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Sample Cover Letter For A Graduate Trainee

Posted by | April 21, 2016 | Article University

Organizations have been inviting graduates to apply for their graduate trainee programs, with the latest being advertised by Hotels.ng. There may be others that you have come across in the recent weeks and if you are still yet to apply, you might be in the process of applying. That you are a graduate is only the first and most important qualification. However, getting picked from a pool of other graduates will require that you sell yourself accordingly through your CV and cover Letter.

Your Cover Letter will be the document accompanying your CV and probably the first thing employers and recruiting managers will see before even opening your CV. So, how well written is your cover letter? Does it compel recruiters and employers to open your CV? If you are having difficulties fitting important information on a page, below is a sample you can use. And here is one for a banking job when there is no advert.

Sample Cover Letter For Graduate Trainee

Job Seeker’s Name
P.O Box 555 – 00100, Nigeria

Your Phone Number & Email Address

Human Resource Manager,
XYZ Company Ltd,
5th Floor X House (Company Address)
8th April, 2016

Dear Sir/Madam (If you have the hiring manager’s name, use it)

I wish to apply for the graduate trainee position at your company, currently being advertised on your company website. Please find enclosed my CV for your consideration.

As you will see from my attached CV, I have recently completed my 4 year Bachelor’s degree in Commerce, Finance option at the University of Lagos and attained a 2nd Class Honors Upper division. I believe the knowledge I have acquired through my course work and the skills I picked up make me an ideal candidate for this opportunity.

I am interested in this position as it appeals directly to my passion for working with numbers and interest to learn by working in a fast paced environment. Aside from my degree, I have held various internship positions at various companies that have provided me with important hands-on experience to work as a foundation to build my career in finance.

In addition to my degree qualification, I recently took up a class towards my certification as a Finance professional and have participated in at least two financial forums to gain more knowledge on the current market trends. I am confident that my passion and enthusiasm for the Finance field will prove valuable to your organization.

I look forward to an interview with you where we can have a detailed discussion on my suitability for the position. You can reach me anytime during the day on 0814******. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Your Name

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Police Receive Over 700,000 Applications – PSC Recruitment

Posted by | April 20, 2016 | news

The Police Service Commission has received 705,352 applications from candidates seeking employment into the Nigeria Police Force.

A breakdown of the applications showed that 202, 427 applicants have successfully applied for the position of Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police,  169,446, for the position of Cadet Inspector and 333,479 for the position of Constables.

A statement by the Head, Press and Public Relations, PSC, Ikechukwu Ani, on Tuesday in Abuja, explained that the commission planned to recruit 500 Cadet ASPs, 500 Cadet Inspectors, 1,500 Specialist Officers and 7, 500 Constables to meet President Muhammadu Buhari’s approved 10,000 new entrants into the Force.

It said that the PSC Chairman, Dr. Mike Okiro, confirmed that the application process has been smooth and transparent, adding that the commission was committed to making the recruitment exercise a huge success.

The statement read, “The Police Service Commission has at 7.30am on  Tuesday, April 19th, received 705,352 applications from applicants who are seeking employment into the recently advertised 10,000 vacancies into the Nigeria Police Force.

“President Muhammadu Buhari at last year’s National Security Summit had approved the recruitment of 10,000 police men into the nation’s Police Force to reinforce the Nigeria Police for better service.”

Okiro, according to the statement, said the PSC would continue to make the process of the recruitment transparent and assured the applicants of fairness and equal opportunity “since the commission is only interested in recruiting for the police the best brains in the society.”

It further stated  that Okiro was excited by the huge interest shown by Nigerians in joining the police force.

Source: The Punch

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3 Magic Phrases Every Interviewer Wants to Hear

Posted by | April 20, 2016 | Article University

We can all agree that interviewing is a pretty imperfect way to evaluate a job candidate. For the interviewee, so much of the experience can feel like a game of guess-the-answer-in-the-interviewer’s-head. It’s hard to know if what you’re sharing is even remotely close to what the hiring manager is seeking.

Luckily, there are a few phrases that are almost always on the mark. Given the opportunity, it’s a good idea to try and squeeze these three phrases somewhere into your interview.

