Job Hunter Information

Job seeking can feel like a full-time job. It can be tiring, confusing, even dispiriting
but it can also take you to jobs which are both financially and emotionally
rewarding. By following a few tips from Loot Recruit you can bag a job youll love.
Well help you to brush up your CV, write cover letters which are relevant, confident
and eye-catching and sail through the interview.
The most important aspect of your job hunt will be your CV. This is the first thing
that employers see and they will use it to decide whether to interview you.
CVs
The curriculum vitae is extremely important as it is the first point of contact
between you and a potential boss. It offers a glimpse into your personality and skills
- the basis for the decision on whether or not to bring you in for an interview, so
you've got to sell yourself.
Employers and recruiters receive many CVs every single day. To make sure yours
gets read let alone taken up you have to make sure it looks the part. Statistics
show the average recruiter only looks at each CV for 20 30 seconds, so you need
to make sure yours is clear and stands out.
You need to target your CV to the industry and role you are applying for. It
can be as simple as altering the opening profile and reviewing the skills to make it
obvious that your CV is specific to a company or industry.
There is no one size fits all with CVs you will have to tailor it to your industry and
your experience, but there are a few things to bear in mind.
Different types of CV
There are two main types of CVs: chronological where you list your jobs, skills
and education in order (starting with your most recent); and skills-based where
you group your skills and use examples to explain when you used them.
Chronological CVs can be useful if you have quite a bit of experience to list, but if
youre just starting out or you want to change direction, then a skills-based CV
might be the best way to prove you can tick all the relevant boxes.
Have a look at some of the tips below to see what the best way might be to present
your own experience to a prospective employer.
Be eye-catching
Have an opening statement of 50 words or less stating who you are, what you have
experience in and your objective for your next role. If the recruiter has to hunt for
the information they may not bother so make sure you really spell it out for them
i.e. qualified web designer with extensive experience in CSS, html and xml seeks
role in London-based startup or recent literature graduate with third sector
experience seeks entry-level position in a Leeds-based charity.
According to Peter Panayotou, senior consultant at the Write Stuff, the CV is
exactly that - a sales document. The secret, he says, "is to put in lots of action
words and inspirational language For example, rather than saying 'a graduate
with a degree in this, looking for a job in this' - you need to say something like 'an
accomplished graduate with extensive experience in this, looking for a dynamic
position in a forward-thinking international company'."
Be brief
Unless your career spans many jobs and many years, it should fit on two sides of
A4. Any more than that and youre giving your possible-employers a whole essay to
read.
Be detailed
Within those two pages make sure you mention your responsibilities, skills and
achievements. Name what skills you used (were you a team player? A negotiator?
An ideas generator? A salesperson?), what tools you used (such as powerpoint, a
JCB, or British Sign Language) and any measurable achievements (increased
turnover by 20%, completed project ahead of schedule, children achieved higher
grades in the class you taught, etc.). Sub-headings and bullet points can help you
to organise these.
Be clear
Spelling mistakes, bad punctuation and inconsistent layout are all the kinds of
things which get CVs thrown into bins. Run spellcheck on your CV and get a friend
to have a look at it too two heads are better than one.
Transferrable skills
These are always important and even more important if youre just starting out, or
trying to move to something which is slightly different to your previous job. Support
your examples of achievements with skills which you can use in your future role,
such as problem solving, commercial awareness, technical abilities, IT knowledge,
analytical talent, or accuracy to detail
Dont leave gaps!
If you have spaces in your employment history, or if your CV is a little on the light
side, bulk it out with volunteering and training courses. This will help get you to
acquire the skills, knowledge and references youll need to help get your dream job.
"I always recommend something like voluntary work because, as far as the CV is
concerned, it always looks much better if you have something on there rather than
nothing at all," says Peter Panayotou, senior consultant for the CV advice service
The Write Stuff. "The other thing is training - any kind of training that you can do in
the meantime."
Youd be surprised what can count that youth group you help run, or organising
your local football groups games these are all positions of responsibility which
you can put down as unpaid work and you can get references from them.
Get a friend to help
Its easy to be wax lyrical about how great a friend of yours is but it feels a bit weird
and awkward when you have to explain how great you are so get a friend to do it
for you! If youre both job-hunting why not meet for a coffee and go through each
others CVs? Help them list, detail and prove the successes of their experience
big them up big-time and get them to do the same for you.
Be honest
Of course you should always use your CV to sell yourself but saying anything
untrue is a serious offence. If you are found out before you are offered a position
then the employer will not give you the job. If you gain a job by deception then you
put yourself at risk of dismissal should your employer find out you lied about your
experience or qualifications.
Be prepared to re-write your CV for each application
Your resume should change depending on the nature of the vacancy. "If [you] are
replying to a job advert, the CV should reflect the requirements of the organisation
as described in the advert or company website and provide evidence from actual
events/experiences that [you] have what the company is looking for," says
Margaret Holbrough, from London South Bank University.
