Author: Gillian Rixey

This author has written 47 articles
Read more about the article Number One Interview Tip
Interview Tips

Number One Interview Tip

Congratulations, you’ve landed an interview! Well done on getting this far. Landing an interview is a confidence-booster for any job applicant. It says that you have the right credentials to complete the tasks outlined in the job description. Now for the final hurdle: convincing the interviewer/interview panel that you will be pleasant to work with, have some initiative and passion, and will fit in comfortably with the team that already exists. Many recruitment bloggers will try to give a top five or top ten list of the best tips for conducting a successful interview. However, some of the points that crop up…

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August 30, 2016
Read more about the article Top Five Reasons You’re Still Unemployed
Careers Advice

Top Five Reasons You’re Still Unemployed

I hate to be the bearer of bad news; the teller of hard truths, but sometimes being cruel can be the kindest thing. This post aims to help people who have been unemployed for a substantial period of time by highlighting some very significant reasons why your job-search isn’t going well. You’ve sent out a thick pile of CVs, trudged up the town handing them out, spent the last of your Jobseeker’s Allowance on a new suit and alas; still no call to interview. Or, if you got the interview, you didn’t get the job. The tips laid below hope…

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July 30, 2016
Read more about the article Unconventional Job-hunting Tips
Interview Tips

Unconventional Job-hunting Tips

The internet is filled with job-hunting tips. You’ve probably read some that say obvious things like ‘be assertive’, ‘promote yourself’ or ‘network’. Wisdom like this is all very nice, but it’s difficult to see how it actually helps and can actually lead to more discouragement. What does it actually mean to be assertive? How do you promote yourself? Who in the world actually networks? Networking is for cheesy lounge-lizards in a shiny suit. Real people don’t network, they live life and encounter people accidentally. Trying to navigate who you meet accidentally is a bit obsessive for my taste. It’s not particularly sound…

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June 30, 2016
Read more about the article Top Challenges Facing Job Seekers
Careers Advice

Top Challenges Facing Job Seekers

Despite the fact that the recession began in 2008, current unemployment statistics show that we still have a long way to go.  According to BBC business statistics, unemployment is a lagging indicator. In other words, unemployment began to rise dramatically after the recession began; it didn’t rise immediately. It was a few months after the start of the recession before employment levels began to reflect the economic downturn. When the recession hit, unemployment figures were at 1.6 million ( a bit over 5 percent of the population). It wasn’t until the end of 2011 when unemployment peaked at almost 2.7 million.…

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May 1, 2016
Read more about the article CVs and Cover Letters: What Goes Where?
Interview Tips

CVs and Cover Letters: What Goes Where?

Sometimes a CV is defined as a very detailed, comprehensive resume, but for the purpose of this article, I’m talking about a standard job application. We all know CVs and cover letters are two very different things. We may not know, however, what material should be included in one and not the other. This article will break things down in a very simple way. After reading this advice, you will never make the mistake of rambling on about valuable character traits in your CV or bullet-pointing your education in your cover letter. Tailoring for each new job application will also be…

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April 30, 2016
Read more about the article The Dreaded Cover Letter
Interview Tips

The Dreaded Cover Letter

More and more employers require a cover letter as part of a standard job application. When applying for jobs, the cover letter can be an odious additional piece of work, particularly because it takes longer to edit and re-write than a CV or resume. This is because each cover letter has to be tailored precisely to the employer you want to work for. The CV on the other hand can be tweaked, cut and pasted from. There is always a skeleton CV; there is rarely a skeleton cover letter. What needs to be emphasised is that the cover letter is…

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March 30, 2016
Read more about the article Unpaid Internships: Are They Really Worth It?
Careers Advice

Unpaid Internships: Are They Really Worth It?

When you find yourself unemployed, it’s tempting to be lured into doing an unpaid internship. On the face of it, companies are reaching out a kind hand, helping you back on your feet, helping you boost your CV. However, the face of internships has drastically changed since the recent global recession. Internships used to be a form of (paid) apprenticeship with a good chance of securing a job at the end. In more recent times, however, they have become more of a last resort for the long-term unemployed or an easy way for savvy employers to get free labour. Internships are increasingly displacing real jobs, particularly…

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January 28, 2016