| Employment Tips for Students The start of the | | | | so ask your friends, acquaintances and even |
| summer can be a singularly stressful time of the | | | | employers themselves for referrals if you are |
| year. Just as soon as the exams end you have | | | | struggling to find a good one.Anybody familiar with |
| to find a job, at the same time as everybody | | | | social networking sites such as MySpace will be |
| else! So what can you do to tip the balance back | | | | aware of the benefits of their business |
| in your favour?Firstly, make sure that your CV is | | | | equivalents, such as LinkedIn. In addition to posting |
| well-written and up-to-date. There are thousands | | | | your own profile you can look up other people by |
| of books and websites overflowing with CV | | | | company and then send them an email enquiring |
| writing advice. The major jobsites such as | | | | about employment opportunities. Anecdotal |
| Monster are a prime example and if you find the | | | | evidence suggests that this direct approach |
| CV writing process too daunting you can even | | | | works rather well; not least because both parties |
| employ a professional CV writer to do it for | | | | can check out each other's personal profiles prior |
| you.To be taken seriously you should always | | | | to proceeding.Real world networking is another |
| introduce yourself with a covering letter | | | | important activity. - Sometimes this can be as |
| addressed directly to the hiring manager. If the | | | | simple as phoning a past employer to ask if they |
| job ad doesn't give a contact name then it's | | | | need any more help at present.Also, it may be |
| always worthwhile phoning the company to find | | | | embarrassing to admit that your first job was |
| out for yourself.(Some companies are remarkably | | | | working for your parents, but when times are |
| reticent about revealing the names of their staff; | | | | tough just accept all the help that you can get.Of |
| reassuring them that you simply wish to know | | | | course, all of this job-hunting advice is useless if |
| who to address your email to can sometimes do | | | | you can't impress in an interview. The trick here is |
| the trick.)As most people use the same CV for | | | | to practise, practise, practise using every |
| each job application, the covering letter is | | | | conversation with HR to further refine your |
| particularly important because it is your | | | | answers. Careers centres can arrange practice |
| opportunity to show that you understand the | | | | sessions, if your friends aren't able to help. If you |
| employer's needs.A tried and tested approach for | | | | know what to say, but simply lack confidence, |
| a covering is to explain in brief that you meet all | | | | then join your local Toastmasters or a similar |
| the essential criteria mentioned in the advert, | | | | public speaking group.Today's managers started |
| backing this up by alluding to the experience | | | | from the bottom themselves not so long ago, |
| detailed in your CV.Compliments won't go amiss, | | | | and they won't expect a recent graduate to be |
| as long as you sound sincere, and conveying your | | | | an expert at everything. It should go without |
| enthusiasm is essential, especially if you are light | | | | saying that you need to put your best foot |
| on experience.When applying for your first job, | | | | forward, however, exaggeration is really not the |
| focus on your energy, commitment and | | | | way to go. Being realistic about your current |
| willingness to learn. If all else fails, consider working | | | | limitations shows that you can be trusted, whilst |
| for peanuts until a better opportunity arises. Other | | | | even a 'little white lie', once spotted will quickly |
| employees may give you hints about jobs | | | | discredit you.Having been offered the job, make |
| elsewhere.And make sure you get a reference or | | | | sure that you are clear about the financial |
| testimonial. It is handy to have a record of who | | | | package and other benefits such as the number |
| you worked for and when. What they say in your | | | | of days holiday. Recruiters can be particularly |
| favour helps you fill in those forms, which ask you | | | | useful under such circumstances as they often |
| to describe your good and bad points.Voluntary | | | | have the inside line on how much the employer is |
| placements tell employers that you are willing to | | | | really willing to offer, and because their fee is |
| take a long-term view and are infinitely preferable | | | | generally in proportion to your starting salary they |
| to months of aimless unemployment. Any | | | | have a vested interest in helping you to earn |
| experience is better than experience of being on | | | | more.QUICK TIPS Update your CV using Internet |
| the dole.Entry-level positions can attract a | | | | advice, or hire a CV writing company to help. Add |
| disproportionately large number of applicants, | | | | a covering letter. Get a contact name. Explain you |
| sometimes in excess of 100 per week. | | | | only need the name to address a letter correctly. |
| Nevertheless, the situation isn't as bad as it | | | | Get work experience, however badly paid, even |
| sounds, as a fair proportion of the competition will | | | | unpaid. Place your CV online. Utilise networking |
| have embarrassingly bad CVs. (As any recruiter | | | | communities, such as linkedIn. Approach |
| will testify.)Loading your CV up to online CV | | | | employers but tell recruiters who you've already |
| databases can effortlessly draw the head-hunters | | | | approached. Rehearse interviews with friends or |
| to you.If you have a good CV, then persistence | | | | at Careers Centres. To gain confidence join |
| will pay off in the end, as to a certain extent it is | | | | Toastmasters who train you to stand up and |
| a numbers game. However, quality is still more | | | | speak. Anthony Sharot reviewed thousands of |
| important than quantity, because these days | | | | CVs, whilst working in recruitment and is now |
| untargeted mass-emails are simply treated as | | | | helps professionals to find the job they love and |
| spam.Cast your net far and wide by talking to | | | | interview with ease. To commission an article, for |
| both recruitment consultants and employers | | | | more CV advice or for an interview winning CV |
| directly. This makes careful note-taking absolutely | | | | written to order call: +44 (0)1923 820199 or |
| essential, as you don't want recruiters to | | | | +44(0)7956 990 216 or email: |
| approach the companies that you are already | | | | anthony@writecvs.co. |
| speaking to. Recruitment consultants vary widely, | | | | |