This can seem long-winded but its worth it to get the right role. Most jobs will take
up eight hours a day or more so its worth the investment in time to make sure
you spend those hours doing something you really love rather than settling for what
comes easily.
Below are some of the types of headings you could use to organise your CV.
Related Experience
If you have work experience or volunteering experience which is important for the
job you want to do as your paid jobs in the past, we recommend a related
experience heading. You can use this to list relevant paid employment, too. List
other jobs which are not relevant to your current search under other employment.
Education
If youre still in education or have only recently graduated you should place this
section near the top as its likely the most impressive/important part of your CV. If
youve had two or more jobs since then this should come after your related
experience.
Dont just list your degree: break it down for employers so they can see how
relevant and useful it will be to the role. You need to flag up your unique selling
points and emphasise achievements within specific areas such as a relevant final
year project, an industry placement, or particular expertise in a specific subject.
Skills accrued during your period of study need to be included too. For example:
problem solving, commercial awareness, technical abilities, IT knowledge,
analytical talent or accuracy to detail.

Skills
Languages
Playing a musical instrument
IT Skills
Awards/Achievements in Work
Any relevant professional qualifications or training courses
Any awards such as employee of the month
Accomplishments/Extra-Curricular Activities
Any awards (non-professional or not related to your line of work)
If youve had anything published
Interests not all CVs have, or require, this information but if you think your CV
is looking a little light, or you have any interests which are relevant to the
position (i.e. if youre applying for a job in a gym then mentioning the sports
you enjoy outside of work could be useful)
Volunteer experience /community involvement
List any volunteering work
List any role such as neighbourhood watch, the PTA, etc.
References
Available on request dont give your referees details out at CV stage they
wont be contacted until a later stage, once the employer has decided they
want to interview you or offer you the job. In the meantime protect your
referees data and fill your CV with more relevant information which will help
you to secure an interview.

Cover Letter
In your cover letter you need to explain to the employer why you are the ideal
candidate for the job. The most important thing is to keep this upbeat, relevant and
brief. A cover letter of 250 300 words is ideal. Again: recruiters are busy people,
so if you have a five-page essay its likely youll wind up on the rejection pile for
giving them too much work.
Make sure you demonstrate how you measure up to the job specification or
advert to make a concise and relevant application. For example, if the job spec
says must be proficient in Microsoft Office you could say in my previous role at
Maisy Bloggs Ltd I used Microsoft Office daily.
Make sure, as on your CV, that you make it specific enough to demonstrate where
youve excelled and give examples. For instance a team player is a fairly stock
phrase, but saying I used my negotiating and networking skills to help pull the team
together to clinch a deal with a blue-chip client demonstrates an outcome (the
deal) as well as the skill.
Be clear about your strengths, but avoid coming across as arrogant. For example,
you could say you consistently deliver high-quality work and meet multiple
deadlines on time which would come across better than saying you are the
hardest worker in your office.
When writing covering emails you need to be that bit briefer than you would be in
text. Its less comfortable to read long paragraphs on the screen and most people
scan emails rather than reading every word.
Email is generally a less formal method of communication but remember that youre
still applying for a job, so remain as polite and respectful as possible. If you have a
recruiter or company contacts name, make sure to address the email to them
specifically. The subject line should be descriptive, such as Application for the Web
Editor Role and use short paragraphs and bullet points if appropriate.
Interview
Interviews can be one of the most nerve-wracking experiences of job-hunting but if
you cover the basics, you can be sure you show the best side of yourself.
You should prepare thoroughly so you can stroll into a question-and-answer
situation knowing full well the ins and outs of the company you want to work for.
Memorising some statistics in regards to its operations is bound to go down well.
Most interviewers will have a printed out your CV, but just in case you should
always bring along a copy. Also, where appropriate, you should bring along
examples of your work to demonstrate your skills.
Do your research
Though you should always do this when applying for the job in the first place, its
almost impossible to do too much research on an organisation when you have an
interview. See what you can find out from their website, any news articles and a
Wikipedia page if there is one. Find out what skills and methods the organisation
uses. Finding out who their clients are can be a huge help too. Find out when they
were founded, what their goals and measures of success are, what their turnover is
and figure out (as best you can) where your role will fit into all of this.
The research not only means you can demonstrate that you know about the
company and are enthusiastic to work for them it also means you can tailor your
answers and responses to questions into areas you already know they are
interested in.
Dress to impress
This doesnt mean you should necessarily be power-dressing for every interview
if its a job in a daycare centre then turning up in a three-piece suit would probably
not be appropriate to the role.
What you should do is make sure you always look neat and presentable. Its often a
good idea to cover any tattoos you can, dont have many piercings on show and
dont wear excessive amounts of jewellery. However, if youre going for a job at a
tattoo parlour: the opposite may be advisable.