1. “I’ve had a lot of success with that in the past.”

This is one phrase that’s sure to put a smile on your interviewer’s face. Beyond relevant experience, hiring managers love to hear that you not only have the skills they’re looking for, you excel at them.

Of course, this single statement will only get you so far. Back it up with an example of a time where you did indeed excel at whatever skill is being evaluated. (Hint: Try this formula.) And when I say skill, I mean more than hard skills. Think: resolving a team conflict, finding a solution with limited data, leading a remote team, working independently, or meeting tight deadlines.

2. “I’m really excited about that.”

If you were interviewing two candidates who were pretty much identical in terms of the skills and relevant experiences they bring to the table, what would be the deciding factor? For many interviewers, it comes down to how excited the candidate was about the position and company. After all, someone who is enthusiastic inherently seems more motivated. Given the choice, I would definitely want the candidate who seemed really pumped to hit the ground running—wouldn’t you?

While it definitely makes sense to state upfront that you’re excited, you’ll also need to back up that claim by doing some company research. No one is going to believe you if you say you’re incredibly excited about the product, but then can’t explain why it’s better than the competition. Do your homework. Review the website, talk to people you know who work there, and read anything you can get your hands on that might be relevant.

3. “I actually just spoke with Sarah to learn more about that.”

Unfortunately, you’re probably not going to have everything the interviewer is looking for. That’s okay. Show how you’re willing to learn. More importantly, show that you are able to—and that you are, in fact, already learning.

To do this, first identify your areas of weakness—maybe you’re lacking one skill that’s listed in the job description, or you haven’t had much management experience. Then, find someone or something that can help you start learning and improving upon this area. It can be conducting an informational interview, starting an online course, or reading a book. Now, if this weakness comes up during an interview, you can say you’ve spoken with so-and-so or that you just started taking a class about it. This not only shows self-awareness, but also that you’ve already taken the initiative to improve upon this area. What more could a hiring manager ask for?

You’ll probably never know what’s going on inside your interviewer’s head, but at the very least you can know that these few phrases will go over well. Beyond that, keep practicing and with a little bit of luck, you’ll be through this stage in no time.

Source : themuse.com

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A Simple Formula for Answering “Tell Me About Yourself”

Posted by | April 19, 2016 | Article University

“So, tell me about yourself.”

What seems like such a simple question can really make you sweat, especially in an interview. What, exactly, should you share—not just to build rapport, but to show that you’re the perfect fit for the job?

Fear not, job seekers: There’s a super-simple formula that will help you answer this question with ease. Watch this quick video as our CEO Kathryn Minshew gives a simple tip from our career expert Lily Zhang, then try it out for yourself!

How to Answer “Tell Me About Yourself”

So, the first question you’re probably going to get in an interview is, “Tell me about yourself.” Now, this is not an invitation to recite your entire life story or even to go bullet by bullet through your resume. Instead, it’s probably your first and best chance to pitch the hiring manager on why you’re the right one for the job.

A formula I really like to use is called the Present-Past-Future formula. So, first you start with the present—where you are right now. Then, segue into the past—a little bit about the experiences you’ve had and the skills you gained at the previous position. Finally, finish with the future—why you are really excited for this particular opportunity.

Let me give you an example:

If someone asked, “tell me about yourself,” you could say:

“Well, I’m currently an account executive at Smith, where I handle our top performing client. Before that, I worked at an agency where I was on three different major national healthcare brands. And while I really enjoyed the work that I did, I’d love the chance to dig in much deeper with one specific healthcare company, which is why I’m so excited about this opportunity with Metro Health Center.”

Remember throughout your answer to focus on the experiences and skills that are going to be most relevant for the hiring manager when they’re thinking about this particular position and this company. And ultimately, don’t be afraid to relax a little bit, tell stories and anecdotes—the hiring manager already has your resume, so they also want to know a little more about you.

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You Have 6 Seconds to Grab a Recruiter’s Attention—Here’s How to Do It

Posted by | April 17, 2016 | Article University

With the huge number of applications a job opening usually gets, it’s frustrating—but not much of a surprise—that most recruiters spend all of six seconds looking at your resume.

