sure you use your computer’s spell checker.

Keep in mind that many employers scan resumes into databases, which they then search for specific keywords or phrases.

The keywords are usually nouns referring to experience, education, personal characteristics, or industry buzz words. Identify keywords by reading the job description and qualifications in the job ad; use these same words in your resume.

For example, if the job description includes customer service tasks, use the words “customer service” on your resume. Scanners sometimes misread paper resumes, which could mean some of your keywords don’t get into the database. So, if you know that your resume will be scanned, and you have the option, e-mail an electronic version.

If you must submit a paper resume, make it scannable by using a simple font and avoiding underlines, italics, and graphics. It is also a good idea to send a traditionally formatted resume along with your scannable resume, with a note on each marking its purpose.

Cover letters

• When sending a resume, most people include a cover letter to introduce themselves to the prospective employer.
• Most cover letters are no more than three short paragraphs. Your cover letter should capture the employer’s attention, follow a business letter format, and usually should include the following information:
• Name and address of the specific person to whom the letter is addressed.
• Reason for your interest in the company or position.
• Your main qualifications for the position.
• Request for an interview.
• Your home and work telephone numbers.
• If you send a scannable resume, you should also include a scannable cover letter, which avoids graphics, fancy fonts, italics, and underlines.

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The role of the recruitment consultancy

By allowing professionals to handle your job search you can use your energy and time in doing your current job to the best of your ability.

A good recruitment consultancy knows the relevant marketplace well and can quickly assess your skills and match your aspirations to available opportunities. The services of a recruitment consultancy should be fast, effective and efficient. The relationship you have with your consultancy is a vital key in your future success and there are ways to make the relationship work for you.

How do you get off to the right start?

First of all, make sure your CV is completely up to date. Telephone your chosen consultancy to obtain a relevant contact name before sending your CV. This means that your CV will be registered without delay when it arrives. If you can, talk to a relevant consultant to find out exact procedures and to see if there is anything in particular that they want that could enhance your application.

What should you send?

• An up to date CV with daytime contact number.
• A brief but comprehensive covering letter detailing your situation. This should include details of hourly rates/salary expectations, reasons for looking for a new job, notice period, and availability.
• If you are responding to an advertisement state which one and where you saw it.
• Copies of written references if available.
• Passport/visa details if appropriate.

All of this will help prevent delay in the registration of your details and will enable a good consultant to activate your job search much more quickly and efficiently.

What happens next?

It is likely that a consultant will make contact with you but always make sure that your details have been received if you haven’t heard in two days.

Find out what the plan of action is. Often they will arrange a time to meet you. This is your opportunity to ‘sell’ yourself to the consultant. If this interview goes well your consultant will be enthusiastic about promoting your skills to prospective employers. Make sure you have answered their questions fully and honestly.

Keeping in contact

We all know that communication is the key to all successful relationships and the relationship between you and your consultancy is no different.

Make sure you know when you should contact the consultancy and when you expect to hear from them. In any event, make contact with your consultant or a member of their team at least once a week.

If your situation alters in any way let the consultancy know as soon as possible.
Always make sure the consultancy has your contact number. It is imperative that your consultancy is completely up to date with your situation. This means that your time will not be wasted responding to irrelevant messages, and the consultants’ time can be used positively on your behalf.

As a general rule, recruitment consultants are good at reading CV’s and situations but not minds! Your recruitment consultants will not mind if you find a job elsewhere, go travelling or change your mind about what you are looking for, but if they don’t know, valuable time could be wasted – yours and theirs.

A change of telephone number or a temporary assignment that is not communicated to your consultancy could be the difference between another similar assignment or the “chance of a lifetime”. A two-week holiday in the Seychelles without any clear guidelines to your consultant about what to do in your absence could mean you miss out on your ideal next move.

Discussing vacancies

Honesty is the best approach at all times.

Your consultant or one of their team (depending on how they operate) will give you an accurate description of the role. All they require is a clear idea as to whether or not you are interested.

If you are also looking at opportunities through other agencies or directly, let the consultancy know so that the valuable time spent on your job search is not wasted duplicating someone else’s effort and not getting you any further forward in your job search.

Preparation for interview

It is essential that you are well prepared for any interview. Obviously much of this is down to you, but a good consultancy will confirm all necessary details with you and will make sure that you feel confident in an interview situation. If you have any worries or questions you must ask!

Always give feedback promptly after interviews. The consultancy will want to hear your side of events before talking to the client on your behalf. If you don’t hear anything back from your consultancy, phone them up and hassle them!

Keep your consultancy on their toes!

Any reputable consultancy will want to know about the bits you are not so happy with, so do tell them how they can improve their services.

Always let them know immediately you experience any problems with an assignment or an interview process. They always do their best to sort them out.

When you have found your next ideal position, be it permanent or temporary; don’t forget that a THANK YOU still means a lot! Also, you may never know when you might need them again.

Related posts:

1. Becoming a Consultant – Taking the first Steps
2. Online Recruitment – State-Of-The-Art Job Search Strategies

Find below our top 10 research tips when targeting a company:

1. Start your research early. Don’t wait until you’ve secured an interview. Researching companies and the industry overall may point you to companies you never even considered applying to.

2. Your first step should be to visit the company’s Web page and read any recruiting information you can get your hands on. Familiarize yourself with the company’s products, services, and policies.

3. After you’ve seen what the company has to say for itself, search for media coverage of the company. Check the archives of online publications such as the FT and relevant trade journals.

4. Research the industry. You’ll want to be familiar with the top companies, the latest trends and growth areas, and the impact of new technologies on the industry, as well as the particular company. This will help you to formulate questions for the interview.

5. Find financial information on the company. It will give you an idea of where the company is headed, and may come up in the interview. Publicly traded companies are required to report certain financial information – annual reports, stock prices, and other related information is easy to find on the Web.

6. Read the company’s annual report but remember it is prepared predominantly with shareholders in mind and will present the company’s view of things which may sometimes present a ‘positive’ view of adverse events. Try and always get a balanced perspective with views from both inside and outside the company.

7. Check your facts. There are few things worse than spitting out an incorrect piece of information during an interview. Especially now that the Internet makes it so easy to check things out. If you can’t find a piece of information, ask your interviewer. They’ll be pleased to know that you were doing your homework.

8. Talk to people who work for the company you’re interested in. If possible, try to contact people who work in the position you are applying for. At the very least, talk to people in the department you are looking at. People in different departments may have a sense of how the company works, but they can’t really comment on life in the area you’re targeting. If you are introduced to people on the team you would work with, make the most of the opportunity. Ask them what they do and how they like their jobs.

9. Use your networking skills. Tap friends, family members and alumni networks for possible contacts in the company and in the industry (even people who work for competing companies).

10. Keep records of all your research. File away interesting articles, even they seem irrelevant. You may not be able to use them, but you never know when another job seeker will tap you for career advice.

Related posts:

1. Targeting a Company
2. 12 Steps to Targeting Success in Your Career or Job Search
3. 9 Tips to Help You Find a Job