Q: Do I need to tailor my CV each time I apply for a job?

A: Yes, your CV should be tailored, not just for the role (e.g. “Secretary”) but for the exact job you’re applying for, matching your skills and experience to the requirements of the job as set out in the job description.

If you’re replying to a job advert, look at the person specification and make sure you mention the skills that you actually have, both in your covering letter and on your CV.

If you’re applying to a company generally (who aren’t advertising at the moment), consider what the job would typically involve and what the employer might be looking for. Search online for descriptions of jobs that other employers have put up and make a note of desirable skills. Go on the Company’s website and pay attention to the values and attributes they look for in their staff.

Q: How long should my CV be?

A: Your CV should be no more than two pages long.  Make sure the information is spaced out well – don’t try and cram as much as possible into the two page limit.

If you have a lot to put in, you can free up space by being brief on less important details, such as jobs you held a long time ago and skills that aren’t really relevant to the current position.

Q: What style of writing do I use?

A: Your CV should be concise and easy to read, use facts, stats and examples as often as possible.  Use powerful words like managed, led and achieved.  Avoid flowery language and throwaway sentences like “I work well alone and as part of a team”.  Don’t write in the third person!

Always check your final CV for spelling and grammar mistakes. You can use a computer spelling and grammar check but it’s also a good idea to get it double checked by somebody else.

Leave out any unnecessary information – your age / date of birth / number of children / ethnicity / nationality and marital status, for example, are not needed and can lead to presumptions being made and even prejudice before the interview stage.

Q: Should I lie on my CV?

A: No.  You should sell yourself, highlighting your achievements, skills, experience and qualities.  Never be tempted to invent qualifications or previous jobs. You might be asked for more information about them at the interview stage and if you’re found out, you definitely won’t get the job.

Q: Should I ‘jazz’ up my CV so it stands out?

A: Aside from applications for graphic intensive jobs, ‘designer’ CVs look pretentious and childish.  Print your CV on white A4 paper using a standard consistent font all the way through, with bold and bigger font sizes to bring out headings.  Times New Roman or Arial are preferred fonts.

The layout should be as simple as possible and make use of white space, rather than lines or graphics, to separate sections.

Use good quality paper but nothing fancy or unusual.  Don’t include photos unless you’re applying to be a model or an actor!

There are lots of different areas to work in including IT, ticketing, hospitality and security. Recruitment for the Games started at the beginning of this year and is still on-going, with new roles being created daily. If you wish to be a part of this once in a lifetime event then you will need to apply for a role as soon as possible in order to avoid disappointment.

The opening ceremony alone will require hundreds of extra staff and being a part of it would be a wonderful experience you would not be likely to forget.

According to official statistics there will be an extra 6000 people employed by the time the opening ceremony starts with an extra 3000 people also gaining work through temporary roles lasting the duration of the Olympics. The new jobs will undoubtedly boost the UK economy at a time where it really needs it.

There are hundreds of contractors who have been brought in to help with the demands of all the extra tourists that will inevitably wish to visit the capital. Temporary staff will work alongside permanent official Olympics staff to ensure that the Games run without a hitch.

If you like the idea of working at such a historical event and wish to apply for a role you will need to apply as soon as possible before all of the vacancies are taken. Lots of people wish to become a part of this historic event. If you are an IT worker you might want to apply for a role through Axis it recruitment agency London.

There are positions available no matter what your qualifications or experience centre around. If you have experience within the IT industry, Security, Hospitality, Ticketing and sales, Tourism, The Media, Event organising you should apply soon as the Games are imminent.

Although most of the jobs created are based in London, the overall effect of the Olympics has meant that jobs have been created all over the UK. With the extra tourists due to visit London there has been a greater demand for items such as food and drinks therefore there will have been more staff taken on to cope with the demand and more drivers taken on to insure that the products arrive in London.  With all the excitement the Games have brought there has been jobs created in making souvenirs and promotional items. These jobs are not necessarily always based in London.

Who is Academic Knowledge?

Academic Knowledge is a trading name of All Answers Limited, a registered UK company incorporated in 2003 (no. 04964706). They are based at Venture House in Arnold, Nottingham. Offices are open for visits as long as you call in advance as they’re a busy bunch.

AK employs around 35 full time members of staff at their offices, as well as using remote support staff, contractors and close to 4,000 freelancers. It has a strong reputation, having featured in the national press, radio and TV many times. Customers approach AK through one of All Answers’ many websites, their flagship site being UKEssays.com.  You can hear an interview with After Care Manager Jilly on BBC Radio Nottingham here:

Staff can point you to more videos and press if you’re interested.

What kind of work could AK offer me?

AK helps students with their written assignments, and these projects are fulfilled by you, the researcher.  These may be essays, dissertations, reports or even presentations.  Two primary services are offered:

• A model answer writing service – the student is given an exact answer to their assignment and uses this as a guide to formulate their own piece of work.
• A marking service – the student provides their work, it is marked and feedback on how to improve the work is offered.

In addition, AK pays researchers to review other researchers’ work, as an additional check to our internal quality control processes.

Researchers may carry out any or all of the above types of work – and may pick and choose which assignments they are most interested in completing.

What qualifications/experience do I need?

AK requires that you have a minimum 2:1 degree from a recognised university, although if you have equivalent qualifications (such as being a F.ILEX) you may also be accepted onto their books.   They do require evidence of qualifications and these are carefully checked.  Your level of English must also be equivalent to a native speaker.

Once accepted, you’ll be able to work in subject areas that are relevant to your degree.  If you establish a good reputation working in your degree areas and you can show relevant experience and/or other qualifications in other areas, you may be allowed to expand the work you take on.

How much does it cost to be on AK’s books?

It doesn’t cost anything to apply, register, be on the books, bid for work etc.  There are no costs involved at all.

How does it work?

Customers approach AK for help, usually through one of its websites.  Details of their assignment are sent out to all researchers on AK’s books who have qualifications in that area of study.  These details will include what the customer wants, how much is offered to complete the work, and when it needs to be completed by.  They do not include any information to identify the customer as the service is offered confidentially.