So, what’s a job seeker to do? Stop putting effort into perfecting your resume bullet points? Forget about quantifying accomplishments? Shorten your resume to just be five targeted keywords in a large font?

No, no, and no. Your goal is actually pretty straightforward: Give recruiters a reason to take a closer look at your resume during their quick glance.

Here are a few ideas on how to do exactly that.

1. Call Attention to Keywords

The bulk of your resume is likely made up of the bullets listed under your experiences, but unless there’s something that catches your reader’s eye, he or she may never even make it to the meat of your resume.

To combat this, pull up the sections that allow for the use of more keywords to the top third of the page, such as your skills section or summary statement. Then comb through the job description to find what words, skills, or qualifications keep coming up. Pick out your strengths from what you’ve found, and make sure a reader doesn’t have to go very far to find something he or she would be interested in.

2. Use Section Headings Strategically

While we’re on the topic of keywords, one component that tends to get a lot of emphasis is your section headings. It makes sense. They need to be very clear so that your resume is easy to navigate and skim, but what a wasted opportunity for these bolded, eye-catching headings to only point out where the next section starts.

To take advantage of these inherently attention-grabbing areas, add some relevant flair. Instead of just an “Experience” section, change it to “Teaching Experience” or “Project Management Experience.” Instead of just “Skills,” give “Technical Skills” or “Stage Management Skills” a whirl.

3. Maximize Your Company Brands

No matter how clear your own personal brand is, it’s hard to compete with the brands of established companies. But, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, you can use that to your advantage on your resume.

If you’ve worked at a company like Facebook, HBO, or Gucci, you better believe a recruiter will spare an extra minute or two to see what you did there. This means making sure that if you have any well-known companies on your resume, you’re either bolding your company names or writing them in all-caps. Don’t diminish their impact by italicizing them or bolding your position title instead.

4. Don’t Hide Your Quirks

You’ve probably heard the advice to keep your resume all about business. And, with such little space to make your case for why you can do the job, that’s not bad advice. That said, you also don’t want to hide all your quirks—even if it’s just to get the recruiter to do a double take.

Is your side gig to take people out for tandem skydives? Are you a computer science major who minored in dance? Do you have a third degree black belt in taekwondo? It’s very possible that none of this is relevant to the position you’re applying for, but it just might be so interesting that a recruiter spends a little extra time on your resume.

Of course, once you get your reader to examine your resume a little closer, you’ll want to make sure the rest of your resume is in tip-top shape. And this handy guide will help with that.

Credit : themuse.com

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Everything You Need to Know to Apply for Your First Job Out of College

Posted by | April 11, 2016 | Article University

Congratulations college seniors—you’re mere weeks away from being done with school forever (or for now, at least). It’s time to celebrate, time to rejoice in the luxury of no more homework, and time to start the job hunt.

While some people hear “job hunt” and panic, you shouldn’t! As daunting as the process can seem, it is a process, and that means anyone can do it successfully. With that said, the first time can be a little overwhelming, which is where I come in—I’ve put together this guide of everything you need to send in your first application.

Let’s get started!

Step 1: Figure Out What You Want to Do

First up, the big question that has no right answer: What do you want to do with your life? Wait—before you fill in the blank, know this: You don’t need to figure out your life right now, just your first job (nothing’s permanent!).

If you have no idea where to even start, consider your favorite classes or discussions in college, activities and clubs you’re involved in, really anything you’ve enjoyed in the past few years. What issues get you riled up? What topics bore you to tears? Your initial responses to these should get you close to an industry, if not an actual title. You can refine it even more by asking yourself these questions from Muse writer Lily Zhang: What can I do to help other people? What does my ideal day look like? What do I find intolerable?

Still not sure? Take a look at the company profiles on The Muse and see what sounds interesting to you.

Step 2: Curate Your Online Presence

Now that you know what industry you’d like to go into, it’s time to start crafting your online presence to fit that. Because in almost every single field, you will be Googled by a hiring manager—and you don’t want them to see anything, say, your mother wouldn’t be proud of.

