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Posted in Candidates on Oct 05, 2011 by Richard Hayden
The 2011 CIPD Resourcing and Talent Planning survey revealed that nearly three quarters of Britain’s business’ are struggling to fulfil their requirements. So how with a near record breaking 2.51 million unemployed Britons is this possible?
The current climate makes it difficult on both sides. Employers understandably are looking for candidates who have the most relevant and substantial experience for their roles but are they always the best people for the job?
In any employment situation it comes down to matching the individual with the role and the company. This is the crucial aspect of recruiting that can be overlooked and result in disappointment on both sides.
There are however a few things that you can do which will help to improve your chances of finding the right role for you.
If you are unhappy in your role and decide to look at changing careers be prepared to put your best foot forward. This includes brushing up on your skills, improving your CV and being proactive in your search.
Proactive
Be proactive and actively manage yourself. If you are looking for work do not rely on simply uploading your CV to a job board and expecting employers or recruiters to find you.
Apply for relevant jobs with roles that suit your skills and experience and keep a record of the jobs and company’s you have applied to. This will avoid duplicate applications or confusion with potential employers.
Avoid applying to several jobs within the same company: this can reflect badly as you may come across as being unsure of the position you want and could call into question your reliability.
Be organised
Keep on top of your emails, calls and diary availability. Check your emails regularly and return any calls or voicemails. Failing to keep on top of your calls and emails will reflect badly upon you as a potential candidate to any employer or recruiter, showing a lack of commitment or enthusiasm and making you less likely to receive the interview you are hoping for.
Skills
IT skills: in today’s workplace being IT literate is as important as being able to read and write.
Make sure that any relevant IT skills or packages you have used are listed on your CV. In particular Microsoft Office packages are amongst the most common in use (Word, Excel, Power Point and Outlook). If it has been a while since you used them dust off the cob webs, there are many online resources you can use to make sure you’re up to speed. If you don’t have much experience at all with computers consider enrolling on an ECDL (European Computer Driving Licence) or similar course where you can attend taught classes on computer usage.
Be prepared
Many employers are probing deeper and further than before when it comes to your Employment History and work ethic.
The best way to start an interview or a new job is by being prepared.
Research the company, find out who they do business with and where. Find out about how the business has evolved and how they might continue to develop. Think about the ways in which you can positively impact the business and examples of how you have done this before.
The Pitfalls
If you are lucky enough to be offered a role with a new company be aware that when you tell your current employer you are leaving they may try to change your mind. Offering increased pay or better bonuses, this can be tempting but consider the potential repercussions before accepting a counter offer.
By accepting a counter offer your employer may come to view you as less trustworthy and more likely to jump ship if things began to become difficult. Stick to your guns and make sure you have made the right decision before informing your employer.
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The current climate makes it difficult on both sides. Employers understandably are looking for candidates who have the most relevant and substantial experience for their roles but are they always the best people for the job?
In any employment situation it comes down to matching the individual with the role and the company. This is the crucial aspect of recruiting that can be overlooked and result in disappointment on both sides.
There are however a few things that you can do which will help to improve your chances of finding the right role for you.
Candidates
If you are unhappy in your role and decide to look at changing careers be prepared to put your best foot forward. This includes brushing up on your skills, improving your CV and being proactive in your search.
Proactive
Be proactive and actively manage yourself. If you are looking for work do not rely on simply uploading your CV to a job board and expecting employers or recruiters to find you.
Apply for relevant jobs with roles that suit your skills and experience and keep a record of the jobs and company’s you have applied to. This will avoid duplicate applications or confusion with potential employers.
Avoid applying to several jobs within the same company: this can reflect badly as you may come across as being unsure of the position you want and could call into question your reliability.
Be organised
Keep on top of your emails, calls and diary availability. Check your emails regularly and return any calls or voicemails. Failing to keep on top of your calls and emails will reflect badly upon you as a potential candidate to any employer or recruiter, showing a lack of commitment or enthusiasm and making you less likely to receive the interview you are hoping for.
Skills
IT skills: in today’s workplace being IT literate is as important as being able to read and write.
Make sure that any relevant IT skills or packages you have used are listed on your CV. In particular Microsoft Office packages are amongst the most common in use (Word, Excel, Power Point and Outlook). If it has been a while since you used them dust off the cob webs, there are many online resources you can use to make sure you’re up to speed. If you don’t have much experience at all with computers consider enrolling on an ECDL (European Computer Driving Licence) or similar course where you can attend taught classes on computer usage.
Be prepared
Many employers are probing deeper and further than before when it comes to your Employment History and work ethic.
The best way to start an interview or a new job is by being prepared.
Research the company, find out who they do business with and where. Find out about how the business has evolved and how they might continue to develop. Think about the ways in which you can positively impact the business and examples of how you have done this before.
The Pitfalls
If you are lucky enough to be offered a role with a new company be aware that when you tell your current employer you are leaving they may try to change your mind. Offering increased pay or better bonuses, this can be tempting but consider the potential repercussions before accepting a counter offer.
By accepting a counter offer your employer may come to view you as less trustworthy and more likely to jump ship if things began to become difficult. Stick to your guns and make sure you have made the right decision before informing your employer.
At Key Appointments we want to supply you with relevant and useful information, if there are topics you would like more information on then please email us at info@key-appointments.co.uk
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