Those researchers that are interested in an assignment put themselves forward to complete the assignment (this is often referred to as bidding, but in fact, for most assignments the fee is already set so there is no bidding process).  The Researcher Relations team select the researcher they feel is best suited to complete the assignment and work begins.

When the researcher has finished the work, they upload it through their ‘control panel’.  It is quality checked by the staff (and often by another researcher), scanned for plagiarism and sent on to the customer.  The customer can request changes within their ‘amendments period’ (usually 7 days) as long as these changes don’t clash with their original order instructions.  In other words, you’ll only be asked to change work if you’ve not followed the instructions properly.  Other types of change requests attract a further fee that is paid to you.

How much money will I get paid?

The rates on offer depend on the length of assignment is being completed, the type of assignment, how quickly it is needed, and the standard of writing required.  For example, if you write a 2,500 word model answer for an undergraduate student to around 2:1 standard, delivery within 5 days, your fee will be £108.  If the student wants much more detail and requests a 1st class example, you’ll receive £217 for the same amount of words.  If the student needs faster (next day) help, the same assignment would earn you £433.  So it very much depends on those three factors: assignment type, speed and standard.

To mark a piece of work of up to 5,000 words, you’ll receive £20.  Marking fees again depends on the length of the work and the level of feedback required.

For nearly all assignments, you’ll see the fee beforehand and you can decide whether to put yourself forward for it or not.  The only exception to this is ‘zero word count’ orders.  These are orders from customers for things like presentations, maths, posters and so on.  They might have relatively few words but require several hours work.  For these assignments, you tell AK how much you’d be willing to complete the work for, and they choose a researcher based on capability and the amount proposed.

When will I get paid?

AK pay monthly straight into your bank account, and invoicing is dealt with by their automatic system.  There is, of course, a cut off date each month and any work completed after this date carries over to the following month.

What kind of support will I be offered?

Your primary line of support is the Researcher Relations team.  Headed up by Sam, Holly and Luke, these guys are on hand 9am – 9pm week days and 10am – 7pm on a Saturday to make sure you have everything you need.  The After Care team are also on standby.  Headed up by Jilly, a PhD qualified former lecturer, these are all academics covering a broad range of subjects – so they are very helpful if you get stuck.

AK release newsletters and bulletins to encourage and support researchers so you know you’re not working alone.

AK also offer free and subsidised subscriptions to major journal databases to ensure you have the resources you need to complete assignments to a high standard for them.

Can I do this as a full time job?

Yes and I know some researchers do.  It takes a little while to get yourself ‘established’ with AK – they won’t give you lots of work up front, as they’ll first want to be sure that you can complete it to a really good standard.  Once they’re happy that you’re good at what you do, you’ll find yourself being awarded a lot more of the projects that you’re interested in.

If you’re helpful – always happy to make little changes for the customer, or to take on problem assignments (for example, when other researchers have done a poor job), you’ll quickly build a good rapport with the Researcher Relations team.

One thing to note is that work loads are seasonal in line with the academic year. During busy times, you’ll be able to grab more work than you could ever handle – and conversely, there’s less available when school’s out.  But the Company has grown fast and the differences between the busy and quiet times are becoming less obvious – certainly for researchers who have a good reputation with the Company and receive some preference when it comes to delegating work.

Are there any bad points about working for AK?

Yes. In my view, they are as follows:

• It can take a little time to get established with AK so you have to be patient.  This is just because they’re looking after their customers and so are careful about who they delegate the work to.  My advice is keep putting yourself forward for as much work as possible and when you get your first project, make sure you impress them!  Ask Researcher Relations specifically for feedback so you know how well you did – it also means someone will take a second look at your work so you’ll get ‘noticed’.
• During quiet times, there’s not so much work to go round so if you’re doing this full time, you have to budget your earnings carefully.  However, this is getting better as the Company grows.

Who are AK’s customers?

Primarily, students doing their first degree at University.  AK also helps some A level students, business people and other people who have to complete some sort of written assignment.  The biggest customer base is international students who need extra help because they are not receiving the right level of support at their learning institution.

How do I apply?

Click here to apply online through AK’s website.  You’ll need to supply identification as well as copies of your certificates.

So you didn’t get the job.  The competition was tough. You weren’t quite what they were looking for.  The other candidates you met seemed far more experienced and really had it together.  You weren’t really trying anyway, just testing the water to get some experience at job interviews.  You didn’t click with the interviewer.  Clearly they were looking for something very specific.

Have any of these thoughts gone through your head?

If so, there’s a good chance you’re going to fall into one of the two following types of people, so read on and try to be honest with yourself.

The blamer

Blamers, as the label might suggest, will always find someone or something to blame for their lack of success.  Whether it is a difficult childhood, lack of opportunities, a poor school, an interviewer with PMT or some other factor, blamers fail to accept responsibility for the fact that life is not going as they would like it to.

Because they always have something to blame for their failures, they do not learn from them and will miss out on opportunities to make positive changes that will influence their life.

The self-pitier

The self pitier is convinced that life would be better if their ‘lot’ was different.  For example, they might say:

• I’m naturally shy
• I’m no good at speaking to people
• People don’t see what a nice person I am
• I’m quietly spoken

They might wish they were a little bit smaller, taller, prettier, smarter or any number of other things.  It doesn’t matter what.  The main characteristic is that they really believe that these missing attributes are responsible for their lack of success in life, and worse, that there’s nothing they can do about it.

Self pitiers find it difficult to hear critical feedback, seeing it as unfair because of their deep-rooted conscious or subconscious belief that they cannot change what they have to work with.  They will often interpret remarks made towards them in the negative.

Are you a blamer or self pitier?

If so, you need to get a grip.  You didn’t get the job because of one, simple, cold, hard truth: you blew it.   Stop shaking your head, mumbling something about doing your best or telling yourself you gave a good interview.  You didn’t, because otherwise you’d have the job.  And just for the record, you had as good a chance as anybody else who was invited for an interview.  Companies don’t invite people to interviews unless there’s a good chance they’re thinking of hiring them for the job.  So it’s true, you totally and utterly messed up.