For starters, you’ll want to get your LinkedIn ready by writing an awesome summary highlighting your achievements, skills, and interests. Once that’s all set, you should plan on staying active and engaged on the platform—that means sharing interesting articles, connecting to people, and finding groups you feel comfortable participating in. You might also want to consider editing or privatizing other social media accounts such as Facebook or Instagram that you prefer to use more casually (again, think about your mom).

In addition, you should also consider launching your own personal website, whether it’s a blog or a portfolio. This is a fun and creative way to showcase your work, your hobbies on the side, or your personality—and a lot of times companies will ask you for these supplements in your application.

Step 3: Find Open Positions

So, where do you look to even find postings? My first go-to is www.jobsinnigeria.careers. Here, you’ll be able to search by industry, city, level (it’s safe to say you’ll be looking in the entry-level category), or individual companies.

In general, when scrolling through job openings, you’ll want to be looking for the same things you listed earlier in what interested you. For example, if you really want a company with a social mission, take a peek inside the office and listen to what employees say. But be aware of what the posting is looking for in you—if it says a candidate must be proficient in Python and you’ve never heard of that, maybe it’s not the right role for you (or, a sign you should take an online course before applying!).

And, if you’re going into a more niche field, try using specific job search websites that cater to that.

Credit : themuse.com

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The Secret Weapon Most Job Hunters Don’t Know About

Posted by | April 11, 2016 | Article University

Landing your dream job is hard work. You spend hours each night combing through listings, trying to find the perfect company and role. Then, you take even more time perfecting your application. And even after all that, you’re not guaranteed the job—or even an interview. So, what can you do to up your chances of scoring that coveted position?

It’s simple: Start volunteering.

Volunteering not only helps you stand out in the job search, but it can also guide you to figure out what you want to do in the long run. If you’re not convinced yet, listen to this: 76% of career advisers say that a candidate with volunteer experience is more likely to get his or her preferred job.

Bonus: It doesn’t just help your career, volunteering helps others people, too. And, that’s kinda the best perk of all.

Read Full Details : https://goo.gl/ssoqQC

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How To Prepare Yourself For Your Next Better Job

Posted by | February 22, 2016 | Article University

By Perminus Wainaina

Job searching need not be a depressing time in your career, especially if you plan well. Unfortunately many of us don’t prepare. We wait for external events to happen like being retrenched or declared redundant and only then do we embark on job search. The problem with waiting for others to determine your fate is that when you embark on the search, you are never in the right frame of mind and there’s a high likelihood of making mistakes that prolong your job search. Even if you didn’t see an eventuality like losing your job, it pays to always plan for your next move.

In this article, I’ll share tips on how you can prepare yourself for your next (and hopefully better) job, and why you need to start today.

Define what you want. Do you want more money, career growth, status or a better working environment? I am sure you know of a friend who is always talking of how they’d like to change jobs but if you ask them the specific reason why or what they want, they probably don’ have a clue. It’s not enough to want a new job. You must be clear on what you want. What if it’s a case of from the frying pan into the fire?

From today start defining what you want. If it’s a salary, put a figure to it, say 30% increase. If it’s growth, is it that you want to get into a managerial position or growth in terms of learning new skills? Being specific makes you confident. You are also able to evaluate employers and think through their offers. It also raises your self esteem and you no longer appear as a desperate job seeker out to settle for any opening. Are you clear on what you want? Write it down.

Define Timeliness. Having been clear on your expectations, the next step is to determine the period it will take to achieve your objectives and when you you’d like to have made a move. And one has to be realistic here. If you’ve never been a manager but you are now looking to be one, it might mean attending many interviews as not all potential employers will believe you are a good match. If you are earning 60K and now you want 90K, ask yourself what kinds of companies pay such amounts, and start approaching them.

And remember the higher your goals, the more the likelihood it will take more time. If it’s not for money but to escape a toxic work environment, then you can get a job easily as many employers can accommodate your request. On average, it will take you six months of working hard to nail a new and better job. If you are desperate and willing to settle on anything, it is possible to get a job much faster. Good things come to those who plan and wait.

