Jobs For Everyone

Category: jobs

  • Signs you’re better off self-employed

    There are many people who enjoy careers as self-employed individuals. That can be through any means of work, including construction, marketing, photography, writing, design, hairdressing, consulting or reporting to name a few. If you’re contemplating spending a year or more self-employed, then here are a few signs to let you know you’re ready:

    • You want flexibility in your job role.
    • You want to be in control of complete projects.
    • You love working individually.
    • You’re motivated to work in different environments.
    • You want to run your own business.

    If this is sounding like you, you may be ready to pursue a career as self employed, but just know that you will have some good months, and some bad months, and income can vary depending on seasonality at times. There’s no salary set in stone, so you really have to put the work in, but when you do, the rewards can be unbelievable.

  • Who to use as your job references?

    When it comes to applying for a new job, there are a few checks that your new employer will need before giving you a contract to sign.

    Your CV should not only provide an in-depth statement regarding why you are right for the role, it should include relevant qualifications, extra courses and any volunteer work too. At the bottom of every CV there should be a section for references, this could be written ‘references available on request’ or you could list two to three references.

    When it comes to selecting who to have as your references, it is always recommended to use your most recent manager as your professional reference and a professional work colleague or long term friend as a character reference. Giving a professional and character reference is the vest way for your future employers to get the best insight into your personality and you as a professional.

  • The perfect CV

    Writing a good CV is always a tough task, however, it is necessary to present yourself properly in order to have a good chance of getting the job that you want.

    First of all, your CV has to be simple and clear. Do not try to give too much detail about every single part in the CV because it will probably not be taken into account and can also hide the important information. Use a short and direct language trying to strengthen the most relevant experience.

    Moreover, it is important to take care of some aspects of the appearance of your CV. You must include a photograph at the top, but it shouldn’t be too big in comparison to the information. Only use a professional portrait photograph and not your latest social media profile picture.

    Include all relevant education and past experiences, do not include anything that doesn’t bring anything to the job role. Saying you ride a horse, will not help with an IT job for instance and will take up space that could be used for more significant information.

  • Taking part in volunteer work abroad

    If you are looking for a break in your job or simply want to expose yourself to something new, you should consider trying volunteer work abroad.

    There are many countries in Asia and African that offer a fantastic volunteering experience regardless of your interests. Volunteering can range from teaching, medical care, sports, or building projects. Whichever you choose, you are sure to learn and develop many important skills. Many volunteering schemes will provide accommodation and food for the return of your service.

    Volunteering can open up job possibilities when you return home, as many employers like to hire a worker that has dedicated free time to help others. You may also wish to discuss your plans with your current manager to see if they are happy to support you by keeping your job open for you when you return.

    Volunteering can be the perfect career break you need to get your head back in the game.

  • Working your way up the career ladder in retail

    If you already have a job in retail , you may be thinking of ways to start progressing. Whilst you tend to start as a customer adviser in many retail jobs, you definitely have the chance to develop your career. You should organise a meeting with your manager, discussing your goals, they will then be able to direct and support you in your career development.

    As part of any career progression, you will have to undertake courses, such as health and safety, and leadership courses. The retailing company you work for may even offer to pay for a business or management course for you, this is a great opportunity that you should take time considering.

    Before getting a promotion, you may want to start taking on certain roles and responsibilities, such as helping with induction training or becoming the specialist in electronics. This type of forward acting allows your manager to see your dedication to your role and your profession.

  • Making it through your first job interview

    Although obtaining your first job interview is definitely a positive step on the path towards employment, it is important that you remember that it is only the beginning of your journey, rather than your destination.

    As a basic rule, ill-fitting or informal clothes such as flip-flops and shorts should never be worn to an interview. You probably know this, but why not take your appearance to the next level with a fine suit, or a shirt and tie combo? If you can look the part and present yourself well, you’ll naturally improve your own self-esteem.