Now get over it Einstein because it’s not happening again. The next interview you give is going to

 (totally).

How to do better next time

You can already be confident that you had the qualifications and experience on paper that your prospective employer was looking for, because that’s why you got an interview.  So what it comes down to is how you came across to your interviewer.

Andrew Leigh, co-founder of Maynard Leigh Associates, details 7 different things that affect the personal impact you make on people.  They are:

FLUENCY – the ability to speak fluently and well.

CONFIDENCE – the willingness to accept alternative views, to be open to challenges, not to be defensive and to be able to be spontaneous.

PRESENCE – the level of alertness to the present situation, the display of gravitas, maintenance of eye contact, demonstration of stature and substance.

AUTHENTICITY – the ability to be true to oneself, not to put on a front, and to be reliable and dependable.

COURAGE – the willingness to be different, to challenge and question, to think outside of the box and to take risks.

PASSION – the ability to share personal values, energy, open commitment, enthusiasm and the ability to engage other people.

DEMEANOUR – physical bearing, personal presentation.

(Source: “The Charisma Effect” Andrew Leigh, p.15)

Achieving what is referred to as ‘the Charisma Effect’ – the ability to make a lasting and powerful impression, and ultimately, land the job you want – involves developing a mix of all 7 elements.

Fluency

Developing your fluency is not just about being good with words.  Communication is a blend of words, verbal elements such as tone, pitch, speed and intonation, and non-verbal elements such as body language, gestures, expression and posture.

It takes time to develop fluency so for now we’ll just focus on one goal: to speak clearly and audibly.  This means speaking at a good volume, at a good speed, with appropriate pauses in the right place.  Remember:

If they haven’t heard it, you haven’t said it.

And yes, the onus is on YOU, person-with-the-vocal-chords-of-a-mouse, to ensure that your message is delivered; not on the other person to exercise superhuman hearing to be able to receive it.

So far as job interviews are concerned, being well prepared helps a lot with fluency.  Be ready with examples of projects you’ve completed, successes and failures that you’ve experienced, results you’ve achieved and what you would have done differently – these are the types of things you’ll usually be asked about.  Articulate your achievements clearly, at a good volume and steady pace.

Confidence

If you don’t consider yourself a confident person, it’s going to take more than a couple of paragraphs to change that but there are two things to work on in the job interview context.

The first starts before the job interview.  Picture in your mind how you will look, walking through the door: the friendly, charming candidate, immaculately presented, confident and ideal in every respect for the role.  As you warmly greet each interviewer, you exchange smiles, making an excellent first impression.  Your body language ticks all the boxes, showing that you ooze confidence, and rightly so – you really are the best person for this job.  You answer all their questions confidently and ask some of your own.  After the interview is finished, you shake hands again and depart, knowing you’ll be hearing from them with good news in the next day or two.  Sure enough, you get the job.

Run through this visualisation in your head over and over again.  Notice the details.  Notice how you are feeling.  Make it real and keep it in your mind.  Don’t question it.  All you need to know is that this will positively affect your performance on the day.

Your second task is to be proactive.  You will almost certainly be asked at the end of the interview if you have any questions, so have some thoughtful questions ready, make eye contact and ask them clearly, showing that you’re genuinely interested in the Company.  Make sure they’re not too obvious (as it suggests you haven’t done your homework).

Presence

Presence is about being alert and fully present in a situation.  This in turn gives you ‘presence’ in that others are aware of you and will remember you.  Here is how to be ‘present’:

Take a breath – try it out right now – take a breath and, when you exhale, what happens? Exactly – nothing. Everything falls away for that simple span of time – a breath.

What are you doing right now? Well, right now, you’re reading. But are you just reading? Where are your thoughts? Your emotions? Your hands? Your sense of time?

Be a witness – in becoming aware of what you are doing – exactly what you are doing – in any given moment, bear witness to it. Observe it, name it and stand away from it — all at once.

Let the rest go – much like bearing witness, whatever is not there in that moment let go. Be there, right there, right then. That’s all.

Come back to the breath – when the world or your thoughts begin to again intrude, simply come back to the breath.

Adapted from 5 Steps for Being Present Published on June 14, 2011 by Michael J. Formica, MS, MA, EdM in Enlightened Living

Being aware of your surroundings, of every little detail, every sensory input; being relaxed and comfortable in this situation and being fully present in the moment will help you make a strong impression.  This is something you can practice a lot – almost anywhere – before your next interview.

Authenticity

We are surrounded by things that are exactly the opposite of authentic.  Even the very concept of online communication distracts us from real human relationships.  Authenticity is, however, a simple concept – what you see is what you get.  In the context of a job interview, do point out your skills and abilities but ensure these are in the context of real-life examples.  Be ready to acknowledge where you could have done things better and give due credit to others where clearly you had help.

Conveying your values is another way you can be authentic.  You might use phrases during the interview such as ‘This matters to be because….’.  Values are important to recruiters – many companies – Virgin for example – have very customer-centric values and look for people who share these.  Part of being authentic is not trying to be authentic though – it is trying to convey values that you genuinely hold.

Courage

Having courage means being prepared to challenge or question people constructively, and to express your point of view in the right way.  Courage needs to be exercised carefully in a job interview, so as not to come over as arrogance.  There is always a right way and a wrong way of saying something – for example, you might say:

Wrong: Your customer care is rubbish.

Right: I have some ideas about ways in which you could improve your customer care.

Rarely will prospective employers be looking for an employee who simply agrees with everything they say. People who can identify areas for improvement and suggest ways of improving them will be far more valuable to an organisation.

Passion

Passion is about knowing what you’re shooting for, having the enthusiasm and passion to be able to excite others about the issue when you’re discussing it, and having the  confidence and self-belief to get your message across effectively.  In the context of  a job interview, you can demonstrate passion by:

• Physical – be conscious of your gestures, movements and actions, tone of voice and smile.
• Words – speak from the heart about what genuinely enthuses you.