Perform a SWOT analysis. SWOT is an acronym for strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats. You have to benchmark the requirements of whatever you are eyeing to what you have. What are your strengths? It could be your level of education, the kind of company you work for, your personality, among others. When it comes to weaknesses, I define it as a job requirement that you lack. For example if I am looking to be a manager in my next job but I have never supervised formally then lack of supervisory skills is my weakness.

Negative work habits also count as weaknesses (for example, are you often late, are you disorganized, do you have a short temper, or are you poor at handling stress)? For opportunities, it could be internal or external. Do you have situations you can take advantage of or utilize to your benefit? For example, what trends do you see in your company or industry, and how can you take advantage of them? Is there a colleague going on leave? Could you take on some of this person’s projects to gain experience?

Threats are obstacles that have the potential of preventing you from achieving your goal. A few examples: Are any of your colleagues competing with you for projects or roles? Is your job (or the demand for the things you do) changing? Does changing technology threaten your position (think of Nairobi taxis and UBER)? Could any of your weaknesses lead to threats? Performing a career SWOT analysis will help you position yourself differently.

Come Up With A Work Plan. How are you going to accomplish whatever you’ve set to do? As the name suggests, it’s a plan of action. Some of the things you should capture include reviewing and updating your CV, reaching out to your networks, polishing up your LinkedIn profile and allocating time to visit different job sites. Job search is a full time affair and should be approached strategically.

If you are lacking in an area, then this is a good time to fix any shortcomings. For example, if you are shy and don’t perform well in interviews, you can seek the services of a professional coach for interview preparation and also contact employees of the target company to get an idea of how they interview.

If there’s a key job requirement that you lack i.e. training in a specific area, then you should find time to update your skills. For example, if you’ve noticed that advanced excel is a requirement for senior finance professionals and you don’t have, then it doesn’t make sense to bury your head in the sand hoping potential employers will ignore. For those in HR, being registered with IHRM is important and the last thing you want is to miss an opportunity because of something you could have done in less than a week. A work plan helps you to prepare such that, by the time you meet a potential employer or opportunity, they find you ready.

If you are planning to travel to Mombasa from Nairobi you have to make plans if you expect a successful journey. You have to think of the mode of transport, cost, date, and how fast you want to reach your destination. All these variables have a strong influence on the kind of journey you’ll have. Job search is not any different. Ensure that you take control of the things you can. Hope has never been a good strategy.

Perminus Wainaina is the Managing Partner & Head of Recruitment at Corporate Staffing Services Ltd.

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What Makes Smart Job Seekers? 4 Traits Every Job Seeker Needs

Posted by | February 22, 2016 | Article University

By Selipha Kihagi

In an earlier article I mentioned how smart job seekers are usually the ones that get the good jobs, their dream jobs if you may. One of our readers called me to it, concerned by what ‘smart job seekers’ actually meant, and today I am going to explain this in yet another article.

Being a smart job seeker means that you understand how the process of getting a job works, in an out. You are well acquainted with the job search process, the job application stage, how to get through a job interview and how best to impress a potential employer. By being smart, a job seeker can’t be caught off guard making mistakes that could have easily been avoided. You know how to get the job, and you will do everything right to get it.

Are you this kind of job seeker? If you are still trying to figure it out, below are traits that every smart job seeker possesses and you shall too, if you take your career seriously.

Traits That Smart Job Seekers possess And You Should Too

1.They know which job search techniques work best and which don’t
Smart job seekers know that making random applications to jobs they think they are qualified for don’t usually work. For it to work and get called to the interview, your qualifications must match what employers are looking for in the job. They also know that networking is the most effective of techniques when it comes to getting a job.

“Networking is a key process in job seeking, job keeping, and position advancement. It is necessary that job seekers give greater attention to this process as competition for good jobs grows,” reads an excerpt from the book, ‘Smart Job Seeker’, authored by Perminus Wainaina, the Managing Director and Head of Recruitment at Corporate Staffing Services,

He also adds that for job seekers to become smart, they must learn the art of cold calling, where you sell your skills to employers without there being even a job opening. Then they can proceed to talk to recruiters directly, attend career fairs and do online searches.

