I wish I were a …

When I was a child I wanted to become a doctor, then a singer, then an astronaut, then a movie star, then a diving instructor, then a car mechanic, then … I became older but I'm afraid not much wiser. I still have 'dream jobs' that I would simply suck at, provided that I would manage to be hired … which I seriously doubt.

Yes, we must dream big and shoot for the moon:

Image from: http://pioushippie.blogspot.co.uk

Well, maybe not literally. 

BUT before you start chasing dreams, which, if came true, would turn out to be nightmares, try to be objective and see if it's really THE job for you.

How have I managed to rule fake dream jobs out? I made a list with every job I would love to do and then I 'checked' if there is any reason why I would be horrible at it. 

Here is my top you'd-better-not jobs:

Image from: http://kids.discovery.com

No. 5 Pilot

It would be nice soaring like a bird, free from any earthly problems …

Only: I'm afraid of the heights.

Image from: http://www.relycareagency.co.uk/

No. 4 Recruiting Agent

It would be so nice helping people to find jobs …

Only: I would hire everyone and anyone because I would feel sorry for those who have no jobs.

Image from: http://www.createhopedesigns.com

 No. 3 Psychologist

It would be nice if I could help people solve their emotional problems …

Only: I'm too empathic and I would cry my heart out.

Image from: http://whattimeisoclock.blogspot.co.uk

No. 2 Secret Agent

It would be nice to save the world now and then and maybe kick some a**es ...

Only: I cannot keep a secret … and I'm a terrible liar … and to tell the truth, I don't like hurting people.

Image from: http://www.thisismoney.co.uk

No 1 Millionaire

It would be nice to have no worries ... and buy stuff ... and travel around the world...

Only: … OK. I haven't ruled this dream out just yet. I'm still working on how to accomplish it.

But until I become a millionaire, I stick to brainstorming when it comes to choosing a career. What is brainstorming? Well, it's basically the same method I've mentioned earlier. Write down every job you'd love to do – only leave out the you'd-better-not jobs – and pick one.

Here are my realistic dream jobs:

How about you? How do you plan your career?

Learn from My Interview Mistakes

Have you ever felt depressed after a failed job interview? I have. More than once actually. After getting my bachelor's degree I was a bit naive, to put it mildly, and I went to job interviews without any preparation believing that my newly gained knowledge will be enough to get my dream job. Well, I was wrong. And though each failed interview taught me a precious lesson, I thought I share my experiences hoping it will prevent others undergoing the same ordeal.

How to talk yourself out of the job

Image from:www.tumblr.com

It was one of my first interviews. I was so nervous I thought I'm going to faint and perhaps even that wouldn't have ruined my chances more effectively. Have you seen Bridget Jones's job interviews? Well, it was something like that. I kept on chatting about unrelated subjects and since it wasn't a sales representative job, surprise, surprise ... I didn't get the job.

ADVICE: Give short (about 2 minutes), to the point answers.

Do you have a reference list? … Err, a what?

A recommendation letter is fine, but more and more employers/recruiters require a list of names who are willing to vouch for your skills and personality. So, don't make the mistake of going to an interview without such a list. I was applying for a receptionist position and the interview itself went quite well, but this mistake could have cost me the job. Luckily, the interviewer accepted the reference list in form of an e-mail.

ADVICE: Make sure you've asked the permission of those whom you wish to include into your reference list AND don't hand it over until you are asked to do so.

I am too much of a perfectionist.

Image from: www.chrisgibbs.net

Though it is true, it is such a lame answer to the question: 'What are your weaknesses?' I wish someone would have told me that the best answer to this common interview question is a real weakness that you have managed to overcome. No one is perfect and your future employer is aware of this fact. What he wants to know is if you are aware of your faults and - what is more important – if you can work on your weaknesses.

ADVICE: Since you are probably not a native English speaker you can mention how have you improved your speaking and listening skills.

I've no questions.

Towards the end of the interview you most probably will be invited to ask questions. The answer 'I've no questions' will automatically make the recruiter ask himself: 'Is she interested enough?', 'Was she paying attention?'  or 'Is she creative at all?'. I remember back in my hometown, I applied for a typist job and though I said three times 'I've no questions' I got the job. YET I am convinced I was saved only by my English language skills OR … it might have been sheer luck. (Hmm, perhaps I should consider buying a lottery ticket.)

ADVICE: Don't rely on luck and prepare some questions.

It's the perfect job for me, isn't it?