Clearly, you need to strike a good balance between showing love and enthusiasm for your specialist subject – and looking like you’ve had too much caffeine that morning.  But if you really care about what you’re talking about, you’ll find it easy to speak confidently, fluently and passionately about it without coming across as over the top.  This passion will shine through as an endearing and distinguishing feature that sets you apart from other less animated candidates.

What next?

Before your next job interview, make sure you have all the job interview basics right. You can have all the charisma of Richard Branson but if you don’t dress to impress or you fail to show up on time, it’ll be wasted.  Review all of the above and be ready to put into practice the techniques suggested.  Better still, grab yourself a copy of The Charisma Effect (Andrew Leigh, 2008, Pearson Books) which takes your personality through a step by step practical work out to transform you from wilting wallflower to confident charmer in just 219 pages.  Expect results.

Although lego still held its appeal there wasn’t a module on advanced lego architecture so I completed courses in Health & Social Care, Computer Programming and Maths before completing a law degree with criminology and philosophy sandwiched in. 6 years later I figured out I didn’t want to be a lawyer either, and started my MBA.

The moral of the story is, it doesn’t matter if you get it wrong. You can study for a year or even three and still pick a different job – and it’s never too late for a career change (although money is, of course, always a factor!) Every course I’ve completed has been useful in some way to me during my career so don’t think of it as a waste of time.

So aimed with the knowledge that this isn’t such a life-changing decision, here’s how to pick your first uni course.

Get to know yourself

This means figuring out your skills, abilities, personal qualities and interests. I can’t stress how important the last point is – you need to be interested in your chosen career, otherwise you will be miserable, regardless of how much you get paid.

Create a mind map with you in the centre, and four branches – skills, abilities, personal qualities, interests. If you like doing stuff on the computer, XMind is a really easy piece of software to use for mind maps, or you can just draw it on a piece of paper.

TIP: Don’t worry too much about getting something under the right heading. It really doesn’t matter. The idea is that you get a clearer picture of who you are, to help you identify what kind of career you’d thrive in.

Interests

Start with interests, as this is the easiest.  Add more branches for stuff you like.  They don’t need to be interests you’ve actually pursued – just anything that floats your boat.

Add as many as you like and group them if you have lots (for example, you might have groups for sports, things you like to read about, things that interest you on telly, and so on).

When you’re happy you have everything, move onto skills.

Skills

Skills fall into two groups so make yourself 2 new branches for these: soft skills and hard skills.

Hard skills are very specific skills that can be taught and quantified – such as typing, programming, and the ability to use software such as Microsoft Word.  There is a list of hard skills you might have here.

Soft skills involve capabilities such as communication and teamwork.  There are some ideas for soft skills that you might have here and here.

Confused? There’s more on the differences between hard skills and soft skills here.

Abilities

You might be wondering why I’ve separated abilities from skills. After all, skills can be abilities, right? Abilities are much wider though – they might include things you have an aptitude for, or stuff you know a lot about (intelligence) – neither of which you’d be inclined to list in skills. An example might be the ability to cope well with stress.

Personal attributes

The final heading is personal attributes – these are neither skills nor abilities, just things that make you you. They don’t necessarily have to be good things and it’s important to be really honest in this section. For example, you might be a strict vegetarian or vegan, and you might love or dislike children; you might have fears, ambitions, hopes, dislikes – all of these things are going to impact your career choice.

Other people can often help you to see yourself more clearly. Try asking your friends, relations or tutors about your strengths and weaknesses, to help you see yourself more objectively.

Using MBTI – a step further

The MBTI, formally known as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, is a personality inventory. It can really help you when making a career choice.  The MBTI is based on Carl Jung’s theory of personality type.

Jung’s Personality Types

Jung believed an individual’s personality was made up of his or her preferences, or the way he or she chose to do certain things. He theorised that there were four pairs of opposite preferences that indicate how an individual:

• energises (extroversion v. introversion),
• perceives information (sensing v. intuition),
• makes decisions (thinking v. feeling) and
• lives their life (judging v. perceiving).

Four preferences – one from each pair – make up your personality type. This is indicated by the four letters that refer to each preference (in bold above). There are 16 different personality types in all:

ISTJ
ISFJ
INFJ
INTJ
ISTP
ISFP
INFP
INTP
ESTP
ESFP
ENFP
ENTP
ESTJ
ESFJ
ENFJ
ENTJ

Each personality type is unique. It is the combination of the four preferences that make you who you are, not the sum of them. Being one type, rather than another, does not bring with it any special status. It is not better to be an ENTP instead of an ENTJ, for example. An ENTP may function better in certain environments than an ENTJ would, while the opposite would be true in others.

You can take the test online here: http://www.teamtechnology.co.uk/mmdi/questionnaire/ - there is a free version and you have the choice to pay for a more detailed report afterwards.  The site offers a personal career profile which costs £2.95.  You can then see the type of jobs that are most likely to be enjoyed by your personality type.  My personality type (INFP), for example, is most happy doing jobs around entrepreneurship which is very true of me.  The report goes on to actually suggest some careers at the end, offering you both a profile match score and a job enjoyment score.

Making a choice

Armed with your mind map, profile type and some suggested careers, it’s time to do some further research on what career might suit you best. But before you go on, make sure you’re in the right mindset for this. Henry Ford said:

“Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t — you’re right.”

Aside from any definite physical limitations that you can’t do anything about, you really can do anything. No career is beyond you. So never look at an opportunity and say ‘I could never do that’. You absolutely can.