2.They understand the selection process just as a recruiter does
Smart job seekers are different from other job seekers in that they are well acquainted with the hiring process. They know what employers are looking for in the CV when selecting suitable candidates for the interviews and know very well how to edit their CVs so they make it to the Yes lot.

These job seekers also understand that for your CV to be included in the Yes or Maybe pile, it should be among the first ones that the recruiter sees and it should be catchy. Applying to jobs early with an impressive CV increases a candidate’s chance of being invited for the interview. So, are you the kind that applies early or the kind that applies close to the deadline?

3.Smart job seekers know how to impress recruiters in the interview stage
Have you been to an interview and wondered why you did not get the job but someone else did? Did you wonder what they saw in her or him that you didn’t have? Well this happens more times than you think and the minute you understand what that determinant is, the quicker you’ll start getting the jobs.

To be smart about the interview, you must be familiar with what answers work for each question, what makes employers and recruiters decide on a candidate and most importantly, what makes an interviewer not forget you. For more on how to pass a job interview, read this article here.

4.Smart job seekers know how to build relationships for a job in the future
Frustrations in the job search process can lead candidates to give up or become desperate for any job. This happens a lot, and while this can be disheartening, employers are repelled when job seekers appear desperate. You can read more about that here. If someone promises you a job today and they don’t deliver, don’t hold it against them. Instead, ask them to let you know when they hear of something.

The same applies when you attend an interview but don’t get the job. If you did your best and walked out believing you had the job but didn’t get it, make sure you call back and ask the interviewer or recruiter if they can recommend you for another position or consider you for a future job. Some people have had this work in their favour, so try it out and see how it goes. This is especially if you are trying to get a job through a recruitment firm as they are likely to have a similar position come up sooner that you expect.

Smart job seekers know what jobs they want, they know who to talk to so they can get it and are well acquainted with the avenues that work best. They also know that networking and building long lasting relationships will always work, even if it is not immediately.

If you are still trying to figure out your job search process, you might want to consider reading the ‘Smart Job Seeker’ Book. Get in touch for a copy.

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How Often Should You Change Jobs?

Posted by | February 12, 2016 | Article University

By Perminus Wainaina

In an earlier article on what employers look for in a CV, I pointed out that the duration of employment with current and previous employers is a key consideration. Employers will consider you a high-risk hire if you change jobs now and then.

Stay in a company for too long and employers will wonder whether you are flexible and your ability to adjust in a new organization. However, employers and personal circumstances differ and so long as you have a valid reason for changing jobs, you should not worry.

In this article, I’ll explore some of the factors that influence an employer’s perception when it comes to a candidate changing jobs. I’ll also highlight some of the questions you should ask yourself before making a decision to change a job.

Where It’s Okay To Change Jobs

For some professions and industries, it is normal for people to change jobs within a short period. In the NGO and construction sector, for example, it is common to find employees with one year contracts. Most of the NGO work is project based and relies on donor funding. When the project is over or funds run out then your employment ceases. The same goes for construction where employment is tied to completion of a real estate project. These two examples are sectors where employers tolerate frequent job changing. In a fast paced industry like information technology, candidates change jobs as often to remain relevant.

If you are a fresh graduate or a professional starting out and thus with less than three years experience, it is expected that you will change jobs now and then as you try to figure out what you want. Majority of employees don’t stick with their first employer. However, employers don’t take it kindly when you keep changing jobs even after getting enough work experience. No employer wants to hire someone who has held 6 different jobs in a span of 6 years. There needs to be consistency. After settling in your career, it is expected that you will change jobs after 3-4 years and the higher you rise the less you should change jobs.

Acceptable Reasons For Changing Jobs

Whenever I interview candidates and I ask why they want to leave an employer after a short period, many will give generic answers like career growth and more responsibilities or challenges. After interviewing more than 2,000 candidates in a period of 6 years I can tell when a candidate is not being straight.

More so when I can see from the CV that the candidate left a previous employer where they had stayed for an extended period and now want to leave the new employer in less than a year. What I have come to learn is that there are underlying reasons that a candidate does not wish to divulge. Some of the reasons why an employee would like to move so soon include employer not keeping their word i.e. promise of commissions that are never paid, salary delay, toxic work environment and even a bad working relationship with a supervisor or boss.