Image from:www.emohteez.com

My biggest mistake ever was to go to an interview completely unprepared. True, the job ad was quite vague but I didn't even check what was the company doing for their income. It looked like a personal assistant vacancy but it turned out that I would have been something like between a croupier and waitress. It was nothing wrong with the job only I wasn't qualified. So I was just wasting my and their time as well.

ADVICE: Always check out the company on the internet. Nowadays, you can learn from how satisfied their customers are with their services to what their employees say about the leaders. It will also help you to prepare some questions.

How about you? What were YOUR biggest mistake during a job interview? 

How to Outsmart the Recruitment Agencies

So you want to work in the UK but you are scared because you've heard a lot of horror stories about the recruitment agencies? Good, because it will make you cautious. You know: it's better to be safe than sorry.

People usually turn to employment agencies because they don't know anyone in the UK. But there are some other options that will not only save you money, but will also save you from a nervous breakdown.

 

Take control of your job search 

Image from http://jimenapulse.wordpress.com

 Just imagine what would you do if you'd want a job in your hometown. You'd probably buy a couple of newspapers and you'd check out a few job boards, wouldn't you? But in this case you can't do that, because … Wait a minute! Why couldn't you do the same thing?!? Check out the latest job vacancies that match your skills and expectations. If you speak the language and you are from the EEA, I can't see why your situation would be different from the other UK citizens' who need to relocate. Write a smashing CV, make sure you have a few English references and apply for each job you can imagine yourself doing. Be honest about your situation and suggest a skype or phone interview at the end of your cover letter. It might take a little time, but at least you know it's unlikely you'll have to face unpleasant surprises after your arrival.

Find a job with the help of your friends

Image from: http://blog.cachinko.com

In 2013 probably there is no one who has never heard about facebook and twitter. We use them every day to post funny videos, share what happened to us and to comment events/photos. But have you ever considered using your profile to find a job? Most probably you know someone who knows someone who might live in the UK. Why not ask around and see what you can find. Maybe you'll get only an English recommendation letter or you'll get acquainted with a UK citizen, but that's a good start. There is nothing wrong with building consciously a network of acquaintances within the industry you are interested in. (Read my previous post about how to make your facebook profile employer-friendly).

Couch surfing

Image from: http://www.pacsafe.com

Couch surfing is a great way to travel around the world on a low budget. But why not customize it for your needs? Visit your favorite English city and while you're there look around to see if there's any job vacancy that would suite your needs. I'd suggest to have some interviews/meetings fixed via e-mail or or phone before arriving to the chosen city but you could also just walk into restaurants and shops where you see the help wanted sign. It's a bit risky and I wouldn't advise you to travel without money, but the worst case scenario is you'll have a nice holiday.

So your English could be better

Image from: http://webcontent.ie

Of course, the better you speak the official language of a country, the easier is to make a career. But you don't have to be a native speaker to get a job. If you fall into this category, I'd suggest to ask your friends to help you find a job and you might want to consider the advantages of English courses. (There are FREE ways to learn a language.)

Recruitment Agencies

Image from: http://senecacap.wordpress.com

I tried to show what are your alternatives. But in case you still wish to find a job through an employment or recruiting agency, here is a few pieces of advice inspired by the negative experiences I've read:

• Use an agency you've heard is reliable. Online comments are fine, but the best is if you know personally someone who find a job through that particular agency.
• Always double check the agency. Read customer reviews, surf on the net to see if there is any article about the agency (their site and the interviews made with company representatives are not the most reliable sources) AND check if the company is in liquidation. You can do that on the page of the Companies House, the UK Registar of Companies. Most of the information is for free and the rest of the documents like financial statements can be purchased for £ 1 per doc.
• Don't pay in advance. It's the company not the job seeker who should pay to the recruitment agency for finding suitable applicants. It's like on the online job sites. It is always free for you to upload your CV. They might ask money for plane tickets, accommodation, etc but I'd suggest you to be very cautious if they ask for money under any pretext.
• Read the small print. Never give in under the pressure to sign the contract before someone else does. Read carefully the job offer and make your own calculations. Just because they say you can save up to £ xx per week it doesn't mean you will.

Please feel free to share your experience with recruitment agencies.

Is Your Facebook Profile Employer-friendly?

Have you ever checked the results in Google Images if you type facebook drunk photos? Beware!!! It WILL shock you. I am not Nostradamus but I bet no recruiter will employ them if they see these pictures.

And if you think no recruiter will waste time looking up your facebook profile … Well, you are wrong. Due to the job sites and job aggregators the recruiters got more resumes per day than ever. Plus, most of them tend to pro-actively search for the best candidates. So, the odds are they will read a lot of very similar CVs. To rule out inappropriate candidates they WILL check out the candidates' social profiles. Honestly, would you hire any of those who appear in the above mentioned search result? I doubt it.