In the very first lecture I went to, my first year LL.B tutor told my group that if they wanted to be solicitors or barristers, they might as well give up now.  He said it was too hard to get a training contract or pupillage so we might as well not try.  Fortunately I’m stubborn as hell and I took that as a cue to (successfully) prove him wrong.  Don’t listen to people like him, especially if they’re just bitter because they themselves couldn’t get a training contract and ended up getting paid to demotivate first year law students instead… 

It’s also important at this stage not to have set ideas about jobs (who does them and what the work is like) – there are so many misconceptions and you shouldn’t let this restrict your career choices. Take some time to find out what is really involved. Stay open minded and be receptive to new job ideas. Don’t reject careers without some consideration first.

A helping hand

To kick start your search, here are some places and people who will help you:

• If you’re already studying, check with your tutors and other staff in your department as these may have expertise and links regarding jobs and employers in their field.
• Check graduate directories, such as Prospects and Hobsons which you can get from your institution’s careers service.  Some are also available online – see Kent Uni’s web page on this - http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/graddirectories.htm
• Jobs websites – here are my favourites:
• The Guardian – http://jobs.guardian.co.uk
• Total Jobs - http://www.totaljobs.com/
• Reed - http://www.reed.co.uk/
• Monster - http://www.monster.co.uk/
• All The Top Bananas – http://www.allthetopbananas.com/
• Directgov – http://jobseekers.direct.gov.uk/
• Jobs direct – http://www.jobsearch.co.uk/
• Fish4jobs – http://www.fish4.co.uk/
• Local recruit – http://www.localrecruit.co.uk/
• Specialist journals and websites – e.g. The Legal Executive Journal for law jobs, the Times Higher Education Supplement for academic and research posts in Higher Education, New Scientist and Nature for scientific research, The Bookseller for publishing.

Finally…

The two most important things you can take away from this article are this:

1. Your decision doesn’t bind you for the rest of your life.  If you don’t like what you’re doing, stop doing it and do something else.
2. You can do anything you want to.  Never let anyone tell you otherwise.

Growing field

The Bureau of Labour Statistics, which is abbreviated BLS, believes that the need for CNAs in the coming years will increase by 20 percent. In 2008, the BLS stated that they expect a growth rate in the field of up to 18 percent, but in 2010, that number was in creased. Right now, it stands at 20 percent.

That forecast is encouraging, but people are always forecasting growth. For instance, the stock market supposedly grows over time, but it has performed poorly over time. So, what’s the difference? The BLS’ forecast for CNA growth is based on a known fact.

The baby boomers are aging. As they age, they will have more and more healthcare needs. CNAs will be needed to perform basic healthcare services to this aging population. Along with the increased demand, certified CNAs can likely expect more job opportunities and higher salaries.

Starting salary

Nurse aides earn a respectable wage for their work. These numbers, which were supplied by the BLS, have probably increased in the past two years, but they are the most recent statistics available. In 2010, the median salary in the U.S. for an aide was over $11.50. This is a very respectable salary for people who only need a couple of weeks’ worth of training. This number also varied from one state to another. In some areas, CNAs earned more than $30,000 a year. The median U.S. salary translated into $24,000 in 2010.

Quick training

CNA certification is governed by states, so the process of becoming licensed is not uniform. However, all states require students to take a course and pass an exam. This course contains at least 70 hours of training, and as much as 200 hours. As numbers, these seem large. Yet, when they are considered in the context of a week, it becomes evident that CNA training only takes two to four weeks. Furthermore, it only requires a GED, at most. Some states allow people to become CNAs without GEDs.

Advancement opportunities

People can become CNAs and work at the level of a CNA for their entire career, or they can advance into higher levels of medical care. Some states have advanced or specialized CNA training. People who undergo this training are able to perform more duties, have more job opportunities and earn a higher salary. CNAs can also train to become RNs or LPNs.

There are many reasons to become a CNA. From a career standpoint, this field of work is growing, provides and honest living and allows people to advance their skills. CNAs also help people every day at work. Training to work as a CNA is a great career choice, for both of these reasons.

Wayne Page writes for CNATrainingCenter.net, an outstanding guide for any and all prospective CNAs looking for more information.

Sources:
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/Healthcare/Nursing-assistants.htm
http://cnatrainingcenter.net/cna-certification-and-training-in-louisiana/
http://cnatrainingcenter.net/
http://www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/details/Default.aspx?Id=485

Well, according to most employee satisfaction surveys, you’re probably not alone. It’s estimated that around a third of us dread the working week – yet our jobs play a very important part of our lives. Finding ways to enjoy the place you spend at least a third of your life is crucial.

With that in mind we’ve come up with 10 questions to ask yourself before you decide to move on.

Question #1 – Do you take pride in your work?

Even if you don’t particularly like your job, your colleagues or your whole company, it’s always worth doing a good job. If you try and do your job well you’ll gain lasting satisfaction and a good reference if you do end up leaving. If you do a poor job or put in minimal effort you’ll not only hate every minute you spend at your desk you’re unlikely to get a good recommendation. Try and remember that you’re there to pay the bills if anything else and that you have a responsibility to yourself. Take pride in your work and you’ll keep sane at least!

Question #2 – Do you take your work home with you?

As soon as you leave the office that’s your day done. However, far too many people take their work home with them – whether that’s files, reports, or even the problems of the day. Try and break this habit. Don’t check work emails, turn your mobile off if you have to and don’t discuss your work problems with your partner. This can be incredibly difficult, but it’s worth it in the long run. If you find you can’t manage this it may be time to move on.

Question #3 – Does your work have special projects?

If you don’t have something to break the monotony of the working day, you could be getting itchy feet. Some employers have special projects related to new products or services, and volunteering your time and effort on these tasks will not only add a bit of variety to the working day it could lead to a new career opening up within the business.

Question #4 – Does your work have regular team-building events?

A team that plays together sticks together. If you get on with your colleagues it will go a long way towards making your workplace a pleasant place to be. Team-building events don’t have to be expensive, well-planned affairs, it could be as simple as organising a book-sharing club, a walking club or an end of the month work night out.

Question #5 – Is your workspace a mess?

Who can work productively in a messy and cluttered environment? If your personal things are neat and organised you’ll be less frustrated and far more productive. Also, consider how it could look to outsiders coming into your work. Sort your desk and your files and folders out and you’re bound to feel a bit more positive about your job and want to stay.