A prospective employer will understand if you want to leave your current job due to any of the above reasons. However, be careful not to come out as unprofessional, bitter or vindictive. For example, if it’s the issue of salary delay, you can explain that you have obligations to meet by a certain date and the fact that salary is never paid on time inconveniences you and that you are unable to concentrate and this affects your productivity. If you are based in a different town, say in Nakuru away from your family in Nairobi and this is affecting your young family, then mention that you are in the job market as you are looking for a position near home.

Sometimes telling it as it is can set you free. You might have thought that the distance would be a non issue when you took the job but one year later you know better.

I am a firm believer that job hopping is not a bad thing. At times it’s the only way to get a better pay and learn new skills. Some employers will take advantage of the fact that you’ve been with them for a long period and therefore assume that you will always be there. It is not uncommon to find that new employees are joining at better salaries. That is why I recommend that you change jobs after every three to four years. And it doesn’t have to be with a different employer. If your organization is big, aim for a promotion. Job hopping shouldn’t be for the sake of it. Aim to acquire transferable skills otherwise no one will take you seriously.

To sum it up, Marsden-Huggins, a Career Advisor writing for Executive Style recommends that you ask yourself the following questions before making a move:

  • Are you leaving for the right reasons – better job, more money, and more flexibility?
  • Are you prepared to assure prospective employers you’re not a high-risk hire?
  • Is there anything you can do to improve the situation in your current job if the timing isn’t right?
  • Is this the best time to move on, for both personal and professional reasons?
  • Will changing jobs now impact your chances of securing a new job later on?
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CV Red Flags: Recruiter’s Advice On How Best To Avoid Them

Posted by | February 12, 2016 | Article University

Because recruiters typically review hundreds of applications on a regular basis, it is easy to become adept at finding the CV red flags. Job seekers beware – in a highly competitive situation you can be screened out for just about anything.

To increase your chances of making it past a recruiter’s inbox and make it to the actual job interview, avoid or explain these tradition red flags.

Red Flags As Seen By A Recruiter

1. Job Hopping
Back in ‘the day’, transferring from job to job labeled one as a ‘hopper’. As a recruiter, I am definitely seeing a trend of much less longevity with candidates in previous positions. It could be the economy, or it could be a new mindset with the emerging workforce. Unfortunately, many recruiters and even hiring managers may still see a series of short-term jobs as potentially negative.

How to address this? You could consolidate your experience, explain which roles were consultant or project-based, or in the event of a corporate buy-out or similar event, include that information. The truth is my clients and I usually want some reassurance that if we hire you, you will be happy here for the long haul. If you provide a satisfactory reason for multiple, short-term jobs, or otherwise convince me that you are looking for a serious and long term assignment, then I will be more than happy to consider you for the role at hand.

2. Employment Gaps
Gaps can be a red flag, but some recruiters have relaxed a bit on this considerably based on the shaky economy. While gaps of significance used to mean that a person was either not employable or for personal reasons had left work, this is not necessarily as big an issue anymore. There have been a huge amount of layoffs and for a long period of time great candidates have been jobless.

To counter any negative reaction on employment gaps, it is a great idea to include any education or transferable skills you have acquired in the ‘gap’ to show that you have stayed relevant and engaged in your vocation.

3. Lack of Examples
There is a saying among writers that one should “show, not tell” and this is never more true than in your CV. Remember, I am looking at hundreds of CVs and virtually every one of the job seekers is telling me they are the candidate I should hire. What sticks in my mind much more than telling me you are a gifted sales person is to hear that you developed a new marketing concept that increased top line revenue 23% in just one year!

Or if you are an operations manager who is particularly passionate about safety, tell me about the safety programs you implemented and their impact on your accident rate or productivity. That will really show me that you have what it takes to do the job I’m trying to fill.

4. No Cover Letter
Online applications make it very easy to submit a CV, but it’s also important to include a covering letter specifically referencing the position, requisition, company and key points that suit you to the position. From a recruiting perspective, just receiving a CV without a cover letter is like being at a party and someone coming up and telling you about their day without introducing themselves! Because of the volume and relative anonymity of job searching, without a cover letter, recruiters can find it hard to believe you are really interested in this particular job and not just blasting out your CV.

