There are many seemingly obvious things people get wrong when applying for a job! In the past month, I have been involved in the recruitment of three new people to our team, two of whom I will be line managing. This has meant reading 161 applications and interviewing 13 short-listed…>
Jobseeking Tips
The Realistic Academic Job Hunter
Today’s extremely competitive academic job environment can cause a great deal of heartache for the would-be academic. Here I want to add a few words of advice about how to maintain a methodical and pragmatic approach to looking for a job, particularly when the field is so challenging and the…>
Top Ten Tips for Writing Cover Letters
Your covering letter is a key part of your job application. It is an important document to a prospective employer. It is surprising that jobseekers often pay scant attention to it. Many candidates fail even to write one and only submit their CV or application form. Craft a strong covering…>
Match Your Skills to the Person Specification
Completing job application forms can be a long and boring process, especially if you are applying for several jobs at once. However, it is vital that you use the application form and covering letter to show that you are the ideal person for the job. One way to do this…>
10 things NOT to do on your CV
Your CV is a marketing tool that needs to stand out. This document will be the first impression the recruiter or employer has of you. Large corporations, as well as smaller organisations, are using an applicant tracking system (ATS) to screen candidates’ CVs. To get through to the next stage…>
How To Choose Your Referees
Your referees are very important in the job-seeking process. Most people focus on presenting their qualifications, skills and experience and spend little time deciding who should be their referees. But choosing a good referee can make all the difference.
How to Deal with Different Application Forms
Preparing application forms can often be a daunting process, especially when you have several applications to finish, both those from universities and those from other public sector organisations and private companies. What differences should you be aware of when completing these different application forms? Are there any effective and efficient…>
Applying for Teaching Positions – Top Tips
For many PhDs and postdocs securing any, but especially, a fulltime, permanent teaching contract is their ultimate career aim. Research across Europe*# consistently shows over 60% of PhD students stating they are seeking a permanent academic career. A lot of people are applying for teaching positions, but they are few and…>
Top Ten Tips for Applying at Local Council
These ‘Top ten Tips’ were written by Claire Barrie, an HR Professional working for a Local Council. Helping to explain how to apply, interview and hopefully get the job, plus the differences to other sectors. 1. Read the particulars carefully Read the particulars carefully, it explains how to complete the…>
What To Do When You Have Multiple Opportunities
When applying for jobs, you might find yourself in a situation where you have multiple opportunities offered to you at the same time. This might be viewed as a ‘good’ problem to have, but it does mean that you will have to make a potentially life-changing decision and that can…>