Question #6 – Avoid the office gossip

We all love a natter with our colleagues, but gossiping at work is a big mistake and can lead to you wanting to leave the company. If you engage in gossiping you can be sure you’ll be gossipped about too. If you want to stay at your work, rather than get involved, say something positive about that person instead – if you show kindness people will be inclined to return the favour.

Question # 7 – Can you escape the office?

Unfortunately it’s a sad fact that too many employees stay in the office from the moment they arrive in the morning to the moment they leave. Yet they are doing themselves no favours because they remain in a high-pressured environment. A change of scenery always puts the workplace into perspective.

Try and stop claustrophobia from setting in by taking regular breaks, stretching your legs and going out at lunchtime for some fresh air. If you can spend time in a cafe with your head in a good book you’ll recharge your batteries and head back to work fresher than when you left.

Question #8 – Do you take things too personally?

If your job is customer-facing you may have to deal with unhappy people all day. It can be hard to switch off if you’re in this type of role and it can be easy to take criticism personally, especially if you’re sat down all day. It’s important to remember that it’s not your fault that they are complaining, you are just there to rectify their problems.

Try and stay calm and positive and make it your mission to turn their anger into compliments. You never know, they may make an extra-special effort to contact your manager to say what great service they received. If you can’t do this, it may be worth looking elsewhere.

Question # 9 – What about difficult colleagues?

We’ve all come across difficult colleagues. If you find it hard to get on with your workmates there are a few things you can do. First off, remember that you can’t change other people. There may be a way you can change their behaviour without having to resort to confrontation – you could move desks for example.

Focus on what you can control and look at the reality of the situation. If you’re being bullied or suffering harassment you can escalate the problem to your line manager. If your colleagues just won’t stop talking only you can change the situation. If you feel you can’t, you may need to spread your wings.

Question #10 – If you want to leave, be productive

If you don’t nip out at lunchtime and prefer to surf the internet instead, why not do something productive rather than trawl for the latest celebrity gossip? You could start your own blog and write about something you’re passionate about. If you really don’t enjoy your job you could use this time to polish up your CV or hunt local job sites for your next role.

Keywords: employee satisfaction, job satisfaction

The points to remember when preparing your covering letter are:

• Address the covering letter to the right person (as specified in the job advert).
• Include your address and contact information.
• Reference to the job position you are applying for.
• Reference to where you saw the advertisement.
• Include a copy of your CV (unless the advertisement states otherwise) and say you’ve done this.
• Make reference to experience, qualifications or skills you have that match any special requirements of the role as mentioned in the job advertisement.
• Keep your letter brief and to the point.

111, Church Drive East,
Daybrook,
Arnold,
Nottingham
NG5 6JF

27th March 2012

For the attention of Carol James, HR Manager

Dear Ms. James

Re: Legal Secretary

I am writing in respect of the advertisement in yesterday’s Nottingham Evening Post for a Legal Secretary at your firm.  

I have over 6 years experience as a paralegal, the last 3 of which were spent at Law Firm & Co, and I have developed a wide range of skills that would meet, and exceed the expectations for the role.

In particular, I note that the job entails reviewing and summarising detailed documentary evidence, redaction of documentation, putting documents in chronological order and paginating, witness tracing and assisting in preparation for witness interviews.  My time at Law Firm & Co was split between the criminal law and civil litigation departments, so I have extensive experience of undertaking these tasks which I believe makes me a strong candidate for the role.

My notice period is 2 weeks and I have excellent references available.  To get in touch to discuss my application and to arrange an interview, you can contact me on 07984 182182 or email myname@myname.com.

Thank you for your consideration and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours sincerely

Joe Brown

Sometimes you’ll want to apply for a position where you don’t have the ideal experience that your recruiter is looking for.  In that case, you may want to word your cover letter differently.  You’ll want to admit up front that you don’t have what they want, but explain what you do have, and convince them that you’re still worthy of consideration.  For example:

111, Church Drive East,
Daybrook,
Arnold,
Nottingham
NG5 6JF

27th March 2012

For the attention of Carol James, HR Manager

Dear Ms. James

Re: Legal Secretary

I am writing in respect of the advertisement in yesterday’s Nottingham Evening Post for a Legal Secretary at your firm.

You will see from my CV that my experience has been gained in careers not directly related to the legal industry. However, in my 8 years spent in my role as senior claims coordinator in the insurance industry, I have developed many transferrable skills that, given the opportunity, would allow me to excel within the role.

I am an effective communicator and have a proven track record of establishing and maintaining harmonious and professional relationships with both clients and colleagues.  I have exceptional organisational skills and I am adept at managing my own time effectively.  My references will confirm that I take a proactive, professional and flexible approach to work, taking projects forward on my own initiative whilst maintaining a positive team spirit at all times.  Above all, I have a willingness and ability to learn as demonstrated by my advancement from office junior to senior coordinator in just 2 years in my last employment. 

My notice period is 2 weeks and I have excellent references available. To get in touch to discuss my application and to arrange an interview, you can contact me on 07984 182182 or email myname@myname.com.

Thank you for your consideration and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours sincerely

Joe Brown

NB: If the person in charge of the vacancy is a lady and the job advertisement specifies whether the person to write to is a Miss, Mrs or Ms, obviously you can use the correct/preferred title.  Otherwise, use Ms. which is universal.  If the job advertisement does not specify who is in charge of recruiting for the vacancy, address your letter ‘Dear Sir or Madam’.

More cover letter tips

• If you’ve got a good connection at the place of work, make use of it.  Casually drop the name into your letter – for example, “Your Corporate Partner James Irwin was kind enough to let me know about the position of Legal Secretary that you are currently recruiting for, as he thought it may be of interest to me“.
• Avoid just regurgitating what’s in your CV.  Your cover letter has a specific role – to link your CV to the job advert – use it for that and remember, if you don’t give it enough time, it may land in your prospective employer’s bin.
• Use assertive language. For example, the letter above states “To get in touch to discuss my application…” rather than “If you would like to get in touch”.  It also closes with “I look forward to hearing from you soon” rather than “I hope to hear from you”.  The language used here is telling the reader what they will do next, rather than giving them a choice in the matter, and is far more likely to be successful.