Clean up your FB profile

Image from: au.news.yahoo.com

So, the very least you can and SHOULD do is to clean up your facebook profile. And I do not mean only the pictures but the comments and posts as well. Yes, a picture is worth a thousand words, but an inappropriate comment can also be enough to ruin your chances. It is a tedious work, but it is worth the effort. Of course, you can simply keep your profile private. It will help you to avoid being 'red flagged' BUT it might give the impression that you are hiding something. So take the time to check your facebook profile AND I'd suggest to take control over your timeline and tags about you. You can remove a tag (the photo remains online but it won't be linked to your profile), block the owner of the post, decide if a post you are tagged in can or cannot appear on your timeline and you can even set the new stuff you are tagged in to require your approval before they appear on your timeline.

 

Boost your chances to Land a job with Facebook

If Facebook can ruin your chances why not avoid it altogether? Because if used wisely it can showcase your professional interest and your great personality in a way a resume simply cannot and it will increase your chances to stand out. Fine, but how?

Back up your resume

 

Image from: djcronin.blogspot.co.uk

Show how serious you are about your work. References are great, but proof of how serious you are about your work is priceless. Here are few examples how to back up your resume by highlighting your skills:

• Like the pages of professional associations you are a member of.
• Post pictures about work related events.
• Connect with people within the industry. Bond with them.
• Post interesting work related articles.
• Share your work related blog posts.

YOU as a human being

Image from: on-hands.com

Show your personal side. This will help you to bond with the recruiters. It is important to show that you are an upright citizen but it is even more essential to show your personal interests. It will make easier for them to remember YOU. Let me give a short checklist of things you can do: 

• Like the page of the charity or non-profit group you support.
• Post pictures about the healthy you. (sports you pursue, healthy recipies, etc) – After all, if you are healthy you will need less sick leave.
• Make sure to have posts and photos about your hobbies – It is always nice to see people who are passionate about their hobbies.

Oh, and one more thing: If you aren't employed at the moment than make sure either to post your resume or to link to your online resume (Here a few tips how to make creative CVs). 

You might also want to:

• make new professional connections
• engage in discussion with potential employers
• ask a friend to refer you for a job

How about you? Have you ever used facebook to advance your career? How?

Odd but Fun Jobs

Who said working isn't fun?!? Show him this infographic. Oh and please make the career advisors understand that you can be successful and cool even if you are not a lawyer.

Here are a few of those jobs that will let you show how daring and/or creative you are:

Do you want a job or not?

If you want a job right now then spread the word instead of making a secret of it. Active job search means reading several job posts per day and applying to the ones matching your skills. But there is far more you CAN do. After all, more exposure your CV gets, more likely it is that you'll find your dream job.

Image from: Emaratiya

Sounds good, but HOW?

1. First of all, use everything you can. Are you on Facebook, LinkedIn and/or Twitter? Great! Post/upload your CV, tell your friends you are looking for a job. Never underestimate the power of social media. And one more thing: according to several surveys, 1 of 3 employers reject candidates because they found something inappropriate online about them. Images showing your daring and/or sexy side are not necessary meant to be seen by future employers. So make yourself a favour: check your privacy settings and make your profile employer-friendly:

Facebook - Privacy Settings

LinkedIn - Profile Privacy

2. Use Twitter and LinkedIn to find and follow important people in the industry you want to work in and engage with them. Build relationships and learn from the bests.

3. Similarly, you can make a blog and write blog-posts that showcase your knowledge, skills and passion. I think it is more convincing than any letter of recommendation. Do you need proof? Check Matt Cutts' blog. Impressive or what? And if you think you cannot do it, I have good news: you can. Let's say you are a streamstress, I'm sure there are thousands of women who want to learn to make their own dresses. So, go ahead and show a trick or two. Make a few videos, pictures and you're good to go.

4. Distribute your CV. In 2013 hiring managers are reading not only the CVs sent to them but actively search CV databases to find the best candidates out there. So, make sure you upload your CV to respectable job sites and aggregators to increase your chances. (Find out what are the differences between job sites and job aggregators.)

5. Finally, there is one more thing you can do: increase your online visibility by making traditional as well as creative CVs. Why bother? Because creative resumes help you to show your personality and it means you can easily stand out from a large group of candidates. A solid reason if you ask me. Interested but in need of inspiration? Than check out this article that I've found on JoZoo: Creative CV Yea or Nay?

How about you? How have you increased your online visibility?