    It’s also important know that prepared interviewers like to ask certain questions to test first time/ graduate job candidates. In order to secure the job you are vying for, be prepared to answer the following questions:

    • Relate you learning/academic experience to the position you are interviewing for.
    • Provide specific examples of what you learned and how you can directly apply it to the position you are applying for.
    • What is your greatest failure/ regret?

    They will want you to elaborate on each answer so do make sure you provide specific examples where relevant. If you can do this, you’ll be in with a great shout of getting that job you desire.

  • Tips on starting evening courses as a step towards a new career

    Attending evening classes may not be a ‘walk in the park’ especially when one has a family to look after or a demanding day time job that leaves you exhausted. That said, it is possible to manage your time efficiently and make the most of it, so we’re going to tell you how:

    • Come up with a workable daytime activity schedule. The schedule should enable you get some time to rest before getting to class.

    • Do not doubt your ability to learn during the late hours. You will adjust to it after sometime.

    • You might be one of the senior students, but that should not be a reason for embarrassment. Your goal is greater than the course; besides, evening classes are mostly for the senior.

    • Make sure the institution you have chosen to take classes at is not far away from your place of residence, since you are likely to be getting home at night.

    • You might want to be taking the classes with a friend. Besides being company they might be of help in case you have to miss a lesson.

  • Shaking off your nerves before a job interview

    Shaking off your nerves before a job interview is the most important thing to do if you want to appear calm, confident and employable. Being nervous will only reduce your chances of getting employed. Therefore, by all possible means, always try to stay confident all the time. It is normal to get nervous, but awkward to let the nervousness take the better part of you. There are things that you can do to combat nervousness before any interview. These include the following;

    Make early preparations before the interview- Early preparation is always the key factor that boosts your confidence and at the same time reduces nervousness. Before the interview day, make sure that you collect enough information about the company or institution that you will be interviewing with. Know about the services they offer and the basic history of the company. The most important are to have a brief description of the position you are applying for from the institution’s perspective. Also, ensure that you carry all the required documents with you. Failure of which can result in panic and increased nervousness. You can get interview questions from the internet and critique your responses. The best approach is to let your friend ask you the questions as you give your answers. This will enhance your confidence levels.

    Make it a positive experience- This is the time that you should stay positive and let nothing negative cross through your mind. Just view the interview as a learning experience and don’t worry about getting the job. Avoid any quarrels with your family members, spouses, and even friends. Go into the interview with an open mind and a jovial face.

    Listen to music- Music will pump you up or put you in a tranquil stress-free state. It will keep you off any destructions and give you the feeling that you are actually the best. Some music lyrics are always inspirational and this can help you stay motivated.

  • File formats – what you need to know

    File formats – what you need to know

    When you’re applying for a number of jobs and are actively looking for work, you may be applying via a range of websites, including job search sites, agency websites and even private advertisers’ websites. Some of these will require word documents (.doc), others will want PDFs (this is especially important for marketers, designers and artists who need a beautiful CV to demonstrate their skills), while some would prefer your information in Excel (this isn’t as likely). That said, you need to be prepared to give it in the file format of their choice, you also need to be able to scale the size down if required as some will have file size limits on their website. There will always be a reason behind why they’ve asked for a certain file and you need to make sure you give them the information they need in a nice looking document. So keep in mind you may need to make different versions of your CV for different applications.

  • Applying for too many jobs

    Applying for too many jobs

    When you’re desperately looking for a job, many people will tell you to apply for as many jobs as possible, but we wouldn’t actually recommend this and we’ll tell you why. When you start applying for too many jobs, you lose track of what you really want to do. You should only apply for jobs that genuinely interest you, because if you’re too desperate it will show in your CV, your cover letter or your interview. Be particular about your next step and the job you’d like to gain, the more focus you put into getting that dream job, the more likely it is you’ll get it and reap the rewards. Why not try to apply for jobs that grab your attention or choose jobs that come from brands you’re interested in. Ignore everything else, otherwise, you could find yourself in a job you don’t like only to find yourself moving on again in a few months time.