Advice

Welcome to the career advice section of Brand Republic Jobs

Whether you have found a vacancy that you would like to apply for or simply need help getting started, the top tips below will help you to complete the whole job application process from starting your search, to composing a covering letter and finally creating your CV. In addition, this section will also provide you with advice on how to approach an interview and continual professional development.

Searching for a new job

Searching for a new job can seem like a tedious task that takes a lot of time and energy. However with Brand Republic Jobs we have a number of ways that can make searching for you next position that little bit easier. Whether you are a graduate starting your career or a senior professional looking for your next career move, Brand Republic Jobs can help you find the job that’s right for you.

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Manage your applications online

Create your own profile and manage your applications by uploading your CV and saving the jobs of your choice.

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Find out who is recruiting across the industry

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Covering Letter
A covering letter is sent with either a CV or application form and is usually the first thing that is read, so while it isn’t hugely important in the total communication regarding a job, you can fall at the first hurdle if it isn’t done properly. As with any communication, a covering letter is an expression of your brand, i.e. you, so think about how you want to come across and what you want to convey.

Here are some guidelines which will help you to write a good covering letter:

Format

· If sending by post, use good quality paper

· If sending via email, use tables without borders to keep the copy tidy

· Create a headline with the job reference number and/or job title

· Use 12-point size copy and a normal, “non-wacky”, typeface

· Use paragraph 1.5 lines in Word

Content

· The letter should be short, to the point and clear

· If possible, find out the person’s name rather than putting ‘Sir/Madam’

· Refer to the advert/job specification

· Specify how you meet the criteria
Remember to use the correct sign off before your signature, i.e. ‘Yours sincerely’ if you use their name or ‘Yours faithfully’ if you can’t source their name and need to use Sir/Madam

· Remember to check the spelling and grammar

· Unless you are asked to do a hand-written covering letter, create one using a computer

· Show enthusiasm for the job advertised

· Illustrate your knowledge of the position/company

· At the end of the letter, put Enc. and list what you are sending with the letter, e.g. a CV, references or an application form.

Your CV is a very important document. It is a summary of who you are, where you’ve worked, and it needs to convince the reader very quickly that you are worth investing more of their time in. Its main objective is to gain you an interview and its second objective is to give an initial impression of you as a brand.

A good CV:

· Is no more than three pages in length

· Its content and style is targeted to your target audience, i.e. the interviewer(s)

· Its design/layout matches your target employer/profession, i.e. modern if modern, traditional if traditional

· Says enough without saying too much

· It needs to convey both what makes you different or better than your competitors, and give an indication about your ‘brand’ character

Common mistakes on CVs

· Putting the education section first

· Not putting the most recent information e.g. jobs and qualifications first

· Making it too long/wordy so the reader switches off

· Having too much detail about what you do in your job, rather than how you’ve added value

· Including references

· Not giving enough thought to the design and font used

· Lying/exaggerating your role

Tips to create a good CV:

· Create a clear and consistent structure using tables/borders/different sized fonts or bold/underline/italics for headings

· Put the key information on the first page, i.e. your name and address; paragraph summary about your years’ experience and achievements and initiatives.

· Unless you have under five years experience, put where you’ve worked and what you’ve done further back in a tidy format

· Include training and other information such as hobbies to give a flavour of you the person

· Don’t repeat information – summarise your core skills

· Think about what you want the reader to feel and think and then design your CV to elicit this response

· Use action words and data on £ budgets, % increases etc to build evidence e.g. achieved, initiated etc

· Get feedback from people you know and trust; recruitment agencies and interviewers can also provide useful pointers

· If posting, use good quality paper, if emailing, send a PDF to keep the design intact

Interviews

An interview is a key to a door – the door to your next job. Being well-prepared takes a little time and planning but you will reap the benefit, feeling confident and with good responses at your fingertips in the interview.

Here are some tips for before, during and after your interview.

Before

· Put yourself in the prospective interviewer’s shoes and look at yourself objectively through their eyes

· Research the company, competitors, your interviewer(s) etc via a web search or a business library so that you are up to speed with key issues

· Prepare some questions and ideas to share

· Know yourself well and be clear on why your qualities, skills and experience make you suitable for the job

· Look your best

· Allow plenty of time and arrive early

· Get a good night’s sleep before the interview

During

· Be yourself

· Check how much time is available for the interview, especially if it starts late

· Keep your body language open and non-defensive

· Maintain eye contact, especially key if there is more than one interviewer

· Refer to your page of key points and questions and make sure that you cover them

· Don’t ask about salary

After

· Ask for feedback either directly or from the recruitment agent

· Thank the interviewer(s) for their time

· Reflect on what went well and what to improve next time

· Be philosophical – what will be will be and if you don’t get another interview, trust that there’s something better for you lined up in future

More Job Tips

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