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There are three main types of work to consider: temporary, contract or permanent. There are, of course, benefits to each and you might not have a preference, but your job hunting will be easier if you know what type of work you're looking for. You'll also have to consider whether you're looking for full or part time work.

Work's much more interesting when you're doing something you're good at. Take time to think about your key skills and attributes and how you could use them at work. So take your time to think about your key skills and attributes and how you could use them at work. So take your time before you make a decision.

No two employers are the same and your search for work will be easier if you have a good idea of what kind of organisation you want to work for. Do you want to work for a small, local company or a multinational corporation? Would you rather work in the private or public sector? Or you might want to consider working for a charity or not-for-profit organisation.

Each kind of organisation has its own benefits and there are number of factors to consider. Here are just a few of the questions you might want to think about to help you make your decision.

i) What will the prospects for career progression be like? ii) What training will be in offer? iii) If it's a large organisation, will I have the opportunity to shine? iv) If it's small organisation, will my prospects be limited? v) What benefits are offered by the company? vi) What will my colleagues be like?

The aim of an effective CV is simple - to get you an interview with a prospective employer. Sound straightforward? Remember, an employer will potentially be looking at as many as 1000 other CVs, so your CV needs to make you stand out from the crowd to ensure you make it to interview. Your CV needs to demonstrate that you are the right person fright person for the job by highlighting.

a) Short enough to read quickly and ideally no more than two sides of A4 b) Clearly laid out in a logical order, with sufficient spacing and clear section headings c) Relevant for the role, demonstrating that you can fulfill the job role and are the right sort of person

Covering letters are used by employers to view a quick summary of an applicant's skills and experience, and will sometimes be used to pre-screen applicants before viewing CVs. So, your covering letter needs to ensure that you promote the skills you have which are appropriate a good reflection of the experience and qualifications noted down on your CV.

In short, your covering letter is a marketing document to sell your relavant skills and experience for a role, to ensure your CV receives a proper viewing, and to help get you through to the interview stage.

Covering letters, like CVs, will wary in content depending on the role you're applying for and your own skills and experience. However, employers will generally expect to see the following information.

Interview tips.....

Company research

Interviewers will expect you to have a good grasp of what the company does, how big it is, how it is divided up and who it's main competitors are. With these facts to your command you will be able to hold a meaningful conversation about the company and put other company information into context.

Role research

You need to make sure you have fully understood the job description and know it fits in to the overall company structure. If you have any queries about it then try to raise them before the interview or be prepared to bring them up as you go along. Ask yourself what the key skills are that the job requires and think of examples of occasions when you have demonstrated those skills.

Personal appraisal

You can never predict every question that you will encounter, so approach the interview with an inventory of important points. Make a list of the points about yourself that you want the interviewer to know. For example, if you were to apply for a job as a Sales Representative, you might want to list the products you have sold before, types of customers (by industry, age, etc.), languages spoken, personal experience in that industry and related knowledge (perhaps from your academic program). Each question will be an opportunity to provide some of this information to the interviewer.

The day

Some important points to remember:

a) Don't assume anything. You will be evaluated on your answers, not your CV. Therefore, ensure you incorporate the relevant information from your CV in your answer.
b) Pause a couple of seconds before you respond to each question, even if you know exactly what you want to say. Take this time to quickly plan your answer, this helps to avoid misunderstandings and produces much more concise answers.
c) If you don't understand a question, ask for clarification. This is expected and is preferable to providing an unsuitable answer. If you need time to collect your thoughts - take it. When people are nervous they tend either to "draw a blank" or to babble. It is better to think for a few moments and make sure that your answer is doing you justice and that there is a point to what you are saying.
d) Always expand. Never answer a question with a "yes" or "no".
e) The interview is an opportunity for you to sell yourself. Don't be afraid to "blow your own trumpet". As long as you can back up what you are saying with examples which demonstrate that what you are saying is true, you are not bragging. Third party observations can also be mentioned. For example, "My last employer told me that I was promoted because of how I handled conflicts with clients."
f) Be very positive. Don't complain about anything - from your former employer to the weather - and don't apologize for experience that you don't have. Just sell what you do have and let the employer decide if you have what he/she is looking for. Also, avoid negative words. For example, you would not say "I have experience...." Don't be afraid to repeat important points. In fact, it is a good idea to do so.
g) In terms of your manner and body language, try to ensure the following - be confident, positive and look directly at the interviewer when you talk and listen, speak clearly, be enthusiastic and express a keen interest in the position, keep to the point and be concise and always be honest.

Moving your Career

Interview tips.....