Simply Hired UK Blog

Why a General Cover Letter Won’t Wash with Employers

Anyone who is unemployed will recognise the scenario: waking up in the cold light of day, going online and applying for potentially dozens of job vacancies before you have even tasted a steaming hot cup of coffee. With unemployment being such a stressful period of your life, time can seem to be of the essence and force you to take several short cuts when it comes to your individual job applications. This should be avoided at all costs, regardless of any pressure that you may be feeling.

The Individual Cover Letter: More Important Than Ever for Job Seekers

There was a time when uniform cover letters and mass applications were standard, but that was before the information sharing age of the Internet. Now it is an entirely different, and by using a single cover letter for every application you are actively damaging your chances of finding work. Consider the following:

• Documents are shared with an astonishing ease thanks to social media platforms and instant mail technology, but this also means that they are more accessible than ever before. Recruiters can recognize generic cover letters easier than you may think; especially of you apply for dozens of roles simultaneously. Not only this, but can you imagine applying for 2 roles through the same recruiter with an unchanged cover letter? 

• Similarly, think about what a generic cover letter says about you: does it suggest that you are interested in a specific role, or simply desperate to find work of any description? Of course it is the latter, and employers will also favour genuinely enthusiastic candidates over those you cannot take the time to compose a relevant letter of application.

How Do You Create the Ideal Cover Letter?

With this in mind, it is clear that a cover letter should be a constantly evolving document. It should consider the core requirements of each role as well as the changeable nature of your skills, and retain only a basic template and introductory text. If you do not adopt this flexible and malleable approach to your applications then you may find more doors closing than opening, and that elusive job will remain tantalisingly out of reach. So:

• Remember that your online profile is public, or at least it should be if you want recruiters to find your details while searching for candidates. Your cover letter and CV need to be conceived with this in mind, and comply fully with the fundamental requirements of employers. So just as you cannot have different copies of a resume on alternative sites, you must take great care to never use the same cover letter for individual vacancies.

• Respect the role that you have applied for, and more importantly the employer and their requirements. Consider what they require in a candidate, and if you are suitable then craft a letter which markets your skill set in a relevant way. Read the job description thoroughly, and be sure to include any experience or qualifications that are demanded in writing.

Remember that in a competitive job market employers are often forced to differentiate between equally viable candidates, and an individual cover letter could be the deciding factor in whether you are hired or otherwise.

What are your thoughts on this issue? Please comment below or tweet us your thoughts @simplyhireduk.

Getting a Christmas Job: Is it as Easy as it Sounds?

Christmas often provides break from the prevailing economic condition, as consumers spend more and companies seek to hire additional staff to ease their workloads. As many of these are entry level retail or administration positions, it would seem at first glance as through the festive period provides a golden opportunity for job seekers to dip their toe back into the job market. While this maybe the case, you must bear several things in mind when applying for Christmas job roles, so that you can step out of unemployment and back into the world of work.

Temporary Christmas Work: What Are Employers Looking For?

It stands to reason that some market sectors remain more prosperous than others during the Christmas period, with the retail industry being one that is a constant hive of activity during November and December. Employers will take on additional temporary staff primarily to deal with an increased workload, but what exactly do they look for from the people that they hire?

• While some from of work experience is always beneficial, the entry level nature of many Christmas roles means that employers are more focused on hiring individuals based on their attributes rather than their skills alone. This elevates enthusiasm and a positive attitude above and beyond mere qualifications

• With the festive period being so busy for retail and customer service outlets, flexibility is another attribute desired by employers. You may well be required to work additional hours or during unsociable shifts, so a willingness to embrace a busy and pressurized environment is key.

• Regardless of the temporary nature of the assignment or the festivities of Christmas, employers still expect a professional and serious attitude from their staff. Remember, they are hiring interim staff to meet the demands of their consumers, so it is important that all potential employees are motivated  to fulfill these.

