Job Hunting Basics

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Monsters Job Search App

Monster knows people love their mobile phone but applying for a job on a mobile can be tricky though. Applying for a job on a mobile can be tricky though. Monster’s goal is to make it easier for job seekers and employers to make the perfect match on their mobile. Our new Monster Job Search app does just that; making applying for a job on s...

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Top 5 job search tips

Looking for a new job can become a job in itself, however if you plan your search correctly, you could be on your way to a great new career sooner than you think. Here's our advice on the key things to need to do to make your job hunt a resounding success: 1. Look for hidden vacancies Instead of advertising their available jobs, employers of...

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How do I plan a job search?

The first important step to searching for jobs is to get into the right mindset and plan a job searching strategy. Tell yourself that whilst you can have a lucky break, you are more likely to get results by being patient, determined and focused. Making plans In the same way that you write a list before going to the supermarket, you should note do...

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Top 5 Assessment Centre Tips

Don't just do it – show the assessors you're doing it Remember when you passed your driving test. You didn't just need to look in your mirror before you made a manoeuvre, you had to move your head to show the examiner you were looking. It's the same in an assessment centre. You not only have to listen to what people are saying, you have to show ...

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What skills are IT employers looking for?

The UK’s shortage of suitably qualified and experienced workers has been well documented, and nowhere is this shortage more acute than the IT industry. In an environment where there are more jobs than there are suitable candidates, career opportunities are rife for those who can demonstrate that they have the right skill set. Everyone in ...

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What skills are marketing employers looking for?

Looking for a job is an exercise in marketing whereby the product (i.e. you) must match the requirements that the buyer (i.e. employer) is looking for. In other words, what can you do for their business and what key skills and attributes that you can bring to the table that will be of interest to an employer? Although you may never have worked i...

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How do I build and maintain a contact database?

When networking and developing your contacts, it's easy to gather a wallet full of business cards and have no recollection of who they belong to and where you picked them up. An effective and intuitive database will help you identify who you have met, what you have discussed and, most importantly, where the available jobs opportunities are. B...

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How can I stay motivated during my job search?

When you set out on your job search, it's rarely possible to guess how long it will go on for. As time passes, the rejections mount up and the budgets get tighter, it's easy to become disheartened. However, this is exactly the time when you need to dust yourself off and put in more hard work than ever. One of the main attributes of a successful job...

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How do I get headhunted?

Talent pools and headhunting are techniques used by companies to cherry pick the best employees in the market who will drive the growth of their company. Generally they're considered more expensive ways for companies to hire employees, but this extra cost is offset by the higher chance that the new recruit will be a success. Being a big fish in a...

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Four Steps to a New Job

Welcome to the "Four Steps to a New Job" feature. We've broken down the process of applying and getting into the workplace with a few (four to be exact) helpful links in each section that should help you get started. 4 Essential Job Search Steps Get your CV ready Search high and low Load your interview ammo Start your new job 1....

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How do I make a prospective application?

Sending a speculative application can be a very effective method of securing a new job and may convince an employer to create a position for the right person - if you do it right. If you've identified the company that you want to work for, then here are some tips for succeeding with speculative applications. Tap into the hidden market Sometimes...

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What are my transferrable skills?

One of the biggest challenges when it comes to a career change is giving your CV the punch it needs to make an impact in a new industry. You may think that little of what you have done before will count, but you'd be wrong. We all pick up and develop a wide range of skills that can be applied in many different roles. What is a transferable skill? ...

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How can I choose the right company?

There's a vast range of potential employers out there, from small start-ups to the biggest multinationals. Which type best suits you is for you to decide, based on your personality, your likes and dislikes and, of course, your experience. If you're unsure, take the time to do as much research as you can. Get on your favourite search engine and c...

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How do I complete application forms?

Application forms help employers to compare candidates on a more even keel and allow the employer to extract more specific information than is often included in a CV. You will generally come across them in public sector or management trainee roles where the number of applicants is extremely high as it allows employers to spot if a certain box has n...

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What are my unique selling points?

When a company is determining how to advertise their products to consumers, they focus on its unique selling points - the things which make the product different from any other. It may be that it is smaller, lasts longer or tastes better than its competitors. The same principle applies to you when you are applying for a new job. You need to thin...

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Who should I choose as my references?

Almost 60% of employers claim that they have had to withdraw an offer of employment after receiving poor references about successful applicants. So, just because you have managed to wow your future employer at interview stage and convinced them that you are the best person for the job, it does not mean that you can get away with poorly prepared ref...

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How can I keep busy while I'm unemployed?

Although there is some solace in the fact that frequent corporate downsizing, international relocation and reorganisation are the norm in today's world, regardless of whether you have been unemployed for one month or one year you may begin to feel like damaged goods. And, clouding every interview that you attend is the dreaded question about why ...

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Where can I find hidden vacancies?

A common misconception about looking for a new job is that all vacancies will be either advertised or easily visible. Unfortunately, that couldn't be more wrong. Many vacancies are regarded as hidden, never to be seen by the majority of people - instead of advertising, employers will fill these vacancies by word-of-mouth, headhunting or simply r...

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What should my New Year job search resolutions be?

Returning to work after Christmas and New Year is like going to the dentist after you have put it off for years. The abiding effects from the festive season fade as quickly as the drunken overtones of Auld Lang Syne, so it is not surprising that many people view the arrival of the New Year as the ideal opportunity to refocus and set new career reso...

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What do I need to know about job adverts?

In today's cut-throat job marketplace, employers are constantly competing with one another to attract the best most suitably qualified candidates for their vacancies. The unimaginative identikit recruitment adverts that once dominated the job pages for years, are being replaced by skilfully created and well crafted adverts designed to lure you. ...

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What Does a Job Rejection Letter Really Mean?

You have remained positive throughout the application and interview process and expected the offer for your dream job to be on its way. Instead, you get the dreaded “thanks, but no thanks” job rejection letter telling you that you have not been successful “on this occasion”. It's important not to dwell on it – if you start going into job intervi...

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What is networking and how do I do it?

Essentially, networking is getting to know people who can help you develop your career prospects. You don't need to be a big shot or the most outgoing person in the world to network effectively. Take it a step at a time. Begin with people you know, at work and in your social life. Keep your ears open and listen for information that could work to...