Career Center
Welcome to the Best Selection Recruitment Career Centre. Below you'll find some advice on putting together a winning CV and of our new guide to successful interviews.
- CV Tips
A good CV gives prospective employers a quick, concise summary of your qualifications, experience, skills and suitability for a particular role. A really good CV gets noticed ahead of the many others that arrive on employers' desk tops every day. We'll help you prepare a CV that gets noticed and helps you secure that all-important interview.
- What your CV should include
# Your name, address and full contact details
# A one-paragraph profile that sums up your professional and personal attributes, such as:
# Key roles you've completed to date
# Your experience in a specific sector or industry, e.g. 5 years working for...
# Your 'unique selling points', e.g. particular projects or assignments you completed, specialist skills you possess, your style & personality, problem-solver, team player, thrives under pressure etc.
# Your professional experience - starting with your most recent position and including start and finish dates, job title, employer, key responsibilities and achievements
# Your education - from secondary school onwards, with names of schools, colleges or universities, attendance dates and qualifications gained
# Your skills and professional or specialist qualifications
# Include any relevant training courses you've completed and account for any career or assignment gaps
# Details of any software packages you're familiar with and level of proficiency e.g. basic, intermediate and advanced
# A brief overview of your life outside work - include hobbies, sporting activities and personal interests so that employers get a sense of the real you and what makes you tick - How to present your CV
Lay your CV out clearly and logically, using short sentences, bullet points, a single typeface and consistently sized headings. Make sure it covers no more than two pages and that your finished article is spelt correctly and error-free.
Be honest, accurate and able to talk confidently through any point on your CV. Tailor your CV to emphasise skills and experiences that match the role you're applying for. Decisions about which candidates to invite to interview are invariably based on the relevance of the information in their CVs.
Keep your CV up to date. New experiences, skills and qualifications will improve your value to future employers.
Finally, provide a covering email to give a 'voice' to your CV and let your words do the talking. Draw out key points from your CV to state where there is a good match between what is required of the role and what you have to offer.
For more information speak to one of our consultants, ideally in your local branch. - Interview Techniques
Being invited for an interview means you've effectively convinced a potential employer that you're capable of filling the role. A face-to-face meeting is your chance to convince them you're the best candidate available - and decide if the role and the company are right for you.
- Making a great impression - your five-point plan
- Arrive on time
Plan your route in advance and allow time for travel problems, particularly where motorways are concerned. If you are running late, make that all-important call and contact your consultant or the interviewer direct to advise them of when you expect to arrive.
- Look the part
You never get a second chance to make a first impression - so make sure you look smart and business like for your interview. Shake hands with confidence, remember to smile and maintain regular eye contact.
- Know your stuff
Take time to find out about the company you're talking to: visit their website, brief yourself about their main products and services, recent performance, client base, competitors and brand values. Make sure you know how many people they employ and what areas they operate in. And don't forget to ask your consultant what they know too.
- Don't stop when the interview ends
Try to leave the interview on a positive note. Thank the interviewer for his or her time and tell them how much you've enjoyed the experience. As soon as possible after leaving, phone or email your consultant to let them know how you think things went.
- Tips to remember
# Be polite, be honest, be yourself
# Think before you answer any question
# Show your interest, enthusiasm and energy
# Accentuate the positive reasons for wanting to leave your current job
# Don't be negative about past employers or colleagues
# Explain what makes you unique and how you could make a positive difference
- Arrive on time