1. Avoid doing a limp fish – another phrase for a weak handshake! Greet your interviewer with a firm (but not bone breaking) hand shake, make eye contact and speak clearly.  Limp handshakes indicate a frail inner core, a lack of confidence and generally, weakness.
2. Avoid positioning objects in front of your body – this might be a cup of coffee your interviewer has provided, your bag or briefcase, a folio, and so on.  If you hold objects in front of your body, this indicates shyness and resistance, in that you’re hiding behind the objects to try and separate yourself from others.
3. Don’t look at your watch or checking your hands/finger nails – gestures like this really indicate boredom.
4. Don’t pick fluff or dirt from your clothes –  your clothes should be clean for a job interview anyway but if you notice that they aren’t, leave them! Picking at bits on your clothes, especially at the same time as looking downwards, gives people a sign that you disapprove of their ideas and/or feel uneasy about giving them an honest opinion.
5. Don’t stroke your chin – this simply says to your interviewer that you’re making a judgmental decision about them.
6. Avoid narrowing your eyes – this gives off the sign that you don’t like the person you’re speaking to, or their opinions/thoughts/ideas.  Narrowing your eyes makes you scowl.  Be careful as this is a natural thing to do when you’re thinking about something, but can really give off the wrong idea.
7. Make sure you don’t sit or stand too close – give your interviewer personal space, don’t lean forward and invade the natural, invisible boundary – this will make them feel uncomfortable.
8. Avoid looking down – this indicates disinterest.
9. Don’t avoid eye contact – people who are sad or depressed avoid eye contact, according to new research by a psychologist at Anglia Ruskin University.  This is just one of the messages your interviewer may be getting.  Avoiding eye contact can also suggest nervousness, insincerity, and that you’re not telling the truth.  Conversely, don’t try and start a staring competition with your interviewer.  Maintaining constant eye contact can also suggest you’re trying too hard (and perhaps, therefore, hiding something).  Just keep eye contact and break it occasionally when you take a few seconds to think or when explaining something with gestures.
10. Avoid touching your face – when this happens, particularly the nose, it is commonly interpreted as an indication of deception. Also, covering up the mouth is a common gesture people make when they’re lying.
11. Try not to fake smiles – whilst you’ll probably want to laugh at all of your interviewer’s terrible jokes out of courtesy, be aware that another sign of deception is faking a smile. You can pick out a genuine smile as the eyes light up, you get wrinkles at the corners and your whole facial expression changes.  The warmth comes through.  Fake smiles only involve the mouth and lips.
12. Don’t rest your hands behind your head – this may be interpreted as a sign of superiority or bigheadedness.
13. Don’t cross your arms – one that most people know, this is a sign of defensive, resistance or even egotism. Place your arms together on your lap instead.
14. Don’t slouch – your posture is a telltale sign of your confidence and composure, and the way you position yourself delivers a clear message about how you should be treated.  Slouching your shoulders indicates low self esteem.
15. Avoid scratching your head –  this gives a message that there’s doubt and/or uncertainty, and it can also be interpreted as an indication of lying.
16. Don’t mess with or readjust your clothes – this says to your interviewer that you’re feeling uncomfortable or nervous and perhaps not paying full attention.
17. Try not to blink more than usual – blinking indicates anxiety.
18. Don’t prop your head up with your hands – this indicates that you’re bored.
19. Avoid wiping sweaty hands on your clothes – this shows that you’re very nervous.
20. Don’t sit on the edge of the chair – this shows that you’re mentally and physically uncomfortable. It’s an apprehensive position that will make your interviewer feel uncomfortable as well.
21. Don’t tap your fingers or feet – this indicates stress, impatience or boredom.
22. Don’t fidget – whether it’s a ring, jewellery, your clothes, your bag or something you brought with you, don’t fidget as this again just indicates anxiety.  Conversely, having an object to hold (but not to fidget with!) can sometimes help people feel more relaxed.  It gives you somewhere to put your hands without having to think about them.  You could, for example, hold a folio containing your CV and any examples of work you wish to show prospective employers, on your lap. Be careful not to create a barrier between you and the interviewer though as this indicates shyness and resistance, as if you’re hiding behind the object.

You may also like:

• Job interview tips
• What to wear to a job interview

Set up your networking tools

To network effectively, you need the means to make and keep good connections.  Prepare your networking tools so you’re ready:

• Email: if you don’t have one, set up a suitable personal email address.  A Gmail address is ideal as it’ll also give you access to Google calendar, document sharing and a host of other valuable Google services.  Set up an email signature which shows your name, what you do, and your mobile number.  You can also add in the URL of  your blog and Twitter account (below).
• Phone: make sure you have a personal mobile number that you can make and take calls on.
• LinkedIn: set up a LinkedIn account and fill out your profile so that it reflects your best skills and experience, as you’d like them to be seen by prospective employers.   LinkedIn will allow you to widen your network online.  If you already have a job, be sensitive to how your current employer would feel if they land on your profile.
• Blog: if you don’t already have a professional blog, set one up.  The easiest way to do this is to get a hosted blog at WordPress. A blog will allow you to discuss what’s going on in your industry, give your opinions and share some of your knowledge.  Whether you’re working in software development or customer service, it will help you establish yourself as an expert within your industry.  Be careful about how you display your email address on your blog – write it like jen [at] myemail.com for example, or use a contact form plugin (make sure it’s working properly).  Otherwise you’ll get a lot of spam.
• Twitter: set up a Twitter account, and make sure your user name is professional e.g. your own name rather than a funny nickname.  This allows you to tweet short posts about what’s going on in your industry with your opinions.  It shows prospective employers that you’re up to date and on the ball.  You can also promote your blog posts through Twitter.
• Business cards:  you never know when you’ll meet someone you want to network with so always have some simple, quality business cards to hand.  These will include your name, what you do, your email address and your mobile number.  You might consider including the URL of your LinkedIn profile and blog as secondary information.