I strongly recommend creating a basic cover letter template that you tailor for each job based on the requirements. By sending a cover letter whether or not one is requested, you will stand out from the rest of the applicants. If the job posting requests that you include specific information in the cover letter, you are well served to include that information.

5. Unprofessional CV
When it comes to your CV, first impressions mean a lot, looks matter and spelling counts. Recruiters are human and most of us understand that your job is not CV writing and that if you were employed for a long time you may not be current on the latest protocol. However, two things that are important to understand is that a) Recruiting systems are not human and are not as forgiving if your CV is not formatted to contain relevant keywords and b) other applicants are providing well-written, professional and contemporary CV so regardless of your experience you will be at a disadvantage if yours is not.

You are far better served to have the most professional, polished and marketing document prepared, current and tailored to the job at hand. Make sure your name and contact information is visible, a career objective or profile stating what you can do in this role for your potential employer, and that your experience is listed chronologically from the most recent experience and that you have highlighted your top achievements under each. If this seems overwhelming, there are professionals who can help you put your best face forward.

At the end of the day, it will be about how well your skills and personality mesh with the hiring company’s needs and culture. Your CV will get you an interview, not the job, but it’s up to you to make sure your CV isn’t being used to rule you out of an otherwise great opportunity.

Source: The Telegraph

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Job Interview: How To Ask About Salary When The Interviewer Doesn’t

Posted by | February 12, 2016 | Article University

By Selipha Kihagi

You’ve probably have read a lot of advice about salary in a job interview, with most mentioning that it should be the one question you should avoid, unless the interviewer brings it up. But what if the interviewer doesn’t bring it up? Do you stay quiet and wait to get the job so you can ask how much salary you will be paid or until you see the contract?

Perminus Wainaina, the Managing Partner and Head of Recruitment at Corporate Staffing Services, advises that failure to negotiate your salary in a job interview will portray you as a desperate job seeker. This then becomes a turn off to recruiters and employers alike, and may become your career downfall. You can read more on that in this article here.

The above scenario is crucial whenever the interviewer brings up the salary question and you feel the salary is not enough. But the issue today is, what if they do not ask at all? what do you do then?

How To Ask About Salary In A Job Interview

1. First, understand the damage of asking about salary too early in the interview
While negotiating the salary in a job interview is advocated for, there are is dangers to asking about it too early. You might come up as money minded to the employer or recruiter and this is not very good. It is always best to focus on selling your skills first and impressing the interviewer.

Once you understand this piece of the puzzle, you can then go ahead and identify the right time to bring up the subject. Usually, the best time is towards the end when you know if you are getting the job or not.

2. Gauge how the interview is going; is the interviewer into you?
During a job interview, you can always tell if the recruiter or employer is into you or they are just bored and repelled by you and can’t wait for the interview to end. There are usually the usual signs to look out for and we have talked about these signs before. If you are not acquainted with this, here is how to know if you will get the job.

If your interview is going well but the interviewer has not asked about salary, yet it’s about to end, then you can ask how much they have budgeted for the role. This is especially when they start selling you on the job, this is clear that they are impressed.

3. Be very selective about the words you use in bringing it up
When you have identified that the interview is going well and you are at the best time to ask about salary, remember to first craft your words in your mind before speaking. In life, how you say things is more important than what you say. This means that you could have a message (in this case, salary inquiry), but how you put it across can be received very differently.

A good approach would be something like this; “Would you say this a good time to discuss the salary range for the position?” And remember, a smile in an interview goes a long way in impressing.

4. Expect the interview to revert the question to you
Once you have asked about the salary range, it is very likely that the interviewers will want to hear your range first. They may already have the budget for the position but the candidate is expected to speak first. So, whatever answer you get above, always make sure you are prepared with a salary range in mind to ensure you are not caught off guard. And this is the time you bring the salary negotiation skills you have learned to play.

Discussing the salary is always a big elephant in the room, but with the right tools, it doesn’t have to be. And if you are still not getting jobs after interviews, then your best solution is an interview coach.

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