September 8, 2016

Easy CV Fixes to Get You From Graduated to Hired

2 min read

It is a conundrum that many graduates grapple with – they have the degree but not the experience and in order to get the experience, they need to get a job.
How do you get an employer to look beyond your lack of experience and give you a chance to prove your mettle?

It starts with a CV that shows that you have skills that would add value to their business, regardless of your official work experience.

Four tips to help you get your CV market ready

1. Let your CV focus on what you have done well during your studies, not what the course/degree expectations was.

You need to show you are conscientious, and can complete and achieve tasks and goals. It is a lot more powerful to see that a graduate candidate has constantly delivered projects to a high standard than reading that the course required four development projects to be completed over two years.

2. Use business language to describe your achievements as this will help to engage employers and highlight your potential as a rising star.

To use the example in point number one – if you consistently delivered projects to a high standard within a set time frame then use phrases such as ‘can work to a brief, prioritise tasks, efficient time management”.

3. Use your graduate experiences to showcase abilities that business owners would value.

Think of the skills you had to use when you completed tasks and projects within a certain timeframe (execution of tasks, efficient time management) organised a sporting or cultural event (project management, budgeting skills) or led a study group (leadership, team player, and communication).

4. Show your heart, not only your mind. Employers want to get a sense of the type of person they are hiring.

Ran a marathon to raise funds for a cause? Committed environmentalist that organises regular clean-ups? Remember that these personal achievements say a lot about your attitude and willingness to do beyond what is expected.

Need a CV Template? Download a CV template here (Word).

The next step is to write a cover letter that will help you stand out from the crowd – view our ‘how to write a kick-ass cover letter’ video for some helpful tips.

Absolute IT

June 21, 2016

Four Checkpoints Before You Say Yes to a New Job

2 min read

At last, all the interviews and reference checks have been done and they want you. All you have to do is sign on the dotted line, give notice and start a new chapter in your career. But is this the right job for you?

Grant Burley, Director at Absolute IT Recruitment, says,

“When you are in the middle of all the excitement and stress of changing jobs it can be hard to ascertain if a new job offer is right for you. Or you may be in the enviable position of having two or more offers on the table and you need to figure out which one will be the best decision for you.”

Burley advises that jobseekers use four key criteria as a checklist to help them make the best decision for their careers.

Firstly, it is important to look at the role and review the career development opportunities that it offers. “Will this role give you exposure to grow your skillset and make you more marketable? You want to ensure that in two to three years’ time you can progress your career, internally or externally, and that a new position offers you more scope in terms of role, industry or responsibilities.”

Secondly, you have to consider the people that you will be sharing your working days with. “We spend most of our time at work and it is important that we work with like-minded people who share a similar focus. A team environment where everybody has a clear idea of what they want to achieve and share a similar approach to working together is usually a healthy and productive work environment.”

Thirdly it is really important to make sure that you understand and are comfortable with the company culture as it sets the tone of the workplace. “Every company or organisation has its own style of doing things, their own personality. Find out how the company treat and invests in its staff, how they make decisions and communicate to their stakeholders. A company with a formal, structured and serious culture can be a frustrating work place if you thrive in an informal, fast-acting and maverick environment.”

Combined, these three intangible criteria will give you a sound indication if you and the new organisation will be a good fit. So, if the job opportunity offers you great career development opportunities, the people are your kind of people and you feel comfortable with the company culture then you have to look at the fourth criterion which is remuneration.

“While money should not be the only thing to look at when you are considering a job offer, it is important to make sure you are getting a fair deal in terms of salary and benefits. A good salary package should reflect a reasonable reward for your skills, knowledge and experience that you are bringing to the organisation.”

Absolute IT