Simply Hired UK Blog

Job Seekers’ Week in Review

A roundup of the most useful articles and blog posts for job seekers over the past week. 

This week...

• At BNET.com, Entry Level Rebel Jessica Stillman offers seven techniques for How to kiss up effectively from the management professors from the Kellogg School and the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. 

• Louisa Peacock at the Telegraph profiles three human resources professionals, Ann Pickering, HR director at O2, Ann Henshaw, HR director at EDF Energy, and Trudie Allen, HR director at Dyson, to show you how to succeed in a career in HR.

• In How you can pass temp test in the Mirror, you’ll find 10 golden rules on how to turn a temp role into a permanent job.

• Clare Whitmell of Job Market Success advises that recruiters and employers will feel well-disposed towards you if you’re polite and personable in Why good manners count in your job search.

• On our own SimplyBlog, we offer tips for Conquering phone interviews. 

• At the Guardian, Jill Papworth shows how you can benefit from a government-subsidised Professional and Career Development Loan (PCDL) in A student's guide to career development loans.

Have a great week and happy searching!

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Conquering Phone Interviews

Employers often use phone interviews as a way to screen candidates and to interview candidates that live further away. Most often you will get a call for a phone interview without any notice; however the lucky few may get an email ahead of time to schedule the call. But don’t fret - Simply Hired has the tips that you need to be successful in a phone interview.

Preparation

Although you might not know when a phone interview will occur, there are ways to be ready when you get a call from a recruiter or hiring manager:

• Keep a copy of your CV with you or near your phone so that you can refer to it to answer questions
• Have a pen and paper handy so you can take down notes or write down questions you’d like to ask during your call
• Know your answers to typical interview questions, such as your biggest strengths and weaknesses, accomplishments, past experience and even salary expectations 
• Practice! Have a friend give you a call and give you a mock phone interview and get their feedback on ways you can improve

During the Phone Interview

During the call, there are a couple things to keep in mind: 

• Find a place to take the call where it is quiet and free of distractions so you can focus on the phone interview (and definitely don’t take the call while driving!)
• If it is a bad time for you or if you have less than optimal reception, ask if you can reschedule the call for a more convenient time – and possibly consider giving them a landline number 
• Speak slowly and clearly so the interviewer can easily understand you, and speak as if they were sitting in front of you – feel free to smile and gesture as you normally do when speaking to people
• Don’t eat, chew gum, or smoke while you’re on the phone – even though you’re not seated in front of your interviewer, they can hear what’s happening on your end of the phone
• Grab a glass of water in case your mouth gets dry or if something gets caught in your throat

Afterward

The phone interview isn’t over after you hang up the phone. Here are ways to follow up after the call:

• At the end of the call, make sure you have the interviewer’s name (including spelling) correct and contact information
• Thank the interviewer for their time on the call and send your interviewer a thank you note as soon as you’re off the phone

We hope these tips will help you ace the phone interview and get you one step further in the interview process during your job search!

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Go Back to School with a Career in Education

It is nearly time to head back to school and all the buzz has us thinking about career opportunities in education. There are currently more than 58,000 open roles in education in the UK. Working in a school can offer great perks, including convenient work hours for parents and long summer holidays.

If you’re interested in moulding young minds by teaching, there are thousands of open roles in primary and secondary schools. Narrow down your search by looking at open teaching positions in math, science, art, geography, history or as a special needs teacher or teaching assistant. Or perhaps you’re already a teacher and want to apply for a head teacher role. 

Teaching is also a great way to experience working abroad. The Guardian recently profiled English teaching jobs in India which can pay up to £1,500 per month. There are more than 600 of these positions listed on SimplyHired.co.in. With 21 localised international job search sites, we can help you find teaching jobs around the world!

What if you love academic life but teaching isn’t your calling? There are plenty of other opportunities. You could consider working in a school’s admissions department or as a school secretary. Or, if you’re qualified, you could even look into a job as a school nurse or librarian. 

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Job Seekers’ Week in Review

A roundup of the most useful articles and blog posts for job seekers over the past week. 

This week...

• On the Guardian Careers blog, Clare Whitmell advises how not to be branded a career stalker in Keeping your cool from job lead to job offer.

• The Position Ignition blog offers 10 tips for using Twitter in your job search.

• On our own Simply Blog, we recommend ways to reflect on your past work experience so you can move forward towards your next professional opportunity in Reflecting on your past work after losing a job.

• In Jobless graduates find an international opening in the Guardian, Anna Tims reports that teaching English as a foreign language pays up to £1,500 a month and offers opportunities to see the world.

• At the Mirror, Laurette Ziemer profiles a man whose career was transformed by a stint of volunteer work in Why it’ll pay for your career to volunteer.

• Jane Ashley and Giles Edwards of BBC Radio 4’s Can Pay, Will Pay programme have created a quiz to find out what you know about what other people earn in Do you know what your colleagues earn? 

• TK Maxx, Poundland and Ocado are creating thousands of new jobs.

Have a great week and happy searching!

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Reflecting on Your Past Work after Losing a Job

Though job losses are declining, many economists are predicting a double-dip recession. Being made redundant is something many of us try not to think about. However, if you find yourself receiving that dreaded P45, Simply Hired has some tips on how to reflect on your past work so that you can move forward towards your next professional opportunity.

Take a Break
Losing a job and moving on to another is a major life change. You won’t be around the same people or doing the same work, and at first it may be hard to adjust. Use the time to clear your mind and relax so you can move forward refreshed.

Review Your Past Work
You may not realise it, but chances are you did a lot in your past role and have grown and learned a lot. Put together a list of new skills you’ve learned, new responsibilities you took on and your accomplishments in that role. Reviewing your achievements will make updating your resume a much easier process.

Think about what’s Next
Did you love your last job or would you like to move into a different role? With a new job opportunity before you, take the time to consider what you really want in your next position. Think about the size of the company you’d like to work at, the management style you prefer, which industry you find the most appealing, if you’d like to take on more responsibility in your next role, etc. There may be other job opportunities that you are better suited for than the position you most recently held.

Learn a New Skill
With some extra time on your hands, this is the perfect opportunity to learn something new, whether it is in a classroom or online. To start thinking about where you might need additional training, run a job search for positions just above what you’re qualified for to see if they require any specialised skills or training that you currently lack. These areas would be great to develop if you’re looking to move up in your next position. 

By taking the time to really assess where you’d like to go with your career, you’ll be focussed and prepared when you start applying for your next work opportunity!