Whats important is that you do your research on the company and dress
appropriately for it. A new IT startup company will have a very different attitude to
presentation to an investment bank. If youre going through a recruiter it would be a
good idea to ask them if there is a dress code and what they recommend.
Arrive on time, or early
Arriving late doesnt make a good impression on a prospective employer. Plan your
journey and aim to arrive ten minutes early so that you have a buffer zone if
something unexpected comes up. If you are delayed and know you are going to be
late, be sure you call ahead to apologise and let them know.
Make a note of the name and position of the person you will be meeting and always
be polite and friendly to everyone you meet. Greet people with a firm handshake
and a smile. If you have more than one interviewer be sure to speak to all of them
equally.
The interview itself
Some organisations will include a proficiency test of some sort as part of the
interview process. If this is the case they should have let you know beforehand so
you could prepare.
Most interviews will start by covering your CV and will ask you to talk them through
your experience. Make sure to play up specific skills, abilities and sectors which
you know they will be the most interested in.
Be prepared to account for any oddities in your CV. If you have had a career switch
or have any gaps explain why and be careful to put a positive spin on it. Remember
that your interviewers are people too, so if you left a job quite quickly because, for
example, you became a carer, or you moved house to a different city, most
employers will respect this. If you changed industries, explain why if, for example,
you realised your interests lay elsewhere, or youd climbed as high as you wanted
to, then say so and explain that you are now pursuing what youre truly passionate
about.
Body-language
Positive body language is also vital, especially when trying to convey that youre
eager, confident and really want the position. Paying attention to how youre
coming across can be difficult when youre nervous already, so perhaps try a
practice run with a friend and ask them for feedback.
In the meantime, here are some pointers:
Do:
Talk with your hands this conveys confidence and stops you from seeming
too much like a rabbit in the headlights
Use open-palmed gestures these come across as friendly and
accommodating
Mirror the body language of your interviewers this is something people do
subconsciously when they get along with each other, so mirror their body
language a little to demonstrate, subconsciously, that youre already friends
Lean forward a little in your chair this demonstrates enthusiasm
Dont:
Fiddle this can convey nervousness, or even boredom
Cross your arms this can be viewed as aggressive, or that youre trying to
block the other person out
Put your hands in your pockets this hunches the shoulders and can make
people look sulky or shifty.


Competency-based questions
Many interviews these days use competency-based questions to gain examples of
your working life and the style you work in. For example you may be asked:
Tell me about a time when you used your skills to overcome a problem at work. If
you cant think of examples from your working life most employers will accept
examples from the rest of your life. Be careful to bring it back around to your own
skills and how these would help you in the role youre interviewing for.
Why do you want to work for our organisation? This is the time to let your research
shine tell the interviewer (or interviewers) what you know about the organisation
and the role and explain how this is a good fit with what you enjoy and what you
have done in the past. If you have any gaps in the match-up, this is your moment to
explain how youll overcome them such as Ive never worked in journalism before,
but I love writing and Im an absolute newshound, so I think Ill really enjoy it and
pick it up quickly.
What are your strengths? Most employers will ask this, so be prepared to explain
not just why youre good, but why youre uniquely good and what makes you stand
out from other candidates applying for the same job.
What are your weaknesses? For goodness sake dont say youre unpunctual,
addicted to Facebook, have anger management issues or pinch office supplies!
Make sure your weakness is something with a correspondingly positive spin
such as being a perfectionist, being very independent or being so darn enthusiastic
that you take on too many projects.
Questions to ask your interviewers
Most interviewers, towards the end of the interview, will ask if you have any
questions for them. A few incisive questions can demonstrate knowledge and
enthusiasm like nothing else but if you find yourself drawing a blank (or if its
difficult to research the organisation) then here are a few questions to cover most
bases:
Could you describe a typical day in the role? This question will open up a fuller view
of the organisations way or working and crucially what youll be doing in your day-
to-day role. From the answers your interviewers give you, you will probably be able
to ask more detailed questions and gain a deeper understanding of the role.
How does this role fit in with the rest of the team? The answer to this question will
give you some more insight into who you will be reporting to, who you will be
managing and how the role fits in elsewhere. Most companies have slightly
different job titles to describe similar roles so you cant beat a simple explanation of
where youd stand in a certain role.
How would you describe the organisations working style? This is important to find
out whether youre a good match with your prospective employer and its also a
chance to demonstrate that youd fit in. If you like what you hear, let them know by
saying something like that sounds great or oh, my last place did something a bit
like that, I really enjoyed it.
Do you think that I can do the job? This is a slightly scary one, but its a good way
to tackle and iron out any doubts your interviewers may have. If they say something
like we like your CV, but were not sure youve got enough experience in coding
this is your moment to explain that you do. For example, it could be that you
havent been coding for very long, but youve been doing it every day at work
recently, or youve just started a course to brush up your skills. Its better to take the
plunge now, when youre still there and able to tell them more, than leave the room
with your interviewers harbouring some doubts.