JobSeekerCoach

What goes into a CV... and more
Home     About Us     Job Seekers     Employers     Contact Us     Site Map      
Planning     Preparing a CV     Finding jobs     Cover Letters     Interviews     Getting a Job Offer      
Job seeker walk-through
The following pages are designed to take you step by step through your job-seeking project - it is a project and will need careful thought, planning and record-keeping.  There is no effective shortcut to the process but, after all, you are going to be the one who benefits and it'll get easier and easier. If you have a computer, or access to one, it will make the process much easier.  For best results, don't send your CV to anyone until you have read through all the steps outlined below.
 
Here is a quick check-list.

Step One - Planning

Think about yourself, what you like or don't like; what you are good at - and bad at; what you want from your job and what you can offer an employer. Think of your successes (and failures) from the past, at work or elsewhere, and write them down.

 

Step Two - Preparing a CV

The CVs pages have lots of hints, tips and suggestions about how to write a CV; about what goes into a CV and what not to put in; about CV do's and don'ts.

 

Step Three - Finding jobs

Finding vacancies has never been easier but you can cut out the competition by finding a job that is not advertised. Where do you look? And who can help you?

 

Step Four - The Cover Letter

Whilst your CV is ready to send out, you need a cover letter which is specific to the job you are pursuing. It should be short and to the point including a really good reason why you should be considered for the job.  Always write to (or talk to) potential employers in terms of what you can do for them - not what they can do for you.

 

Step Five - The Interview

PREPARATION, PREPARATION, PREPARATION. Find out as much as you can about the Company, its history, its future and its people. Do you know anyone who already works there? What can they tell you? Think back to Step One and about how you can be of benefit to the the team/the department/the Company. Put yourself in the position of the hirer and ask yourself what he/she might ask you.  What is he/she looking for? (The answer to this question is on the Interview Skills page).

 

Step Six - The Interview De-brief

OK, this has to go one of two ways: You either got an offer or you didn't but, either way, the process is the same.  What went right? What went wrong? Which questions did you goof on? Where did you excel?  The important bit is to write it all down for next time - even if you were successful this time, it doesn't mean you'll never be job-hunting again. If you were not successful, you've learned some lessons to improve the next interview - just go back to Step One and give it a re-think.

 

Step Seven - The Job Offer

Congratulations!  Now all you need to do is negotiate your salary package and manage the exit from your present job - or is there more to it than that?

 

For more personal, industry specific or detailed help contact us to ask about

  • Seminars
  • Workshops
  • One-to-one coaching