Ensure you update your blog and Twitter regularly – 2-3 times a week and as fast as possible when there’s any significant news in your industry.  Blog posts don’t have to be long but make sure every post you write would be something you’d show a prospective employer as an example of what you can do.

Start networking with people you know

The first rule of networking is simple: don’t discount anyone. ”Every individual you meet [has the] potential to find you a job”, says Maxine Martens, CEO of Martens & Heads, a headhunting agency for the fashion, retail and beauty industries*. Networking should start with people you already know – friends, family, colleagues (past and present), and acquaintances.  Make sure they’re aware of what you do.  Even if they aren’t in the right industry, people really like to recommend others and if they hear of a suitable opportunity, it’ll be your name that rolls off their tongue.

• Make sure friends, family, colleagues and acquaintances have your contact information (email and phone).  Offer them one of your new business cards ‘in case they ever need to get in touch’ or add them on LinkedIn.
• Add them on Twitter and make them aware of your own Twitter account.

Don’t forget people you’ve met previously, perhaps at conferences, exhibitions or training courses.  These are all great potential contacts for your list.

Once you’ve added the people you know, LinkedIn allows them to write recommendations for you.  Ask past and present colleagues and people who have used your services to write a recommendation.  This really helps to build your personal ‘brand’.

How to network with people you don’t know

When you meet someone interesting, introduce yourself by name and ask a few questions about that person, such as what they do and why they’re at the event.  People almost always mirror your questions when they run out of things to say about themselves, and that’s your opportunity to explain what you do.  Don’t jump straight in with a business card – try and exchange some thoughts on the event and what you’ve both taken away from it, enough for them to find you interesting and consider giving you some time in future.  It’s easier to offer a business card at the close of the conversation, ‘in case they ever want to get in touch’.  If they don’t have one to offer in exchange, ask if they’re on LinkedIn – most business professionals are – and as a minimum, make a note afterwards of their name, company and position because it shouldn’t be too hard to find their contact information on the web and you can remind them of your meeting if you ever have a need to get in touch.

Where to network offline

With the growth of the Internet, people forget how important offline networking is.  ”A lot of people kind of think that online networking is an end in itself, but it’s really a means to an end,” says Stuart Schultz, coauthor of The Gradspot.com Guide to Life After College*.  Nobody is going to hire you unless they’ve met you – online networking is just a means to meet people offline, so if you can meet them directly, it cuts out a step in the chain.

• Industry-related conferences and exhibitions – there are often networking opportunities after the  conference/exhibition where exhibitors, speakers, attendees etc get to mingle – these are great networking opportunities.
• Professional Networking groups such as BNI
• Local business groups and clubs – Google ‘business networking’ and the name of where you live (or the nearest big town or city) and you’re bound to find groups of like minded people who meet regularly in your local area.
• Local support groups (for example, most cities and many towns have some sort of women in business group – just Google ‘women business group’ with the name of where you live and see if there’s one near you)

Where to network online

Seek out the leading voices in your industry and find them on LinkedIn and Twitter.  Follow them and interact with their tweets as often as you can.  Also look for other professionals in the industry and do the same.  Don’t be worried about competition – for example, good SEO professionals should (and do) network with each other, sharing opinions and tips, and sometimes even customers!

Search for forums in your industry, join these and join in the conversation.  Don’t forget to set up your profile on the forum, including your contact information and blog address.  Some forums also allow you to add a signature to each of your posts (sometimes this is enabled when you have completed a number of successful posts, e.g. 50).  You can then include, for example, a link to your blog.  Be careful not to put your email address online (such as in forum profiles or signatures) as this will get spammed.

Look for blogs by the leading experts in your industry and make sure you follow them.  Offer constructive comments on their articles, join in discussions and share good material through Twitter.  When you post a comment, you’ll often be able to provide a link back to your blog (if there’s a ‘website’ box), but many professionals won’t allow your comment unless it’s genuine and useful – in other words, don’t spam!

Sign up for other networking sites and create a profile.  Many have the option to pull together some of your other accounts such as LinkedIn and Twitter – do use these options.  You might try:

• Facebook
• Google +
• Xing

Don’t forget to fill in your profile and include links back to your other places on the Web.  For every site you join, make sure there’s some way for people to contact you.

More ways to get noticed

There are plenty of tools and sites that allow you to get your name out there. Try some of the following for more exposure:

• Create boards with Pinterest relating to your industry.  These are collections of items from the web that you can share with others.  Examples might be tools/software you can’t do without, or the leading articles/guides/websites in your industry.  Share these on your blog and twitter.
• Create an account with Stumbleupon.  Use this to share your blog posts but also recommend leading articles, guides and news in your industry. Customise your Stumbleupon profile, find and follow other stumblers that you might know or follow those with similar interests to you.  Add a follow me StumbleUpon button to your blog encouraging your visitors to follow you.
• Sign up for Yahoo Answers, fill in your profile and answer questions relating  to your industry.  Cite quality websites/articles as your source of information (these can include your own blog but do mix it up as you may get banned otherwise).  When you get to level 2, all links become ‘live’ and these links are valuable for promoting your blog.  Add a link to your Yahoo Answers profile from your blog so people can see how you’ve helped others with industry related questions.
• Once you’ve established your blog and you’re confident that your name is starting to get known on the scene, offer to guest blog for other industry-respected sites.  This means that you produce a quality article for them, for free, on an industry related topic.  The best thing to do is write them a brief email, explaining who you are with a link to your blog and propose what the article will contain.  If they accept, your guest blog post on their site will have your bio and usually a link back your blog.

*Maxine Martens and Stuart Schultz are quoted from ”How to network offline: Your LinkedIn profile isn’t enough: Here’s where to put in the face time”. By Molly Gallagher, August 2nd 2010, Time Out New York