How Can You Gain An Edge in the Rush for Christmas Work?

With these things in mind, there are steps that you can take to gain a crucial edge in the push for Christmas work. Remember, not only can this type of role provide you with additional cash for the festive period, but temporary Christmas assignments can often lead to longer term contracts of employment. Consider the following: 

• You need to sell your qualities, enthusiasm for work and personal attributes in order to earn a Christmas contract, and your initial application is the place to do this. Just one third of UK jobs seekers tailor their cover letters to suit each unique application, but doing this allows you to focus on each role and provide enthusiastic reasoning of your interest.

• While you may not have relevant or specific industry experience, consider which of your skills are transferable and how they can be applied to the role that you are applying for. Get creative with the work experience that you do have on your resume, and focus on the individual skills that you have displayed rather than the jobs that you have undertaken.

• Always be punctual, reliable and professional when addressing or meeting with a potential Christmas employer. Though the role may well be contracted to last for less than a month, companies will also be assessing their plans for expansion as they enter the New Year. If they do wish to hire beyond Christmas, your levels of professionalism and approach could determine whether you are considered for a longer stay or not.

Do you have any advice that could help our Christmas job seekers? Feel free to leave your comments here, or get in touch @simplyhireduk

 

The Little White Lie

From leaving off dates of employment to fabricating an entire educational history, CV’s throughout the UK are tweaked, embellished and adapted to varying degrees on a daily basis, leaving employers with a difficult task of separating those who exaggerate from those who don’t. However, in today’s environment it is easier than ever to screen a potential employee, so job seekers beware of telling the small white lie on your resume!

According to the Risk Advisory Group, a quarter of 3,000 resumes submitted to them with job applications in 2005 contained embellishments or fabrications, and this figure has remained fairly constant since then. Taking this as a small portion of the UK population, it would seem that more than 25 percent of UK job seekers lie on their resume in one way or another, with the simple goal of landing a job that they consider themselves perfectly able to do.

While many may suggest that there is no harm in adding an extra GCSE grade or amending the dates of specific job roles, it is these small white lies that can often lead to the gravest consequences. The majority of organisations, especially those based in the public sector or teaching profession, screen their candidates vigorously and even the most insignificant of lies cannot only be easily uncovered but also derail an entire job application.

Even less well regulated industries have the right to screen your application and credentials, so the chances of a lie remaining uncovered is slim. Not only this, but as a job seeker you must recognise that the technological advances of the modern world have changed the way that employers seek, screen and recruit candidates.

Deciding to lie on a resume is often an exercise in futility, and does not stack up in terms of a risk to reward ration. If you are tempted to amend some detail on your CV, then consider what this will achieve and if it is worth the potential consequences should it be discovered.

Social media may have drawn an ever-tightening hold around businesses and those who they interact with, but it has also made it easier than ever for employers to screen individuals who apply to join them. This is especially true where you have profiles across multiple sites, as an employer can highlight every anomaly.

By becoming victim to the pursuit of a perfect and blemish free resume, it is all too easy to omit something that could actually benefit any application that you may make. Eliminating jobs or amending qualifications may seem like a good idea at one point in time, but this could serve to damage your standing as a candidate in later applications.

Confidence is Key to Every Stage of the Job Search Process

With such a high number of job seekers competing for so few coveted positions of employment, employers are able to be even more selective in choosing candidates to represent their brand. Aside from the usual assessment of an applicant’s qualifications, experience and skills, personal attributes and characteristics are becoming increasingly influential in determining your prospects as a job seeker. Of these, confidence is undoubtedly the most significant, not least because it is integral to every single stage of your job hunt, from sourcing opportunities to conducting a successful interview.

How Does Confidence Influence Your Success as a Job Seeker?

While this may seem like a straightforward question, many of us underestimate how our levels of confidence influence our actions, interactions and the impression that we give to potential employers. This applies to every single action involved in job searching, whether you are searching for suitable jobs that you can apply for or attending interviews with established organizations and brands. For example:

• ŸThe process of applying for relevant and desired positions of employment can be arduous, but remember that a higher quantity of applications will return more responses and potential interviews. You’ll likely receive more rejections than positive feedback as a job seeker, but it is confidence in your goals, abilities and a healthy volume of self-belief that will help you to maintain focus. 

• Communication is also a significant part of finding work, especially when you apply for jobs and interact with potential employers. Whether filling in a formal application form, sending emails or talking in person, a confident and articulate manner is critical to developing a rapport with employers.  

• ŸFinally, your confident and proactive approach should carry towards an interview, where employers are able to assess both your skill set and the way in which you present yourself to both peers and superiors. From your appearance to the way in which you maintain eye contact while talking, the interview is the ultimate sales pitch for your skills and confidence.

How to Create and Reflect a Positive State of Mind 

In order to maintain the same rigorous attitude when applying for work on a daily basis, try to focus solely on your own ambitions rather than the wider economic climate. Remember that jobs are still created even during a recession, and it is your diligence and unrelenting self-belief that will allow you to pursue these and ultimately find work. 

Ensure that you are always courteous and professional in your communications. Make sure there are no spelling or grammatical errors in your written communication, and speak in a clear and confident manner over the phone and in person. Also, respect the timeframes given by potential employers regrinding response times, and only chase them for further information once a given deadline has passed.

Finally, change your perception of the interview and the way that you approach it, and consider it more of an opportunity to sell yourself rather than an interrogation of your skills and experience. This will help you to project a far more confident and effervescent image of yourself during an interview, and give the best possible opportunity for success.

Taking Control of Your Job Search

Let’s face it – outsourcing is very popular, whether it’s the specific design needs of a small company or even your very own job search. While it’s one thing to use industry recognized resources to find employment opportunities and seek advice, it is quite another to place your future entirely in the hands of job agencies and third party organisations. With this in mind, it is important to take control of your own job search, and assume absolute responsibility for your future.

The Benefits of Conducting your Own Job Search

Time is of the essence when it comes to your job search, so being prepared and organised can help to the make the most of the opportunities that come your way. While you may think that outsourcing part of your job search to an agency is productive, remember that you are placing your trust in others and may have to spend a portion of your time managing their time.

By managing your own job search, you have complete control over the jobs that you apply for and those that you don’t – and nobody knows better than you whether a role is suitable or otherwise. Managing the whole of your search also allows you to dictate the exact areas that you are willing to work in and the levels of salary that you would consider.

Searching for employment in a competitive market is a time sensitive issue, so managing your quest gives you the best chance to respond to opportunities as they arise. After all, if an employer rings your phone number rather than an agency’s, you are already ahead of the game when compared to your rival candidates.

Additionally, it is far more time and cost effective for you to drive your own job search, as the time that you spend contacting agencies and chasing them for information could be spent speaking with employers directly. Also, rates of pay may be lower in agency secured roles due to the commission that they take on your salary. 

How to Conduct your Job Search

If you have decided to conduct and manage your own search, you need to develop a strategy to do this effectively. Planning and organisation are significant in defining the success of your search, as is having a clear and concise understanding of the type of role that you are looking for. When planning your search, you should:

• Be ruthless when deciding what roles you may be interested in, and take the time to identify the specific industry sectors and salary bands that interest you. This will help you to make quick and efficient decisions, and make sure that the job you eventually find is the one for you.

• Always make sure that your contact details are included on any document for correspondence connected to an application, and take care to ensure that they are correct. You must be constantly available to potential employers through a range of different mediums.

• Be proactive when contacting employers, and do not be afraid to approach them if you have any queries or concerns. An agent may be hesitant to make regular contact with an employer, whereas by taking control you have the power to communicate with them concerning the role and salary. 

What is your opinion on job agencies, and what do you think the benefits are of conducting an independent search? Share your thoughts below!